The evening sky had turned a deep orange as Benny stepped off the bus.
The conversation with his foster family still lingered in his mind.
Every word...
Every expression...
Every memory.
He tightened his grip on the strap of his backpack and forced himself to take a deep breath.
"It's over..."
He whispered to himself.
"I'm not going back there again."
Instead of heading toward his apartment, Benny turned into a narrow street lined with old buildings.
The surroundings gradually became quieter.
Streetlights flickered to life one after another.
People rarely came here after sunset.
At the end of the road was a narrow alley.
The smell of damp concrete filled the air.
Benny stopped at the entrance and looked around.
"Xavier?"
No answer.
He frowned.
"Xavier!"
A small voice finally answered from behind a pile of cardboard boxes.
"...Brother Benny?"
A tiny boy slowly peeked out.
He looked no older than six.
His black hair was messy, and his oversized shirt hung loosely over his thin body. Dirt stained his little hands, and his shoes were so worn that his toes nearly poked through the front.
The moment he recognized Benny, his dull eyes lit up.
"Brother Benny!"
The little boy ran forward without hesitation.
Benny crouched down just in time to catch him.
"There you are."
"I've been looking for you."
Xavier buried his face in Benny's shoulder.
"I thought you weren't coming today..."
Benny gently patted the child's head.
"I'm sorry."
"I had something important to do."
Xavier nodded obediently.
"I waited."
"You shouldn't wait outside for so long."
"I wasn't scared."
The little boy smiled innocently.
"I knew Brother Benny would come."
Benny felt a lump form in his throat.
Two years ago...
Before he left his foster home...
He had often sneaked food to Xavier.
Back then, Xavier had only been four years old.
A quiet little boy who rarely cried.
He had been taken into foster care when he was only two years old.
For a while, things seemed to be getting better for him.
Then everything changed.
His foster parents had a biological baby.
Not long afterward, they packed their belongings and moved away.
They left Xavier behind.
When questioned, they spread cruel rumors through the neighborhood.
They claimed the boy brought nothing but bad luck.
People believed them.
No one wanted to take him in.
Since then...
Xavier had wandered from one alley to another, surviving on scraps people threw away.
Benny looked at the boy's thin face.
"Have you eaten?"
Xavier hesitated before giving a tiny nod.
"I found half a loaf of bread."
Benny knew immediately.
The child was lying.
He smiled gently.
"Come on."
"Let's get something to eat."
Xavier's eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
"Really."
The little boy reached for Benny's hand.
His tiny fingers wrapped tightly around Benny's.
As they walked toward a small noodle shop, Xavier looked up curiously.
"Brother Benny..."
"Hm?"
"Are you sad?"
Benny blinked.
"What makes you think that?"
"You smile..."
The little boy looked down.
"...but your eyes don't."
Benny stopped walking.
For a moment...
He didn't know what to say.
Then he smiled.
This time...
It was genuine.
"I'm feeling better now."
Xavier grinned.
"Good."
"I don't like it when Brother Benny is sad."
A few minutes later, they entered a small family-run noodle shop.
The owner smiled warmly.
"You're here again, Benny."
"Yes, Auntie."
"The usual?"
"And one extra bowl."
The elderly woman looked at Xavier and smiled kindly.
"I'll bring it right away."
Soon, two steaming bowls of noodles were placed on the table.
Xavier clasped his hands together.
"Thank you for the food!"
Then he began eating eagerly, though he still tried to take small bites as Benny had taught him.
"Slow down," Benny said with a chuckle.
"No one's going to take it away."
Xavier nodded with puffed cheeks.
"O-Okay..."
Watching the little boy eat...
Benny made a decision.
He couldn't leave Xavier alone anymore.
Not after everything.
Not after seeing him survive in cold alleys with no one to care for him.
No child deserved that.
"B-Brother Benny?"
Xavier looked up.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
The little boy lowered his head nervously.
"...Can I stay with you?"
Benny's chopsticks froze.
Xavier quickly shook his head.
"I-I don't mean forever."
"I just..."
"I don't want to sleep in the alley anymore."
Silence filled the small restaurant.
Benny looked at the child before him.
Then he reached across the table and gently ruffled Xavier's messy hair.
"You won't have to."
Xavier blinked.
"Huh?"
"You'll come home with me."
"For as long as you need."
The little boy's eyes slowly filled with tears.
"R-Really?"
Benny smiled warmly.
"Really."
For the first time in a long time...
Xavier smiled without fear.
And without either of them realizing it...
That simple promise would change both of their lives forever.