Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 12: Blank's Childhood (11)
On a bright morning with the warm sunlight adorning the siblings' house, Kaeri was seen entering through the back door and returning to the dining area with Blank and Kaema, the now-growing cat.
The young man sat back down and looked at his brother. Then he sighed. (This is very risky, but it's tormenting my mind.) He moved his fingers on the table and thought for a moment.
Blank watched his brother while eating a piece of bread. He then smiled and said, "Hey, bro. Do you want to go on a vacation?"
Simultaneously, Kaeri was startled and his eyes widened. "Huh? What's that?" The boy chuckled softly. "Who knows, maybe you need a vacation, but you have to be back in 4 days, okay."
Kaeri's eye twitched, and he scratched his temple where it didn't itch. "I don't understand what you mean, Kaelan." The boy then gave him a piece of bread. "Your face has looked like a living corpse for the past 6 weeks. Pale, weak, need some healing, right?"
The young man didn't understand his words. It was very strange, and he began to suspect something. "What's going on?" Blank raised his lips. "I'm grown up now."
Kaeri's eyes widened, and he bit the inside of his mouth. He thought, (Wait... What does that mean?) Blank continued his sentence, "Just go on a vacation, but come back in 4 days." However, Kaeri firmly uttered one sentence in a heavy tone.
"No."
Blank exhaled slowly, but that was precisely what seemed odd to Kaeri. Somehow, the boy was adamant about ordering him to go on vacation. (Kaelan... Do you actually know?)
But in Kaeri's mind, it was different from what he wanted to say. He remembered his family's past with him when he was 15 years old.
[Kaeri's Past]
In a small house with two rooms, Kaeri hugged his 5-year-old sister tightly and covered her ears. He provided comfort in a dark room with crumbling walls. Kaeri was protecting her because...
"You stupid husband! Why did you take all my savings for gambling, huh!"
Then a hard slap landed on the mother's cheek. "Yeah, so what! I work too!" The woman then slapped back but was stopped by the father. "You know our debts are huge. Even selling this house won't change anything!"
The man clenched his grip. "Well, just sell both of them!"
Kaeri's eyes widened. He bit his lip, and the emotions he had been holding back finally erupted. His eyes shed heavy tears because this was what he had endured for years in this family, which had been so oppressive.
His hands trembled, and he looked at his weakened sister. His heart broke seeing his sister with her eyes closed and a blue bruise on her right cheek, making his back tremble violently.
The mother glared and punched his face with her other hand. "YOU BASTARD."
The man's nose was hit. Although slightly reddened, he then threw the woman hard towards the wall, hitting the glass.
Crash.
The woman slumped and fell silent, her back against the wall. The back of her head was bleeding, and her eyes grew dim.
The man just fixed his slightly bleeding nose. "Huh. You're the one who's often sick, so this is your fault too." But the sound of slow footsteps from the side began to reach his ears.
The father looked at him. "Hey, kid. Quickly get the bandages from the box." The boy had stopped crying. He now only had blurry, gray eyes. His mouth was slightly open, and his hands went limp. He had seen everything that happened and heard it all. In his mind, he wanted to end the problem that had lasted for 5 years, so that moment was...
[Kaeri's First Murder]
After everything was over. In the first week of his life alone, he sat under a bridge and stared at the river with an empty gaze. And at that time, a man with thin white hair and beard approached him.
"Hey, kid. You have a lot of debts, your mother has a concussion, and you're confused about paying for everything?"
The boy looked at him, but no answer came from his mouth. The man then approached and extended his hand. "I'll pay for all that. Come with me."
Kaeri's life began again by following that man. He succeeded in paying for everything his family had done, bringing happiness to his mother and the younger sister he loved. Until one day at the hospital.
[H-1 Before the 7-Year Protection Mission for Kaelan]
At this time, Kaeri's mother was back in treatment due to being hit by a hit-and-run in the city. He approached his sister, who was sitting alone, and gave her chocolate and a doll. "This is for you, sis."
Kaeri's sister looked at him with teary eyes, her body trembling and sobbing. "Where are you going, brother?" Kaeri just smiled until his eyes closed and patted her head. "Brother is going to study and work abroad. It might take a while, but when I'm done, let's travel the world, okay."
The little girl, still 14 years old, began to shed tears. Kaeri quickly hugged her and carried her to bed so she could rest. After seeing his younger sister close her eyes, he looked at his mother.
He raised the corners of his lips and closed his eyes perfectly. Even though his heart was shattered and tears began to flow down his cheeks, his chest felt tight, and his shoulders trembled violently. With the strength he had, he tried to utter words from his mouth.
"Mom... Sis... Let's live normally after this." Kaeri turned his back. With very heavy steps, he mustered courage and then left the two of them. He was determined for his family. His heart said, (From your brother, for Mom and Sis.)
[Back to the Present]
"Bro... Brother."
Kaeri was startled. He heard Blank's voice calling him. "Ah, yes."
Blank looked with a bewildered expression, his eyebrows raised, and he bit the flesh inside his mouth. "Why are you spacing out and crying?"
Kaeri jolted and then wiped his cheek with his arm. "Ah, no, it's just..." Blank shook his head.
Kaeri then sighed heavily. His heart beat fast, and his hands trembled slightly. He asked, "Kaelan, explain again about earlier."
Their conversation lasted for 2 hours, and 7 hours later, Kaeri was seen with a bag and a jacket, standing in front of the house and looking at the teenager. "Hey, don't forget I left my phone here."
"Yeah, yeah, relax."
Kaeri sighed. He then began to walk away from the house with heavy steps but did it anyway. "Don't cause any trouble while I'm gone."
"Yeah, yeah, relax, be careful on the road," said the teenager while holding the cat and waving. "You too, Kaema, say something to brother."
"Meow."
Kaeri narrowed his eyes and gave them a smile. "Haha, alright then, see you later." Then he left until his body was far from the teenager's sight now.
The teenager jumped and lifted his cat. "Hey, Kaema! Brother Kaeri's birthday is in 5 days. Thank goodness I can prepare a gift now."
"Meow."
"Haha, you're so cute. What should I make? I've saved a lot. Make a cake? Decorate the house too, so he'll be surprised when he comes back." He smiled at his cat until his teeth showed.
"I intentionally checked brother Kaeri's wallet. So I could know his birthday."
Then he looked at the ceiling and the white-painted walls in his house. "Kaema. Let's write a message on the wall."
"Meow."
Blank smiled and was very enthusiastic now. He ran to his room and then checked the tube containing money and began counting. "Look, Kaema! The tube is almost full with bills, haha."
That was what happened to Blank, who began preparing gifts and decorations for his brother's birthday so he could surprise him when he returned home.
---
Time continued to move without hesitation. Because the distance between the village and the city was very far, Kaeri spent 14 hours returning to downtown Chean Country by bus due to road obstacles and traffic jams. He sighed. "I hope this will be okay." He clenched his own hand tightly until veins were visible.
Days passed, and Kaeri was seen arriving in the city. He walked on the sidewalk and saw a flower shop on his right. (Buy flowers for Mom.)
The scent of lavender and roses dominated the fragrance of other flowers. The large glass wall displayed many varieties of flowers available, from red, purple, to white.
He entered the flower shop, but from a somewhat distant spot, a bespectacled young man watched him. Kaeri opened the door and asked about flowers from the shopkeeper. "Hello, do you have lilies here?"
The shopkeeper greeted him. He approached Kaeri and said, "Yes, over here."
Then Kaeri looked at the flowers on the shelf and began thinking about which ones to buy while holding his chin and furrowing his brow. But at the same time, a bespectacled young man opened the door.
"Hello. I'm looking for Kaeri. Is he here?"
Kaeri was startled and immediately looked at him. His heart momentarily stopped but then felt relieved when he saw the bespectacled young man there. He answered with a smile. "Hey, Reynald, long time no see."
The young man named Reynald waved his hand and then approached. "Hey, where have you been?" Kaeri held his own neck. "I just went to college and worked."
Instantly, Reynald smiled until he chuckled softly and nudged him with his elbow. "I know. Is it finished?"
Kaeri only answered by shaking his head. Instantly, Reynald's face dropped, and his eyes widened. "You're reckless, Kaeri. That violates pledge number 1, you know."
Kaeri chuckled softly. "I don't know, I'm not sure what I'm doing either." Reynald nodded his head and closed his eyes briefly. "Well, when your business is done, return as soon as possible."
Kaeri looked at him and tilted his head slightly. "Yeah, I hope there are no problems." The young man smiled while saying, "Just send the address."
Kaeri was startled. He sighed. "No need, he's grown up now." Reynald grinned. "Kaelan is grown up now."
Kaeri's eyes instantly widened, and his heartbeat momentarily paused because of his words. But he sighed, and an event flashed in his mind. "Ah, I know, that's why he had the book 'Shattering the Status Quo'."
Kaeri looked back at Reynald's eyes. "So it was from you." The young man answered only with a smile showing his small upper right canine and eyes closed perfectly.
Reynald then opened his eyes and stepped away from the flower shop. "Alright then, I'm going home. Good to see you again."
"Yeah. Take care." Kaeri rubbed his neck. (Well, who would have thought Reynald is here.)
"Hello, sir, so which one?" said the shopkeeper, and Kaeri immediately turned and pointed to a large bouquet of lilies. "Just that one, please."
After finishing choosing, he finally went to the hospital by taxi until he reached the entrance. He then asked the receptionist for the room number.
But he didn't know that a man saw him get out of the taxi and was watching him. The man grabbed his phone and called someone.
"Hello, it's me. Connect me to the leader of Underring Branch 4."
At the same time, he searched for the room given by the receptionist. "Room 254, they said... Which one is it?" But his gaze stopped when he saw a girl sitting in front of the room he was looking for. "Oh, I found it."
The girl was seen sitting alone, lowering her head. She closed her eyes and bit her lip. But at the same time...
"Hey, what are you doing?"
The girl was startled. She immediately turned her face toward the source of the voice. Her eyes widened, and her heart beat fast. With teary eyes and trembling lips, she ran without a word.
Hug.
The girl hugged Kaeri tightly, her arms so strong that the young man felt a bit breathless. Kaeri stroked his beloved sister's hair and patted her. "Hey, your brother might suffocate if you squeeze like this."
But her hug grew even tighter, and tears began to soak the jacket Kaeri was wearing. Her face pressed against him, and sobbing could be felt. "Brother took so long~"
The young man's eyes began to well up, and he hugged the girl, who was now as tall as his chest, back. "Sorry... forgive your brother..."
That touching moment lasted quite a while until finally Kaeri entered the room with his sister holding his arm tightly. He looked at the woman lying there.
"Mom, I'm home."
He approached her and stroked her face. Kaeri smiled even though his heart was breaking and his mind was thinking about many things at once. But he ignored it and kissed his mother's forehead. (Mom... Please wake up soon...)
His mother's concussion had worsened. Kaeri was afraid her face would no longer be recognizable by his mother if she kept her eyes closed for too long.
Kaeri accompanied his sister all day and chatted with her until night fell. His sister fell asleep first, and Kaeri sat on a synthetic leather chair. The antiseptic scent was clear in his nose, and the quiet night adorned his hearing.
He looked at the wall clock. "It's still 8 PM." He then stood up and looked at his sister. "I'll give her a doll."
Kaeri went outside the hospital briefly. He managed to find a doll shop not far from the hospital, then entered it and was greeted by the shopkeeper. "Good evening, sir. Looking for a doll?"
Kaeri looked around, and his eyes fell on a large brown teddy bear made of yelvo fabric holding a heart shape. "Ah, I want that."
After finishing paying, he went outside and saw a phone shop across the street. Kaeri remembered something after looking at it. "Ah, right, Kaelan is saving up to buy a phone. I'll buy one for him."
As a way to repay Blank for giving him a short break to see his family, Kaeri bought a phone for the teenager.
After finishing, he left the shop and looked at the items he was carrying. "Haha, look, I'm carrying so many things." But his gaze fell on a little girl walking alone and crying. (What? Is that little girl alone?)
He was shocked, and his eyes widened because a man ran toward the little girl and covered her mouth. He clearly kidnapped her and took her into a narrow, dark alley. Kaeri, seeing this, immediately ran quickly. (Don't you dare touch someone else's child, you bastard!)
Kaeri ran quickly into the narrow, dark alley. There were only black bricks and small lights around, illuminating scattered, unkept trash. Graffiti and the quiet night followed the rhythm of Kaeri's rough footsteps.
"Where did he go?" Then a scream was clearly heard in his ears. A girl shouted loudly. "HELP!"
Kaeri immediately ran toward the source of the sound. Finally, he found the man holding the girl he had taken. With speed, the young man directly punched the man hard, sending him flying.
Thud.
The man fell sprawled, and his teeth were damaged. Quickly, Kaeri carried the girl, panting heavily. But...
Chomp.
A bite from the girl made him jolt in pain. He put her down and grabbed his neck. "Ah, that hurts." He saw his bleeding hand, meaning the bite was very strong.
And at the same time, many men carrying weapons entered the alley. Kaeri, seeing this, grabbed the doll and phone he was carrying and ran quickly. (Damn! This is dangerous.)
But after he found a more open area... (Damn...)
Kaeri was surrounded by many adult men, each with their weapons. He looked at the previous path, but all corners were already filled by armed men as well.
Then the men made way for someone in a wheelchair. His right leg was missing, and his face was slightly damaged, like wounds from being buried under rocks.
Kaeri looked at the man. His face turned pale, and his heart beat fast. His hands trembled, and his legs weakened. "Yo-you."
He closed his eyes. What he could think of was, (Maya, my sister, and Kaelan too, forgive your brother.) He gritted his teeth hard and stared sharply at the man. (Sorry if I couldn't be a good brother.)
The man giggled maniacally. He went wild, and his hands began to cover his face strangely. Loud laughter began to be heard with red, widened eyes. "Hahaha!"
One sentence made Kaeri clench his jaw. He clenched his fists until veins were clearly visible on his hands. Even though his legs were a bit weak, he had to be brave and determined. One sentence uttered by the ecstatic man was:
[Kill Kaeri tonight!]