1HxH
His fingers pinched the pen tighter, scribbling across the spotless sheet of paper. He bit his lips, sensing the numbness of his left leg as he turned this as a support for his pad.
The hand moved, up and down. It skidded, horizontal – vertical, curved, and eventually pricked for the period. The sight of his right hand being scuffed by disheveled black ink.
His eyes moved into it, and his tongue moved outward, sucking his lips. Tasty – metallic copper pervaded his sense of taste. The taste of blood – a taste of his blood. Uncomfortable and warm, at the same time.
He then tossed the notes he had written on his left gently. Gazing towards his hand once more, he rubbed it using his other, but it proved difficult to remove the annoying marks.
His vision went left and then turned right. No river, he thought while the world of green grass greeted him. The other sides are brimming with trees, perhaps two to three varieties of the kind. He didn't know.
Inhale.
He sucked an ample amount of oxygen into his lungs.
Exhale.
Then released it, slowly and slowly. His mind felt muddled by hours of writing and drawing.
Sighs.
The teen lay down on his back, gentle tamed grass held his sore back. He listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat. A drizzle of sweat ran across his forehead, while his blue eyes stared at the blazing daylight.
New dawn huh? Cowboy.
Catching his breath, he went towards the nearest chestnut tree, surrounded by the open field. He sat down, and rested his upper body on the dark brown trunk, comfortably supporting himself. Alongside his notepad, he had also brought a book.
This book wasn't unique or some sort – not in his old reality or in this new one. This consisted of a superhero cliche vibe where the protagonists overcome the bad guys and save the day. No, perhaps; the days, or rather the never-ending time.
Yet despite knowing the old-school trope, he didn't care at all, he kept reading this for a week straight now.
Of course, I'm a teen.
He grinned at the cover. A disheveled person wearing dark armor, but – but not a sword? Instead, this person, the protagonist, was using some sort of spiritual energy akin to Ki or Tai Chi things.
A calamity level threat then struck the world – super ultra dangerous monsters scattered across the world. Luckily, for we – the people are lucky. The protagonist and his party sent back the creatures to oblivion.
And they saved the day….
"Seil there you are!"
His gaze veered to the person calling him. This person questioning him had a snarl drawn on his face – as if he could intimidate even the beast himself. Seil in response put his hand inside his pockets.
He whistled, "Who are you old man?"
The old man's brows furrowed. His teeth bared like a canine's. He stroked his beard, easing the discomfort of this lad's comment.
They stared at each other for a moment. The teen sweated profusely, a count of seconds felt like an eternity for him.
"Ah! Gramps, why?" He smiled dryly.
The stocky elder hadn't peeled off his gaze. "Come."
The blue-eyed teen stood, his smile turned into a frown. "I was just joking."
"Come, don't say anything unnecessary!"
"Why?"
Strange thought the teen. He'd never see him like this, not when he broke the toy car of the other kid, not when he tried to start an arson to test if he could indeed burn an entire forest. Not even when he stole money from the purse of some specific old man when he was drunk.
The old man continued to walk, leaving the teen behind by a few meters.
"What are you waiting for? Follow me!"
Seil stride longer. He had immediately caught up with his pace. His other hand entered his pocket, reaching a stick with a ball in its end. He skinned the plastic wrapping around the orb, then threw it on the ground. The ball inside was purplish, signifying the grape flavor of the lollipop.
"What is it, gramps… I'm kinda nervous now – y'know?" he grinned.
"How did you get it?" asked the old man.
"Get what?"
"The book?"
"The… what?"
"I said the book. Where is it?!"
He looked into the elder's eye. Greying old. Staring upon his mannerism, his tongue, his thoughts. The teen sighed, pulling out the lollipop, he licked his lips – the grape's sweet-sour after-effects remained on his tongue.
"I've forgotten at the back of the tree."
The old man looked behind him. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
Seil bit his lips. "Why are you so angry?"
"I told you to never go for the books without my permission!"
"Why not?"
"Because I said so! You goddamn brat!"
The dark-haired teen smirked. As expected, Not all people in the world can understand others. He lowered his head. "My bad."
The bearded man sighed. His glowering eyes soften. The teenager knows this. From the very start. He knew that he wasn't really angry – but the one thing he didn't know of was the reason behind this. Call him emotionally incapable but he couldn't comprehend what this old man was thinking.
"Just forget it. Go get the book."
"Alright."
He bolted back at the chestnut tree, gripping the Brave New World covered with the smiling badass protagonist. He went back hastily, not wanting to make the older man wait any longer – as he believed it was the most convenient thing to do at the moment.
As they walk side by side for minutes. Seil felt a deep familiarity with the huts-shaped houses made of cobalt stone and wood. There are a lot of them encircling the largest in the middle towering at ten meters, with ample width that could fit the other huts inside.
"Hey Gramps, can I borrow your cell phone?"
The bearded man growled. "No, you can't. I'm currently charging."
Seil frowned. "Again?" he snorted, "You're always telling that. You've even removed the cellular card."
"Hah! So what?! You're just watching those girls in a J-Pop group!"
"Heh? What's that's what? Care to tell me?" The dark-haired teen pleaded.
Seil couldn't believe this. The older man, the elder of their clan – fuming red in anger, embarrassment, and possibly other mixed emotions. He couldn't tell well.
Don't tell me…
As they continued their walk at a relative pace, the village from afar grew visibly close. He shattered his desire to play the Jumper Cario on the old man's phone, though he's eager to play. He muttered, Fuck… better luck next time.
"Why did you call me so suddenly?" asked Seil, "Told you I'll go back in the afternoon till I'm bored."
The old man's vision remained straight. "You forgot to clean your room."
"Oh shit!"
You look so tired, big guy.
The teen in front of him groggily yawned. He also yawned. Resulting in unison. Piercing blue orbs looked into him, while unfortunately – dark circles covered his eyes.
Oh right, gone. He muttered when he instinctively reached for a faucet, but there was none to hold onto. It felt forever since he did so.
He brought the bucket up, brimmed with fresh water. His hands were struck by a frigid sensation as he dipped it, bringing up the water to his bare face. It made his dark hair damp, but despite that, he continually pounded the fresh liquid on his face.
Looking good, huh. Cowboy? At the corner of the room, his hands stretched out for a certain pristine bottle. He opened it uncovering pink tablets. Without further ado, he swallowed it. Hoping to end the misery of something.
He changed his plain brown Tee with a culturally different one – it's identical to the ancient people of his previous reality.
A short coat, with its sides, is sleeveless. Seil thought that it was lame but still wears it, somehow. At least he could still choose his color – darker themes such as navy blue, or black. Currently, it's dark, all dark – embroidered by gray patterns at the edges.
The icon of Kurta Clan.
Seil opened the door and went down to the first floor.
"Come, let's eat!"
The teenager then accompanied the lone elder at dinner. He's not been a fan of vegetables before – but the dire situation of the clan when it comes to food and resources proved to be a hindrance for his all-meat conquest.
It had been like this. For years. The dark-haired boy who had always been releasing the contents of his stomach whenever he put something green inside his mouth was far – long gone. He didn't know where he would come back. Though he wished, the meat days would do so.
They partake in a hush, yet the quick sound of plates and spoon-pork couldn't hide their movements.
"Anything bothering you?" The old man broke the status quo.
"Uh, it's just… I've been thinking of something."
"Care to tell me?"
"It's about my mother."
The bearded man's jaws clenched, his nose scrunched, the palms gripping the spork shivered. He breathed deeply, a big inhale and breathed out.
"You never tell me if she's still alive or dead." Seil frowned.
"I told you —"
"That what?" He interjected,"That I'm not ready?"
"Yes."
The teenager abruptly went to get a mug, swallowed a big gulp, and stared at the older man intently. "Why – why are you being like this?"
"It's for your sake."
"For this goddamn brat of myself?!" he exclaimed. "I'm already fourteen and you – you're aware of my blurry memories in my childhood."
The Elder, Boran remained silent.
"It's just… you know… fucking sad," he muttered, "To forget anything and shits."
"I know."
He scrunched his nose. "This shitty migraine, and all – the people looking at you like some sort of outsider. Damn, I don't know – I don't know man." His voice grew silent, and silent as he spoke.
"I know, I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be. It's just me, for being an asshole."
"Would you forgive me for taking the book back?" asked the old man.
"Doesn't matter. I've already skimmed that, though I would appreciate it if you would let me see how my mother looks."
Bora in return stood up and went towards his room. A minute or two later, he came back holding a photo of a woman. He placed it gently on the table. "Here."
Seil's gaze moved into the contents, he saw a woman in his early twenties with dark hair and a purple hue on the edges. She's wearing the moderate red Kurta coat wherein her arms were exposed. Pair of blue eyes staring back at him, and a sweet tenderly smile.
"What kind of person is she?" asked Seil.
The elder smiled bitterly, "She's a really – really strong, brave, and powerful woman."
For someone like him, who couldn't even understand himself – he didn't know if he should feel furious, or lonely. But sadly, his heart remained frozen, untouched.
Nothing is clicking.
"Can't you remember anything?"
His gaze went down on his boot. "I… I don't know, I still can't remember anything."
"That's why you can't know anything," Bora grunted. Yet Seil could see the reality. Such a worrywart. "But…"
"But?"
"She's still alive,"
Seil's eyes lit up. "Can I see her?"
"You can't."
"Why? Does she even care about me?"
A weak chuckle came from his mouth.
"She did. She does. And always."
Damn it all..
"I know it's hard for you. Nothing is easy."
The teenager wrinkled his nose. Everything didn't make sense, from his blurry memory – and amnesia, all he could think of was reading some books for the sake of escapism.
"Gramps," He called unto him, "When I've finished the BNW I have this feeling of going outside nowadays."
"What is BNW?"
"Brave New World."
Bora frowned. Listening intently.
"And, I'm kinda thinking that – what if we humans have that kind of power could we change our faith or save humanity?"asked Seil.
"Where are you going with this?"
"Ah, it's nothing. I'm just curious, if there's some kind of power in this world?"
The elder froze, gritting his teeth. He then smiled wryly. "There's no way something like that is true."
Why are we riding some weird ostrich then?
Seil nodded. "Oh, yeah. I'm just curious if some shit like that actually happened right? Like some sorta fantasy books, dang – but yeah Guuts is OP."
"Guuts?"
"The protagonist of Brave New World!" He grinned. "He's so fucking badass, he fought against much – much stronger opponent but remain driven by the idea of saving someone. At the end of the eight-volume his right arm was decapitated, but got replaced by metal arms with gun."
He continued, "Then – then he fought this shitty monster who's super genius. Of course Guuts was outclassed, but oh man – deus machina his goddess waifu helps him!"
"Seil."
"And then —"
"Seil!"
The teen halted. His brows furrowed.
"Yeah?"
"Shut up and do the dishes!"
Oh man.
Seil had already completed his chores, such as doing the plates, tidying up the dining room, and extracting the filthy tissues out of his room.
Phew…
He fell on his mattress. Utterly defeated, tired and parched. His scrawny body, accompanied by his unmotivated mindset, manifested his current self.
God damn it, everything doesn't feel right.
Fourteen years felt like five months at most, everything was hazy – including the old man. For him, this world was the nuts – nuttiest place he had ever been.
Even this barbaric place doesn't feel right.
As he lay down, he mobilized his left hand – and stretched towards his notes. There he had written everything he could remember.
"Alright, let's go to page one."
I don't know what happened; it feels like I've been placed into someone's body. I'm scared. I'm fucking scared as hell. I know I'm around adult or below mid twenties but now I'm just a child. I couldn't remember who I was or what I was. I don't know where I came from, what country or street. I only know I'm from planet Earth and I'm a human.
January 8 1980, Seil.
Fuck, this is weird. Seil thought. He shivered. He couldn't think of writing something like this – but he knew he would jot it down, depicting weirdness if he could – so his hypothesis was still valid.
"Like some sort of amnesia, or split personality."
But he's aware. He knew deep inside that he came from Earth – and not in Lukso Province. Not in Yorbian Continent.
"Page two, then."
Everything seems hazy. I'm living in a peaceful Tribe of Kurta now. But something is missing. I don't have a father or a mother. I don't even talk to people. Only to the dwarf looking dude taking care of me. For goofus-sake who am I?
March 8 1980, Seil.
Seil froze. He instinctively looked at the window. He's disregarding something – he looked unto the door, then to the window. A gleaming orb of blue fire. From afar, it grew big. Then bigger. Sparkling luminous, growing immense even more.
Fucking hell –
He rubbed his eyes.
Until the humongous globe was close to the window. Coming into him. He opened his mouth – only muted screams reverberated. His visions felt scorching heat, as if being melted. Blinding pain struck unto him. He stood dizzy. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't do anything at all – until then, the dazing searing light arrived into him. That was the thing he could only remember until falling unconscious.