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The sun shone, and its light rebelled for the first time in days, after getting lost among the clouds of December.
It sent its rays through the streets of that cold city, warming and embracing them after harsh nights of storms.
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Its glow reflected in the blue eyes of someone watching its rise, seeing the golden color—so similar to his hair—spread across the surroundings.
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Hurriedly, he put on his coat and stepped outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the girl who lived next door.
He wasn’t the type to meddle in others’ affairs… but the dark aura surrounding that mysterious girl intrigued him, pulling him in, urging him to uncover her secrets.
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Or maybe it was simply because she was the only one close to his age. In a poor street far from the city center and shopping districts, there were only elderly people—tired of life, choosing to withdraw from its chaos.
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A bright smile adorned his face as he hummed a lullaby in his soothing voice.
His happiness did not go unnoticed by the one watching the street from her window, spotting that radiant figure wandering around.
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"Are there really people who can smile this widely in the morning?" she muttered to herself, puzzled by the strange boy.
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She stepped outside with a slight limp after finishing her preparations.
As soon as she did, she saw the boy waving at her.
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Arthur: "Good morning! Did you sleep well?"
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She didn’t respond but thought… Well, she got about four hours of sleep, which was an improvement compared to previous nights.
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His concerned voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Is your foot feeling better now?"
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She glanced at her foot before looking back at him, giving a small nod, then attempted to leave.
But luck wasn’t on her side
She has been hurt when she mistakenly put weight on her injured foot.
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She had no idea how she ended up sitting in the backseat of the boy’s bicycle—the radiant boy, as she liked to call him—while he rode to take her to work.
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The thing was, he simply wouldn’t stop pestering her, insisting on giving her a ride so she wouldn’t strain her foot.
Not that she wanted to accept, but unlike someone, she had no energy for arguments this early in the morning.
And now, here she was—stuck with a boy who had the mind of a child, who loved smiling, talking, and interfering in her affairs.
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He wasn’t that bad… but she saw him that way.
Or maybe she was just convincing herself to push him away.
Who knows?
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No one knows… except Eileen.
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Sitting in the back, she could see part of his face and hear the humming he did when he was happy.
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Hearing his simple hums was oddly soothing to her ears.
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Wait… since when do I find human voices comforting?
Is he an exception?
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She didn’t know.
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Thoughts began to clash in her mind again.
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"He’s a kind and naïve person… How can someone keep their light and innocence in a world like this? I feel like I’m sitting behind a star… He’s nothing like me—no goal, no person, no life. I’m just darkness, spreading shadows wherever I go. I can’t even compare. I’m useless. I don’t even want to live. Why do I blame those who don’t want me to live? Eileen, snap out of it. Just because he showed you a little kindness out of pity doesn’t mean you should be happy… You’re a nobody, and you’ll always be one."
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Her thoughts grew louder, causing a headache. Her pulse quickened. Her breathing became shallow.
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"We’re here!"
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Suddenly, all the voices in her head were silenced by Arthur's chant —like someone had pressed the mute button.
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"This is the company, right? I didn’t get the address wrong, did I?" he asked, staring at the rundown building.
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"Yes, this is it."
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His bright smile widened at her response.
Standing next to his bike, she also stared at the building.
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She turned toward him, hesitating as if she wanted to say something.
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Arthur tilted his head. Do you need something else?
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She shook her head, then muttered, "Thank you."
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She quickly turned to leave, walking with a limp, but his bright voice stopped her again.
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"No need to thank me, neighbors help each other! I’ll come pick you up in the evening too!"
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And before she could protest, he had already left.
So, she entered, a thousand questions swirling in her mind, all starting with:
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"Why?"
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Why is he kind?
Why doesn’t he hurt her like the others?
Why? Why?
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She crouched down, burying her face in her hands, whispering:
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"Eileen, you idiot… Fool… Enough, enough! Shut up, stupid brain. This isn’t supposed to happen. You’re not supposed to have friends. You bring misfortune to everyone who knows you. You two are complete opposites. You’re a black hole that swallows every light that dares to approach, no matter how bright it is… And he’s a shining star, spreading joy to everyone around him… You have to stay away, Arthur… I don’t want to dim your light.... sun boy."
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The end of the chapter
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I hope you liked this chapter!
Share your thoughts on the characters and storytelling.
Sorry for any mistakes.
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♡ With love ♡
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