42

                                    

                                          

            Win's question makes him think back to his last day with his parents at his house and everything that had happened during that day. " That day, was already really hard for me from the start. My parents had made me train until 4:00am that morning and I was covered in bruises " he says quietly.
            " Everything my parents did that day, made me snap. I couldn't handle it anymore. The abuse had gotten to much to handle and I don't think I could have taken any more. And I ended up running away from home with just my phone and backpack. I sat in a park until it was dark out. I didn't know what to do. It's not like I could go and stay at Diao's house ".
            " I was feeling so broken and Diao hadn't answered me when I called him so I called Hia Lian. He was the only person I knew, would take care of me. He had proven that he will " he says. " But when he was he answered and I started to talk. I saw a figure standing under the streetlight that I was going to. Everything in me, told me that it was dangerous. I remember immediately asking Hia Lian for help as I backed away ".
            " The vampire, was playing with me. I would run and he would appear in front of me. I don't know when but I dropped my phone. Hia Lian must have heard me scream " he says, thinking back to the vampire attack. He's never fully talked about what happened.
            " In those moments I have never wanted to see someone, more then I wanted to see Hia Lian. I wanted him to come and save me and protect me like he continuously said he would to me " he says before taking a deep breath. " When he saved me and I saw him fighting and watched as he killed that vampire, I knew that he had to be a monster. When I saw his eyes, I figured out what he was " he says quietly.
            " You watched as he killed the vampire. That would only make you more scared " Top says quietly. " It did. My whole body was shaking from fear and I didn't know what to do. Hia Lian did though, he immediately told me that he'd never hurt me and stayed a good distance from me ".
            " I felt so broken, confused and scared. I had learned that all monsters were bad. I had been made to think that any monster will want to kill me. Yet there Hia Lian was. The person who cared for me the most. The person who had gotten so angry when he found out someone hurt me. It was just the complete opposite from what I've learned my whole life ".
            " At some point I told him that I was scared and everything hurt. He told me to let him help me. To let him protect me " he says quietly. " Hia Lian really cares for you so much " Win says gently. He smiles and nods his head before continuing. 
            " When I heard him say that, my head thought about everything I learned in the past about monsters. However, the thing I kept thinking about the most. Was how caring Hia Lian had been to me. So I did what I thought was the best answer, I asked him to help me " he says quietly.
            " You chose the right answer " Top says to him. " I did. I chose the right from the wrong answer. I knew I did the moment Hia Lian hugged me after I asked him to help me " he says with a smile. Win smiles back at him and says " You were brave and chose what's right, you went against everything you learned ". He nods his head.
            " Hey Kuea, There's a secret spot that I want to show you. It's on the way back to the house. It's got a really nice view of the ocean. I think you'll like it " Top says randomly. " Alright, Let's stop and see it before heading back to the house " he says with a smile as he turns to look outside of the window, watching the scenery as they drive.
~ Time Skip ~
            " Alright, we're here " Top says, pulling off to the side of the road. When the cars parked, he quickly unbuckles before getting out of the car. He's excited to see the view that Top has told him about. " It's about a 20 minute walk down this trail " Top says as they begin to walk down an old and abandoned trail.
            The sun is setting as they walk down the trail, creating a beautiful orange and pink shade to shine through the trees. It's beautiful he thinks to himself as he pulls out his phone. He opens his camera and faces it towards Win and Top as they walk down the trail in front of him.
            Smiling, he takes a photo of them. Their figures are dark grey compared to the bright pink and orange colors shining towards them. The photo turns out beautiful, making him happy. He wants to keep this photo so that he can always remember this moment. 
            They walk down the trail in silence. They're all enjoying the quiet sounds of nature. When they make it to the end of the trail, Top and Win have him enter the sit first. So he slowly walks past them and towards the edge of the cliff.
            What he sees when he reaches the edge of the cliff, amazes him. He has never seen such a beautiful sunset as the one he is currently seeing. The sun is slowly disappearing under the ocean far off in the distance. Coloring the ocean a beautiful orange and yellow color. While the sky is filled with a mixture of blues, pinks, yellows and oranges.
            " What do you think " Top asks him. He turns to Top, smiling. " It's beautiful " he says before turning back towards the view. He pulls out his phone and opens the camera. He wants to show the others this view. So he takes a few photos of the view.
            A strong feeling of calm and peacefulness fills him as the cold wind brushes against his skin. He's never felt this calm before. He just feels happy and like there's no issues to worry about. Having Top and Win here with him, only makes him happier.
            Is this what it's like, to feel truly happy. With no concern for anything else. " I wonder " he quietly whispers to himself. " Wonder what " Win gently asks him. " If this is what it's like. To truly feel happy for the first time " he says, smiling as he looks out towards the ocean.
      WC: 1121