21 Your Own Happiness

Veon slowed down. Sheloah noticed that they were on a different route going towards their school.

'Weird… why aren't zombies present?'

Sheloah looked at Veon. "Where are we going?"

The boy did not answer and just continued driving. Sheloah just ignored him and allowed him to drive wherever Veon took her.

His parents just died.

Sheloah sighed sadly as she remembered. She still couldn't accept that Veon packed up the courage to kill his parents just to save her. His parents were killed by the hands of their own son. Sheloah partly blamed herself.

Sheloah wanted to cry because of the thought but she knew she was not in the position to cry. She should be giving Veon the attention he needed; the comfort he needed.

Veon stopped the car to check the surroundings and noticed that there were no zombies around. Even though there were no zombies present, the ruin of the place was evident as shown by the cars that had bumped each other.

Veon stepped out of the car and walked towards a nearby tree. Sheloah was surprised and curious so she stepped out, too, following Veon. He sat down on the bench and she sat beside him.

Sheloah looked at the boy who was looking sadly at the sky. He was deep in thoughts and she didn't know whether to talk to him or not. All she could do now was to not disturb him and to just sit with him in silence.

Sheloah looked at the sky as well. "It's beautiful."

She didn't know what to say.

She looked at Veon and gave him a small smile. "Even though that this is happening in this world, there is still beauty around us," she added as Veon still continued to look at the sky.

He spoke. "There's a reason why we came here," he said and he looked at Sheloah. "Do you want to know?"

Sheloah slowly nodded. "If it's okay for you to share," she just answered and Veon looked at the sky again.

"Thank you for having the patience to stay with me," he said and Sheloah smiled weakly at him.

"Of course! We are best friends," she said and Veon smiled slightly, with sadness still present in his eyes.

'Nothing more than best friends…'

"Really… thanks for being with me," Veon said again and Sheloah nodded.

"You know, Sheloah… this place was where my parents usually took me to play," he said and Sheloah looked at him.

Veon looked at his feet on the ground. "When I was a child, I saw a shooting star and I asked for a wish." He laughed slightly as he told her a story of his childhood. "Childish, right?" Sheloah shook her head.

"All children do that," she commented and she slightly bumped Veon's shoulder, teasing him. "So you even have a cute side," she added and Veon laughed at her slightly. He calmed down.

"I'm happy to have visited this place one last time," he said and Sheloah frowned.

She didn't know what to say. This was an important place for him and his family. It held his childhood memories.

Both of them suddenly looked at the sky when they saw a shooting star. Both of them were surprised. Even in a zombie apocalypse, they were graced with such a sight.

"Did you see that," Sheloah asked and Veon nodded.

"It's been a while since I saw a shooting star," he said and they smiled at each other.

They sat quietly for a minute until Sheloah spoke. "What did you wish for?"

Veon looked at the sky as he tried to reach the stars with his right hand. "I wish I could've saved my parents," he answered and Sheloah's heart sank.

It was now his deepest regret.

Sheloah looked at her hands. She couldn't look at him. "I'm sorry… you were forced to kill them because of me," she said and Veon suddenly looked at her, taken aback. Sheloah sounded guilty.

"That had nothing to do with you! I wonder what would I have done without you." Sheloah looked at him and Veon patted her shoulder. "I think my parents would've wanted me to… take them out of their misery," he added and Sheloah looked down, avoiding Veon's gaze.

"I'm sorry," she said and Veon shook his head.

"You don't have to be," he said as he smiled at Sheloah when she looked at him. "How about you? What's your wish?"

Sheloah was suddenly taken aback from his question she had an answer to. She smiled at Veon slightly, hiding the sadness in her eyes. She did not answer his question but the answer was etched in her heart and mind.

'Your own happiness.'