*I'M HAPPY BEING WITH YOU*

TWENTY SIX YEARS AGO.

With protruding stomach, Sophie ran through the wood holding her stomach. The sky became darker and cloud gathered at one place before finally releasing a heavy downpour.

"Don't worry baby...I'll protect you...I'll protect you..." Sophie mutters weakly as she dragged her heavy legs.

Now completely saturated, she trudge weakly over to a large tree. Taking zoar there panting heavily at the same time.

"Ahh" She groans holding her stomach as she took her seat on the floor resting her back against the tree.

The rain continues pouring down on her though not as hard as before thanks to the large leaves of the tree.

She held her stomach as a sharp pain suddenly struck her.

"Ahhh!! Ahhh!! Help....help...AHHHHH!!" She started yelling as her water broke.

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"

AT A HUT.

Sophie opens her weak eyes. She took in the environment slowly scruching her face at how unfamiliar it is. Her gaze landed on an old man who was staring back at her.

"You've woken" The old man said.

"Who...are you?" She grunts weakly.

"You are_"

"My baby? Where is my baby? Where is my baby!" She questioned trying to get up. The old man turns away from her carrying the baby where he was placed to her.

"My baby..." Sophie mutters taking it from him.

"Baby..." She started kissing his head with tears dripping down her face.

"You disobeyed the warning of the heavens...I can sense an ominous feeling from him" The old man said. Sophie became alarmed. This is exactly why she ran away from her husband's house. There had been a prophecy...that her child carries bad luck. A shaman was invited to perform an exorcism...but she escaped before then.

"What...what are you talking about?" She feigned ignorance.

"It has to go back to where he came from...I can see danger looming. Rest...I'll get someone to take better care of you" The old man said exiting the hut. Sophie hugs the baby to herself looking around the hut.

"I must leave" She mutters.

Years passed and there was nothing out of ordinary happening to Sophie and her child. She even remarried to a man who accepted her and her child. She was happy...and forgot about the perhaps false prophesy.

But things started changing when he clocked sixteen.

EVERMORE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

"Look at him...I get chills just by looking at him"

"He feels so eerie that I can't even go close to him"

"I heard he got into a fight with one of the seniors?"

"Don't get me started...a senior bumped into him and he almost break his arm for that"

"Oouii he's so scary"

"I heard he talks to birds"

"He's so creepy seriously..."

He held his back bag strap so tightly to himself as different murmurs came from the students.

He walks out of the school not paying attention to any of them. Not like he doesn't care...he just chose to be Indifference about it. This has been his life ever since he turns sixteen. Life has been a happy one for him but suddenly, it turns around to a nightmare. Actually, he doesn't know why he's like that either. Even he...is scared of himself. Sometimes it just feels like he is a totally different person. Doing things against his control.

Getting home from school, he went directly to the backyard of the house. Immediately he did, the birds around all started chirping. He stood there not saying anything...just watching how the birds chirps he raised his hand forward and the birds flew towards him.

He was still on this when he started hearing some voices inside the house. He dismissed the birds and went inside.

"How am I to understand this again uh? Until when do I have to cover up for that son of yours!! Look at what he did!"

"Honey...calm down I'll talk to him" Sophie begged.

"Talk...talk? The one you've been doing every time that makes him get even more worse! No...when he comes back I'll deal with him myself! This nonsense must stop!!"

"Honey!...I'm sure there was a reason behind it uh?"

"Mom...Dad..." He called by the door with an expressionless face.

"Oh! You're finally here uh! Come here you must really want me dead uh!" Daniel his father went to him dragging him by the ear.

"Honey please!"

"Why did you do that! Why did you kill the neighbours' dog uh!"

"It was in pain...I only ended it for him"

"Ohhh....by killing it? Who asked you to do so? You must enjoy killing a lot uh? Is your future ambition to become a murderer uh!" Daniel barked in anger.

"Daniel!!" Sophie dragged him away from Daniel.

"Don't say such to my son!" She glared.

Daniel scoffs.

"Sure...your son! Your disgrace of a son! Why? Are you two in this together? Uh?!" Daniel got hold of Sophie's arms tightly.

"Don't hurt my mother" he took Sophie away from his hold.

"You...you dare talked back at me! How dare you eish!" Daniel landed a slap across his face. He fell to the floor immediately.

"Sure...you and your wretched mother...I took you in...feed you....take f**king care of you! You should be worshipping me how dare you talked back at me uh!!" He charged at him giving him multiple slaps.

Sophie who was already crying rushed to them trying to separate Daniel from him.

"I can't raise my head up in the society because of a bastard like you! Do you even know the insults been thrown at me because of a useless being like you uh!!" Daniel seethe locking his shirt.

"Let my son go...leave him alone please..." Sophie keeps crying as she tries to get Daniel away from him.

"Just...just tell him you're sorry..."

"I did nothing to be sorry about mother"

"Uhh...you're so cheeky aren't you?" Daniel scoffs standing away from him. He went over to his desk and get his golf club. He started walking towards him while Sophie ran to him immediately trying to stop him.

"Let go woman!" Daniel grits.

"Please...please forgive him..." Sophie shakes her head trying to stop him but Daniel push her away hardly. Sophie hit her head on the table in the process.

On seeing blood dripping down from her head, he became furious and darkness cloud his eyes instantly.

"You...you what are you...?" Daniel shrieked on seeing this.

He started moving closer to Daniel while Daniel moves back. He raised his hand forward and before Daniel could knew what was happening, his breath started to become seize.

"Hey...I...le..t...he..." Daniel started struggling for breath.

"I told you not to hurt my mother" He said in a rage voice putting more force to the power seizing his breathe more.

"Son..." Sophie mutters weakly where she was.

"Please...please...stop..." She pleaded but it was too late as he had no control over himself anymore.

"DIE!!!" He yelled and within a twinkle of an eye blood started oozing out from Daniel's mouth. His eyes became white instantly and on the floor he went down...dead.

Sophie gasped loudly where she was.

He finally calmed down and the darkness disappears from his eyes.

He looks around to see what's he has done and gasp looking at his hands. Sophie trudge to him pulling him in a hug crying at the same time.

"I killed him...will I really become a murderer now mother?" He asked slowly while Sophie only cries more.

PRESENT.

"AHH!!" Penny dropped the hot pot instinctively as it burns her hand.

"Hey weirdo! You okay?"Jason, who was at the living room rushed to her.

"Young man..." Penny pouted blowing air on the burn.

Jason face palmed.

***

"I told you not to cook...why are you so obstinate uh? You ended up hurting yourself" Jason chided as he apply ointment on her burn.

"I wanted to do something for you...I can't even do this little thing...there's really nothing I'm capable of..." She pouted sadly. Jason looks at her and sighs.

"Do you wanna go out?" He asked.

"To where?"

"Let's go...on a date" He said and her eyes widened.

"A date??"

SALON.

"How do I look?" Jason asked penny as he check out his new hairstyle in the mirror.

Penny raised her thumbs up at him.

"Young man...you look more handsome than before. I didn't know changing your hair can make you look different"

"Whether it's clothes or hair...I look good whenever I changed my style...gosh...im too dashing"

"I want to change my hair too! Change my hair for me young man!!" She whinned.

***

"Young man!" Penny ran to Jason who had been waiting for her.

"How do I look? Do I look beautiful?" She beams flaunting her permed hair.

"You look..." He gulps down nothing staring at her.

Penny waited eagerly to hear his response.

"Normal" He said looking away.

"Uh? Normal? Just that?"

"Let's go..." He started walking away while Penny follows behind.

"Young man...don't I look beautiful? Uh? Uh?"

PARK

Penny wouldn't stop giggling and bouncing as she walks in front of Jason.

"Face forward...you'll fall" Jason said tucking his hands in his pockets.

"Young man...I'm really really so happy I'm on date with you"

"I can see it all over your face"

"There are so many people here...I want to come here with you everyday" she beams while Jason looks around.

"Hey stop smiling...you're getting all the guys attention"

"Uh?"

"Come here" He went closer taking her hand in his. Penny looks at their interlock fingers and chuckles.

"Don't give anyone your attention here...even if they talk to you don't talk to them back...remember you no nobody here except me. Don't ever leave my side alright?"

"Um Young man...I'm gonna stick with you only" She grins while he nodded.

"I shouldn't have made you changed your hairstyle...I made a mistake" he mutters to himself.

***

"I never thought I'd see you again" Roman said serving Aviva a cup of coffee.

"You've changed a lot Vee"

"I should be saying that...you've become richer" Aviva said while Rowan chuckles.

"How did you find me?"

"Have you been sending the pills?"

"Does it works?"

"All along...you've been watching me"

"I never expected you to find out too soon"

"Why did you do that?"

"What?"

"Rowan...you betrayed me"

"I didn't...I only did what was right"

"She died because of you"

"No...her powers probably killed her. She knew she was gonna die"

"She was tryna stop you"

"Vee...nobody can stop me...not when I'm determined"

"I can. I can stop you Rowan and I have to...cause it's my destiny" Avi said while Rowan Snickers.

"Don't tell me you still carry that shaman's words around...you still believe that?"

"She's my grandmother. I believe her and more so, that...is my punishment"

"Vee...?"

"I'm going to stop you...by all it takes...I'll lift the curse...off my head...I wanted you to know that" she declared and stood up.

"I missed you...a lot" Rowan mutters.

"See you later" She said and leave his office. Just as she came out of the office she bumps into Margaret by the door.

"Oh! Aren't you the part-timer at Rolex'? What are you doing here?" She asked but Aviva ignored her leaving.

"That...that b**ch. How dare she ignore me? Why could she be here?"

BOWLING ALLEY.

"YES!!" Jason smiles while Penny claps jumping up in joy.

"Wow young man you won again!"

"Ain't I the best?" He grins while she gave him thumbs up.

"Weirdo...you wanna try?"

"Really? Can I?"

"Come on...I'll teach you how to do it"

Penny nodded in excitement moving closer.

"How do I do it?"

"Here...put your right foot back behind your left...bend your knees.."

"Like this..." Penny did as told.

"Let forward..." He held her hips.

"I like this" She bit her lips smiling.

"Concentrate"

"Sorry"

"Now try it" Jason stepped back while Penny breathe out.

"Here I go" She made to roll the ball down the lane but instead it flew away from her hand to the instructor behind them. Straight on the nose, it hits him while he went down immediately.

"Oh no!" Jason gasped while Penny covers her mouth with her palms.

***

"Hmmm..." Penny moans as she scoop the ice cream into her mouth.

"This is so tasty" She gushed.

"It's getting late...we should start heading home soon" Jason said scooping his also.

"Young man"

"Uh" He responded and she motioned to him to bend.

"What is it?" He asked bending down to her level. Penny brought her hand forward wiping off the cream which was on his lips. His eyes widened and for a while he stood like that watching her. Penny brought the finger to her mouth licking it.

"Hey...the guys are supposed to do that"

"Why? Is there a rule that the girls can't?" She asked innocently blinking her eyes.

"You...you're becoming more brazen...who taught you this uh? Is it that friend of yours?" He pointed and she grins.

"Oh! Young man! Let's do that!" She pointed to the clawing machine not far from them.

She giggled and ran over it before he could say anything.

Jason sighs before following.

"Which one?" Jason asked.

"That one" She pointed to a blue whale.

"What a weird taste you've got. Alright step aside I'm gonna get it for you. You trust me right?" He asked and she nodded.

He smiles and face the clawing machine.

"Oh oh oh! No..."

"My hand slipped...let me try it again" Jason said while Penny smiles.

"Yes yes...up up....ohhhhh...ugh!" She pouted.

"You lost it again"

"One more time..." Jason clears his throat.

TWO MINUTES LATER.

"Something must be wrong with this machine" Jason said hitting the clawing machine a little.

Penny sighs.

"Let's just go young man...we can just do something else..."

"No...I can take it. I can really"

"But you've been trying for a long time now...let's just go"

"You...you don't trust me. Alright..I'll show you what I'm capable of" He rolled up his sleeve and focus back on the clawing machine.

"I'll just sit here and wait till you're done" She went to a corner and sat there.

FIVE MINUTES AFTER.

Jason pointed the teddy to her and she looks up.

"Oh young man you finally got" she leaped up collecting it from him.

"I told you I will...hey seems you don't know but it takes some special talent to be able to do these things. I'm able to do it cause I'm extraordinary"

"Um young man...you're the best" She gave him a thumb up while he mussed up her hair.

"Let's go..." They started walking.

"Where are we going next?"

"Why do you wanna go?"

"Young man" she stopped and face him.

"Um"

"I..am really happy today. I'm so so so so happy" She grins.

"Young man...I wish we could go on dates like this everytime. I'm really happy whenever I'm with you young man..." She hugs him.

"I don't ever wanna be apart from you. Being with you makes me happy" She said burying her head in his chest. Jason says nothing but just pats her hair.

After awhile he disengaged and held her face.

"I'll remember what you said tonight" He said and she nodded.

"Let's go..." He held her hand leaving but just then a lady bumped into them splashing the drink in her hand on Jason in the process.

"Oh my! Are you okay? I'm so sorry" the lady apologies cleaning his stained clothes.

"Oh...I'm fine you don't need to worry"

"Oh what to do? Your clothes are ruined because of me"

"I'm okay really...you can go your way...I'll take care of it"

"I'm really sorry..." The lady bit her lip before leaving.

"Are you okay young man?" Penny asked.

"I'll just go change my clothes...come on let's go"

BOUTIQUE.

Penny waited eagerly grinning at the whale teddy Jason got her.

Suddenly she felt pressed and decided to use the restroom. Jason came out of the dressing room and couldn't find her.

"Excuse me but did you perhaps see the lady I came with. She was wearing a white dress and looks really pretty " He asked one of the attendants.

"The lady with permed hair? She just went to the restroom" The attendant replied and jason smiles.

"Thanks" While waiting he decided to go pay for the clothes.

An uproar suddenly break out when the fire alarm was suddenly raised.

"FIRE! FIRE! EVERYONE OUT!" The boutique went into an disorder when the people started trooping out pushing themselves in the process.

"Sir you have to go out now!" One of the securities said to Jason who was running around the boutique looking for Penny.

"No...I can't...Weido...weirdo is still in there" He said trying to go to the restroom but the security had to dragged him out.

"Wait! Just a minute! Someone is still in there. Peni...PENINAH!! PENINAH!!" He shouted as the security blocked him from going back into the boutique.

Penny wouldn't stop coughing as she makes her way out of the restroom.

"Young man..." She mutters looking around the whole place which is now filled with smoke.

"Young_ where are you Young man..." Now the smoke has started penetrating into every holes of her body that it became difficult for her to breath or even see.

She slumped to the floor coughing repeatedly. Slowly losing her consciousness, she heard some footsteps.

"Jason..." She mutters weakly looking at the black boots that stop right in front of her. Her eyes finally closed and the person crouch carrying her from the floor. Her teddy fell to the floor as the person took her away.