27 Unfazed (?)

The scent of meat and its aromatic spices travels to their nostrils, as if they were lured in by a famous, first class, restaurant. The grilling lumps of pork and its spare vegetables could be heard sizzling from the kitchen's grill. Both of them places their belongings on the nearest available shelf and readied their empty stomach. They sat upon a miniature chair, comfortable enough to mainly occupy their butts, awaiting for their meal.

Zero's mother, Zenith, is wearing her classical apron, painted with purple and yellow hues, a soothing combination to the guest's eyes. This apron was a gift from her great grandmother, and was passed upon with their secret recipe among their relatives. This apron enables Zenith to create their most fantastic meals back from the days… when everything was okay. Despite her old appearance and fragile stature, she was not exactly the best cook but she sure knows what she was doing.

"So, how about some appetisers?" Zenith exclaims whilst raising her two plates, each of it having unique food to be served. On her left hand (plate) are freshly cooked fries, coated with mayonnaise and tomato ketchup, brings the saltiness flavour among any other. Looking from her right plate, sticky mushroom corn soup are flowing steadily inside a large bowl. These were actually enough for the two athirst student to fill up their dry, unrelinquished stomach. "Thank you for the meal" they both greeted and expressed their gratitude on the meal provided for them. Zenith eventually seats beside the duo, celebrating their return, in a form of a miniature dinner banquet. With a warming smile combined with their full coarse meal, the group ate their fit and robbed them off from their hunger.

Zero stood up and headed first on his room and prepares himself for whatever reasons he should have. Lilith, still sitting down, just gazes from the Zero, wondering what appropriate words she needed to say. Lost in thought, she notices Mrs. Lilith was the sole person who's fixing the dishes. "Mrs. Zenith, please, let me" Lilith insists, for she was an overstaying guest from this family who had taken her greatly as their own relative. "It's alright. The both of you should probably get some rest. You still have school for tomorrow, right?" Zenith asks whilst cleaning the leftovers from before. Lilith reluctantly nods, as a form of her answer. Zenith flashes her a warm smile and caress her hair. "I'm treating you as my own daughter not because you're the heir of a big company or some sort but through your efforts and presence with my son... he" Zenith slightly pauses, mid-way, from her sentence, staring blankly on the piled up plates which should have been easily taken care of. She resumes her previous stance and continues from where she had left from. "Zero is a strong, calm-minded, intelligent and… he really has an incredible heart. But as a mother, i can't help but feel scared for the future that awaits him. Above all else, he lacks the courage to express and feel. My husband...his father was a drunkard. But, at the very least, he paid it no mind not until his father...raised his hand against me. Overwhelmed, I panicked and shut my eyes, bracing for impact. You know what happened next?" Tears, which she had desperately tried to hold on, began flowing like a river. The next thing Lilith knew, she found herself hugging a person which she clearly wanted to call her, her own mother. Leaning forward, aligning her ears next to Zenith mouth, to elaborately listen her next set of words. "It was Zero who bravely stood in front of me, arms opened wide like a shield, with a determine look from his eyes... Without a mince of fear from death. Bottling up his experiences as a kid, the quiet Zero which I had grown accustomed to vanish... Creating a new persona installed inside of him." Zenith stares at the glimmering eyes of the young girl, releasing a genuine smile inside her heart "I'm afraid that that strength... Will result to his weakness. His hidden pain can wound him forever" As the night grew long, this piercing words struck Lilith's maiden heart. "I will" Thus, their promise have been formed "Thank you"

After the long and heartfelt talk, Lilith then follows Zero to his room and starts preparing herself to sleep. She washes her face, which was her routine to her self-beauty care. "Yow" Zero greeted, while lying on their bed, using his cell phone. "Hey" she replies, unable to meet his gaze. "Did something happened?" It was a question with concern. Zero patiently waited for her just...just because a man should always be eager to wait for a woman...his woma- Before his mind could even take flight, Zero shuts his phone and charges it from a nearby socket, just below their bed. "May I?" Lilith stood beside the tip of the bed, asking him her permission. "Be my guest" with his confirmation, Lilith snuggles from the opposite side, finding her most comfortable place as possible. With the talk from before, how on earth will she be able to face Zero from now and then? What is this eerie feeling of concern for him? She ask herself. The only reply Lilith had received was the soothing chimes of the clicking hands of the clock, ticking in advance, which reminded both of them to have their beauty rest as soon as heed possible. "Can't sleep?" Zero breaks the silence and strikes her a question. "Yeah" she replies, both of them gazing from the same ceiling, wondering on various random thoughts racing in their mind. "I...heard about you from your mother. You must've had a pretty rough time, didn't you?" Lilith was the next one to comply, yet the same silence had remained, granting them their quietude.

"Hmm" was the only sound Zero could mumble, as if thinking for himself whether to answer her inquiry or not. Zero was now in a stage of dilemma, due to this fact. It was an opened wound, that was recently sealed through the depth of time. Why would he allocate his time digging up from his bitter past when he could always move forward, leaving them behind?

Still, no words had escaped their conversation, they eventually doze off in an unsatisfied night.