Familiar (remake)

For those who skipped the prologue: The Alex here is Tuesday's past life.

"Father, I'm going~!"

Said the little boy with black hair and peculiar red eyes.

"..."

A man stayed there, expressionless like a soulless doll.

Lock.

"♪~" The boy wandered singing softly.

"Oh, Alex, you're here this early!" said an old woman with a wide smile after seeing the boy.

"Yes! Just passing~"

"Come here, I have some apples."

"Oh, thanks!"

The boy smiled, revealing his teeth; some were missing, highlighting his young age.

"You're so thin, are you eating well?" said the woman patting his head softly, her eyes full of worries and maternal love.

"Don't worry about me, Auntie. My father never lets the food stop coming into the house!"

"Is that so? I rarely see him..."

"He is quite shy. Besides that, did you reconcile with Uncle?"

"Me and that hard head?! I...!"

At the word "uncle" something seemed to be triggered in the woman, the boy just kept listening with a wide cheerful smile.

"Uncle really should think again, Auntie is such a good woman!"

"Oh~! Alex, you're so kind...!"

The woman stroked his head with a touched face. The boy still showed a wide and pure smile.

"Hehe~ Thank you for the apples, Auntie! I need to go to the market now~"

He said while avoiding the woman in slightly quick steps.

"Don't forget to come here more often, I will give you more good apples~!!"

"I will!"

It was just a trivial talking.

"Alex, thank you for helping me in the garage the other day!"

"It's nothing, thanks for the DVDs too!"

"Oh, it's Alex! How have you been?"

"Not as good as you Mr. Watson!"

"Alex~! Come here later, my dad bought a new game!!"

"A new one!? I will!"

Alex was a very well-known neighborhood child so scenes like that happened often.

No matter where he passed an eye always followed him.

He had a kind personality and always seemed to know the right thing to say. Not a single person disliked him.

"Ms. Claire, I'm here!"

"Good morning, Alex." said the woman with lazy eyes and a bored face.

"Are you singing today too?"

"Yes, I woke up in the mood!"

Claire naturally smiled seeing the young boy smile, he was the same age as her brother but unlike him, he was a very good kid.

"If only my brother were a bit like you... How on earth were you raised?"

"Hehehe~ Thanks."

"You can stay for a while, the boss wouldn't care if it was short."

At her words, the boy placed a small hat on the floor and stood upright, his little hands resting on his chest.

"Oh, it's Alex."

"Sing my song today~!!"

"Mom, look~ brother Alex will sing!"

With a calm expression, Alex stared through the slits of his eyes at the crowd, calculating how much he would earn from today's performance.

Three old women, a young couple with their daughter, and the butcher, a regular.

Alex knew well that his cute appearance triggered the instincts of elderly women, who often carried good pocket money.

Depending on the public he would change the performance to the one that would make the most money.

'A cute and melancholy performance today... This should cover dinner.'

His eyes lit up like stars, and a smile naturally spread across his face.

"♪~"

A cute and clear voice echoed in the marketing, the people closed their eyes as if appreciating the melody.

"..."

No one talked about anything, they were hypnotized by the boy's voice which was like a rain of emotions.

The melody started lively like a child going to the park and playing with his friends.

The elderly woman could imagine their child in their mind.

Over time, the tone became lower and slower, like a child growing up and facing the adversities of the road.

The image of their child becoming adults, creating their own families, and saying goodbye...

And finally, a lively tone again, as if their cute children had come to visit them with a smile, now more mature but still familiar.

 Sniff

The sound of tears came from the public.

There was a reason Alex's performances were so well-known.

Even the toughest man couldn't help but navigate through his old memories.

"..."

At the end of his performance, silence filled the room. More people had approached, becoming hypnotized by the boy's charisma.

Clap- Clap.

Short applause came from nowhere, they didn't know who started it but thanks to that the world seemed to come back again.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

An avalanche of applause erupted.

Coin~

"Wow, thanks!"

Coin~! Coin~!

Many coins filled his small hat, there was so much that it seemed to overflow.

"Once more! Once more!!"

"Heh~ The hat is not that big!"

"Here! Catch mine!"

Another hat appeared next to his small one. 

"Okay, just once more today!"

A wide smile appeared, it was genuine this time. Maybe today he could eat meat!

The boy sang again and a bit more, but not that much.

If he was too clingy the boss wouldn't like it. He took extra care because this place was one of the most profitable.

"Thank you, everyone!"

Coin~

He put all the coins in a bag and said goodbye to the public.

Alex would use this money to buy necessities such as rice or beans, and when money was short, fast food.

"♪~"

Creek.

The door of a house opened revealing a dark inside with some pieces of glass and blood scattered across the floor.

"...Father?"

Tap. Tap.

Alex approached with hesitant steps, the smell of iron welcomed his nose agonizingly.

The smell was becoming strong in the kitchen.

Tap! Tap!

Without hesitation, Alex ran with despair evident in his eyes.

Creek!

"Father, are you okay?!"

"..."

Inside the kitchen, a pool of blood was in the middle of the floor, but his father wasn't there.

"F-Father, where are you?!"

Creek!

He wasn't in the bath.

Creek!

Nor in the living room as usual.

Creek...!

He wasn't in any room.

"Father! Where are you?!"

Tears came from his eyes in despair. Alex didn't know what to do but his steps never stopped.

Finally, he could see marks of blood on the floor. 

Maybe he could find his father if he followed it.

Creek!

"!"

Alex finally saw a familiar sight, it was his father's boot.

Tap! Tap! 

He walked to the middle of the yard looking for his father.

Suddenly, a portrait was there, covered in blood.

The woman had cute black hair and blue eyes, she seemed like a model.

Anyone who saw her could say she had a lively and unique personality.

This was his mother.

"Father! Father!!"

He walked until he reached the image of the woman, where the blood was more evident.

His father had probably harmed himself but there was a chance that he was still alive.

With these thoughts, Alex just ran with his eyes closed.

Bak!

Alex hit a strange body.

"Father-"

His eyes started to tremble wildly.

In front of him was his father upright, there were marks of blood on his belly and clothes, but what made Alex speechless was what was in his neck.

"A- A-Ah..."

A tie was firmly attached to the ceiling. His feet didn't touch the floor.

His father had already died.

He was late.

Too late.

"Ah!!!"

The lively child was nowhere to be seen.

*

Swing.

"..."

A child was alone in a park sitting in a swinger with an empty expression.

Alex knew he shouldn't stay there, he should call the adults and go through some process.

However, he hadn't a mind to deal with these things.

He didn't want to smile for anyone anymore.

"♪~"

Ironically, he started to sing a beautiful melody, contrary to his inner feelings.

Tears fell from his expressionless face.

Singing wouldn't resolve anything, he knew it, but at least it would make him feel better.

His voice was the only thing he really relied on. It was his daily bread and only entertainment.

Sniff.

"♪~!!"

When the tears came and sadness filled his heart he would sing even louder.

As if trying to distract the sadness in his heart.

As if making him believe he was happy.

Even if it was just for a brief moment.

"♪..."

Alex always made people smile, he thought if he was useful to someone he could forget his pain.

But now, it hurt.

Hurt so much.

And there was not even a single person to listen to his voice. He was alone.

Clap. Clap.

"...?"

Suddenly, the sound of applause came from the darkness.

"Who?"

From the darkness, the image of a girl appeared.

She was the same height as him, with the same red eyes and black hair.

She was like a mirror.

"Your voice is beautiful." said the girl with an enchanting smile, perhaps even more so than his.

"..."

Swing!

The girl shamelessly sat in the other swinger next to him.

"What do you want?"

"What do I want...?" asked the girl, confused.

"I never saw you before. I know the entire neighborhood."

"O-Oh, is that so?"

"Who are you?"

Alex was sad and vulnerable, but he wasn't naive. 

"I moved recently."

"Really?" 

His words had a doubtful tone.

"Instead! What a beautiful voice you have!"

"You're trying-"

"Can you sing again for me?!"

"You..."

The girl stared at him, tears seemed to fall from her eyes at any moment.

"Fine."

"Yay!" said the girl in a victorious pose.

Alex stared at her with confused eyes. What a strange girl.

"What do you want to listen to?"

"An amazing song!"

In the end, she didn't answer anything.

Alex's face frowned at her imprecise words.

"And what is an 'amazing song'?" 

"Hum..." 

The girl put her hand on her chin, thinking deeply.

Seconds later, a wide smile appeared on her face.

"The kind of song that makes you cry."

Was it what she wanted?

"...♪~"

A trembling voice echoed in the darkness.

Just he and the girl seemed to stay in this space.

Alex put all his feelings and worries in his voice.

Sniff.

Fortunately, it wasn't that hard to make someone cry.

He was in the perfect mood for it.

"Ugh... ♪~ Ah... ♪~"

The tears fell nonstop from his face, his red eyes were even more redder.

Pat. Pat.

Small hands touched the top of his head.

The smiling and cheerful child finally allowed himself a basic need.

"You can cry when you're sad." said the girl with a kind smile.

"Ugh... ♪~"

"You can scream loudly when you're angry"

"♪~ Ah..."

Warm arms involved his head. 

"At least in front of me, you don't need to hide anything."

"Ah...!!"

The boy's hands gripped the girl's back tightly as if he would never let go.

Pat. Pat.

"Calm... It's ok~"

This was the first time Alex met her girlfriend.

And the second he decided to live.

*

Several years had passed since Alex had witnessed his father's death.

His body still preserved much of its cuteness but also showed more mature characteristics.

As an idol, Alex had won the hearts of many women with his cute and handsome appearance.

His audience was vast, regardless of age or social class.

His legacy was something for anyone to be proud of.

Yes, anyone.

Except himself.

"...Fuck"

Alex's mind was blurred and his legs were trembling like those of a newborn deer.

His voice was hoarse from singing so much.

How many performances had he given just today? He had no idea.

"Good work, Alex." said the black-suited man wearing sunglasses.

Alex's eyes stared at him like a soulless doll.

"I'm counting on you tomorrow too." 

A hand grabbed his shoulder firmly.

"...Yes."

With a proud smile, the man left the room.

A tear fell from his expressionless face.

Why was life harder than when he was poor?

Now he had a lot of money but couldn't use it because he was so busy every time.

Tic~ Tic~

A cell phone started to ring in his pocket.

Life suddenly came back from his eyes.

It was the song he put specially for "her".

"Amy...?"

[Hey~ dear.]

A playful and lively voice came from the cell phone. 

It was Amy, his girlfriend and childhood friend.

A smile naturally appeared on his face.

"Do you call me? I thought you were avoiding me..."

[Me? Avoiding such a beautiful boy? Aren't you just missing me so much~?]

"You're so shameless, I tried to call you many times last week."

[You know, no one likes easy girls~ Are you loving me more?]

"So much that I want to hit you in the face~"

[Oh, my~ want to see who wins the fight~?]

"..."

If there was something Alex hated the most, it was her ability to always say things that left him speechless.

Alex and Amy had started to date a long time ago, but there were many things he didn't know about her.

Where she lived, her family and friends were a complete mystery to him.

Even if he asked more about her she always would put many excuses in front of it and distract him.

[Don't feel so bad, dear~ Want to date this sister tonight~?]

"Stop talking like a bitch, it's giving me shivers."

[A bitch? I can be everything for my Alex~ hehe]

"Are you serious about the date?"

[Serious, very serious!]

"Where and when?"

[Well... You know...]

"You haven't thought of anything, have you?"

[Te~ hee ☆]

Sigh...

Alex frowned his face hearing the careless voice of his girlfriend.

He was so careless and impulsive every time.

Why did he fall in love with her? 

"Let's go to the shopping XXX at 9 PM, we can meet at the food court on the first floor, do you agree?"

[C-Can you repeat it again?]

"Shopping XXX-"

[Slowly! You talk so fast!]

"Sho- ping- XXX..."

Alex calmly repeated his words as if he were talking to a child.

[I got it! I will stay there!]

"Don't forget to activate GPS, I already showed you how to use it."

[GPS?]

"You remember, don't you...?"

[O-Of course! You're so worried about everything~!]

"..." 

His girlfriend was a naive girl.

She seemed to lack a lot of common sense, that's why Alex was so worried about her.

[Shopping XXX, 11 PM, First Floor]

"Where is she?" asked the masked man with a frowned face.

Alex was a very punctual person. 

He had arrived within thirty minutes in advance, chose his best clothes, and brushed his teeth several times.

Since he was a well-known idol, he couldn't show his face in public.

But even knowing it he had also applied light makeup and perfume.

'Is she lost? Why she doesn't attend my calls?'

Alex stared at his watch anxiously. Should he go? More than two hours had passed...

"Hey pretty boy, do you want to go out with me?"

Suddenly, a tempting voice came behind him.

There stood a woman with heavy makeup, red lips, and a well-defined body.

The smell of perfume filled his nose making his face frown.

Alex was very sensitive to smells, so the impression of the woman was already in the bottom.

"I have a girlfriend."

"Eh~? Isn't it even better?"

"What...?"

Alex stared at the woman as if she was a crazy bitch.

A finger started to touch the top of his chest uncomfortably.

"As long no one opens the mouth first, what is the problem?"

The woman's eyes stared at him temptingly, like a wild animal eyeing its prey.

The sight gave shivers in his spine.

As an idol, he was very used to crazy women like that, but at least he had a lot of security guards.

Alex couldn't understand why strange people always approached him with weird intentions and twisted morals.

"Backwards."

Alex pushed the woman away with rare cold eyes.

If there was something he hated the most it was betrayal.

"Don't be so mean~ I can make you feel good~"

A hand slowly descended in a dangerous direction.

The woman's eyes seemed blurred as if she was in heat.

Grab.

Suddenly a hand appeared from nowhere stopping the woman's hand.

A woman with a wide smile and cold eyes was there staring at the tempting woman.

"Get away from my boy, bitch"

"Tsk"

She put her hands in her pocket with a disgusted face.

"Catch my number. I'm always free~"

She said, right in front of his girlfriend.

A piece of paper was placed on the collar of his shirt.

The only thing Alex could see was the engagement ring in her hand.

The woman smiled at him and turned her body expressionless.

Her emotions changed so quickly that it frightened him.

"Are you okay?"

A warm sensation welcomed his back.

Amy and Alex were like twins, they had the same height, black hair, and red eyes.

Her arms wrapped around his waist kindly.

"Where were you all this time?"

"I-I was a little busy choosing a dress!"

Alex's eyes stared at her dress.

It was a pure white dress without any accessories.

She wasn't using perfume too, the smell that came from her was a little of sweat and her natural smell.

His eyes immediately stretched at her, he had so much to say.

"The movie... is probably over."

He said with a downcast mood.

At this time, the mall was almost empty.

He needed to go to a show tomorrow and probably would sleep less than five hours.

He had given up his sleep to spend time with his girlfriend after a long time.

But when he arrived, a strange woman tried to sexually harass him.

He also stood for 2 hours and 30 minutes with a tired body.

There were large dark circles under his eyes, covered by makeup.

"Ha... It's okay. As long you're here."

Alex's vision started to blur, but he fought to keep from falling asleep and looked at his girlfriend.

"You're beautiful."

"I know right!? I seem so cute in this dress!"

"..."

Why was he expecting common sense in the first place? He should know the personality this idiot had.

She was just an airhead.

Alex felt a warm hand touching his.

"Today I'm all yours."

When she smiled she seemed like the purest girl in the world.

Her dress was simple and without any accessories.

Her face had the same usual careless smile.

She was beautiful.

"Let's see a good movie!"

She said, grabbing his hands like a mommy bear.

Seeing her back Alex was still tired and his body was aching in many places.

But with her, the sacrifice didn't seem that unreasonable.

'I just hope there's a good movie, everything besides terror is okay...'

*

"Are the tickets really sold out?"

"I will check again, just a minute." said the woman with a commercial smile.

"Ah, there are two remaining tickets." 

"Really?!"

"But the movie is different..." 

"Everything is fine!" he said, his eyes full of determination.

"O-Oh. So, it's all yours, then."

She said while putting the tickets over the counter.

Tap!

Alex quickly put the money there and grabbed the tickets.

"S-Sir, this is more than five times the price!"

"Keep the change!"

The woman's words did not even register in his ears.

Alex's sleep-deprived mind could think just about one thing.

Make this date work somehow.

Alex and Amy entered the movie theater.

"Ah!!"

Suddenly, a woman's voice came from a screen.

"Ahhh!!"

Seconds later a man's voice echoed even more scared.

Stare~

Numerous eyes stared at him.

Alex's face immediately became bright red.

"Ah, there are our chairs!" said Amy with a wide smile.

Her hands guided him to the seats.

"Wait-"

Before he could say anything Alex's body was already in front of a chair.

Amy sat with a smiling face, oblivious to the world.

Alex held back his words and reluctantly sat in his chair.

"Johnny!! I'm not kidding! Where are you?!"

The voice of a woman kept coming from the screen.

Alex's body started to tremble in the tense atmosphere.

'Why terror from all genres?!'

Alex was terrible at dealing with terror.

Since his father died, he could not even sleep with the light turned off.

He avoided all kinds of terror his entire life.

Suddenly, a hand touched his. Fingers intertwined with his.

When he stared at the owner of this hand he saw Amy, watching the movie with the same naive smile.

She did not even blink at how immersed she was.

It was the first time he had seen her so immersed in something.

Alex's pride was severely hurt.

"Oh, my... Johnny!"

But he didn't care. It was so scary!

Alex tried to relieve his emotions singing a lullaby he always would sing when scared.

'...You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...'

"Ah, get out! get out!!"

'Fuck!!'

Alex's hand tightened.

Why would someone pay to watch this kind of content?

"Hahaha! They're so funny~"

The sound of laughter came from the seat next to him. 

Was "it" his girlfriend?

That night, Alex couldn't even blink.

*

"Ha... What a good movie!" 

"..."

Two similar figures sat side by side.

It was wonderful that so similar people could seem so different.

Alex's eyes had lost their spirit long ago.

He stared at the subway window like an empty doll.

'Today was a disaster...'

This was the only thing he could think.

He was tired of everything.

Grab...

A hand tightly grasped his.

"Thank you for today." she said, smiling faintly.

"It was the funniest movie I ever watched in my life."

Both eyes stared at each other in the lonely night.

The time seemed to stop when Alex looked at her.

More than her usual excessive smiles, this faint smile she gave him seemed the most honest of them.

The light came back from his eyes little by little.

His mouth couldn't decide if he wanted to smile or cry.

'Well... maybe it's not a complete disaster.'

Alex's body started to get heavier.

The smile of his girlfriend seemed to have broken the last trace of consciousness he was holding.

Two shoulders touched each other.

"Alex?" she said, looking at her "boyfriend".

Next to her, a cute sleeping face was there.

A sincere smile naturally appeared on her face.

In her eyes, the being next to her was the cutest thing in this world.

He was her proof of "love".

Amy gently held the boy's vacillant body.

His face touched her lap.

Snore...

"You did your best today."

A hand patted the head of the boy kindly.

Her hands touched him as if she were touching a precious treasure.

A delicate and precious treasure.

"Mhm... I don't... want... work"

The boy frowned his face while sleeping.

"No more work for you, little boy."

She said as she tenderly caressed his face and kissed him on the cheek.

"Hehehe~"

A small laughter came from the boy.

Alex instinctively knew.

Her touches were full of love.

And that he was loved.

"Sleep well..." she said, melancholically staring at the boy.

"My baby."