Chapter 5: Fading Memory

"Nii-chan why are you at Yuki's house?" Yuki asked with a furrowed brow surprisingly.

"Okay," replied Alva who immediately rose from his seat.

"Eh? Nii-chan where are you going?" Yuki asked again who was confused about Alva suddenly stood up after he said that.—"

"Go home," Alva replied shortly. Yes, always short.

"A-ah, alright, then be careful, Nii-chan," Yuki said a little awkwardly.

"Hm," replied Alva and then stepped out of Yuki's house. While Yuki, now staring at Alva's departure with a look of wonder confusedly.

"Actually, what's wrong with Nii-chan? Why was he still here when I got home? However, when I asked, he said okay and just left. Sometimes, I don't understand what Nii-chan means," Yuki asked confusedly. Really, Yuki's small brain sometimes finds it difficult to understand Alva's short words.

"Ah, I forgot, I have to get ready and leave immediately," muttered Yuki, realizing that he immediately switched to change his clothes and getting ready for the third place of work.

***

"Hey Yuki! Why are you taking so long?! Your performance is really bad. You know that our restaurant is full of customers, but you work slowly just like that. What if the plates run out, huh?! Do you want me to tell the boss?" protested one of the restaurant employees to Yuki.

"S-sorry brother Riki, I will try to be faster than this. But please don't tell the boss about this, brother. Yuki promised to finish and clean all the plates, bowls, glasses and more quickly. Once again, please forgive Yuki, brother," Yuki said apologizing to the man who was none other than Riki.

"Just watch out if I come back later, this whole thing is still dirty. I won't hesitate to tell the boss," replied Riki and then walked away leaving Yuki to continue his activities.

A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman approached Yuki who was still struggling with her current task.

"Hey Yuki!" called the woman who suddenly made Yuki startled. The plate that was in his hand, suddenly fell on the sink which of course made the woman really angry.

"What have you done Yuki?!" the woman snapped.

"Please forgive Yuki, aunt Sora. Yuki really didn't mean to do that," Yuki replied, flinching in fear.

"You are stupid! You have just broken an expensive plate! you already know how much it costs huh?! It's very expensive for a poor person like you, Yuki! Your salary is only a pack of rice and side dishes, how can you replace it?!" asked Sora with a bright red face.

"I'm S-sorry, aunty Sora, Yuki is really sor—"

"Do you think you can apologize for returning the broken plate huh?!" Sora snapped which made Yuki swallow hardly.

"Yuki promised to replace it auntie," Yuki replied with her head bowed.

"With what? With all those your useless words? Where can you replace it? Remember Yuki, you are just a poor person who can only afford to buy food to survive every day. Don't be arrogant or anything, just remember your limits!" Sora said while snorting right in front of Yuki.

"Sorry aunt, then what can Yuki do? If Yuki has to get punished, Yuki will really do it," Yuki replied confidently. His pupil shows a seriousness that he rarely shows in front of others.

"Punishment? Of course, you will. The punishment is that you will not get a salary or food for one month," said Sora with a smirk that appeared in the corner of his eye.

"O-Okay aunty Sora. Yuki is fine," Yuki replied accepting.

"Good, now back to work! Don't let anything else happen," said Sora said then left Yuki to a room.

***

Yuki, returning home after finishing his work. Of course, don't forget that he still has to work at the last place, which is at 7 pm.

"Yuki's home!"

"Ah, there's still a long time, Yuki can still go to the park now," he muttered then hurriedly took his sketchbook and pencil.

After that, Yuki stepped into the garden where every day he spent his afternoon before going to the restaurant.

"Hey brother!" exclaimed one of the small children who was playing around where Yuki was sitting.

"Yes?" Yuki replied with a big smile.

"Brother, why are you here anyway? We want to play here," protested the little boy to Yuki.

"I promise I won't do anything. Yuki would just sit quietly here. You and your friends can still play," said Yuki trying to give the understanding as smooth as possible.

"We can't play near the dirty and smelly people like you, brother. My mother said, you will spread undetected viruses because of the bacteria that are lodged in your dirty body," replied the little boy innocently.

Listening the child's words, Yuki was made to smile. He used to hear that. Of course, it had no effect on Yuki.

"Okay then, I'll move on. You guys just continue playing, okay?" Yuki said still with a happy smile then got up from his seat and moved to a quieter place.

"Thank you!" replied the child slightly shouted for Yuki to hear.

"You're welcome," Yuki replied quietly while humming happily and sitting under the shady trees.

"Ah? Yuki forgot, the sketchbook is already dry and wrinkled like this, can Yuki still paint here?" Yuki asked himself while looking at his sketchbook which had shriveled up.

"All of Yuki's paintings are faded, however, they are memories that Yuki can't forget. Yuki really wanted to paint everything back, but Yuki couldn't. Yuki doesn't remember everything clearly," Yuki muttered, looking down at the paintings he had polished with his tiny hands.

You need to know, all Yuki's paintings are solely. His paintings, purely from events that he had experienced.

As in the first page, he depicts the figures of his father and mother who hug him tightly. At that time, the three of them were hiding from the pursuit of a hitman that ended up of Yuki's parents death. On the second sheet, a tiny figure is painted in the center right inside a large trash can. And it really happened. At that time, Yuki who was trying to save himself, ran and found it in a trash can, so the killers couldn't find him.

So, Yuki was sad when he saw his sketchbook, because he didn't want to forget all the memories of his father and mother. He still wants to remember his mother's beautiful face and his father's handsome face. Yuki would never forget the two of them forever.