BLOODLINE FOURTEEN

"Hey kid, why are you crying?" said the young boy to another child who was in tears.

But the child just looked at him.

"Here, take this tissue. You're such a cute kid, but so crybaby," the boy said.

The child looked at him again. He stopped crying, but tears still streaked his cheeks.

The boy moved closer to wipe the tears from his face.

"There, now you're all clean," the boy said with a smile. "This tissue is for you now, okay? I'm giving it to you."

"Why were you crying?" he asked again.

"I-I got lost," the child shyly replied.

"Hahahahaha," he laughed at the answer.

"W-why are you laughing?" the child managed to ask him.

"Never mind... Hehehe... You're really cute," he said, putting his arm around the child.

"Where are you from?" he asked.

"I'm from Japan," he replied.

"Wow! That's so far! How did you end up here in the Philippines? Did you use magic?" he asked.

The child just shook his head in response.

"Is that so? By the way, what's your name?"

"Tai--"

"Child! Oh my, there you are! I was worried," the mom suddenly said, taking the child.

"Papa," the child replied.

"Hey! Crybaby cute kid! Don't lose my tissue, okay? So if we meet again, I'll remember you! And my name is SHIONE! Don't you ever forget my name or I'll haunt you!" the child shouted to his departing friend.

Even though he was already far away, he saw the smile on the child's lips.

I dreamed of that child again. I don't know his name. I haven't dreamed of him in the past two years. I don't know why I dreamed of him again.

"Shione, are you okay?" Taisou asked me.

I smiled at him and nodded.

"I'll let Uncle Miko and your dad know about this," he said.

"No, please don't. They don't need to know," I said to him.

"But--"

"Trust me, Sou..."

"Okay, but what are you going to do now? About him?" he asked.

I let out a deep sigh. "I guess I'll just wait until he confesses to me," I answered.

"What!? You'll wait for him to confess? Are you insane? You saw him having sex with that slut!"

"I know, Sou! But I want to be sure! What if he was just drunk? Or being manipulated? You know magic can do anything--"

"Wake up, Shione! There's no magic that can manipulate people!" he shouted.

That hit me. Yes, there is magic in this world, but there's no magic that manipulates people.

"I-I'm sorry, Shione. I'm just worried about you," he said.

"I know, Sou... Thank you... But please, let me handle this my own way," I pleaded with him.

"Okay, okay..." he replied to me.

"Now, eat so you can feel better," he said, handing me food.

Ring Ring Ring

The phone rang.

"I'll get it for a sec," he said.

I started eating again. I don't know why, but I've been nervous since earlier. It feels like something bad is going to happen.

I finished eating, but Taisou still hadn't returned. So I decided to go look for him.

I found him walking back and forth, muttering things I couldn't hear.

"Sou?" I grabbed his attention.

He looked at me as if he'd seen a ghost.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Ahhh... Shione... Something bad happened, I need to go home..." he said, tears in his voice.

"Ah, sure. Thanks for coming, Sou... Next time, come here again tomorrow? I'll be here, and so will Uncle and your dad. Maybe they can accompany you home?" I suggested to him.

He sweated, smiling at me.

"N-No need, I can handle myself... I'll count on that, Shione," he replied and left.

What's wrong with him?

After he left, I quickly closed the gate and went inside the house.

.....

The next day...

I'm here now at school, walking towards the classroom. The Grand Magical Games will start this week.

"Babe!" I heard Ace call, but I didn't turn around. I didn't want to see or hear his voice. It hurts.

"Babe, I've been calling you, you're not even responding," he said to me.

If before I would get giddy when he did that to me. Now I don't, I'm mad at him. He made me cry.

"Sorry, I have a lot on my mind," I replied.

"Ah... Even about Taisou," he said, but I didn't catch the last thing he said.

"Let's talk later," he said seriously.

"About what? It's okay to talk now," I replied.

"Just... Later," he said authoritatively.

"Okay," I said.

Later... I need to tell him what I know. I need to confront him... I have to because the last thing I want is to be hurt.