Side Story- 01

John

"What?! He ran away again?" I bellow at the nun. "How could you let him go?! This is the fourth time!"

"We are really sorry Mr. Goodie but he is so agile … we tried our best to hold him down but he just…" The nun tries to explain with a wry expression on her pale face, her knuckle turning white because of the nervousness.

"Did you report it to the police?" I try to calm myself down, "When exactly did he run off?"

"I think it was at least two hours ago." The nun seems to have somewhat relaxed as she sees that I am not bellowing at her anymore. "And yes, we informed the police."

"Fine." I spin around to leave, "Call me if he comes here."

"Yes, sir." She acknowledges.

I exit the church and pull out my phone from my pocket.

Should I call Erwin for help?

Earlier when I ran off he seemed like he wanted to accompany me but his husband was waiting for him so he didn't come with me and I think right now they are spending some quality time so I shouldn't disturb them by calling him.

I think the more they get close to each other the better because I don't like the way they got married in the first place. It's actually as if they are gambling but not getting married. So, the more they get close the better. At least my best buddy will have a happy marriage life unlike some specific people.

And so, I drop the idea of calling Erwin and tug my phone in my pockets.

And where should I start looking for him? 

I hop on my car and start driving around the town, looking at every possible place where a seven years old kid can go.

That damned Steve. At least tell me where you are going before running off like a wild animal.

I smack my steering while in anger. Then suddenly my phone buzzes inside my pocket, startling me. I lift my ass to pull out my phone from my back pocket. I check the caller ID. A call from an unknown number. My heart sinks as blood roars through my veins.

I swipe the screen with a trembling thumb.

"Hello?" I hold my breath.

"Hello." A deep voice speaks over the phone, making my stomach tingle for some reason, "Am I talking to Mr. John Goodie?"

"Yes, you are." I say, my heart beating in my ears, "May I know who you are?"

"Well, I need you at the south park right now. This is about your brother." He pauses briefly, "This is an important matter, we can talk later when you are here." And with this he hangs up.

I was feeling worried before he called me but right now I am feeling like I want to puke. Cold sweats drip down from my forehead as I shakily start the engine and drive toward the given destination.

What could've possibly happened? Did Steve get into an accident? Was he kidnaped? Is he alright?

Oh god…

I skim through every possible scenario that could have transpired as my vision blackens and my breath becomes unsteady.

Oh no… I am about to have a panic attack.

But no. Not right now. I can't afford to go into a panic attack right now. I first need to find Steve and give him a smack right across the head and then I can die in peace.

It doesn't take me more than twenty minutes to arrive at the entrance of the park. I look around urgently to find a small version of me. But I find no one there. I quickly stride into the park and scan the whole place. This park isn't that much of a big place.

There are a few children playing and some guardians talking among themselves and… and a little me sitting at a nearby bench with my head hung low and a refined handsome blond man talking to me, his gaze soft as if afraid that he might scare the child if he hardens them.

"Steve!" I call urgently and march over there with hurried footsteps.

Steve looks up from his lap to me and jumps on his feet as a happy grin starts to form across his face. The man stands up too.

As I approach them I slam my palm over Steve's little face with another word. He falls over the ground on impact. Suddenly my eyes start to swell up with tears.

The blond man bends down and helps Steve to his feet again.

"Why? Why did you run away, again?!" Tears start to flow down my cheeks like rain, "Do you know just how worried I was?!" I sniff and take a sharp breath in, "I…I felt like I was going to die!"

"B-Brother!" Steve calls, his cute little face stained with tears as he grips his clothes so tightly that his knuckles are turning white.

"What brother? Who is your brother?!" I unconsciously pout. "Don't call me that!"

With this Steve pounces on me, hugging my legs tightly as he cries haphazardly, "I am sorry! I am sorry! I will never do that again! Wah~ Wah~"

"You little stinky brat!" I scold, "What were you thinking? When you ran away?!"

My tears have somewhat stopped but my face remains flushed. Thank god, the other people are not close enough to hear or see us nor I would have no other option but to dig a hole and jump in there. 

I smile mildly and put a hand over my wailing little brother who can easily be mistaken for a four or five year old while he is already seven years old.

"Uhm." Suddenly a cough gets my attention and I snap my head up to find the source of it. "I am sorry to interrupt but I must say one thing. Please take better care of your younger brother in future." Says the blond man with a small relaxed smile as if a knot around his chest has loosened up. "He was about to get hit by a car, so I saved him."

My eyes widens as I hear this and I smack at the child's head who is clinging to my thighs like they are his life lines. "What the hell is he saying Steve?!" I roar.

 At last Steve stops crying and looks up, stroking his head where I just hit him then innocently says, "Oh, about that? I was trying to cross the road."

I face-palm myself. Not just his body is like a five-year- old's but his brain works like that too!

"I am very sorry for the inconvenience we caused you!" I lower my head in sincerity, "I am really sorry!"

 I grab the head of my little brother who is currently tugging on my pants with one hand and sucking on the thumb of the other and force him to bow too.

"No, no. It's quite alright!" He beams and waves his hands in front of him, "I was just passing by, so there is no problem at all, believe me."

 "Even so…" Guilt crawls up my stomach, "As a thanks, I would like to treat you to a meal if you allow me."

"Yes, yes brother. This big buddy is a very good guy!" Steve gets excited all of a sudden, "he brought me a candy to stop my crying." He says in a happy cutesy voice though it has gone a bit hoarse from all the weeping.

"You shut up." I bark, "Haven't I told you not to eat or take anything that is given by a stranger?"

 Steve falls silent at this as he realizes what he has slipped. He bakes down silently.

"Please don't scold him." The bold says, defending Steve, "I was the one who offered him the candy to stop him from crying. I have never handled a kid before so I didn't know the right thing to do. I apologize for that."

His apology makes my heart sink. I think this man is doing something to me. Because every time I look at those glassy green eyes I get lost in them. It is clear by his looks that the man before me is an alpha and maybe a dominant one over that.

His thick golden hair and green eyes are something that can deceive anyone. This big, masculine built and tall height of 6.2 (I think) clearly implies that he is an alpha. He is wearing scrubs right now so maybe he is a doctor.

"No, no you please don't apologize for what my dumb younger brother did." I wave my hands in the air to clear up the tension in it, "I am really grateful for your help."

Then suddenly there is the sound of a buzzing phone. I put my hand on my hip to see it's from my phone but no, it is not. It is from the blond man before me.

 He picks up the call.

The other person seems to have said something to him about going there so he says, "I will be there in a few minutes." He hangs up. Then turns to me, he approaches me, "Well, something came up so I can't accept your offer today." He taps his phone screen, "I will contact you when I figure this out. Because, I still want the meal you offered me."

I don't know how to respond to it so I instead say, "Well, I didn't get your name yet."

"I will tell you my name when we meet again." He snorts and then leans forward, "But, you shouldn't cry in the public. Anything can happen, you see." He whispers into my ear, making my heart race and my face flush. He straightens up, "Later." He waves goodbye and strolls out of the park.

"Brother, brother." Steve tugs on my shirt as I don't move from my spot an inch even after a good while. It's like my feet have sprouted some roots there.

What the fuck is happening to me!

 I try to calm myself and take Steve to the car. I need to talk to him.

 After a while of silence I say calmly, "Why did you run away, Steve?"

He hesitates for a beat before saying, "The boys in my class say that, I am very small and fragile so I am an omega and bully me." He bites his lip as his head drops and says, "Today they tried to rip off my clothes and see if I have any flesh in my body."

Veins bulge on my hands and forehead as I hear his tale.

Those little bastards…

I let go of a long breath to calm myself down and say in a stony voice, "You don't have to return to your hostel anymore. You will stay with me from now on. I will talk with the church."

Steve's eyes sparkles, "Yes, brother!"