I'm Sorry

Reaina slowly opened her eyes, and the familiar old roof of her room appeared before them. Before she could think of anything, she heard a squeal from her daughter.

"Mom, you're finally awake!"

Without wasting a moment, Kimly leaped toward her laying mother and hugged her tightly.

"What happened mom, why didn't you wake up this morning? I was so worried…"

She began crying and asked questions in the middle. Kohren, not wanting to disturb the mother and daughter, remained seated on the floor across the bed.

A sigh of relief escaped from his mouth as he saw Kimly embracing her mother.

"Cough, cough!"

However, before he could completely relax, he began hearing Reaina coughing profusely. Kimly was also startled by the coughing fit from her mother and got worried.

"Mom, are you still not feeling okay?" She asked with concern in her voice.

"Cough! Cough!"

When her mother didn't show any signs of stopping, Kimly quickly climbed down from the bed.

"Wait here, Mom. I'll bring water." She announced and ran off to the kitchen.

Kohren was also worried about her condition but knew it was inevitable. It was the result of his using Dark Matter to forcefully enter her body and minimize the effects of the Puppeteers curse.

Kimly returned from the kitchen while holding a glass of water. She helped Reaina sit straight on the headboard of the bed and handed her the water.

Trying her best to control the coughs, Reaina slowly took sips of cold water and hydrated her throat. Shortly after, her coughing was fully recovered. Nonetheless, Reaina felt a burning sensation in her chest, but she kept to herself.

With her brown eyes, she looked at her daughter and revealed a faint smile.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be a good mother." She said in a barely hearable voice, tears starting to roll over her pale cheeks.

"No Mom! You're the best mother in the whole world."

Kimly shouted and leaped into Reaina's embrace. Saying 'sorry,' a couple of times in a quiet voice, Reaina started to carcass Kimly gently.

Sitting on the corner of the bed where no one would notice, Kohren heard everything with an expressionless face. He was glad that Reaina recovered, even if temporarily, but there was something else going around in his mind.

'Did I already lose the chance to announce my presence?'

Kohren thought, helplessly debating when to stand.

However, his concerns remained unnecessary when Reaina spoke out loud, yet in a tired voice.

"Why are you here?" She asked.

Kimly was still in her embrace and jolted when she heard her mother. She believed there must be bad blood between them for them to separate and didn't think how her mother would react if she brought Kohren home.

Feeling the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, Kimly reluctantly released her grip from Reaina. Then, making her shiny eyes large and watery, she looked at her mother with a pleading gaze.

This was a killer technique taught by her father when she was still a child. It was a sure way bullet that could melt Reaina's heart and make her forgive for anything.

But before she would say the next cute words, Kohren stood up abruptly. He walked in front of Reaina and affirmed her condition himself, breathing a sigh of relief inside his mind.

Reaina hasn't fully recovered from her previous state, but she was less pale than before. Kohren would even sense her breathing has returned to normal. Now that he confirmed that she is somewhat okay, the uneasiness that was covering his heart finally subsided.

… not completely, but a part of it. He still had to figure out a cure and punish those who harmed them.

"Are you done studying?" After noticing the silent stare from Kohren, Reaina spoke.

"Now tell me, why are you here? Didn't I leave you alone and the past?"

Even though Kohren was accustomed to how beautiful her voice is and how she talked, nonetheless, he became momentarily speechless after hearing it in front of her.

He recalled everything she had said to him three years ago and understood. He had also seen various photos and videos of her family time.

Noticing how beautiful she was in them and compared to her current state, Kohren's hate for the unknown enemies who were targeting them increased several fold.

"Are you not listening to me?" Reaina's sharp voice broke his thoughts.

"I'm sorry," Out of nowhere, Kohren shouted and bowed down. "I'm sorry for everything," he apologized, still bowing.

Reaina's eyes widened for a moment and Kimly looked confused. Both of them didn't expect his sudden apology and were lost for a bit. Reaina, with her sharp but beautiful voice, spoke.

"I don't want your apology. I have already left the past. Now please go."

Even in her poor condition, Reaina fumed and looked the opposite. Clearly implying that she doesn't want to listen more.

Kohren raised his head and looked at her angry figure. When his mind didn't come up with any suitable ideas to inform her about the curse without incurring her wrath, he shot a pleading gaze at Kimly.

'Please?' He thought in his mind.

As if saying, 'You left me no choice,' Kimly shook her head. Then, she brought her face towards her mother and whispered something in her ear.

Kohren's ears were sharp and even Kimly's whisper didn't escape them. He raised his eyebrows when he heard that Kimly only talked about how he is an Awakened and how he helped Reaina to wake up.

After whispering it to her mother, Kimly stood beside Kohren with a smile on her face. Kohren wondered what she even did and how it was going to help him, but in the next second, he saw Reaina quickly taking a sidelong glance at him before looking away.

Finally, after glancing at him twice, Reaina looked at Kohren. The expression on her face changed a few times before she spoke.

"I hear you helped me recover."

Kohren nodded in response.

"I also heard that you're an Awakened."

Kohren didn't understand what she was trying to tell but nodded once again. This time, he also opened his mouth to speak.

"There is -'' Before he would finish, Reaina's taut voice cut him clean.

"Remember, I can tell if anyone is lying and much more. I will be grateful for your help, but I don't require it any further. I don't trust a lost soul."

Kohren wondered how could she even tell if he was lying or how she knew that Kohren is a lost soul, but his doubts are answered by Reaina in the next moment.

"And if you're thinking how, for your information, I'm a Partial Awakened." She announced.

Partial Awakened are those people who only awaken a part of mana inside their body. It wouldn't grant them strength or the ability to manipulate and store mana but gives them incredible passive powers for a weakness.

'So that's why,' many unexplained puzzles in Kohren's mind cleared after hearing her. Like how she had sensed Kohren in this room, why she was so clumsy in those videos yet holds hundreds of awards in her room, and how she claimed to detect lies.

"If that's the case, then please hear me. It's very important." He pleaded.

Not sensing any lies or harm in his voice, Reaina waited for a while and then nodded.

Pleased by her positive response, Kohren began to slowly explain Reaina's condition carefully. He didn't want her to panic and worsen her condition.

"I know it must sound disbelieving, but you are targeted by someone. The reason for your state is because of a curse by a high-stage awakened." He said in an explaining manner. However,

"It is disbelieving. You don't have to worry. I have been overworked and will be fine after this day. Now, you can go please." She cut him once again.

Kohren was lost when he heard her reply. He may have learned everything and become stronger in those three years, but his communication skill was still at the level of two or three. It would even turn negative when it comes to dealing with women.

Kimly however, was shocked beyond her mind when she heard someone targeting them. 'I knew it!' she muttered to herself and pulled down Kohren's jacket to attract his attention.

"Will mom be okay?" She asked, her voice wobbly.

"She will, but we have to do something," Kohren replied, not sure himself.

"There is no need. I'm perfectly fine." Reaina scoffed, thinking that everything is an act for Kohren to gain her trust.

She pulled the blanket out and then proceeded to lift her legs to show everyone that she can walk and be fine after another hour of rest. However, her face froze midway when she wouldn't feel her lower body.

Two awkward gazes fell on her.

"I'm sure I'll recover after today. I am Partially Awakened after all." She said, avoiding their gaze.

"Mom! I told you countless times to take care of your health and you never listened." Kimly snapped at her mother and ran out of the room.

Instantly, the atmosphere inside the room became awkward.

Before anyone spoke, Kimly returned with a hand mirror. With her tiny hands, she made the mirror reflect her mother's sick figure.

Seeing her reflection in the mirror, Reaina became speechless. She took the mirror from Kimly's hand and carefully checked her face. Her supposedly beautiful eyes, nose, lips, cheeks, she checked everything. Each time she touched her face, her hands trembled.

After a moment, she spoke as if the whole world had crashed on her shoulders.

"Someone had really put a curse on me." She bawled, looking half dead.

Watching her frail figure, Kohren once again bowed down.

"Please let me help you. I know we can find some way to treat you."

The room became silent. Reaina glanced at her daughter's gloomy face for a moment and sighed.

"I don't need your help." She replied, making Kohren speechless and Kimly worried. However, she continued.

"I just need your assistance until we meet with my friend. She will have a way to cure me."