*Yes, finally, the week had passed and I'm able to do an update. Hope you enjoy this first part of a 3-shot story. =)

*The tiredness is gnawing at my brain and I love angst, therefore, here's a result.

It has limits, yet you tend to just go pass that line and think that, right, now that you have passed you felt as if you’re already a great achiever that should be acknowledged. Though, have you realized how you just complicated things? That they were supposed to have this balance yet you shook it out of its place just because you think it’s righteous to do so, that there’ll be no complexities once you reached your goal.

And it has been years of living along that action you have caused me to live in secrecy and fear, that out of all the chances, out of all the hundreds of paths I still chose yours. I never regretted when I agreed to walk beside you, but you were the one who decided to advance your steps and leave me behind, forgotten perhaps, unloved perhaps, and I no longer need a few of your words to believe these thoughts of mine.

The way you turned your back from me and gave me a cold shoulder just to make sure I won’t follow anymore were enough reasons for me to stop on my track and just look as this fleeting emotion slowly dissipate in the thin air, together with how you deem my presence to be invisible like the air as well.

“Sungjong, you need to get out already, or do you want me to be the one going in there and pulling you out. I don’t care if you still have business to finish, but we need to leave already. They’ll be able to track us here sooner or later. I’m not planning on getting killed this early; you do know how eager I am to see my daughter so-”

“Shut up, will you? I agreed to this alliance with you ‘cause I trust your skills and capabilities but I just saw my sister get auctioned by those bastards and you expect me to just act as if nothing has happened?”

“That’s why I’m telling you to hurry up and get your here already! You do know how valuable you are, as well as every elemental-borne child out there, to your father’s company. He’ll use all means just to make you return to his side and get used all over again. You know how hungry they are to know more about this lapse in the genetic code of your kind that sets you apart from normal humans. Why someone special like you could never conceive its own child, why someone like you gets born from families not showing any sign of being an elemental.”

Passing narrow alleys despite of the shouts thrown at his direction by his companion, Sungjong felt a rush within him, out of anger, out of feeling betrayed, and he knows the feeling would never dissipate as quickly as it happened.

It’s as if there are never-fading embers within him, ready to ablaze anytime soon.

--

He thought it was normal, being able to create small water balls out of thin air, and such.

It was when he was thrown off into a nearby lake by the bulky kids while his family’s on vacation in Hokkaido that he found out how different he was. Managing his ability while not trying to get controlled by his own emotions was a hard task, that out of his anger from being bullied just because he’s a newcomer and he can’t speak the same tongue, one of the boys almost got drowned by being locked up within an enlarged version of what was once just playthings for him.

All he heard was the shouts and the bad words thrown at him. All he could see was the shivering form of the boy he almost killed, eyes showing terror towards his kind, fear akin to seeing a huge kid-gobbling monster in real life.

Nine, he was just a child as well that time but he knows what made every person around him acting wary since then. He was no ordinary kid, and the fantasy of living a normal life and building a family had crumbled like the sand castles he makes that kept on being washed up every time the tide gets high.

Even the parents he had always looked up became aloof, as if they have created an invisible barrier in fear of what their own little son could do to the helpless couple. By then he became afraid of his own self, to carry such a burden as how he had looked at if before, he mustered all the will to not use it again.

He has never been successful when it comes to self-control.

--

Reaching the end of what’s labeled as the seventh alley at the fifth floor of his father’s facility for elementals, as how they are called, he reached the ‘playroom’, or the place where the special ones are kept before being taken away by their buyers, or worse, pushed towards a battle royale for those who are considered defects for not bringing any income to the business. The only one left at the end of every match to death is then placed at the top floor, where nobody dares to enter except for the chosen few.

He knows his sister is there, cowering in fear of being bought as a slave towards a wealthy businessman who has bad history with women.

They could fight, they have the abilities no one else have yet Sungjong wonders why there’s no rising up by the captured ones. If it’s a drug given to them or gadget that would kill them instantly if ever they decide to fight off, he doesn’t know. Seeing them act like puppets to money-hungry men is not acceptable and is inhuman.

They’re still humans after all, just with an added code to their genes, but they’re humans.

“What the hell?! Are you going in a suicide mission?! Listen here kid, you die, I die, and we all die. You are your father’s son but I’m his best friend, I know how that evil mind works. Simple work here actually means ‘die trying’ so could you just listen to me once and stop being so impulsive and acting on your own!”

Stopping on his tracks, he didn’t notice the two warm streams of tears adorning his now flaring cheeks from the strenuous task at hand. All he wanted before, the life he had always imagined was far from where he is now. He would be inside his own office, planning the next designs for decorating a manor’s interior, showing what he could do with his hands, if not for this stupid ability, he thought.

Being inhuman-like because you’re special is a ticket to be considered as an outcast in the society. He knows it very well. People are fearful with entrusting their workplaces to his kind. His father who keeps on saying that he just wanted to help in fixing this mystery in the genetic code is no better than those government officials who want to throw them out the country.

“I know, so you don’t need to explain it further. I’m just a hard-headed guy who won’t stop until I finish what I need to do, and I know you have already seen that side of me many times; don’t expect me to suddenly become calm and collected just because you told me to.”

Slumping on the ground, they were both aware that they are watched with all the cameras looming in every path, and clenching his fists, Sungjong shouted with all his might, all his pent-up anger and frustrations cracking up towards the surface.

“I never asked to be like this! I never asked to be your son! You’re the worst father anyone could ever have! I regret the day that I idolized you! You would only get me after you kill me yourself! Now show me my sister damn it!”

“Are you in’ out of your mind?! Do you want to get us all killed?!”

“They already know where we are, I don’t think there’s still room for formalities.”

Before Jaejin could answer back, they saw a running figure towards their direction, brows bruised and lips busted, limping on his right foot but managed to reach them before collapsing for good.

“…help me… I can’t use my ability… they’re going to kill me… they’re going to…”

“Don’t force yourself to speak up, take some rest and we’ll get you out of here.”

“Have you seen my daughter? She’s just a little kid with pigtails and-”

“I… I’m with them earlier, with the other elementals…. But a fire user created a ruckus on the battle arena after getting released from the inhibitor they have placed on us here… and most… most of us ran away but we can’t find the exit…he… cut his own arm to be totally freed from the technology they implanted on us using his opponent’s… ice blade… then….”

“We need to find them quickly, or I don’t know what I’ll do if I see her dead.”

--

“Get them.”

“But isn’t he-”

“I’ve done worse. Now go.”

The room is brightly lit by neon designs, looking advanced with all the computers and monitors on one wall, where he could observe every detail of his own facility. In a corner sat a girl wearing bright yellow dress and blonde hair in pigtails, humming a nursery rhyme while playing with dolls, laughing once in a while, causing her to glow brighter than any lamp within the four corners of his sanctuary.

“Now, now, don’t get too excited dear, it blinds me.”

“Sorry uncle, it’s just that you said father is coming so I’m looking forward to it.”

“Okay, now be a good girl and dim yourself.”

Nodding enthusiastically, her once golden hair become light hazel brown, and her dress turned into pale yellow, holding her laughter to avoid enveloping the surroundings with another eerie glow.

“Now, let’s see if you really can surpass me, son.”

*Now, who's the msytery guy? And who's his father? And why is Myungsoo still not here? Well, hope you'll be patient for the next part. =)

*Enjoy  the remaining hours of your weekend guys! Lovelots. XO

#myungjong.still.lives