L.Joe's POV

Niel turned his head and looking at me. Ah, what does he think about me right now. Do I look like a loser. He's looking at me quite long and he chuckles. Oh, that smile again...   "What's that... why are you looking so gloomy, huh, hyung?", he throws his arm around my shoulder and pull me closer. Though he's only a thin highschooler, he had a firm grip. Is it okay? being like this? receiving his love like this?. Is it okay to give my all into his arms like this?.   I dodge away from him. I took the courage to look him in the eyes. He can't believe what I've done. He tried to grab my hand again but I'm pulling away. I'm happy that he saved me, but, do I deserve it?.   Niel looked puzzled. He didn't say anything, he just keeps on walking and I follow him behind. We're walking about an hour, the sun is setting. I dragged my feet, just so I won't lose Niel again. Sunset is always special for these past couple days isn't it. I wonder will this sunset bring any special event again, is it gonna be a moment to cherish for.   Suddenly Niel stopped, he's gazing to the left, then a smile rises on his face. "Hyuuung! look at that! field of reeds", he pointed to the west, looked so happy that he finally found the field of reeds we wanted to go to before. "Ah, really... it's a fate! it's a fate!", he obviously wanted to make the situation more casual. Ah, Niel... are you really that happy?. "Come on, hyung...", he asked me to follow him, and so we ran to the small wooden path heading to the river. Beside us are these tall reeds, swaying. I touch them... I never been in this kind of place before... I never play outside when I was a kid. I look at Niel, he's still amazed about how we finally found this field by chance. "Ahaha haha ha", he giggled like a little kid when they got their new toys. I smile at him... really, I never see someone as happy as him right now before. I'm glad we found this place though, finally he could reenact his childhood days.   "Hyung, isn't this beautiful?", he said.   I just nod. Niel keeps playing with the tall reeds, pulling them back and forth.   "Hyung... ", leaving the reeds to be played by the wind again, he approached me. "I'm sorry for all I've said and done", he said. He reached my hand. "Don't touch me", I didn't know why those words slipped from my mouth. "Ah... I mean... Niel... I", I tried to explain, though I don't know what's going on in my head either. Oh, don't misunderstood me... I look at Niel's face, filled with guilt and seems so upset about himself. "Hyung... it's alright... you have the right to be mad at me, come, punch me", he said, pointing finger at his own face. "It's not that... I...", I desperately wanted to explain nicely, but I always end up sound upset.   Niel went closer. I'm stepping back until I reach the edge. Cornered. "Wait.. don't", I said. "Why? hyung, you can punch me, really... come, slap my head like you used to! I know you always do that out of love... please. I'm sorry", I look into his puppy eyes. Niel, it's actually me who filled with guilt right now. "Is it okay?! is it okay if I'm a barcoded being?! I'm not even human, right?! is it okay for you?!", I yelled. He's looking at me, disbelieved. Then he sighed. "Hyung...", he said with soft voice, holding my shoulder, so I won't dodge away. Slowly tears coming down from my eyes again. "Hyung... ah, I'm really sorry... what should I do to prove how sorry I am", he hugged me tight. I'm still crying like a baby. He gently pushed me and lay his hands on my shoulders, he looked at me deeply in the eyes. Then he slowly removed my ripped T-shirt and my barcode with his index finger. "Isn't this only skin, it's only your body, isn't it. Genetics doesn't make who you are...", his hand then travels to my left chest. He feels my heartbeat's going faster. "L.Joe-hyung that I knew is more than flesh and blood...", he continued as he held my hands. Although through my tears I still could see that he's smiling mischievously behind those touching words, it feels magical. "Since when you're good at words like this", I chuckled. I close my eyes... Ah, what is this feeling....   "Fireflies...", Niel whispered softly. I open my eyes, look up to the sky, and there are them filling our space. It feels like my heart bursts into small pieces, flying through the air as thousands ball of lights. All the burden seem dissolve in to the twilight. Is this how freedom feels like?   "Niel... I'm so happy that you're here with me. You won't leave again, won't you?", I said to Niel. He chuckles. He pinched my cheek; "Smile, please. Your frowning face is the worst", he said. "Ouch!", I toss his hands. "What do you think you're doing, huh?!", I slapped his head. "Ahh", he's surprised. "This is the L.Joe-hyung that I know! yah! BYUNGHUN-HYUNG!", said Niel vigorously. "Byunghun?! how.. ah, Chunji called me Byunghun", I suddenly remembered. "No, Andy-hyung told me a lot about you before I came to save you", he said. "Andy-hyung? What did he tell you? so you already know everything?", I said. I hate talking about my past, so when someone else told that to Niel, I actually quite relieved. "Yeah... hyung, you're not a failure. I like you, I like your white hair. I like your short figure. I like your annoying face. I like everything. It's alright", he said. "What's that?! Should I be happy?", I laughed. Niel's grinning like he always does.   I sat on the wooden path, my feet are too tired to support my body. Niel did too. I'm gazing far to the sunset. Ah, maybe this one too will be a moment to cherish for. I have a lot of moments to cherish for when I'm with this kid, haven't I... "I feel that being born into this world, I crashed someone's party... a big party. No one wants me in that party... but funnily enough I stayed too long to watch them slowly casting me out, and yet hoping somehow I could be a part of it, having fun and dance along... but then I realized... isn't outside more exciting? why should I be in this party when nobody wants me? there are more things out there... That's when I decided to leave and looking for my own life", I said. Niel's looking at me. "Do you hate your parents?", he asked. "Uhm... I don't know... I love them but they never love me back. Rejection hurts, but slowly it made me realized that this is my own life, I'm an independent soul. So maybe if you ask me now, I learn to put any feeling for them aside. Right now I just don't care. I don't wanna care", I said. "It's alright it's alright", Niel pat my shoulder.   "Hyun