a/n: this chapter was written because i believe that most of the time, even if we tell ourselves that we can get through anything, there are still those flitting moments when we need someone else to tell that we are not weak and we can stand back up again...

alright, enough said because i'm being such a dramaqueen again!

let's go let's go!!!!

“You can rest you know. It’s not like it’s the end of the world if I don’t get back to my body.” Sehun told Anya.

It’s nearly midnight but Anya was still going over some spells and incantations that she thought might help Sehun.

“I’m fine.” she answered shortly.

“Your eye bags are worse than Tao’s.” Sehun pointed out. “And you could pass for a zombie audition without make up.”

Anya let out a small lighthearted scoff. “Go bother someone else, brat.”

“As much as I want to make fun of Deer Eyes, he’s been up most nights of the past week. I thought I’d give him a small break. Not to mention that it’s already in the middle of the night. Who is there to bother?” Sehun let out a mocked sigh of frustration.

The smile on Anya’s lips somewhat got wider, even for just a small fraction. Even with such a small change in her expression, Sehun felt satisfied.

“I never knew that would stop a stubborn prick like you.” Anya said, finally closing the books after putting marks on where to start again the next day. “Fine then, I’ll go to sleep. And don’t go giving people nightmares when you get bored, brat.”

“Are you okay?” Sehun asked as Anya trudged up the stairs.

Anya didn’t answer immediately and when she did turned to look at Sehun, there was sadness in her eyes that the boy couldn’t even fathom.

“I’ll be fine. I’ve done this before. I’ll be fine.”

Sehun couldn’t help but to deny her words. But who was he to really understand something he had never felt before?

For the past few days since Luhan told Anya about Kris’ flings, Anya ignored Kris’ messages and calls. Though they hadn’t officially broken up (yet), Anya acts as if there’s no Kris in her life already. The latter hadn’t managed to visit either, which only made Sehun think more and more that Kris doesn’t really care.
But in those past few days, the light in Anya’s eyes never really came back. Only in moments when her kids are around does the glow she used to have show itself, though a little too dull for Sehun’s taste.

And don’t even mention those days and nights when she’s alone. Tears would just fall down from her eyes and she’d start crying to herself. Lately, she had been going through book after book until her eyes couldn’t take it anymore that she either fall asleep on the spot or Luhan had to force her to stop and send her to her room.

Sehun just gave Anya a small smile as the girl went up the stairs. He followed her, not really knowing why. It’s just that the sadness emitting from her makes him want to comfort her even if he really has no idea how to. He’s not a people person. He might think he is sometimes, but he knows he isn’t.

Before he knew it though, he was floating on the familiar hallway of the second floor. Which greatly boggles him! Luhan put up wards to ban him from going upstairs, right? Right?!

“Aaah!!” someone shrieked, followed by a loud thud. “Hyung! What are you doing?”

Sehun turned and saw Chanyeol, his eyes almost bugging out of their sockets, face pale and clearly surprised. What was the kid doing, slumped on the tiled bathroom floor, clutching a hand on his chest while the other gripped tightly at the rim of the toilet bowl.

“Yah, kid, keep it down. The whole block is sleeping.” Sehun smirked at the kid’s funny face. “What were you doing up? It’s late.”

“I just went to use the bathroom and then when I got out, you were just there! And you surprised me! I thought you were a ghost!” Chanyeol pouted as he got up from the floor.

“I am a ghost.“ Sehun chuckled at the kid’s antics. He looked down on himself and realized that half of his body is still down, below the second floor’s floor. That’s what must have scared Chanyeol.

“You know that’s not what I meant, hyung.” Chanyeol whined, going to the faucet to wash his hands again, cringing as he remembered where he had touched earlier.

“Didn’t your uncle put up some spell to keep me from entering the  second floor?”

Chanyeol shrugged as he went out of the bathroom. “Uncle’s spells is usually either a failure, or has an expiration of three to five days. He can cast spells but they never last, really.”

“Wouldn’t that mean that when he cast the spell to help me get back to my body, it won’t last that long?”

“That’s why he needs Mama with him. Uncle casts spells but Mama can actually make those spells last. I don’t understand how it works, it just does.”

Chanyeol explained, yawning. “I’ll go back to sleep, hyung. See you tomorrow.”

Sehun contemplated about what Chanyeol said, remembering the time when Luhan cast a spell to send over to the next world with Anya guiding him. Maybe the two really can do anything together. It scares him a bit, but gives the hope inside him a huge boost.

He can’t wait to get back to his life.

But there are more pressing matters as of now. And it concerns one of the people who is doing him a huge favor. He can’t just leave and not do something to repay them, right? Besides, he did make a deal with Anya. Even if the deal doesn’t really stands since Anya is technically bound to help him anyways, he still want to fulfill at least a small part of the bargain.

He would make sure the Anya will get over that stupid boyfriend of hers.

***

“I’m bored!” Chanyeol whined. “Hyung, let’s do something. All this reading is making me dizzy! The words don’t make sense!”
“You always say that to skip reciting at school.” Baekhyun retorted. He lightly kicked Chanyeol away and kept on reading. “This one’s promising. I think it will help Sehun-hyung. So shoo!”

Chanyeol whined once more, rolling around the floor. Tao pointed out that the library floor only gets vacuumed twice a year if Luhan was not lazy, but Chanyeol ignored him.

Sehun watched the three kids lounge around the library, Baekhyun reading, Tao doodling random things on some books Sehun hopes that Luhan doesn’t really need, and Chanyeol roaming around and taking random books out of the shelves then shoving them back again with a sigh, the kid was really bored. Luhan was out on his real daytime job as an employee at some big firm, while Anya was still up in her room, sleeping. Sehun was glad that she took his advise to rest for a while.

“Hey, want to do something fun? Chanyeol is growing roots already.” Sehun suggested.

Chanyeol started jumping up and down on the worn-out couch, Baekhyun sending him a dirty look before tripping him, causing for the lanky kid to fall to the back of the couch with a thud. Baekhyun just scoffed and went back to reading.

“Gege, are you okay?” Tao asked.

“I think I broke something.” came Chanyeol’s painful groan as he reached out and slumped on the backrest of the couch. “I’m telling Mama.” he accused at Baekhyun.

“Such a baby.” Baeykhyun grumbled, taking a careful look at Chanyeol anyways to make sure he was actually okay. “I think you made dent on the floor instead. I’m telling Mama.”

Chanyeol sniffed. Sehun chuckled. Really, this kids are just…

“Anyways! As I was saying. You’ve all been cooped inside for far too long. And you are all free from being grounded, right? How about we get out and play?” Sehun gave the kids an inviting smile.

“Wherever it is, I’m in!” Chanyeol perked up.

Baekhyun gave Sehun an uneasy look, “ I don’t know. Uncle is at work and I don’t think Mama wants to go out…”

Sehun could see how the kids’ expressions fell at the not-so-direct mention of their mother’s heartbreak.

“That’s why we need to take her out! She’s sulking too much! She needs fresh air and forget for a while. And I think I’m burdening you all with this ‘getting-back-to-my-body’ thing. You need a break and a new scenery.”

“I agree, I agree!” Tao nodded his head eagerly. “Come on, Baixian-gege! Let’s go out and play! Please?” he made this cute pouty gesture with his face.
Sehun watched as indecision was melted away from Baekhyun’s face. Heck, even him won’t be able to stand that look on Tao’s face.

“Fine. Let’s go get ourselves ready and wake Mama up. She wouldn’t be able to say no if we took care of ourselves already.” Baekhyun sighed as he put the book away and followed his younger brothers up the stairs.

“I’ll go wake your mom up for you. Just go get ready to leave in a few.” Sehun said as he followed the boys.

“You will keep your promise, right, hyung?” Baekhyun asked, lingering in front of the bedroom he shared with his brothers.

Sehun gave the kid an assuring smile. “I told you, I’ll take care of her as long as I’m here.”

Baekhyun smiled and slipped inside, yelling at Chanyeol to stop making a chaos out of their wardrobe.

Sehun slipped into Anya’s bedroom, checking first that she was actually still sleeping. She wasn’t. She was staring at the framed picture sitting on her desk.

“Hey…” Sehun called out softly, not wanting to startle her.

Anya turned, looking surprised. But she didn’t say anything and went back to looking at the picture. Sehun took that as a cue that he could come in, guessing that Luhan’s fail wards is well-known by everyone in the house since Anya didn’t even question his presence on the second floor.

“Aren’t you breaking a rule by coming in here?” Anya sounded so fragile Sehun had the flickering thought that she’d crumble under the subtle breeze entering the room.

“Uhm… sorry about that. It’s just… well, I asked the kids if they wanted to go out for a bit and they were so excited and all. I came to ask you to come with us.” Sehun doesn’t know why he’s acting so gentle towards Anya. A few weeks before they were always yelling and threatening each other. He kinds of missed that.
“Aren’t you breaking another rule with that? You’re just fond of breaking them, aren’t you?” Anya lightly accused.

“Yah! I don’t bother anyone else, don’t I? Not even Deer Eyes. And this is the first time I’ve broken the first rule!” Sehun pouted.

Anya just chuckled softly and silence enveloped them again.

“You know… my parents made me took the oath.” Anya said after a few moments. “They were both clairvoyants, as well as Luhan’s mom. They instilled it in me that anyone who needs help, human or spirit, should not be denied from it as long as it is your capacity to help. They were good people.”

“You took after them.” Sehun commented when Anya paused.

“But I’m not like them. I’m just a foolish girl who blindly put her trust on others. That is why people always get tired of me and throw me away. Because I let them. Because I make it easy for them.”

Tears started falling from Anya’s eyes. Sehun went closer, wanting to comfort her but not knowing how to. “It’s not your fault that you have a kind heart, Anya. God knows how the world needed more people like you.” he cooed.

Anya just shook her head. “No. The world doesn’t need people like me. Someone who is so weak to stand for herself. You’ve said it before. I don’t have pride in myself that I let others trample me over and over again. The world doesn’t need people like that.”

Sehun sighed. “You’re wrong, you know. You’re the first person ever to make me realize that there’s something in this world that is worth it.” he looked outside the window, remembering his old life. “I never had someone to cherish, not even my family. My parents neglected me for their work. I don’t have friends. I’m all alone. Thinking about it now, maybe that’s why I can’t go back to my body. Because my life is useless. I maybe alive but I wasn’t living. And then I met you. And Deer Eyes. And your kids.” he couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re the first person to ever show me that it doesn’t need for you to be blood related to someone to care for them. You showed me that even if you don’t have your parents around does it mean that you are not able to give the same love they gave you to others.” he looked at Anya who was staring at her with tear-filled eyes.

“You think no one in the world needs you? How about Baekhyun? He looks up to you and cares for you very much, you know? Chanyeol needs you to stop him from hurting himself because of being silly. And God knows Baekhyun could only handle so much of that kid. And Tao. You said he’s got trust issues. He trusts and loves you because you’re one of the few people who accepts him for who he is, something his own parents despised him for. Those kids need you. And many more.”

Concentrating hard enough, Sehun reached out and wiped a tear from Anya’s face. He ignored how weak he felt after doing that little gesture.

“I am desperate to get my useless life back. Why are you so eager to let go of yours when you mean so much to many people? Just because of a single person who might not even know how much you‘re worth everything he can‘t even imagine?” he said honestly, looking straight into her eyes.

Anya bursts into another silent crying. Her shoulders were shaking as she tried to muffle her cries with her hands.

“Thank you.” Sehun heard her say. “Thank you…” she looked up with wet cheeks and shining eyes that was starting to glow with life once again. “You think you’re life is worthless but you are wrong. You’ve got into this state because you saved your friend, Jongin. And now… you are saving me from my heartache and self-pity.” she smiled despite the tears. “Your life is worth something, Sehun. You just have to live it.”

Sehun returned the smile. Somehow, those words didn’t just give him hope. It made him believe.
 

a/n: yep... so how is going until this far along my baby?

well, i hope you like it!........

APRIL FOOLS everyone!