Chronicle Of The Twilight

Chapter 5: Without

Mei's POV;

"Harreith." I whisper as I hugged him tighter.

"Oh? Do you still remember me?"

I was in the middle of my daydream when he ask me that making me pause for what I did and stared at him with my hollow eyes, trying to scan the feature of his face. Some figures resembles of my childhood friend.

'Am I being mistaken?'

"Just kidding hahaha come on Mei, don't be mistaken. This is me, Harreith, you're not guessing wrong." He hugged me back when he notice that I'm having a doubt.

"Tsk? Still remember? Who wouldn't remember you when you are the second nephew of the well-known Kimi! Of course I still can remember you, i***t!" I rolled my eyes and whack his head as I release myself from his embrace.

"Hey! Your saying it loudly! Don't you dare calling me Kimi, tsk! Hehe." He titter while caressing his head and then added a query.

"Anyway it's been a very long time since our last meeting, how are you in this past years until now?"

"Erm..... I'm fine just like before. Still breathing. And you?" I answered.

"Same goes to you. But Riri and Penny can't stop mentioning you when you left. Even now." My heart beats in awe as he mentioned them.

"Eh? T-then how are they? Are they fine? Much more fine? How about the others?" My eyes gleamed within the excitement.

I can't understand what I felt right now. I wanna scream and jump as high as I want for exploding in happiness and joy as I saw even one of them and even hearing their names but at the same time, my hunch were telling that something's off, something is not right.

And my feeling got worsen when his expression changed and didn't give me neither heard his answer.

"I-is there something wrong?" I ask and yet I got no reply.

"Harreith! Answer me!" I yell, shaking his shoulder and as he drop it, my whole world h and my eyes change from the excitement to worry.

"Eren... Was..." He sighed hardly and gulps.

"Missing." My breath freeze as my whole body went numb, my heart was beating rapidly.

"No....." I cover my mouth with my hands to stop myself from lamenting.

"Y-you're k-kidding, aren't you? Tell me the truth, please." With a trembling knees, my voice cracked as I beg to him.

"He really is-"

"I'm serious Harreith! Can't you see?! Do you think I'm being dramatic today?! I'm not even joking here for god sake!"

"But that is the truth! He was lost! Damn lost! Why did I say it anyway." I can feel his voice also shakes in anxiety even with his blank face.

"W-when?" I hold back my tears.

"On the next day after the next day you left in your hometown! Rumors says he's been searching for you rashly and some says he went crazy just before you left. I don't know but until now, we didn't track him."

And that's when I can't hold myself and tears started to fall off. I was sobbing and blaming me for his loss.

"T-this.... This is...." I sniff, sniff, trying to catch my breath and wipe my eyes but the tears itself seems like to drop endlessly.

"This is all my fault! I-I didn't tell him about it! I've b-been.... keeping it a secret and I even didn't say g-goodbye to...... Him!"

"Hey stop it Mei! No one's expecting it and no one want it to happen! Stop blaming yourself because blaming yourself won't help him back to us! So pull yourself together with your sense! Come on." He grab me up and pat my shoulder to ease my heart.

"But don't worry, we're still searching for him. I can't stop and I won't stop until we found him. So rest assured, okay? Let's just hope that fate will show mercy of him and hoping that he is in the good condition right now." I nod.

After a minute, Andgry and Rikkie came up, caught me in a horrible face and turn to the guy with a threatening gaze. I swallow hard and decided to explain when Rikkie spoke, making me pause for what I was about to say.

"What did you do to her? Let her go." His voice were calm as he order, yet too calm for his normal tone and more like holding himself from getting near to us.

"Stay away from him Mei! I won't let him hurt you." Andgry on the other side, were looking at him seriously.

"Guys, enough already. He's my friend, Harreith. He is my neighbor during my youth days and he's not hurting me." I explain but Rikkie just raise his eyebrows at me, saying if I am sure but I didn't respond and good thing, Andgry spoke.

"You mean... He is your childhood friend?" He ask so I nod and sound like I convinced him, except for Rikkie.

"Then why is she crying?" Rikkie finally ask despite for not received any answer although his serious mode tone still didn't fade.

"I'm not! I'm fine. I have to go home now. Harreith, sent my regard to them and see you soon!" I smile and leave the two behind without looking back.

We walk into the pathway without forgetting Harreith's words the fact that Eren was nowhere to be found. My mind were blank as I take every step, letting myself drowning in my own thoughts.

"Mei, are you listening?" Andgry call me.

"What?" I ask, without throwing a look and just went ahead. I heard them exhaled before proceeding.

"Tell me what happened." Rikkie ordered.

"Tell you what?" I ask.

"Why are you crying?"

"I told you I'm not really crying."

"But you did cry. What happened?" Andgry was now asking me stubbornly, making me can't stop myself from turning around and yell at them.

"Happen what?!"

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me! I know you were, now tell us what's going on there we're away."

"Why would you care?! It's not your problem and don't try to act like a brother because you were not even my family to tell you what my problem is! And it doesn't concern you anyway."

Their eyes widened and eventually become quiet. I instantly regret for what I've said as I realize my words. It's unbelievable to believe it but me, also was shocked by the words that came out from my tongue, I bit my lower lips.

Silence invade us as we reached the cross road, no one's talking. And to my surprise, Andgry handed me the plastic bag with a two, no, three kinds of flavor of ice cream and they go cross the road, departing without saying a word. Along with the materials we needed for our presentation, I blinked.

I was gonna speak but as I open my mouth, no words came out as if my tongue was being immobilized so I breathe deeply and build up my courage as my heart beats in nervous. Before they could get away and vanished from my sight, I finally shout it.

"I'm sorry! I'm really really sorry about earlier!" I waited for their answer while gasping some air when Andgry turn to me with a bright, pure wide smile, making my eyes teary despite being guilty.

"We're fine! Just forget it okay? See you later!" He waved his hands in goodbye and walk away.

"Rikkie! I'm sorry!" I call him and he stare at me with his lazy eyes, his usual behavior.

"i***t, take care of yourself and make sure to go school this Monday." He snap his finger and continue to walk away until they finally lost in the view.

I smiled a bit and went home. As soon as I got home, Brutus jumped into me and I almost lost my balance when I opened the door. And that's when I understand that Rikkie forgot to pick up his pets.

"Hey Brutus, seems like your master forgot you two." I kneeled down to the dog and flap his soft furry ears.

It barks at me and jump around while wagging it's tail and licks my feet. I stood and roam my gaze when I found her.

"There you are Pixie."

"Meow." It answered.

"Here kitty kitty~ Come!" I shake my fingers for her to approach me but the cat just look at me like their master does and slap the flowers beside her with her long tail. Brutus saves my hands by l*****g it.

"Oh well!" I rolled my eyes and landed on the plastic bag.

Memories start to flow in my mind. It was the thing Eren would love to spot in the terms of when it came from me. He knows it contain his favorite snack.

"Please be safe. Just where are you now, Eren?" I mumbled when Brutus start whining that seems he knows what I endure today, I pat his head.

"It's okay buddy. I'll take you home." Then it bark.

I went to the kitchen to put the gallon of ice cream in the freezer and look at the the ticking timepiece beside it.

"Eh? It's 5:10 P.M. already?"

I run into my room and change the jogging pants to a knee length short and grab the button jacket, calling the two animals before closing the door and leave.

After a long walk, I arrived at the gate with full of flowers. I press the doorbell it was then revealed my literature adviser, Rikkie's mom.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Benjamin." I greeted.

"Good afternoon Miss Scarlette. Come in dear, what brings you here at this hour?" Her eyebrows slightly raise.

"I'll just gonna return-" My voice were interrupted by the shouting Rikkie.

"Mom! I'll be going now! I still have to fetch..... Eh? Amethyst?" He rushed outside their door while wearing a slippers when he saw me.

"I'm going to return Pixie and Brutus here. Thank you, I will now take my leave." I vowed for the last time.

"How about join us for dinner, would you? And beside, it's already night and it's cold outside." Mrs. Benjamin offered.

"Well....." I scratched my nape in embarrassment and quickly find a way to deny when Rikkie spoke while carrying Pixie.

"Yeah, even Andgry will stay here." I sighed.

"I would love too but Uncle Bob was waiting for me there, I'm afraid I cannot." I lied.

"Oh? Then take care." He said.

I walk away when I hear a shout. So I stop from meters away.

"MEI!! Wait for me! Rikkie, I'm getting off! It's finished dude. Our presentation is ready!" Andgry calls me and rushed outside.

"Aren't you supposed to stay here?" Mrs. Benjamin frown.

"Nope. I'm going home, mom was calling me. Beside, she don't know where I went and I might be a dead meat to dad if I weren't returned." He smiles.

"Take care again! Anyway Andgry, don't let anything harm Mei, okay?" Rikkie pat his shoulder.

But as I hear Rikkie's mom mumbled, I blinked.

"Do not go outside at this hours."

I suddenly pause and turn to her but her face quickly flash a smile. It creeped me out to be honest but still continue to walk away, never minding it.

"Mom, come on!" Rikkie went inside their house.

"Hey, wait up." Andgry run to my direction.

I look up and saw the sky invaded by the darkness and snatch my phone, end up seeing the time. It's already 5:58 P. M.

The road became cold and dark as we take a step. Except for the lamppost that stands at every corner that gives a faint bright in the way.

Walking around the road while my mind was busy thinking of some unknown things, and the guy beside me spoke.

"Are you okay?" He ask and I nod as a response.

"Can I sleep at your house?"

"What?" I turn to him.

"As for real, I was lying to them. My mom does know, also my dad."

"Don't tell me you're lying again." I gave him my death glare.

"I'm not! I'm honest this time. I just want to accompany you so I lied." He smiled awkwardly.

"Same." I coldly says.

"What?" He was now reacting this time.

"Uncle Bob wasn't at home." I admit.

Then we saw the shop with a name engraved, Moonlight Reaper Café. I blinked a few times and a feeling hit me that I've been missing this place when I even don't know it exists, or I think.

We saw the two guy came out and clears the table while the other one just crossed it's arms and watch the two. Based from their uniforms, they must be the one who works there but we just passed through them.

"They seems to be familiar? Aren't they?" Andgry ask and I blink and turn to them.

"You know them?"

"Not at all, but perhaps I do. It's kinda weird though."