GLITCH

Rylai and Reme

COSME LODGE, Blue Town

Tuesday, November 9, 2500 5:10 PM

Rylai shut herself in her room. I tried to bring a meal to her but she didn't budge to open it the door. This is my first time seeing her all gloomy. It's not that I've been with her for a long time though. This is a new side of her; I often see Rylai as a composed, reliable individual. At the end of the day, she's still a human. She can still feel anxiety and remorse from what had happened in her past.

Earlier, I asked Mister Locke and Mrs. Lyn why Rylai acted that way after she saw both of them. The two of them looked at each other and told me the truth.

•••

"I see. Rylai is a friend of yours right?"

"Yes."

"Well then. Let me tell you something about her."

The three of us sat on the bench where Rylai and I supposed to sit on. Mrs. Lyn started sharing the story that pierced my heart and later on put tears on my eyes.

"It's been ten years ago when Rylai first came to our lives. She's a shy-type of person and a frail one in fact. Have you heard of an island named Feather Island? As what the name suggests, it's an island that looks like a feather when viewed from the sky; this is also where fluffy pillows and beds were made. This island is located north of the Lecrucian Continent, one of the four great Continents of the world. We found her almost frostbitten to death, lying on the road."

Mrs. Lyn did a sigh, and looked up to the sky before she continued talking.

"We're originally travelling merchants, but after finding her, we decided to stay in Feather Island and took residence permanently. It's a unanimous decision within our family; my husband, me and our son, Reme. Reme was joyed to finally have a friend. He's always seen as an oddball by many; he's always wearing a lab coat and goggles wherever and whenever, and had an interest to Glitches and their characteristics. Fortunately, Rylai is also interested on that matter and they talk all they long about theories and other stuff; Rylai even copied Reme's style of fashion, lab coat wearing. Come to think of it", Mrs. Lyn took her gaze towards me and said, "You and my late son have the same features, casting the hair and eye color aside."

So that must be a reason why Rylai is acting familiar towards me. So I have the same face as her late friend huh.

"A bad thing happened though; there's a Glitch that manifested named Madmen, a Glitch that stirred up the whole city into shambles. Since they look identical to a normal person, AGA mistook it as a dormant-type glitch. But then they finally acknowledged that they were in the wrong; those beings ravaged the city and killed many people with their brute strength alone; ripping people easily as if the human body is just some piece of paper. Two of those went inside our home while the four of us had our lunch; they destroyed our door and were going to assault Rylai. Locke was able to intercept it, but then one of them managed to slip, jump onto Rylai and was about to rip her face when Reme, without hesitation, hit the madman's right arm with a chair real hard. The madman got enraged, took his attention to our boy, and then..."

Mrs. Lyn leaned to her husband as she covered her face with her hands and cried silently. Mr. Locke lightly rubbed his spouse's back to comfort her. Looking at her state, Mr. Locke continued the story instead.

"Well, you see Sven… after that misfortune befalls us Lyn cursed Rylai and blamed her as the one who killed our son. Rylai grew pale and left the house the next day. Lyn and I desperately searched for her, but to no avail. My wife cried one night, saying that she cursed her that time in the spur of the moment and wanted to apologize. A couple of years passed by, the two of us still doesn't know her whereabouts. Praying for her safety, we became travelling merchants again, hoping to find her during our travels. Another eight years passed by, and then we gained a rumor of a young girl who always wears a lab coat even in a supermarket. We figured that that lady is Rylai."

Mrs. Lyn seemed to have calmed down. She looks at me and said, "Please support her; as her companion and a friend, we humbly request to you to please take care of her. Please…save her from her sorrow."

The two of them slightly bowed their heads as a sign of sincerity. They see her as if she's their daughter.

I took a deep breath and stated something to put them at ease.

"I will Mr. and Mrs. Array. So please lift your heads and please have these", I gave them the bunch of barbeque Rylai left untouched as she ran away earlier. "These are Rylai's, but I'm giving it to you. I can't eat since I'm already full; don't worry, I'll purchase some for her as a replacement. I shall be on my way then."

"You have our thanks Sven."

After we exchanged contacts, I bowed and turned my back to them, and went straight back to the lodge.

I finally realized that her pain is way worse than mine.

•••

COSME LODGE, Blue Town

Tuesday, November 9, 2500 5:20 PM

Back to the present, I came back from shower and came knocking the door of Rylai's room. She's still shutting herself and the food that I put outside for her is starting to get cold.

Worried, I tried to move the knob to see if it's unlocked. Fortunately, it wasn't. When I peeked inside, I saw Rylai sitting on a chair beside the window, while shedding tears as she's looking at her goggles. Basing on the couple's story, that goggle should be Reme's.

"Rylai..."

"Ah, Sven! Why are you here?"

Shocked, Rylai quickly wiped off her tears and came towards me.

"Well…"

"I guess they told you about me and our past together right?"

I nodded in agreement.

"I see… Sven, may I ask something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"…no, nothing… Don't mind me Sven."

"I'll be going now. Here, some barbeque", I bid farewell to Rylai as I put a rectangular basket with five barbeques on the table beside he bed.

"Thanks Sven."

When I'm about to go outside, Mrs. Lyn's request crossed my mind in a flash. I took a deep breath, and returned back to Rylai. She already turns her back to me, so I called out her name.

"Rylai…"

"Sven? What…is…it…"

Without any hesitation, pulled her towards me…

"You don't need to carry your burden by yourself all along."

…and hugged her tightly.

"I'm your friend you know? As what you've said to me before, that there's no need to be reserved. I'm all ears, so let hear you out."

After I stated those words, Rylai reciprocates by grabbing my shirt and cried out loud, releasing all of her locks and slightly opened her heart.