Take Me With You

CHAPTER 2 : The Past and The Key to A New Beginning

Keiji's legs start running on their own like they're taking him to a place where he'll find the thing he needs the most. Suddenly, he found himself standing on a dark alley. He slowly took a step forward, careful enough not to make a noise. The rapid beating on his chest is the only thing he could hear.

It's like a secluded place for crimes.

And he's right.

Right when he's about to turn away he stepped on a pool of blood. Due to his curiosity, he followed where it came from and there, lying on the muddy ground coated with his own blood, he saw how he lost half of his life.

-

"It's honestly heartbreaking. Didn't he dream of going to Nationals but ended up not participating?"

"His brother died. What do you expect him to do? Play while grieving?"

Keiji fixed his glasses and glanced at the girls talking at his side. The girls seem to realize that he heard what they're saying all along so they immediately walked away, repeatedly apologizing.

He peeked at the window again and looked at the volleyball players practicing below. There's a sudden feeling of longing blooming inside him so he cut his gaze away and stared back at the board in front.

The time his classes ended, he picked up his bag and started to walk home. He noticed the dinosaur keychain inserted on its zipper and a memory flashed in his mind.

-

"Keiko! What are you watching?"

His brother looked at him and flashed a gentle smile.

"The Good Dinosaur."

"-was strolling in the stores earlier and I found it interesting. Wanna watch it with me?"

"Sure!"

He snuggled beside his brother and laid his head on his chest.

It's moments like this when Keiji doesn't need to ask for more. Even if their parents are not there physically with them, they still know they're around guiding the both of them and besides, he has his brother anyway.

Even if he gets lost anytime like the little dinosaur, he will always find a way to go back home.

His little reminiscing stopped when a volleyball rolled in front of him. Hesitating, he stared at it for a long time and picked it up when he noticed that no one's planning to get it.

He laid his eyes on the court and saw the members visibly shaking under his gaze.

"Of course, they must have been scared. Like always."

He threw it lightly, enough for it to bounce back at the court, before proceeding to walk again. He remembered the time his brother introduced him to volleyball.

"Eiko!"

"Keiko!"

"Hey, brother! I'm home!"

He undid his shoes and hurriedly ran inside when he didn't hear his brother answer. What he didn't expect was to hear the sound of a ball bouncing hard on the ground.

'Is my brother into basketball without me knowing?'

He peeked at the veranda and saw what he didn't expect to see. Instead of dribbling it, he sighted his brother tossing the ball up in the air before spiking it himself to the ground. As a little child, he found that alone interesting and extraordinary. He let his curiosity get into him and dragged his own feet in front of his brother.

"Oh, Kei. You're home. Sorry, didn't hear you coming."

"Iz-okay! What's that?" he asked, pointing to the ball his brother was carrying in his right arm.

"Ah, this? It's volleyball. I joined the club so I have to practice so we can win the matches."

"There are matches?!"

"Hmm-mm. So your brother will be quite busy for now. I have to perfect my tosses."

His brother laid again on the ground and positioned himself. He did a number of sets before Kei, who was standing beside him watching him all along, asked.

"Can I join? I want to learn how to play, too."

His brother gave him another smile and nodded.

"Sure, little thing."

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, Keiko noticed his brother improving his play. But rather than being good at tossing, he realized Keiji has this immense skill in blocking instead.

"Have you ever thought about joining a volleyball club in highschool?" Keiko asked.

Ever since that day, he has never been the same as before.

-

He found himself crying in the middle of the street again. It's been 2 years since the incident happened but the wound is still fresh. It still hurts a lot and he thinks he can never move forward. He lost the only person that was left with him. How can God be so cruel?

Sobbing, he continued walking, not minding the pity stares the people in their town are giving him. He hasn't healed from the trauma of the past and he really has to remember his brother at any side of this town.

With little idly steps, he was stopped in his tracks for the second time when he heard a small c***k.

"A CD?"

He scanned the shiny CD to look for what it is about but he found none. Carelessly, he swirled the CD on his finger and proceeded to go home.

"I deserve an afternoon snack after all of these."

"Oh God."

He remembered his brother again.

-

Keiji was eating his dinner silently, trying to savor the soggy cereals he's having. He misses the time where his brother cooks for him as he serves the plates on the table.

Life was so good back then and it suddenly turned upside down.

What went wrong?

Not wanting his thoughts to consume him, he stood up and walked towards the living room. Bringing his cereal bowl with him, he turned on the TV and inserted the CD in the CD player.

The screen displayed random lights, telling the CD is already damaged. He remembers that he accidentally stepped on it. It was glitchy and the sound was too painful for a human ear. He was about to turn it off when, in an instance, it started playing the movie he isn't familiar with.

"This volleyball series exist?" he asked unmindfully as he looked at the little blonde boy staring at him from the screen with a volleyball in his hand.