[ BL ] How The Rain Clears Up The Sky

Chapter 2: Lost and Found (2)

People in the city commonly regard those in the countryside who know nothing about cities. Or rather, they deemed them ignorant fools. Sometimes, these people blatantly say this to the people in the countryside. Unfortunately, this happened to Caleb. He is not ignorant; he was just astonished by the new things he sees. He has lived so differently from those people of Correl City. And those who are greedy took advantage of Caleb and took his wallet.

His wallet is like everyone's wallet. There is a difference but it's only subtle. All use their wallet to keep their money, identification card, a small of their loved ones, and even their grocery list. So as Caleb ran to chase the snatcher, he can't understand as his wallet should be targeted.

He's crying but no tears flowed down, it was sweat instead.

The snatcher ran fan far away but Caleb is persistent. His wallet is only in his mind so, ran mindlessly. However, Caleb made a wrong judgment. Unintentionally, he bumped into another passenger. He dodged him but it was a late reaction. Caleb lost his balance and fell on the cold platform of the train station.

He didn't fall hard but his knees were aching a little.

"Ow, that hurts" Caleb whispered down under his breath.

Due to his fall, his camera also crashed down. It seemed the lace of his camera snapped. Caleb instantly picked up his camera. He was already spent from running but he doesn't care at the moment. This camera was gifted by someone.

It made him flustered. On his knees, Caleb takes a look at his camera and checks if it still functioning.

"Hooh, hah!" Caleb released a relieved sigh when the camera is not damaged.

However, it is not capturing any picture even if Caleb repeatedly clicks.

'Oh, no' Caleb thought.

Caleb is getting overwhelmed so he repeatedly clicks his camera. This camera holds a dear memory of him and his hometown.

On the other hand, Caleb didn't notice but had already stolen other passengers' attention. They were all staring at him before passing through. They were curious but not that curious to ask what happened to him.

Already anxious as he is, Caled continued to click his camera… until a bright light occurred that made Caleb finally relieved.

Finally! A smile crept on his lips and held the camera in front of him. He was feeling upset that upon arriving, his wallet was stolen. It's a bit shameful on his part but he let go of that thought. It's more important that his camera is all right.

But his joy was short-lived.

"Ahhhh! p*****t!"

Caleb flinched at the sudden scream of a woman. He was so surprised.

'p*****t?' Where? Earlier, a snatcher, now a p*****t? Should I just go home?' Caleb thought. He brought his camera in his arms and hugged it tightly.

"This man is a p*****t!" A woman in front of him pointed her fingers at Caleb.

'Huh?'

"A peeping tom!"

Suddenly, all people, who were minding their own business, stopped and looked at the woman… then to Caleb who was at the end of the woman's pointed finger.

Caleb flinched. His heart racing uncontrollably. At first, he was confused about why would the woman point her finger at him. Caleb...he...

'Did I do something wrong?'

Right, the woman called him a p*****t, - a peeping tom, on top of that.

'But I am not. I didn't do it.'

Caleb, who was kneeling on the ground, his spirit momentarily shaken. However, he knows that he didn't do anything wrong. The woman got it wrong; it was just a slight misunderstanding. Caleb understands the woman's shoes, so as a gentleman that his mother raised him to be, he'll explain it softly and calmly.

After he rose from the ground, he let out a gentle smile that can warm up everyone. Truthfully, the woman in front of him got flustered. Caleb is a young handsome man, his brown eyes suit his brown hair and together with a smile like that, Caleb is akin to a warm sun that people can't help but be drawn to him.

However, that gentle smile did not last long. Caleb is not pretentious, nor a sly person. Underneath his smile, he is very nervous. His smile wearing out so he forced a smile. It is not ugly but the woman got uncomfortable and stepped backwards from Caleb.

"Get away from me! Somebody, call the police!" The woman screamed, further escalating the tension.

[ Sounds of people whispering]

And that impacted Caleb. Caleb's heart raced as he turned to the woman.

"M-Ma'am, I-it is a misunderstanding…" His voice is trembling with concern and earnestness.

"I promise, I respect your privacy. I didn't take any photographs of you," He pleaded, he wants to assure the woman he is nothing but a good man.

But, people- the society, rather, sometimes goes over the truth and choose to believe what they only see… even if it wasn't the real situation.

"p*****t! Go die!" Another woman amidst the crowd surrounding Caleb and the woman yelled.

Caleb is still on his foot. Those words rang louder than church bells inside Caleb's mind.

Due to that woman's yell, as if on cue, several passengers started to throw harsh words at Caleb. They… they were pointing their fingers at him, all of them.

At this moment, Caleb's spirit…shattered. He is also a human, just like those in front of him. No matter the preparation he made before entering this city, it seemed lacking. He doesn't belong here. People here are so harsh, people here stabbed his heart, people here… no one wants to help him. No, rather than wanting anyone to help him

… He wants someone to believe in him.

Even if it's only one person.

Caleb remained standing. His head facing down, his ears went deaf. Those people, it seemed to be that to protect Caleb, his body blocked all sounds. Now, Caleb is engulfed in total silence.

'Where am I? I want to go home'

Caleb is an 18-year-old man. He graduated high school several months ago. Before that, just like any high school student, he faced the dilemma of where should he pursue college. His town is small and, in the countryside, but its neighboring town is slightly better. It has a college institution, not that big but Caleb could study there. His friends would also be there, but Caleb knew it was going to be peaceful.

But, then. Caleb was inspired by the thought of traveling far from his hometown. To experience the life in the big city where he could meet new friends and then his parents would be proud their only son graduated from a known university in a big city.

It was a joyous dream of Caleb.

…Not until today.

What's going on?

He left his hometown with great hopes, he woke up feeling light after a long journey, and… and… his wallet was snatched, dropped his camera, forgot his luggage, and… shamed for something worse compared to his previous unfortunate encounters.

Right now, Caleb wants to sit in some corner. Scrunch himself like a small ball so that people will no longer see him, will no longer point their fingers at him, and will no longer stab his wounded heart.

Oh, no. Caleb's eyes are burning, it hurts him.

But Caleb doesn't want these people to witness his tears. Is there a place he can hide? Where? Where should he go? He wants to run and leave this cruel place. He tried to explain but they ignored him so he no longer cared if that impression is engraved in those people's minds. Just… Just leave him alone.

'Please,' he begs them.

As the crowd continued shattering Caleb's spirit, a figure of an unknown man stepped forward, in front of Caleb, as this unknown man coldly face the people. Caleb noticed a shadow in front of him completely blocking Caleb's sight of the people around.

When he looked up, he saw a shoulder of a person. This person, stood tall and firm like a shield. His broad shoulders exuded strength and confidence, making those people shift their attention to him. Seeing an unknown man appear, these people quiet down.

Nothing can surprise Caleb anymore. He let out a bitter smile.

'What now? What more?'

People are curious. All of them wonder who this new person might be and what action this person would make. However, these people were in sudden discomfort. Some shifted their eyes, and some whispered altogether with their companions and some whistled.

And this is because this person's face is etched with obvious annoyance and disdain as he stares them straight in the eyes. The murmurs and whispers among the people began to fade, replaced by an uncomfortable silence in the air.

"Tch"

He turned around and stare down at Caleb. Caleb met his eyes, causing him to flinch. Caleb is not short, in fact, he is bigger compared to other adults from his town. But at that moment, Caleb wonders if the water in this city is special that can really make people grow that tall.

Upon taking a closer look at this person who was at the center of attention, this unknown man is in utter annoyance. This person looks young, probably a minor, he thought. More importantly, he is different from the people of Correl.

'He looks like a foreigner. German? Korean'

Ridiculous speculation.

'He looks like a recently hatched bird with no feathers

It's a good thing this unknown man spoke in his mind. Hearing that would've made Caleb cry.

Meanwhile, under this unknown man's gaze, Caleb is suffering.

'W-What? What is he staring for?' His silent cry.

Caleb wants to ask that unknown man but this unknown man left him and turned to the woman. Caleb is confused, people who are watching the unknown man are confused, and even the CCTV camera is confused.

'Where ya goin' man?'

"Are you all right, madam?" This unknown man asked the woman.

"What?" Right, even this woman is confused.

Just what is this unknown man thinking?