Magic Shop

28 |A QUESTION

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In the end, Dawn wasn’t able to gather any clues and just made himself looked like a kid suffering from grade 8 syndrome who truly believed time travel, parallel universe, space and time exist.

Heaving his breath, Dawn walked out of the library. The moment he stepped out, a thunder roar was heard. Dark and gloomy clouds dominated the sky causing rain to pour down. Realizing that it was raining, Dawn pursed his lips as if he was disgusted and he rolled his eyes revealing his annoyance over the weather.

It was sunny moments ago! How!? ugh, I only have few cash left, tsk! I don’t have the luxury to afford a taxi damn it!

He grumbled inwardly hoping the weather to clear up but seeing the dark skies and the heavy rain pouring, it seemed like he needed to expect to stay here at the library's entrance for a few more hours as he waited for the rain to subside.

Dawn stared at the gloomy clouds and wet roads for a while. Later then, he brought out his phone hoping if one of his friends are nearby and could help him with such situation.

As Dawn scrolled through his contact list with his little hope. After scrolling, he stared at his phone for  a while longer before deciding to send a group message to them. Using his keypad phone, Dawn did not waste any second as he pressed the send button and pray for a miracle that one of his friends are nearby.

After sending the text message, he again watched the rain. In times such as this, he wanted his phone to evolve and become a touch screen. Using keypad phones are not his thing anymore. It doesn’t have any music and games on it. The only purpose it has right not is to be able to send and receive calls and text.

Time ticked and Dawn felt that he was getting more and more bored. His feet and legs was also getting sore because he was standing for almost an hour or so. The rain continued to pour as if it doesn’t have any plans on stopping. In Dawn’s mind he was already considering if he should just walk and let the rain drench him and take a bath later. However, after he almost made up his mind, a car suddenly stopped in front of him rolling down its window.

Surprised and delighted, Dawn bent down to see who was inside. In his eyes, Sejin’s blue eyes sparkled as if he was an angel appearing before Dawn.

“Hop in” Sejin’s voice echoed through his ears it sounded like a hymn of praises for Dawn. Without waiting for moment, he immediately opened the car’s door and went inside securing the seat belt around his upper body.

The rain still continue to pour however, Dawn wasn’t that annoyed anymore. “Thanks” Dawn said expressing how thankful he was. “I was already calculating the minutes it would take for me to arrive at your house drench if you did not come.”  

Sejin laughed seeing how happy Dawn was. “Be thankful that I am nearby.” Sejin teased his friend and Dawn smiled even more.

“Thank you your highest.” He mocked Sejin but Sejin did not mind it and starts the car. Inside the vehicle the sound coming fro the radio dominated the place making the silence somewhat comfortable.

In Dawn’s mind, he was back again at calculating possibilities and solving his anxiety as he felt like his time was getting a little bit smaller and smaller as it ticks. Subconsciously, he glanced at Sejin who was driving. Dawn blinked as he realized that his normally noise friend was oddly silent for today.

What’s wrong with him? He asked in his mind. Did it not go well?

“How was your trip?” Dawn asked as he remembered the reason why Sejin was out today. Sejin peeked at his side and met Dawn’s curious gaze. He smirked before saying,

“I went to the police station today.”

Dawn nodded as he remembered why was Sejin there. “Did you manage to talked to any police officer?” Dawn casually asked and Sejin nodded confirming that he managed to do it.

“Then?” Dawn pushed the matter even more hoping to understand what was the reason Sejin was silent.

“I told him about the abuse and treatment River and his siblings were getting and he agreed to arrest them. He also told me that we needed more evidence and advice us to caught the happening in camera so that there will no longer any issues after the police officer arrested them.” Sejin said as he remembered their talked with the police officer today.

“Then, all we need is a camera and we need to caught the act in camera?” Dawn repeated what Sejin had said.

“Yes,”

“Did you already told River about it?”

Sejin shook his head. “Not yet, I was planning to call him later.”

“That’s a good thing though, let’s hope for River’s future well since he despise his parents that much.” Dawn mumbled. “If I was in his situation, I would never endure such thing in the first place especially if my siblings are also getting beaten. I salute him for enduring and doing well all this time.”

“I agree.” Sejin said as he turned the car to the left.

“But I am kind of hesitating” Dawn raised his right brow as he was surprised on what Sejin had said.

“Why?” He asked.

Sejin stared at the rain and the wet road for a while. It was as if he was contemplating about something in his mind and he doesn’t want to share it. Dawn sensed the changes of Sejin’s mood so he withdrew the matter.

“If you’re not comfortable then it’s okay not to say anything however, River wanted this” Dawn emphasized even more. Even though he was also hesitating. He felt like he was robbing the children’s future with their parents but this was River’s decision and he told them that he was willing to shoulder such responsibilities.

Besides, Dawn really understood what River was going through.

Dawn was also betting that everything in River’s side would get better after this. If I only know more details about what happened to River then this anxiety and confusing I am feeling wouldn't be like this!

Dawn said in his mind regretting his useless brain for not working properly. However it was different for Sejin.

He understood the feeling of not getting the love they deserve from their parents but he did not understood why River was hating his parents to the core. Maybe it was because they have different situation and he also doesn’t have the right to judge what his friend’s decision.

They are different from each other. Sejin wanted his parent’s approval. He wanted them to look at him and praise him however, for River, it was different, he hated his parents to the core of his being enough to put his parents to prison.

In the end, Sejin asked Dawn a question, “Do you understand River’s feelings in this matter?” Dawn was surprised for the sudden question Sejin asked but he accepted it and said,

“We are all different,” He started,

“If you’re getting abused almost everyday what would you feel?” Dawn asked Sejin but Sejin wasn’t able to answer such question for he did not experience it.

Dawn heaved his breath. “If you love your parents it was different for him. In his point of view, his parents are the cause of his miserable life. His parents are the reason why he was suffering. It was making him worn out and tired. Imagine you’re drowning and you know how to swim however, the waves keep pushing you down. The waves are like River’s parents. In order for River to live, he needed to eliminate the source of his death. You don’t need to understand nor accept what River’s decisions are. However, we also don’t have the right to say that what he was doing was wrong since we are not experiencing what he was experiencing.”

Dawn was silent after that. He remembered his time in jail and the hell he had been through because of his father. If Sejin wasn’t able to understand such feelings, for Dawn it was easy. From the bottom of his heart, he understood River and admire his friend for enduring such treatment for a long time. If it were him, he would have gone insane.

Sejin nodded he felt like a trash for asking such questions. They are all different. Sejin understood that he needed to accept that. He was different from all of them to begin with. He had a good life. He had everything he wanted and it was different for River since his friend needed to work twenty four seven in order to support his self and his siblings. Sejin smiled bitterly. He wanted to puch himself but he just remained silent.

 The rain poured down as the car headed to their destination.

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River looked at pouring rain outside the convenience store. A moment earlier, Sejin messaged him that he had already talked about the issue to a police officer and the only thing River need to provide was a video of his parents abusing them.

He was delighted at first. He felt that the chain that was always chocking him to death was being removed one by one but later on he was stuck at a single problem and that was how he will caught his parents on the act.