Magic Shop

21 |INNOCENCE

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Seven pm in the evening, around Hana River, the staff who were incharge of the festival’s security were distributing flyer indicating that at twelve midnight, there will be fireworks display. Reika who was holding her eldest brother’s hand was happily humming as the different color lights from the different stalls reflect on her eyes.

The little girl who was seven years old and the youngest of River’s siblings was too responsible for her age. She knew the basic rules if she go out alone. She know how to cook simple meals like eggs, rice, and some stir fried vegetables. She knew how to help his older brother in their laundries and cleaning the house. However, even though she act too mature for her age, her eyes reflects the pureness of one’s soul that hasn’t been tainted.

Dawn who was calmly looking and observing his friends behind their backs was drawn to the small little girl’s back. Although it was small, it seemed to him like Reika’s back were too big enough to shoulder responsible that should be given to people who were older than here. For example, their parents.

Dawn found the little girl, Reika, incredible and amusing. She seemed like she had already experienced the hardship of this world but she can still smile despite of the harsh reality that was bestowed upon her and her brothers for their parent’s were not responsible enough.

Dawn understood that Reika and River doesn’t have a choice and just agreed to be like this. To bare the responsibility as they grow up because if they cannot, they will also end up like their parents who only knew how to reproduce and enjoy the bitterness of alcohol. Dawn knew that River and his siblings needed to grow up fast and be deprived of the joy called childhood and innocence.

Some people address such things as, they were not lucky enough to be born in a family who can take care of them well. Well, if children can choose their parents, they will surely choose the one who can take care and love them properly. Who wouldn't want that right?

Dawn felt iffy as the lights from the different stalls light up the place. His friends were trying different games and winning prices at different stores. Ayase who love basketball did not spare that game and win a huge teddy bare for Reika. The little girl almost cry as she hugged the bare as if Ayase had grown wings and had become an angel.

“Are you really giving this to me, Kuya Ayase?” She asked. Her voice was shaking. Dawn observed River’s face. His lips twitched and inwardly sighed.

Ayase’s eyes were shining. “You’re so cute! How come River has someone like you who is so adorable and cute! Of course you can have it!” Ayase said as he ruffled Reika’s hair.

“Thank you kuya Ayase!”

Dawn gestured his gaze towards Sejin and Roen. Unconsciously, he compared River and Sejin. They were the exact opposite, however there were things common to them. They all have scars. One was just lucky enough not to be deprived by the so called stability.

Dawn who experienced life in a ruthless manner realized not so long  ago that even though one person was kind, joyful, patient, has positive view  in life  was because they choose to be in that way despite of battling their inner selves and their demons inside them.

You are responsible on your own future and what you want to become. Sadly enough for Dawn, he struggled to find this simple truth and was blinded by different things as he grow older.

He wasn’t blaming himself. He just felt bitter that he just took a long time to realize something so obvious.

Occupied by his own thoughts, Dawn watched the different people in their surroundings while eating the pop corn he bought earlier. Back when he was at the mental hospital whenever he was alone, he would observed people and sometimes guess what was the reason they were in such place.

At this time, he saw many smiles plastered on people’s faces. Their smiles were the only thing Dawn saw and everything was in blur. It was really different from the time he was in that facility. He scoffed at himself and shook off his thoughts. His mind was getting louder and louder again.

“Occupied by your own thoughts?” Dawn heard a question. Both of his eye brows went up as he put a popcorn inside his mouth and motion his head to the left. He saw Roen and Aidien looking at him with curious gazes. At the same time he looked to his right. He saw the the rest of them were busy playing games and betting money. He shook his head once again as he withdraw his gaze and look at Roen and Aidien.

“Why you asked?” Dawn chuckled. The place they were in was really busy and noisy. They can’t properly hear what they were saying from time to time. However, the place was magical and filled with happiness.

Roen was curious at his friends action. He ate the takoyaki and rolled his eyes when he realized that there were no octopus inside. “Scam.” he grumbled before saying once again, “You seem like you were thinking something serious.”

Aidien nodded agreeing to what Roen said.  Aidien was watching Dawn for a long time now. “I was just thinking how innocent Reika is.”

“Are you planning on tainting her?” Aidien asked out of the blue. He even blinked several times making him innocent. It made Dawn widen his eyes and almost coughed the popcorn he put into his mouth.

“What the heck! What did you just say?” He said in disgust. Aidien looked at his elder brother innocently as if he was really asking if Dawn would taint her. Aidien you’re cute when you act like that but please learn some manners! Oh my god! If there’s a police here they would arrest me!

“Dawn, that girl is just seven, I will call the FBI if you continue on your weird fetish.” Roen chuckled adding salt on Dawn’s ego’s scar. He opened his drink and gulped it at once.

“You too Roen! Stop spouting nonsense.” Dawn can’t believe what his friends were saying. He jerked away from them hoping not to be  caught up by their  weirdness. At the same time, River walked towards them holding Reika in his arms.

Afterwards, he gestured Dawn to hold his sister for a minute. “Why?” Dawn asked. Hie eyes met the little girls innocent gaze. She was waving at him so he waved back.

“Oh, Dawn, we will be watching you. Don’t do something weird!” Roen joked beside him. Dawn just flipped his middle finger on his friends. River who was fast was able to cover Reika’s eyes so she wasn’t able to see the vulgar hand symbol. He then glared at Dawn.

Dawn pouted. “Sorry”

“Hold her for a bit.”

“Why?” Dawn asked once again. The same time Dawn asked the question, River pointed out the game where there were fishes you need to catch.

“Dinner.” He said and Dawn blinked. He was not able to understand what River had said for a moment and just carry Reika in his arms. Dinner? He asked in his mind once again and watched River’s back as he try the game.

A few seconds later, he realized that he was going to win some fishes in order for them to have dinner. Dawn who was thinking that his friend were crazy bunch of people just shook his head and look at the little girl who was inside his arms. She was still hugging the big bear Ayase gave her.

“Are you having fun?”

Reika’s cheeks were flushed red but her eyes where shimmering. Like it was a dark sky full of glimmering stars. Subconsciously, Dawn made a gentle expression.

Reika nodded several times. “I like it!” She used her hand to draw circles in the air gesturing how much she like it. Dawn chuckled and pinched her cheeks. “You’re cute.”

“I am cute kuya?” she asked. Dawn nodded.

“If I have a younger sister, I hope she’s as cute as you.”

“Really?”

“Yep!”

“Oh, Dawn, are you flirting with the little girl?” Ayase teased. Dawn ignored it.

“Big brother said we will leave our house soon.” Reika said as her eyes were glued on one of the prices inside a stall. Dawn looked at it and it was a small mini house of a barbie.

“Huh?” Dawn asked in confusion. The little girl’s eyes were beaming with happiness. “Yes. Big brother said he found a nice house for us to live. It’s much better than our previous house.”

“Really?” Dawn once again looked up River with pride.

“Yep! This week we will move in that new house. It’s not that big but it fit us all perfectly and  the ceilings are not high! it good that the ceiling was not high because if the balloons brother bought flew up we can reach it!” She told Dawn with glee. Dawn eyed the little girl with strangeness later on he looked at River’s back.

When he heard that River found a new apartment for them, he thought of taxes and rent however, this little girl just thought about how the ceilings where not high enough and that it was a good thing.

Dawn fell silent for a few second. Comparing his thoughts to the little girl. He smiled bitterly and ruffled her hair. How innocent I wish I can still think like this. “It’s a good thing that the ceilings were not that high, right?”

“Yes!” Dawn chuckled. He tighlty hugged the little girl once more and when he saw her big brother coming back with a bag full of fishes, he just laughed and give Reika back.

Deciding that they wanted to rest, they finally agreed to have a picnic beside the Hana River where the fireworks will be held. Dawn followed his friends as they walked.

After a while, in the crowd he saw their teacher Mr. Anderson looking at the sky in the middle of the road full of people.

Dawn raised his right brown. “What is he doing?”

Ayase who also saw their teacher smiled as he waved and said, “Mr. Anderson!”

Mr. Anderson who heard Ayase turned around. At the same time, Dawn saw that behind his teacher’s eye glasses were tears. He was confused.

Is he crying?

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