L I M E R E N C E

t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w

Living a new life in a new household, however, still many chores to accomplish before heading to school early in the morning. Before attempting myself to cook dinner for Kai and myself, I fish out my smartphone, scroll down the contacts and push my thumb onto my mother’s name. Her name pops upon my screen and the sound of dial whispers through my eardrums, patiently waiting for her voice to come through.

The phone repeatedly rings until a voice came in.

"Hi you are contacting (L/n) Ko and I’m not available right now. Please leave a message after the tone."

“This is getting extra weird... My mom often answers after two rings. How come she’s not contacting back? How busy can she be with Dad?...” A sudden voice came from the living room.

“(F/n)! I am hungry...”

I ended the call, slipped it into my pockets and walked to the kitchen after carrying Kai into my arms. Walking to the kitchen, the only ingredient that’s visible in my eyes is nothing but dust sitting on the surface of every furniture. Kai’s stomach slowly grumbles to hunger.

“Apparently we don’t have anything to cook with Kai. Let’s go do some grocery shopping shall we?”

“I want ice cream (F/n)...” He requested with a cute tone, “No Kai, ice cream can’t be eaten for dinner. You need good nutritions and sugars isn’t gonna help. You can eat ice cream for dessert, okay? What would you like for dinner?”

“Mmm....Hamburger!”

“Okay, let’s get our things ready and head out. I saw a grocery store on our way here, so it shouldn’t be that far.” I gently place Kai’s body down to the floor to let him prepare his purse for a dark adventure outside while I collect my purse carrying my wallet and smartphone.

“(F/n), I’m ready.” Kai holds onto my palms and follows my footsteps through the exit.

I turn myself around, scoop up the keys and lock the door securely. After locking the door, I slipped it back to its pocket and walked through the street filled with silence and darkness.

“(F/n), I am hungry.”

“We are almost, the light there is right up ahead.” The night was peaceful yet ominous at the same time, that at every turn we take, I expect a dark figure to suddenly appear in front of us to pose threat. Luckily that event didn’t occur when we arrive at the range of the grocery store.

The door automatically opens and the clerk greets in welcome to the upcoming customers.

“Welcome!”

Kai brightens and looks into my figure for permission to look around the store. I give a slight nod and he immediately lets go of my hand to collect his treats.

Around the store, I collect the basket and picked out ingredients necessary for dinnertime, including for daily use: chicken legs, salt, milk, pepper, minced meat, etc. everything that’s necessary to fill the refrigerator and to keep our stomach functioning.

Luckily that I’ve enough money delivered from our parents while they work urgent businesses overseas. Quite a good amount of money produced.

I’ve collected three carts of food and head to the cash register for paying, including Kai’s treats, apparently chocolate bread, strawberry milk and strawberry ice cream.

Around the store, I picked out ingredients needed for dinner. Chicken legs, salt, milk, etc. everything that I need to fill in the refrigerator. Luckily that I have enough money delivered from my parents since they work at an urgent business that builds up great amount of money. I’ve collected three carts of food and head to the cash register for paying.

“That will be 8,563 yen altogether,” I pass the specific amount of money to the clerk and slip my fingers through the plastic handles.

Four grocery bags to carry...

Great... As if my body can carry such weight.

“(F/n), gimme bag. I’ll carry them for you.”

“No, it’s fine Kai. These bags are super heavy. Just stay close to me as we walk home play?”

As soon as we walk outside, I felt a sudden yank out of my fingers to see Kai trying his hardest to carry the grocery bag. But instead, he’s only tightening his face red.

“Eeehhh! I’m a big BOY! Agh...” He gave up instantly, realizing that his tiny strength isn’t enough to carry the weight. His lips quiver.

“Haha Kai, here. This one is the lightest.”

“No, give me the heaviest one.” Kai objects. I pull my secret weapon, “I’ll let you eat your strawberry ice cream before dinner.”

“Give me the lightest one.”

Luckily nothing have happened that night because each time we take a turn in the alley, I always thought something would pop up. If that were to happen, I don’t want Kai involved in that mess.

As told, Kai sticks to my side holding onto the lightest bag in his small arms. By the time we arrive home, without notice, Kai slips his little fingers into my pockets attempting to open the door.

Holy crap, why’s my brother so adorable? That’s because he’s born to be one, and I’m sure in the future he’s going to be a good man.

As I watch my little brother walk to the door, I couldn’t contain myself seeing my brother tip-toeing to insert the key into the keyhole, “Ugh...Almost t-there...”

Kai opens the door, turns around and showed me the most innocent smile of accomplishment. I walk over and use my strength to attempt to ruffle his hair, “Kai is a big boy now huh?”

“Yep! I am! I am a man!”

“Well, this man still has some growing to do, so eat a lot for dinner, okay?” I said as I enter home, Kai follows and nods, “Okie! Imma eat a lot of hamburger, drink a lot of milk, eat apple, banana and-”

“Vegetables too.”

“Mmm...” The moment we enter the house, Kai follows me to the kitchen to set down the groceries. I pull the ingredients out of their bags and turn to Kai, giving him his strawberry ice cream as promised, “Wait until I finish cooking, go watch your favorite anime Kaitou Joker.”

“Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream, I love strawberry ice cream and (F/n) very much!~”

The fragrance from the kitchen smoothly flows into the air and into Kai’s senses. He takes in the smell of the meaty fragrance and began drooling in hunger.

After adding the finishing touches, I brought the food to the dinner table. Just the tiniest sound of the plates set onto the table, Kai immediately dashes to his seat.

We clapped ourselves to send our blessings, “Thank you for the food.”

He wraps his tiny fingers around the stem of his fork and gobbles the piece of the hamburger into his mouth. He wiggles in excitement and appreciates the pleasurable taste lurking in his mouth, “I love your cooking! You really are better than Mom.” Kai complimented, leaving me blushing to his cuteness.

“Haha Kai don’t eat too fast, otherwise you’ll get a stomachache. Eat slowly” I laughed softly and wiped the sauce on his face. He muffles with food still in his mouth, “But your fwud ij da besch! I vwould wajer have you wij me chan Mom and Dad.”

I flinched to his words, “Thank you Kai. Finish your food, including the vegetables.” Kai pouts and hesitantly eats the vegetable with a cringed face.

As I watch my little brother eating my meal, it somehow reminds me of the past when Mom and Dad are around on the table and Kai as a toddler.

Ah. The missed voice and touch from our parents smoothly caressing our cheeks lovingly. But now that touch’s gone, our love for our parents doesn’t matter anymore.

Kai gives his thanks to the meal and looks into me, suddenly changing his expression, “(F/n)? Are you okay?”

I snapped myself out of my mind and brought my expression back to Kai’s whose currently looking worried at the moment, “Oh sorry, good job eating everything. Go change into your pajamas and brush your teeth, tomorrow is going to be a big day.”

Kai pouts once more, “I miss my friends. Why do we have to move away (F/n)? Why didn’t Mom and Dad call us?” I knelt down at eye level and placed my palms against his arms. I sighed.

“I don’t know Kai. We’ll see once they call us. Sleep now, its late.” I place a small kiss upon his forehead. The moment we part, Kai jumps, wraps his arms around my neck, and digs his face against the crook of my neck.

He whispers, “Can I sleep with you?” I pat his back, “Sure, just head to my room and sleep. Once I’m done washing dishes and changing, I will have you snuggled in my arms.”

Kai chuckles, showing his baby teeth, “Hehe, I love you (F/n). I will wait here for you.”

“I love you too.” I took a pause and noticed Kai’s flinched expression, “Still scared of the dark?”

“Y-yes.” He nodded, “You are a big boy Kai and you know that big boys aren’t afraid of the dark. But if you insist, you can wait as I finish my chores here.”

“Okay.”

“Now all that’s done, I should get myself ready for bed. Kai, you can wait for me in my room.”

After washing the dishes, I dried my hands and brought myself upstairs until a sudden phone ring stopped me from taking one single step.

“Finally Mom’s calling back. She has a lot to explain about this sudden transfer.”

Gradually fishing out my phone from my pocket, placing it upon my palm and ceasing it from vibrating further by swiping the screen. As I take the phone up to my cheek, I somehow have this uneasy feeling lurking inside my stomach, like it happened before, but couldn’t remember when.

One greeting and the nostalgic nightmare returns.

“Hello? Mom you have a lot of explaining to d-”

"(F/n), it’s me. It’s been five years."

My heart drastically falls and darkness began surrounding me once again, bringing back dark flashbacks. It was Unknown, five years ago, the man who unexpectedly confessed to me with a terrifying and passionate tone.

I remember his raspy voice, I remember everything about him.

The darkness forcing me to remember the terror, causing my fingers to unfold from my smartphone. His raspy presence piercing through my fragile heart, I attempt to end the call in a second.

“W-wha...H-how?”

"I’m hurt (F/n), is that how you greet your lover after five years? I’ve been so lonely, so lonely, so lonely, lonely, lonely, LONELY! I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU!”

My eyes brighten to his sudden pace, I immediately ended the call with complete force. I ended the call and sweat’s already slicking from my forehead, and I can clearly hear my heart pulsing violently through my ribs.

Kai comes downstairs, “What’s taking you so long? Is that Mom?”

“N-no...Kai, u-um go upstairs now and sleep.” Kai rejects, “But I’m scar-”

Kai paused and travels his gaze over my shoulders. He trembles, “(F/n)...Who is that?”

My stomach drops to its pit, slowly... I turn to where Kai’s pointing. As I rotate myself around, he’s there.

The sound of rain clashing against the earth and the street light catching my attention. The moment when the street lights flicker, that’s when I see him in his black hoodie that’s soaking and sticking to his tall stature and his smartphone still glowing and coated with raindrops.

Outside, the grinning face stared at me from afar beyond our living room window.

I blinked once. He’s already knocking at our window smiling.

That view has to be the most terrifying moment in my life. Just one look at him felt like my spine was drawn upwards by his fingertips. Kai embraces my leg, afraid of the black sight.

“(F/n)...(F/n), (F/N) (F/N) (F/N)! Let me in, let me in, let me in! Let me love you! I love you~ Fate has put us together. We are meant to be! Let me in!” His stare was monstrous he repeatedly knocked on the window with dangerous expression of love calling my name while the storm continuously soaks him entirely.

“No! (F/n)!” Kai sobs in fright and digs his face to my calves. I pushed and rushed him upstairs and dialed 119, “Go upstairs Kai! Now!”

Kai rushes upstairs while I slip out my smartphone. I place the mobile against my ear and as soon as I hear the dial ringing, in a blink of an eye, he’s gone.

"119, what’s your emergency? "

“Oh um... N-nothing. I’m sorry. Have a good night.” I ended the call in confusion, experiencing the sudden disappearance of Unknown right when I dialed 119, only to watch the street lights flickering repeatedly.

Gradually taking small steps towards the window with caution. From there, I plant my palms against the glass and take my glance outside from the inside, checking if the Unknown’s actually gone.

“He’s gone... It’s been five years and he’s still stalking me?”

“(F/n)?” Kai came downstairs again with his rabbit plushy wrapped in his arms. He walks up to me anxiously and tugs on my clothes, “I-Is the monster gone?”

’He’s gone...for now. Let’s go to sleep.” With all my remaining strength, I carried Kai in my arms and walked upstairs to our room. I changed out of my clothes into pajamas and fell right into bed with Kai sleeping against my chest. With me by his side, he’s able to peacefully slumber from the nightmare.

I have to get rid of this issue with this stalker...

“Goodnight Kai.”

“(F/n), how could you treat me like an outcast? Ah, its been five years maybe she forgot about me...It’s okay though because I will make her love me and make her mine again.”

:)