Afterglow

Part 2

"Are we not getting any dinner, o'-two?" Yuu asked as o'-two went back from buying the tickets. Well, to add on the reasons why this town looked so less modern, they still got tickets.

O'-two looked at Yuu as if he was an annoying cockroach that could magically speak. I saw how his brows furrowed and how his honey orbs narrowed as he thought of an answer. After several seconds of silence, he spoke, "What are you, Yuu? A kid?"

"Whoa, take it easy. He's only sixteen. He's a minor being dragged into this blasting-bombing-sort-of-show. We're all starving here," I said, realizing that this drag racer was basically short-tempered. "Don't you have any worms to feed in your tummy? What about Yuu and I go to buy something? It won't be long."

However, honestly speaking, I was just trying to make an excuse so I could get something to eat, too. Just how bad things could get?

"You're not trying to escape, are you?"

"Look, o'-two or whoever you really are. You better thank me because I didn't play hard to get after you drag me into this. I have a simple life as a florist and yet I gave you the honor to ruin it by letting this cinnamon roll to kidnap me from the tram. Did I protest about that? Yes. But did I resist you or something? No. Shouldn't you be so grateful that I'm not burdening you or want me to be subservient? Here I go. You believe that I'm an important tool-whatsoever in this revolution, no? Okay!? I'll go with you. My point is: Yuu and I are gonna by our dinner and you won't object about that."

Talk about a senseless argument that dragged too long. O'-two and Yuu were both giving me weird glances, that kind of look which was asking where in the world did I get those things I just said. Nevertheless, it made o'-two sigh. He passed to me the tickets and instructed us to never leave the bench where we were seated right now. The guy volunteered to buy our dinner, but he never asked what we would like to get. How impolite.

A few minutes had passed as I remained sitting on the bench. Yuu was enjoying his brief moment of liberty by standing next to the railing, glancing down at the uproar of the small town while o'-two was away. From my seat, I watched the blond as a small smile adorned his face. He was so innocent. Well, calling him innocent was not really accurate. After all, he was a part of the resistance and he did save me from the attacks on the city. That smile was telling another story, nonetheless.

"Miku, do you have any siblings?" Yuu asked me, turning around to look my way. His short golden locks fluttered in the wind. I might be mistaken but I guess there was a brief glint of sadness in his eyes. It was gone before I could confirm it.

"I...I don't have any memories at all. Diva told me that I was found lying near an orphanage after a terrorist attack."

"I see. We're the same. I have no memories of my mum and dad, too. It's not because I was caught in some accident, though. It's more like...they were taken away from me right after I was born."

So that was it, huh? It was just strange how he could smile as we talked about it.

"Wasn't it supposed to be the other way 'round? You know, babies being taken away from parents by people?" I feigned a laughter. I just asked the most stupid question I could ever ask, not mentioning how insensitive that sounded.

Yuu chuckled, tucking a wisp of his blond hair behind an ear. "No. Believe it or not, they took them away. Uncle said the government didn't pay me any attention. I would die, I was just a newborn that time. Helpless. Weak. Dependent. Uncle told me that my parents never wanted that to happen. None of them wanted to leave me. They were taken by force."

"Were they rebels?" I walked towards Yuu and leaned on the railing. The cool breeze brushed against my face along the wafting scent of barbecues being grilled. The cars continued to roar with those horns, making the whole town below us polluted. Noise polluted. Ugh.