Season 2 - Page Seventeen

[Siren]

The wind blows making me shiver. It sure is cold now, huh? I might be shivering now but I don't wanna go home yet.

Brownie whimpers cutely infront of me. I still haven't talked to Sorelle about adopting him so I just visit him here from time to time. I carried him and placed him on my chest. He feels warm.

"I don't know what to do now, Brownie..." I whisper as I caress his back slowly. "What do I really want to do?"

Seeing Hana and others earlier looking so sure about their futures made me envious of them. Is it really bad that I don't have anything planned for the future? I feel like I'm in an endless loop, it's scary.

"It's late. When do you plan on going home?"

Sorelle's voice echoes behind me and I felt a warm and fragrant coat wrapping me. I stand up, still holding Brownie who is now peacefully sleeping.

"I didn't realize the time..."

"Hmmm... He's cute. What's his name?" Sorelle lightly touched Brownie's fur.

"Brownie."

"Brownie? What a weird name."

I grinned. The one who gave him the name is weird too.

"Do you want to bring him home?"

"Is it fine?"

She nodded, her gaze still fixated on Brownie. "Of course. It's good to have a companion when I can't go home for days."

I sighed. "Thanks..."

I hung my head low while trying to stop my tears. I don't know why I'm getting emotional.

Sorelle placed her hand on top of my head, a gesture she always does whenever she feels like I'm in trouble, a gesture that never fails to comfort me. Even if we both lost our parents, she never failed to show me that I am not alone.

"It's fine, Siren. College or not, I'll still support you no matter what happens."

"B-but... I... I want to help you..."

"Your presence is a lot of help, my little sister. You don't know how many times you've saved me."

I looked up and saw her smiling face. Though I only saw my mother's face through pictures, I can tell that she looks like Sorelle a lot.

And it calmed me. It's as if our mother is here to comfort us.

"I'm hungry. Let's stop at a convenience store to buy him food then let's go home." I nodded as she wipe the tears from my face. We started walking, with Brownie still sleeping unaware of his new home.

"Did you really like Architecture?"

"I like drawing ever since so why not make a profit from it?"

"Do you like it?"

She paused for a moment. "Of course. I love it."

And there I saw a sparkle in her eyes, like the sparkle on Miss Astrid, Hana, and Yujin's eyes whenever I ask them about what they like.

"It must feel good."

She chuckled. "Not really. There are times when I curse drawing and wished that I never learn how to do it."

I woke Brownie up when we reached the house. He seemed to get used to it so easily that he fell asleep on the sofa again.

"Ah, right! I found something while cleaning Mom and Dad's room the other day." Sorelle ran to their room and came back holding an old camera. "Here."

The camera is heavy and cold, there's rust all over but I think I can remove it by cleaning it.

She sat beside me on the sofa. "That's Dad's camera. He loves to take pictures of us when we were kids. Especially of you, when you were a baby."

"Is it still okay?"

"I don't know. Maybe have a technician look at it. Though it's a really old version, I don't think cameras use film anymore."

I held the camera tightly. It's as if I can feel my father's hand also holding it. "I think I can restore it."

Sorelle looks at me with amusement. "You want to use it?"

I nodded and pretended to take a picture with the camera.

Tomorrow, I will find a technician to see if I can still restore and use it.

Little by little, I'm starting to get my hopes up.

Father, and Mother, please guide me on this one.

- - -

"A camera?" Yujin asks when I tell her about it the next day in the classroom.

"Yeah. It's originally my father's and it's really old so I'm wondering if I could still use it."

"Then I'm going with you."

"Really? Won't you get tired of walking around with me?"

She shakes her with enthusiasm. She really reminds me of Brownie, especially when she's doing that. Cute. "I-I want to go walk with you... If that's okay."

I smiled and pinched her cheeks. "Of course it's okay."

"Siren!"

Peach's frantic voice calls me as she marches her way to me.

"What?"

"Brownie... B-Brownie's gone!"

She looks at me with distraught on her face. I want to tease her for longer but decided against it.

"I brought him home with me."

I can see a flash of relief on her face as she heard my answer. She even takes a deep breath.

"I thought someone else took him. I was so scared..."

"Who's Brownie?"

"The puppy on the playground. I showed him to you, remember?"

"Ah..."

"Can I visit him? I'll bring him treats!"

I frowned. "Don't spoil him too much."

"I won't! So can I visit him?"

I glanced at Yujin to look for her reaction. She nodded at me slowly.

"Fine."

"Yay! I'll tell you when I'll come!" Her smile is wide as she hops her way toward her friends. She's that happy?

Whatever. She's going to see Brownie and not me, anyway.

To be continued.