Chapter 3

*Somehow, after he left that herb, I keep seeing him more often. Or more like, he keeps following me around—

"What are you doing?!" I rushed to stop him from falling into the wishing fountain. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him. "Are you an idiot?!"

He looked at me. "Isn't that you?"

But before I could lash out at him, an elderly couple threw coins, made their wishes and left. And during that time, he was looking at them with eyes as if he was both bored and pitying them.

"Hey asshole, why'd you look at them like that for? They're just here to make a wish."

He looked at the rippling water. "Ripples. They're always so fascinating no matter how many times I see it."

I seriously don't get this guy.

"But what's more fascinating than ripples?"

"Uhh I don't know? Making a wish?"

He smiled. And my breath was taken from me. He really has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. And yes I finally admitted not long ago that I may have just a little bit of crush around 0.000000000000000001% for him which I will never admit to anyone's face. But somehow, this smile is different. I wonder why.

"Very well." And to my surprise, he threw in a coin and made a wish. Even while making a wish he still looks beautiful. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole world will fall for him. That annoys me somehow. Oh! He's finished.

"Let's go." He started walking away. And for some reason, I don't want to be angry at him. For now. So I followed quietly behind him.

"For me, the thing that's more fascinating than ripples, is the ripple effect."

"Ripple effect?" Oh shit! He's gonna say I'm an idiot again!

"Yes. The ripple effect."

Huh? He's not teasing me right now?

"The ripple effect is so fascinating that it always amuses me. Who would've thought that a simple greeting in the morning to a stranger would save a poor girl's life? Isn't it interesting?"

Huh. It is. "So that's the ripple effect?"

"Not quite. A good deed may cause a ripple effect but that also goes for a bad deed. For example, five years ago, there were two bestfriends. But one blamed the other for a deed the other didn't do. And so, the ripple effect began. Because of what the other did, many crminals were born. And he died by his now criminal bestfriend's hands. That incident caused the downfall of the other you see, and therefore gathered kids like him to get his and their revenge. Thus, the birth of many criminals." He sighed. "Such a pity indeed. If he only told the truth, then his future would be different."

"What happened to the criminal?"

"The group he made became his new family since his original one disowned him."

"No way...."

"It's common you know."

"Then...are you...."

He stopped. I also stopped. I was waiting for his answer. The wind was pleasant but my heart was troubled. I was worried. What kind of family does he have?

"My family died when I was young. Don't worry too much about it. I could barely remember their faces anyways. Besides, I am perfectly happy with my current family right now." He then continued to walk.

I felt relieved. That's good to know. I'm feeling giddy. I ran up to him. "Hey! Maybe I could also be a part of—"

It was so slow motion. His body falling forward. His eyes closed. And my body reacted on reflex. I caught him. I panicked. But then I realised he had a fever. Most likely from overworking and stress.

So I took him to my home and put him in my bed. I nursed him with the help of my patient.

"Pfffttt hahahahaha! You don't know the difference between a real tree and a fake tree? What are you? A kid? No, even a kid could tell! Hahahaha!"

"See? I knew you would laugh at me!" I felt hurt. Dang it. What kind of human is he to bring out such emotions from me. "And who was the one who was refusing my aid before but then begged to be taken care of huh?!"

He chuckled. "Me! That was me!" He raised his hand in a childish manner.

I sighed. "Sheesh! You're not cute at all! Go back to sleep!"

He then smiled the smile that would melt your heart and see flowers. "But thank you for taking care of me. My knight in a pink sweater."

What did he say?! I looked at what I was wearing. I forgot to change my clothes this morning! Did I seriously went out with this sweater?! Seriously?!

"Don't worry. It suits you."

I looked at him, surprised. I looked away feeling the hotness of my cheeks. "W-well if you say so. B-but this doesn't mean that I like it okay? I just care for public opinion that's all. Don't misunderstand!" I crossed my arms. And when I looked at him, he had a knowing smirk on his face.

And then we fought. The usual. Me getting angry. Him throwing sly remarks. I know getting angry at him us not the best course of action, but it's the only time I get to stare at his smiling face without blushing. What a pathetic excuse, right*?

"Indeed. What a pathetic excuse."

I grabbed a towel, took off my clothes, then took a shower. I didn't want more flashbacks so I made sure to bath on autopilot. After taking a bath, with a towel wrapped around my waist, I started to dry my hair with another towel. Still smells like him. Well, don't mind me using it.

Then my eyes wandered to some pictures on the wall. My eyes stopped on a certain picture. I walked closer to it. It was a picture of me and him together on my school field trip. We were smiling for the camera when suddenly a gust of wind caused a classmate to fall and thus got caught in the picture.

He was a nice person. Again. He was a nice person. The keyword being 'was'. I still remember that day the two of us first met him....

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