shadows of past

fourth's past:

The world had always been unkind to the Fourth.

When he was just five years old, his parents left home, saying they would return soon.

He had smiled and waved, standing by the doorstep as they walked away.

"Be good, alright?" his mother had said, ruffling his dark hair. "We'll be back before you know it."

"I'll wait!" he had promised, watching them disappear down the road toward the park.

They never came back.

A terrible accident stole them away that day. The adults who whispered in hushed tones never offered him comfort. No one opened their doors for the lonely child. The world moved on, uncaring.

Hunger became his shadow. He wandered the streets, asking for food, pleading for help.

But kindness was rare. People shoved him aside, muttering about misfortune and burdens.

They ignored his small, trembling hands and his sunken eyes. When someone did throw scraps his way, it was with disdain, as if he were a stray animal.

He learned to survive on his own, to expect nothing, to keep moving. The past had no place in his life anymore.

The past still haunted the Fourth, creeping into his thoughts like a shadow. The last memory of his parents played over and over again in his mind.

His mother had kissed his forehead. His father had given him a gentle pat on the back. “Be good, alright?” they had said.

He had waved at them. Smiled. “I’ll wait.”

He had waited.

But they never returned.

And no one else had waited for him.

past end

Now, in the present, Mun and Jumu sat in the classroom, side by side. Jumu, the new student, had joined just yesterday.

Mun was the first person to speak to him, and somehow, despite Jumu’s quiet nature, they had become friends.

Today, Jumu was even quieter than usual.

“Hey,” Mun whispered, nudging Jumu’s arm. “Why aren’t you talking?”

Jumu hesitated, then glanced at Mun. “I just… need time.”

Mun tilted his head. “Time for what?”

Jumu shrugged. “To get used to things.”

“You mean this school?”

Jumu nodded. “And people.”

Mun grinned. “Well, I’m here, so you can get used to me first.”

Jumu looked at him, a faint flicker of something in his eyes. Perhaps gratitude. He gave a small nod.

“I talk a lot,” Mun continued. “So you won’t have to.”

Jumu didn’t reply, but the corner of his lips lifted slightly. It was the closest thing to a smile Mun had seen from him.

The classroom buzzed around them with students chatting and laughing. Mun leaned in. “Wanna eat lunch together later?”

Jumu hesitated, then nodded again.

Mun grinned. “See? You’re already getting used to me.”

Jumu sighed, but Mun could tell it wasn’t an unhappy one

" Why aren't you sitting with your other friends?" Jumu's curiousity was killing him so he couldn't control

"Because they're also not sitting with me , see " mun pointed towards the other students , they're just busy to talk with their own friends and just lost in their conversation

" I see " jumu's shift to his book but glancing at mun time to time

And mun noticed that so he turn his head and face jumu

" Now , stare all you want"

Jumu's cheeks turns into a light shade of pink , he tried to hide his face with his book but failed successfully

"I wasn't looking" jumu said in a low voice

"Ok I'm blind then"  mun didn't argue

---

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***