Chapter 5 The Streets are Quiet

Nohan reached into his pocket, and smiled broadly when he found the two bills his mother had given him there.

"I'll buy it, and then come back here!" he monologued, smiling widely as he looked at the stationery shop on the other side.

Nohan walked while dragging her IV pole, which was difficult especially since the road was not as smooth as the hospital floor--there were some small pebbles that made Nohan have to lift her IV pole.

"Good evening, son!" a security guard greeted Nohan kindly.

Suddenly, Nohan fell silent, his face instantly flat.

"Night!" Nohan said simply.

"Where are you going, Nak?" asked the hospital security guard kindly.

Nohan was silent, he knew that all humans could not be generalized, but Nohan had already planted hatred on every figure that looked like him without realizing it.

Nohan cleared his throat softly, trying to soothe his suddenly itchy throat.

Really, Nohan didn't want to respond to the security guard's question. But isn't that rude?

Parents should always be respected, remember that Nohan, no matter how bad he is. Nohan recalled his mother's words a few months ago.

Well Nohan had to pretend, he had to pretend that he was responding sincerely, when he was not at all.

"I want to go to the stationery shop across the street," Nohan said, trying to be as friendly as possible, although it was still obvious that Nohan was a bit stiff.

The security guard in front of Nohan smiled kindly.

Oh how Nohan hated this middle-aged man's smile, Nohan didn't know why he hated people so easily when he didn't even know their names.

Are you starting to hate everyone, Nohan? Suddenly a voice in his heart rang out. As if questioning Nohan's attitude, which seemed to have really become anti-social.

Nohan was silent, that's right. Why is he like this? Why did the words of Jay and his gang actually stick to him?

Nohan was really confused.

But before the confusion got any further, Nohan's brain got the better of him. It said inside Nohan's head, of course you naturally hate people, Nohan. They hurt you too much.

Nohan was confused whether he should follow his heart or his brain. Neither of them would budge, until finally Nohan was silent for a long time.

Until finally a pat from the security guard on his shoulder made him squint.

"Are you okay, kid? Shall I take you?" the security guard offered sincerely.

This security guard was not like him, Nohan. This security guard was different. This time his heart spoke again, as if it wanted to take Nohan back to being himself again.

This time Nohan's brain was no longer as alert as usual.

"How was it?"

Nohan shook his head in response, "No thanks, I'm on my own!" Nohan said refusing the security guard's help.

The hospital Nohan was in was not an elite hospital, it was natural that reckless patients like her could get out easily. Yes, this hospital is not too big, the building is also not too well maintained.

"Alright, kid! Be careful!" said the security guard with a friendly smile.

Nohan just nodded his head without saying anything, let alone saying anything. Nohan did not even return the middle-aged man's smile.

Nohan walked slowly, he lifted his IV pole, as gravel filled the road leading out of the hospital.

"Calm down, Nohan! You're not an ansos, you're not!" Nohan said as if convincing himself that he was not what Jay and his friends were saying.

The hospital does not have a fence, so Nohan could get out without having to ask the security guard for help.

Nohan was already out of the hospital area, he looked at the deserted street in front of him.

Very quiet, and deserted. Of course, the road ahead was not a major highway, so no wonder it was quiet and deserted.

Nohan crossed the road while her head turned left and right, in case a vehicle passed by. It is not impossible for a vehicle to suddenly pass by, considering that this is also a road even though it is not the main road.

After successfully crossing, the smile on Nohan's face returned perfectly, as perfect as when she smiled with Nasai.

Now she stood in front of the stationery shop, looking at the rows of objects that caught her eye; small scissors, sticky notes, pens of various colors and characters, erasers, and other things.

Nohan paused to stare at the rows of objects, which seemed to dance in his eyes. I don't know what or how they attracted Nohan's eyes, he had never bought school supplies in such a nice place.

"This place is great, this is the first time I've bought stationery not at that stall!" Nohan monologued with his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Nohan was still staring at the items behind the display case, until the figure of a teenage girl greeted her, making her startle and take a few steps back.

"Want to buy something?" greeted the teenage girl who seemed to be the same age as Nohan, because Nohan could see that the teenage girl in front of him had the same uniform as him.

Nohan cleared his throat softly to try to ease his shock.

"Are you buying or just going to stand there?" the girl asked again.

Despite being in the same school, Nohan did not know the name of the girl in front of him.

"I'm buying! I want to buy a pen," Nohan said in a friendly manner.

The girl nodded, and handed Nohan several brands of pens on the display table.

"Which one do you want?"

Nohan immediately chose the pen he wanted to buy.

Nohan chose a black pen, took three pens and handed over a bill.

"You bought three pens, and your money is a hundred thousand? Seriously?" the teenage girl asked, staring at Nohan in disbelief.

Nohan just nodded, wouldn't it be better than not paying for these pens?

The teenage girl whose name Nohan did not know nodded her head, "Alright, you wait a moment, I'll look for the change inside!" said the teenage girl as she walked away.

Nohan stared at the street while waiting for the change.

Until four figures he hated came to greet him, making Nohan froze instantly.

Why did they have to come here, God? Nohan thought.

"Hi, Ansos! What are you doing here huh?" greeted Jay with a smirk on his face.

Jay, Ray, Ren, and Jio. The four humans were still wearing their school uniforms, even still looking neat, except for Jio who had been untidy since morning.

Nohan remained silent, not intending to engage these humans.

What took you so long? Nohan thought as he looked into the store.

Ray's deafening voice, "You can't answer that or what, Ansos?" he asked sharply.

Nohan hissed, aren't they tired of bothering Nohan all the time? Don't they have anything else to do? Are they not satisfied after seeing Nohan in hospital clothes, hooked up to an IV?

Aren't they satisfied yet?

Of course monsters love to torture when their victims are weaker, right?

Ren didn't say much, but once hit it was very painful.

Bughh...

Nohan fell down, with the IV pole falling on his head.

"Well done, Ren!" proud Jio smiled.

Jay, and Ray were equally proud and even looked at Nohan as if to say "Feel it, Ansos!"

Bugh...

And again, Ren kicked Nohan in the stomach.

Nohan didn't know if he would survive this night.

"Get rid of the IV!" Jay ordered, to which Ray and Ren nodded.

Settt...

The IV came out of Nohan's hand, and even as if to insult Nohan, Ray senselessly stomped on the bag, making the fluid squirt everywhere.

"You know, Nohan! The scariest thing is not when you face us, but when you face your own... weak self!" Jay said and quickly walked away with his three friends.

Nohan lay helpless by the side of the deserted road, staring up at the sky that was now completely dark.

The sky or your vision, Nohan?

Continued.

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