Rosachae

"Starting today, I'm entrusting her to you all. You have only one daughter. Adding one son won't be a problem either, and don't worry about money issues. I'll send money every month; you know my job, so I can't take this child with me."

A man dressed in heavy clothing with half of his face covered stood gazing at the newly awakened husband and wife. It's exactly 1 a.m. If it weren't for this man appearing on the camera screen, they would never open the door.

The husband looked at his wife, seemingly asking for approval. The wife just shrugged, seemingly indifferent. She didn't appear to reject it, but she wasn't accepting it willingly either. She was too lazy to take care of another child, yet too attached to refuse the money that would come with it. The husband let out a soft sigh, looked towards the guest who had arrived, and nodded in agreement.

"Nevertheless, he still has a blood relationship with Mia. I'm his uncle; I can't let this child be abandoned. Before we proceed, may I know what happened to Reki and Marianata?" the husband asked curiously, glancing towards the six-year-old boy covered in wounds.

"An accident. Reki and Marianata had an accident. That's all the information you need. The child won't remember anything, so if he asks about his parents, tell him they passed away in an accident. Other than that, you can take care of him as usual. I'll transfer the money on the 2nd of every month. I have to leave now, and maybe I'll come again later, unsure," he said hesitantly. Slowly, he rose from the large sofa that was damp from the rainwater sticking to his body. With a gentle touch, his large, cold hand stroked the head of the soundly sleeping boy.

"I'm leaving," he bid farewell shortly. The husband nodded in response, waving his hand before closing the door.

"Alright, we've decided to take care of him. I hope this won't become a problem in the future. Do you understand my words?" the husband asked his wife, who still seemed indifferent. The wife stood up from the sofa, shrugged her shoulders briefly, and then smiled faintly.

"Absolutely, as long as the money keeps flowing, no problems will arise. Jeffrey isn't the type to lie, although I don't know his occupation, I do know he has a lot of money. We won't get an opportunity like this twice, so we have to make full use of it," the wife explained with a slightly sneering tone. The husband didn't object, or rather, he couldn't object since their family truly needed the money right now. Their family's finances had taken a sharp decline this year; his gambling habit and his wife's shopping habits were making their financial situation worse. In other words, taking care of this boy was the only way they could earn extra money.

The boy's name was Zen. His full name was never mentioned for several reasons. Zen was the distant relative of the husband. Zen's father was known as a renowned pilot with a high salary, while Zen's mother, Marianata, worked as a nurse in a major hospital in the capital. However, despite their high incomes, Reki and Marianata were known for living in isolation. They never attended social events or visited the remaining family members after the unpleasant incident a dozen years ago.

Because of that, this needy couple could never approach Reki and Marianata, and they struggled to borrow money or ask for help from them. Truth be told, none of them cared about the safety of Reki, Marianata, or Zen; what they cared about was money and how to continue their lives amidst the clutches of debt.

"I'll take this child to the room, the one upstairs that's empty, right? It's never been cleaned, has it?" the husband half grumbled. His hands now cradled little Zen's body as he headed towards the room. The wife shook her head.

"Why bother cleaning it? No one's staying there. You want to add more work for me? Don't be crazy. If you want it clean, clean it yourself. I've already accepted him here; my cooking burden will increase too." The wife furrowed her brow as she answered her husband's own question. She adjusted her clothing and walked back towards the main bedroom.

The husband just snorted roughly at his wife's response. He always knew that his wife loved money above anything else. He had wanted to file for divorce a long time ago, but the inheritance issue left by his wife's mother always held him back. The big man walked with his heavy steps; his weight of seventy kilos clearly made him tire quickly even when climbing a few steps.

Slowly, he laid Zen on the bed, the accumulated dust making itself known. The dust on the wardrobe and on the floor refused to be outdone, along with the spider webs in the window area.

"At least you're not on the streets, even though it will be tough for you here. I guarantee it's much better here than on the streets," the husband muttered to the still sleeping Zen.

The man who had just turned forty-three looked at Zen with a direct gaze. There was a slight sense of pity within him; as he had told Jeffrey, Zen was related to him by blood after all. Zen was his nephew, though in reality, he and Reki were never close.

Reki was a distant relative rumored to have had mental disturbances since childhood. Because of this, Reki never left the house and was always confined to the basement. Until one day, there was news that Reki had become uncontrollable and caused something bad to happen to his entire family. The husband wasn't sure, and no one dared to talk about it; everything seemed to be covered up. The husband also didn't care much to know what had happened; he simply knew that Reki was insane and a criminal.

Strangely enough, after that unfortunate incident occurred, Reki went on living as if nothing had happened, even pursuing a career as a pilot. The husband couldn't wrap his head around it-what company would accept a mentally unstable person to fly an aircraft? Not stopping there, Reki was also heard to be courting a young lady to marry. A bright girl named Marianata, a girl whose name often appeared in the news for her school achievements. The husband felt suspicious; how could Reki land a normal job and an exceptional wife? Unfortunately, he was too lazy and timid to dig deeper.

The husband preferred his leisurely life with his shopping-loving woman of choice. He chose to live in peace.

Little did the husband know, those were the last moments they had to enjoy their lives.

The little round-faced girl with clear eyes was still contentedly staring at the unfamiliar man before her. Since waking up, her parents had told her that this young boy would be her new big brother. The little girl had never felt like she had a sibling, nor did she remember ever meeting or being visited by one. Meanwhile, the young boy in question was bashfully keeping his head down. The little girl's father had said that this new big brother didn't remember anything due to the sadness of losing his parents. The little girl felt both pity and curiosity towards her new big brother.

"Ta..." the little girl called imperfectly. Her three-year-old age hindered her from speaking fluently. However, Zen understood that he was being called right now. Zen's face slightly brightened upon hearing the gentle voice calling him. He slowly extended his hand towards the small fingers pointing at him. Those small fingers gripped Zen's hand tightly before Zen playfully shook them while laughing.

"Mia, Mia, hehe. Mia, you're so pretty. Now we're together, okay?" Zen said to the little girl, not minding whether Mia could understand his words or not. At this moment, Zen didn't have anyone else, and he felt relieved to have a family he could rely on again.

Zen never hoped that his uncle and aunt would treat him as their own child. He was very grateful for being allowed to stay with them. Zen didn't particularly like Jeffrey; he seemed like a stranger and felt intimidating. That's why Zen was so happy when Jeffrey said he would leave him with Zen's distant family, a place he had never visited before.

Unfortunately, Zen's peaceful days didn't last long, perhaps only for about three months. From the morning, Zen didn't have the energy to play outside with Mia or read his favorite fairy tale books. Zen thought he might be sick, but he didn't feel feverish, and his appetite seemed fine. That night, Zen couldn't sleep, even though it was already past his usual bedtime. Zen was scared; if his aunt found out, he would surely be scolded. Anxiety and drinking too much water before going to bed made him need to use the bathroom. Slowly, he walked towards the bathroom near the kitchen after passing through the dark hallway and the main bedroom.

Zen tried to move as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake up his aunt and uncle or let them know that he was still awake. He was being so careful that he unintentionally overheard a conversation from behind the main bedroom.

"He's only been here for three months; aren't you rushing it? I'm worried Jeffrey will come and ask about this child."

"How can I not rush it? You and I both know we need money. Jeffrey also said that if anything happens to this child, he won't blame us; on the contrary, he'll give us money as a thank-you fee. We have to pay off that damn gambling debt of yours! And I'm tired of constantly saving and taking care of a child who has no relation to me."

"Fine, fine. So, what do you want to do?"

"Let's just make everything look like an accident. Inform Jeffrey and ask for money for medical expenses. We'll use the money to pay off the debt. If it's just bruises and minor injuries, we don't need to take him to the doctor. And even if the child dies..."

Crack-

Zen quickly covered his mouth when he accidentally stepped on an object he didn't recognize on the floor. He stepped back slowly, his mind in turmoil, his heart racing fast. Even though he was only six years old, Zen was a smart child. He could read and write fluently; he didn't remember how his parents had taught him, but his abilities didn't just vanish.

Zen understood the situation he was in, the imminent danger. From the beginning, Zen knew that his aunt and uncle didn't like having him around. He also knew that his aunt wanted him gone as soon as possible. However, Zen always thought of studying hard so that he could make his aunt and uncle proud. He also aspired to buy them a nice house, but unfortunately, his noble thoughts never materialized.

"Did you... hear what we were talking about earlier?" the uncle hurriedly asked Zen. His eyes widened, as if he had been caught red-handed committing a crime. His face looked anxious, and he began to sweat.

"Let him hear, what does a little child understand? Does he even comprehend what we're talking about? Just lock him in his room now, why worry? Your opponent is a six-year-old, not a sixteen-year-old. How can I have such a foolish husband like you?" mocked the wife, crossing her arms and glaring at Zen with the same hateful look.

"I ... I didn't do anything wrong, not misbehaving... always taking care of Mia... why?" whispered young Zen, his voice barely audible. Tears had gathered in his eyelids, waiting to spill over at any moment. His body trembled, his heartbeats erratic. Zen still didn't understand why his aunt and uncle were speaking like that.

"Noisy! You're a parasite! Parasites should be discarded; do you understand? They must be discarded!" yelled the middle-aged woman with disheveled red hair, her fiery temper evident. Zen flinched at his aunt's shout, his tears held back. There was something inside him that wanted to burst out. Something that made his ears ring and his thoughts chaotic. Zen had never felt like this before, but he briefly heard a male voice right in his ear.

"Listen, Junior, if you're in danger, you have two choices. Be hunted or become the hunter. You're my son, so I won't be pleased if you're weak."

Zen instinctively clutched his head, which throbbed painfully. He screamed loudly, and everything went dark.

"Arzen, Arzen? Wake up, dinner's almost ready."

Zen jolted awake, this time it was a woman's voice that brought him back. Little Zen didn't understand what had happened. Was he asleep, or had he already moved to heaven? Slowly, Zen scanned his surroundings. The room was empty, the walls splattered with bloodstains, and the floor flooded with blood. At his feet, his aunt and uncle lay with their eyes open. One held a knife, the other gripped a phone. Zen was frozen, beholding the scene. The smell of blood and their terrifying expressions made his breath catch in his throat.

Slowly, he felt a gentle tug at his clothes. Mia stood beside him, looking at Zen with innocent eyes, unaware of everything. Zen remained standing, his legs trembling despite his efforts to hold them steady. He reached for the little girl's body and hugged her tightly, really tightly. Now all he could do was hold Mia and cry.

"What book are you looking for?" asked one of the librarians who was already familiar with the presence of a young girl with light brown hair in the library. The girl turned towards the librarian and gave her sweetest smile.

"A book about how to make a friend!" exclaimed the girl, her eyes shining. The librarian looked at the girl with a puzzled expression; she never thought there would be someone needing a book guide just to make friends.

"Haha, are you serious? I'm not sure if there's a book like that, but if you need a book that can help develop your social skills, we have one; the shelf is over there near the row of mystery novels," she replied kindly, pointing towards the shelf at the back on the left. The green-eyed girl stared in the direction indicated. She nodded slowly and gave a brief nod of her body.

"Thank you for your help," she greeted, waving her hand and walking towards the shelf indicated by the librarian. Her steps were light, her lips humming a tune; she was so excited to find that book. She had been trying to make friends for a long time, and it always ended in failure. She wasn't good at adapting, nor did she understand the world of popular or trendy clothing. Even the clothes she was wearing now were considered outdated and no longer worn by anyone.

This year, the girl turned sixteen, and in one more year, her school days would be over. Her journey through school wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. Her classmates only talked to her about schoolwork or to remind her of her duties. The girl often felt envious when she saw her peers hanging out or visiting each other's homes after school hours.

"Is this the bookshelf? Hm?" she asked herself, her brow furrowing. Besides books, she found something else there-a cellphone from recent years. The small black phone was lit up with numerous messages on the screen. The girl picked up the phone along with the book; she intended to return the phone to the library attendant.

"The owner must be really worried. Could they have been so focused on reading that they forgot to put their phone away?" she thought to herself. Before she could put it away, the phone lit up again, this time due to an incoming call. The girl hesitated, not daring to answer. It would be impolite, in her view, to answer a call not intended for her, especially considering it wasn't her phone. After a few moments of silence, the call repeated and continued like that four times.

The girl started getting confused. She couldn't find the librarian, and the phone kept ringing. Many people were looking at her with cynical expressions. Reluctantly, she decided to answer the call.

"Uh... hello?"

"Hello! Finally answered! Hey, um... did you find the phone on the bookshelf?"

A voice came from behind the rectangular object, a friendly male voice with a relieved tone. The girl didn't know why, but she also felt relieved hearing it.

"Yes, that's right. I found the phone near the row of books. I intended to hand it over to the library attendant, but I couldn't find them, so I decided to answer the call. Um, sorry," she whispered to avoid being overheard by people around her. She had already caused enough commotion for those nearby.

"Is that so? It's fine, my instinct tells me you're trustworthy, hehe. Can I ask for a favor?"

The girl looked around, placing the book she had intended to borrow back on the shelf before stepping outside her beloved library. The sunlight greeted her immediately, causing her to squint her small eyes.

"A favor? What kind of favor? Do you want me to deliver this phone?" she guessed. Laughter could be heard from the other end, a crisp laughter as if amused by her guess.

"No need, no need for delivery. I'll be the one to retrieve the phone, probably not today, not tomorrow either. So, I'm asking for your help to hold onto my phone. When I contact you later, just answer, don't hesitate. The same goes for messages you might receive; I've already secured them for important matters."

His voice sounded calm and confident as he explained to the girl, while she simply listened silently. She thought this might be her chance to have a new friend.

"Alright, I'll keep it safe, don't worry. My name is Chairey, what's your name?" Chairey asked with a bright smile. Her heart raced because she was going to have a new friend.

"My name is Rei. Nice to meet you, Chairey. Are you still in school, Chairey? Where do you live?"

"Final year, I'll graduate in six months. I live in my late foster parents' home, not far from this library. Ah! I'll send you my complete address through a message. Where should I send it?"

Chairey's steps halted as she looked left and right on the road alternately. She was waiting to cross the street, considering the library was situated on the edge of a main road and she had to cross it to get back to the road leading to her home. Rei's laughter resounded once again. Chairey felt puzzled by her conversational partner. She didn't feel like she was joking with Rei or telling a funny story.

"Why are you laughing?" Chairey inquired, feeling confused.

"Funny! Chairey is really funny! Haha, don't send your address, it's dangerous. Would you give your home address to every stranger you meet? What if I have malicious intentions?"

This time, Chairey laughed at Rei's words. She crossed the street leisurely with a faint smile on her pretty face.

"Not like that, but you have a reason to know my home address. I also have instincts; you aren't a bad person. Besides, if Rei had bad intentions, you wouldn't have told me this and wouldn't be laughing. I know Rei isn't a bad person," she expressed softly. There was no response from the other side for a few moments, until later.

"Rei?" Chairey called out, making sure they were still connected on the phone.

"Oh! Sorry, someone talked to me just now. I'm glad to be seen that way, but don't send your home address until we meet in person. Because the name Chairey is too complicated, I'll just call you Rey, okay? By the way, are you on the road? It's dangerous to talk while walking, hang up and let me know when you're home. We can talk again once you're home, alright?"

"Alright! Goodbye, Rey," she concluded before pressing one of the buttons on the phone. Chairey quickly stored the phone in her small bag, afraid it might get lost. Now her eyes were fixed on the array of ice creams arranged behind the glass display of the shop.

"Chocolate mint, large size to go."

"Okay!"

Chairey liked eating ice cream. She liked rain and reading books. There were many little things she enjoyed that made her happy. She didn't know about her biological parents, nor did she know about her past. However, those thoughts never bothered her much. Chairey felt her life was complete; she just needed a friend, and everything would be perfect. Unbeknownst to Chairey, she was about to leave her simple life behind due to the decisions she was about to make.