Chapter 61: I am Light, The Chosen One

"Congratulations Light" a young lady approached him as the team celebrated their feat against a powerhouse school in terms of athleticism. He glanced at her direction and smiled as if it was his first time seeing her.

"Thank you" He said as the both of them blushed and smiled. "I'll just tell them that I need to go home. Wait for me here okay?"

The young lady smiled as he watched his back slowly getting away from her.

"Let's go" he said and grabbed her hand. Flustered and perplexed, she almost tripped because he was pulling him out of the gym crowded with strangers.

"Wait. Should you really go home early? Is that okay?" she asked as the both of them stopped at the gate of the gym. He smiled at her like he missed her- which was the premise--and he did not try to conceal it, having heard a very nice lecturing from the mission he just got finished.

" Of course" he said and squeezed her warm hands.

For some reasons, Joy had been feeling something eerie with Light. He became too kind to her- and he always smiled even if it was contrary to his personality. He was no longer the Light she met at the rooftop on the first day of their story. However, there was something dark going on inside Light's mind because even if he smiled, his voice was soft and sad- and his eyes showed sorrow. The both of them ran outside their school, Light carrying both their bags and her hand, to which she found that their hands fit each other so greatly. They slowed down their pace and walked silently into the path they have mastered on their way to their cozy homes.

But if that was something that made Joy happy, it was something terrible for Light because he can see it- he can clearly see the black necklace hanging on Joy's neck and the cuts she acquired as they progressed on the mission. While he was away, trying to save Erika, Joy had done her last mission. He did not see her do it, but the black necklace she possess was the evidence.

He was mad.

He was mad, but not at Joy, but to himself. He sworn to himself that he will do everything to extend his time with her. He even did more missions than Joy.

But Joy was suffering even before he met her and the mission intensified the darkness she have inside of her because she absorbed many people's struggles and pains. It was made to be like that since the beginning. She was the Chosen's chosen--the person with the most pain in her heart... And the necklace was the ticking bomb, waiting to be removed.

"Light?" her frail voice called. "Are you okay? You seem down."

Light flinched and faced her. "I'm okay. Don't worry."

However, Joy's face was marked with agony the moment he saw his face.

"Why is you face sad?" Light asked her and pitched the both of her cheeks as he tried to make her smile. Joy snapped at him and placed her hands to his face as she wiped his tears away. "What? Why is that--sorry. My body seems to be malfunctioning."

"Oh, does that work like that?" Joy asked and held his hands again. "That explains why you said your tummy aches a while ago. Maybe your body isn't used to this world yet. Want to walk?" she smiled at him.

"Let's go see the world" Light said as Joy threw a perplexed expression on her face.

The both of them walked towards the sea he just visited a while ago. The both of them were amazed to watch the sun as it set and met with the ocean, but Light seemed down. They silently sat on the shore along with some people who were also waiting for the sunset. Wanting to break the silence, Light sighed.

"You know what?" he said and looked at her. "The world is weird."

She chuckled as she looked at him. "You realize that now?" however, the happy expression on her face disappeared in an instant as she looked at the sun kissing the ocean. "but it was thanks to the world's weirdness that I met you. So I'm happy because I know you are with me."

Light watched her as she looked into the orange sky above them. Like the first time they met, he found her beauty to be breath-taking and he was always charmed by her eyes." Have I told you how much I am in love with you?"

Joy looked at him trying to stop herself from crying. Hearing those words from Light was too surreal she can't help herself from doubting her ears. She was about to ask him if he was being truthful but the look in his eyes made her realize that he was serious.

"Seems like I haven't" Light smiled and squeezed her hands. "You are the most beautiful woman here on Earth- and in the heavens as well- and even the stars up above would agree to me.

"I am happy to have crossed paths with you. I am so happy."

"How can you say that? You told me that I am not that beautiful when we first met" Joy sulked but blushed. Light smiled at her.

"Of course I'd say that to annoy you"

"And why are you telling me this now?" Joy asked, suspicious at his actions. "I feel like something bad will happen if you keep acting like that."

"Oh, no, no, no. Something good will happen Hope. Something better than what you expect." Light said with a sad expression in his eyes, but Joy did not notice it because she was busy trying to absorb all the things that were happening around her.

"Something good?" She asked and looked at him with twinkling eyes. He touched her hair and smiled at her.

He slowly bent down to reach her and he kissed her forehead--and Joy averted her gaze from him again because he did not want him to see her because she found it embarrassing. Thought that was how Joy thought, Light was happy because she was acting that way--like she had no problems--like she was genuinely happy--and because of her acting like that, she won't be able to see his expression and read him.

When she was about to look at him again, he hugged her and he made sure that he was buried on his chest so she can't see him. Joy settled and found comfort in him.

"I'm relieved" Joy said as she listened to his heartbeats. "If you say that something good will happen, then it will definitely happen." she hugged him back, making Light flustered. "I always had the feeling that you will leave after the mission--which I don't even know how to end-but if you say something good, then it mean you will stay, right? That means you will never leave my side and we will be together until my hair becomes silver like yours too! You are the best thing--no chosen--that has happened to me- so the heavens will grant me a wish after the mission I suppose! Hey Light, try to guess what I would wish for"

"Uhm, food?"

Joy spanked his shoulder and laughed on his chest. "I'd wish for happiness! For this world, for Nick, Mari, Nathan, Fallon, Corriene, all our missions!"

'She did not include herself' Light thought and pet her head. "If the heavens will grant me a wish, I'd wish for your happiness."

"So you mean you wish to be with me for as long as we are living because [you are my happiness?] That is a nice wish. I'll be very happy to live with that!" she said and buried herself deeper.

"Yes, of course. That is what I want." Light said and pulled off from their hug. 'If I could only stay with you for as long as you live...'

"Let's go home now." Joy said and stood up. However, Light seemed down and wasn't moving. She sat again and poked his shoulder. "What's wrong with you? Hey!"

"I am Light, the chosen one."

"Wha-what are you doing?!" Joy screamed as she realized that Light was holding her necklace and he was refusing to let go even if Joy tried to pull it. "I'll punch you if you don't!"

"I love you." Light said as he sat on the ground and leaned on his right arm to hide his tears. "I love you. I want to be with you."

"What are you saying?! Let go!" Joy cried.

"I don't want to let you go! I don't want to be apart from you--not even for a second!"

"You are saying that but you ditched me for a month!"

"I was with you all the time" Light cried but he tried so hard not to let her see his face as he did because he didn't want her to see his weakness.

"Why are you telling these to me now?" Joy asked, anger was evident on her tone.

"By right of blood that channels through me,

I proclaim myself to thee."

"Stop now. I'm warning you." Joy cried. "Don't save me!"

"I am so thankful to have known you. I am so happy that you will finally be happy. But I wish that I could be happy with you!" Light screamed.

"Then be happy with me! You don't have to save me! We will save people who needs our help!"

"No. You were chosen for this mission because you are suffering the most in this world!"

"Shut up! I don't want to listen! Let's stop here okay? Let's go home and we'll forget about this!"

"Your pain and worry I vanish from thee."

"Seriously, how can I be happy without you in my life?" Joy said as she felt the necklace slowly losing grip in her neck. "Let go."

"From now on your heart will be at ease

And the burden you carry

Give them all to me"

"stop!"

That was the last word she screamed before Light managed to remove the necklace from her.

"Why are you doing this to me? Why!"

"So your heart can finally feel the peace"

There was a blinding light that engulfed her, and she collapsed as the Light continued to drain all her memories of a certain someone she loved and knew.