Past is past, can I go back?

Winter, the season between autumn and spring. A cold season wherein there's snow everywhere; falling from the sky, above the roofs, in the trees, and also streets. Lakes and ponds are frozen making small kids skate in the ice.

"Father! I can't skate! huhuhuhu.." The young Keisha cried in the corner of the lake, struggling to play along.

A man wearing a brown old coat and a worn-out bonnet approached the crying girl having a smile on his wrinkled face. He wipes her tears and gently pinched her cheeks.

"That's alright, my Selene. It takes time to learn you know? Even I didn't learn quickly on the first try so don't lose hope, okay?" Her father sweetly advised but Keisha continued pouting with her rosy lips.

"I've been trying for almost a month, father! But..." Keisha starts to whine again. "... my efforts are still not enough. I want to play with the other kids too!"

Father pats his daughter's head then chuckled, pulling her hand moving towards the iced lake.

The young Keisha has a happy and nervous face. She's excited to improve her skating skill because she envies the other kids, playing in the frozen lake and being graceful above the ice.

While having fun learning, in a Christmas souvenirs store near their place, some robbers broked in are currently being chased by police officers. The thieves were armed with weapons and are exchanging bullets with the police.

Because of the loud bang, father noticed the dangerous situation so he panicked. He quickly runs towards his daughter when he suddenly stumbles on the ice.

"Argh!" Father groans in pain. His knee felt like breaking in every motion he makes. Keisha didn't seem to notice his father as she is too busy focusing on her learning.

BANG!!

Time seems to stop before his eyes. A small bullet from the thief's gun pierces through his back, and his flesh making him puke a vast amount of blood.

Keisha stiffened as she coincidentally turned and witnessed her father. Dying right in front of her eyes.

She immediately approached her father, making her also stumbling on the ice but she crawled to the cold floor instead, still reaching for her dying father.

"Father!! Somebody?! Help us! Please!" She cries out as never-ending tears flow down in her eyes. Her vision is blurry, nevertheless, she saw how her father tried his best to assure her with a small genuine smile.

"Go, Selene. It's... unsafe here.. bad.. guys... are... every..where.." Her father whispered as he wipes the tears of her daughter. Keisha continued to cry for help. He did a deep inhale before slowly closing his eyes, having a smile on his face.

"Father! Please, please..."

"Please ..."

"wake up.." Keisha pleads, hugging her lifeless father on the freezing floor.

A police officer immediately approached them as the thieves were arrested. He called for an ambulance and checked the man's vitals but sadly, he can do nothing about it.

"Child, what's your name?" The police officer asked as he gently detaches the crying girl from her father. He carried the girl in his arms and gave her a cone of strawberry ice cream to somehow distract her.

"My-My name is... Se-selene Keisha..." the girl replied while she sniffs and started licking the ice cream. The police officer sadly smiled at the innocent girl.

"What a beautiful name you have, I wish I had one too.." The officer softly said then he wipes her tears. The girl paused eating her ice cream and turned to the man.

"Why? what's your name mister?" Keisha asked as she sniffs again.

"My name is Gabriel Lionel..." Keisha furrows her small brows and squints her little eyes.

"Your name is so pwiti, ya know?" Keisha replied in her small voice.

Gabriel smiled at her and silently peeks back at the crime scene. When he saw that the girl's father is in the ambulance, he went to his car, the young Keisha still in his arms, and follows them.

"Mister.." Keisha called, sitting in the shotgun seat.

"Yes, Selene?"

"My father... is he going to be okay?" Keisha asked in a sad tone. Gabriel gulped as he has no idea what to reply. The girl is not much aware of her father's death, pretty much she thought that it was only injured.

"Well, he's in a peaceful place now so don't worry about him much," Gabriel replied.

"Where is that place?" Keisha innocently asked.

"I don't know either, but now, where's your mother?"

Keisha suddenly pouts before letting out small sobs. She wiped and wiped her small red face. This made Gabriel a little worried about the kid.

"Mother hates me.." Keisha starts to cry.

"What? Why will she hate an angel like you?"

"If she doesn't hate me, why did she leave me and father?!"

Gabriel felt sad about the kid. He's now worried about the child's safety, and of course, her new guardian. That's the time when an idea came into his mind.

"From now on, I'll be your second father." Gabriel Lionel assured her and smiled.

PRESENT>>

The impact of the explosion is so violent that the debris flying in the air bruised her afar.

Pieces of glass, wood, and hollow blocks tore her skin especially in her face leaving her cuts and bruises.

However, the pain she's feeling inside her is unrivaled by the physical impact on her from the explosion.

"Commander!" she screamed as tears flow down her bruised face.

Keisha tried to run to the building but her comrade is stopping her by hugging her tightly.

"Agent 'SX'! It's too dangerous! You'll get yourself hurt!" Agent Lore said but the latter is not listening.

"No! Commander is inside! I need to save him!" She insists.

Agent 'Lore' has no choice but to carry the girl on his shoulders. The latter is resisting however, she's feeling emotionally weak so she can't fight back.

"The back up is on their way with the rescue team. Let's hope for the safety of them..." He announced to every agent around.

"If there are still alive..." Agent 'Lore' thought.

~~~~~

His eyes were shut but his spirit is still awake. He turned around his bed to find his comfortable space but still, drowsiness is not visiting him.

"Please, let me sleep. I need to wake up early tomorrow." Voltaire whispered to himself as he gets off the bed and went to the balcony.

From there, he can view the city.

It's dawn but what fascinated him is that even tho it's late, the city is still awake with its fantasizing lights.

Voltaire closed his eyes and a memory flashed in his thoughts which made a tear to escape his lids.

It was the same time as the present. The streets were alive, many people were hanging out going to bars, clubs, and even on road trips.

"Volt! Let's have a bet." Vermillion, his older brother, told before he smacks his head.

"Ugh, what are you thinking again Ellion?" Volt rolled his eyes that made the latter chuckle.

"Meh. What about this, let's find you a girlfriend this night. " Vermillion playfully raised his brows, winked, and pulled his brother to the sports car.

Volt furrowed his brows and buckles his seatbelt. He squints his deep sapphire eyes, glaring at the older dude. "What? Having one is not necessary! Why will I need that?"

"Dude, I'm starting to doubt your sexuality. I never saw you have an interest in any GIRL! Volt, you sure you're straight?" Vermillion, 'Ellion' teased which earned him a hit in his arm. Voltaire rolls his eyes in irritation with his sibling.

"Tss. Are siblings made to annoy the hell out of me?" He complained in an irritated manner.

Ellion hysterically laughed before he starts the engine and opened the roof of his sports car. As the drive went, both of them were enjoying each other's company by teasing. The chilly wind refreshed them as it hits their delicate skins. Voltaire is thrilled to witness the beautiful lights as they fastly pass by them.

"Here we are brother, show me your skills." Ellion really loves seeing his younger brother pissed. It makes him feel happy and at ease.

"Skills in what, Ellion?"

"Flirting." Ellion plastered a smirk as he gets out of the car.

"Oh, that's easy peasy. Girls come to me with seductive looks tho." Voltaire brushed his slicked-back hair and massaged the bridge of his nose. "They are desperately wanting the attention of a Voltaire Cyde Flammia. That's how charismatic I am, my dear brother."

Voltaire boasted with a grin on his handsome face that gave his brother an 'oh I like the confidence' look.

Three hours have passed and they went out of the club. Ellion's face is so red not because of the liquor, but because of the too much laughter he got with Volt's look. His younger brother is blushing, drunk, and was rejected by the girl he's making moves on.

"Dang! Voltaire Cyde, what a mess you are! Pfft, Hahahaha!" Ellion exclaimed pointing his index to his puking brother, bursting with hysterical laughter.

"I hate you for this my brother." Voltaire threatened with blazing eyes but Ellion just cackles with laughter.

"Damn Voltaire! You gave me a night full of laughter! Hahahaha"

"Yes, and this will be your last. I'll make sure you won't witness a rising sun tomorrow." Voltaire jeopardized that made Ellion laugh even more. His older brother is so happy watching a pissed look to his sibling. It's priceless seeing an unbothered guy having amusing responses written on his face.

Remembering one of the most memorable times with Vermillion gave Voltaire different feelings. His heart agonizes as he feels the sorrow of losing his connection with him.

The sentiment of missing someone but you can't do anything about it and this made him more frustrated.

"Vermillion, I'm so sorry but not gonna deny...." Voltaire looks up to the night sky, having threats of tears in his lids. ".....that I need a brother right now..." He whispered then leaned on the railings. He places his head between his arms and let tears escape his lids.