UNDER EDITING

In the Mental Health Nursing room, there were hamster plushies, touchscreen monitors, books, comic books, crayons, white papers, and other playful objects over wall tables and wall bookshelves. That circular room followed a progression of pastel colors, and flowered plants that flowed into a spectacular harmonious loop of which Charlie couldn’t help circling along with his eyes.

{ I always have the impression that I’m in a children’s playroom, } he thought as he stepped on the giant circular rainbow carpet around most the room, towards the ground sitting table at the center.

But Edward sat on one of the sitting cushions around it with boredom and boredom. He spread his legs open, and curved his back over the table, both hands clasped on it.

Charlie sat on another cushion. A glance at Edward was enough to break his previous amazement, and bring back his dislike at his attitude through a fierce stare. The expression on Mr Stone’s face blew Antartic winds at the foreigner professional! His tedium was okay, but not that.

The newcomer P-nurse came after seconds with a hamster patterned tray in hands. { Everything is projected to be therapeutic... } Charlie observed him put it down, then sit too. He seemed pensive. Probably was thinking about how he should start a conversation.

Through his nose, he breathed out calmly. “Kauan Liraz Reis. My name.” Then pushed the tray to the middle. “Please, serve yourselves.” He glanced at each.

Edward chuffed. “Not about to tell my name to you.” Then peeked at the biscuits and both thermal air pots with contempt. “Nor eat your poison nor drink your venom.”

“Edward Colling Stone.” Mister Campbell answered as he picked a biscuit, and threw a piercing glance at his friend. “I’m Charlie Concordia Campbell.” He hooped back at Mister Reis. “But I suppose you already know that.” Then bit the ‘poison’. { How does he know me? } But that was for later. { ... This is delicious. }

Mr Reis quick glance back had a built-in smile before he moved his attention to the other. “Mister Stone.” Then smiled out too, eyes curving up along. “May the Universe bless you and keep you. How have you been lately?” that tone almost singed.

“...”

“...”

“...”

Mr Campbell gave a small, sarcastic laugh. “Pff. Please.”

“Ahahahaha...” the detractor joined him. “Yeah, you must be joking!”

It was impossible to believe. { His fake sympathy is on a whole nother level. } It was the first time Charlie met someone ‘thick-faced’ to the pointed they remained ‘calm’ after being perfuncturated with bad criticism, racism and xenophobia without retorting, then showed back ‘sympathy’. { Or he is being perfect-fake. Obviously, the last option. }

Mr Reis observed them in a continuous stern face. He poured tea from the thermal air pot then picked the cup up between his hands. “Oh.” He blinked. “I’m not joking.” Then repeated more firmly, “How have you been lately, Edward?” He took a sip of the drink.

“Better than you,” Edward hissed instantly with midnight awaken eyes and symptoms of coffee abstention.

“Mm-hmm. What did you eat today?” Mr Reis ignored his provoking response, to their surprise. { No way— }

“You can’t be for real.” Mr Stone rolled his eyeballs up, then stared back as if there was, like he said before, ‘a verm’ before his eyes, and brought his legs into a cross, as if trying to further himself away from the foreigner. “Look, I don’t want your damned service of P-nursing. I would rather talk to the police.” He leaned forward with a daring frown. “To Bellavillians.” Edward tapped his forearm twice with a hand, “Like me.”

“Oh my god.” Charlie facepalmed, then his fingers carefully massaged between his eyebrows. { I’m embarrassed. } Hearing and witnessing a fellow citizen spit disrespectful responses and donate prejudiced words? { I feel ashamed. }

Mr Reis gazed down. “... I see. I’m talking as myself, though.” He paused as he leaned forward, then rested the cup and his forearms on the table. He released it to clasp all fingers together, and his stare returned kitten-like at the spines in the other’s eyes. “I’ll be straightforward. How was your childhood?”

Should Charlie have mentioned silence filled the room? Besides, he frowned. Edward too. { What? What?... }

“Really?” Mr Campbell ceased that stillness in the atmosphere.

The look he received back from Mr Reis remembered him of a judge striking a gavel against wood. It was a reprimanding through visual contact that tensed his body for as long as the other’s gaze was on him. And Charlie wasn’t a person to feel easily intimidated.

But Edward’s harshness deviated his discomfort. “All your nonsense coldn’t sound more ridiculous!”

The newcomer sighed. “I think I you didn’t understand.” He recomposed himself. “Let me explain: I want you to talk about yourself. Who hurt you?”

“No one hurt me.” Edward was clearly more and more annoyed! “And why are you asking me that? I don’t see the correlation this has to do with my prejudice against you.”

{ Neither do I... } Charlie had to agree. { Wait. So you admit that’s prejudice? } He couldn’t help but chuff. { Revolting! }

Mr Reis looked to the side. “Hurt people hurt people,” he calmly explained, and his words seemed to pause in the air as his gaze seemed distant from that room. “It’s a cycle that repeats itself until each person cures themselves.” Until his gaze came back to the native. “Who hurt you? I’m not trying to tease you.” Again, his look started to... { I confused it with sadness back then... } “... I simply know you aren’t attacking me on purpose. You’re just unloading onto me the bad feelings you carry on from the past until now.”

Mr Campbell’s eyes widened completely. He felt that what Mr Reis said was true. { He really looked at us with mercy in his eyes before... }

{ If I judged him wrong, then... } That foreigner wasn’t just a superficial or hypocrite person who tried to mask sympathy. He had depth. And values no words could enchant more.

Charlie had read about that before. { It was called forgiving. } Forgiving by comprehending. { The first step to love... } Fraternal love.

However, Edward only seemed angrier. “I don’t care about you and your ridiculous beliefs.” And more passive-aggressive.

“But I care about you, Edward.” Mr Reis’s blinked slowly. Charlie almost was engulfed into the loving atmosphere he emited. ‘This bit’ away from being trapped in a trance from those caring and sweet eyes. “Someone hurt you," and words, "And now you are hurt,” how could he soften his tone even more? “The sooner you realize that, the sooner you’ll be free from your past.”

Edward froze. He wanted to stop and listen, but his tongue was quicker, “What if I don’t want that?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Everyone wants that. Who doesn’t desire to be happy?” Mr Reis blinked slowly gain. “Mr Stone... I can help you. But only if you allow me to.”

“Hah!” He crossed his arms. “Go mind your own business, fool outlander!”

“...” The P-nurse sighed and closed both eyes. “Hurt people hurt people. You’ll remember my words." Then reassuringly looked into his eyes. "When you do, if you want help, you can look for me. I’ll be here for some months.” Mr Reis stood up from his chair, and walked over to Mr Stone. “Would you like a hug before you go?”

“No...” Edward shifted his gaze. Somehow, that person calmed him down. He acted a little more respectful.

Charlie hadn’t seen such beauty before. He had never realized that there were other ways of dealing with people other than protecting himself. He could offer love. He could try to understand others.

He felt that he would remember that in the future.

The door opened and police officers entered the room. Their work was finished fast, since they had been secretly recording the event. They didn’t take long with questions later, because the proof was already very concrete. Still, they recorded a consented report of their testimonies, and saved both. Then Edward was handcuffed and taken away.

When he left the room, Mr Reis directed him a compassionate gaze. Edward staresd back with a serious expression, then broke their eye contact. He didn’t have anything to say.

‘Living is surprising’. It had been long since Mr Campbell thought that. But guess what? Living is surprising. He felt hopeful.

“Thank you for all your help, Mr Campbell.” The foreigner’s voice ceased Charlie’s inner thoughts and brought his attention back to present. Mr Reis had bowed again.

Mr Campbell stared at the man with pure admiration. Only then he understood a common saying people used to say. “My name is Charlie.” He offered his hand with a prosperous smile.

“Mm-hmm.” Mr Reis looked at the extended hand with doubts. “I’m uncomfortable with handshakes,” he explained, then lifted his gaze to meet his again. “Ah, but I can wave my hand at you.” And did as said. Charlie was confused. “Hi. I’m Kauan Liraz Reis, as you present yourselves around here. Hmm... Mr Reis, then?”

“Oh...” Charlie glanced at his own hand then, embarrassed, retracted it. Next, waved at the other. “Sorry, Mr Reis. I’m Mr Campbell.” He rephrased. Charlie had just been rejected in his attempt at a more intimate approach, and a great feeling of shame prickled his skin. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He forced a smile.

“Same.” Mr Reis smiled back. “May the Universe bless you and enlighten you. How are you? Are you alright as well?”

“Oh.” Charlie was surprised. He didn’t think he would be cared for. But… “Hmm… Rather than me… Are you alright, Mr Reis?”

The foreigener’s smile slowly turned into a stoic expression as he silently gazed at Charlie. Never broke eye contact for a single moment. Mr Campbell tensed. He didn’t understand that strange silence Mr Reis set between them.

… Why was he only staring at him and not answering?

(Please, remember the last chapter-choice you made before proceeding to the next sequence...)

Last choice, 4 —>Be Honest, then go to CHAPTER 10 —>Soon...

Last choice, 5 —>Do Something, or, 9 —>Will Change , then go to CHAPTER 11 —>Soon...