Episode 69: MURASAKI JUN
Being born with dark brown skin, while your mother is a Japanese, and your father nowhere to be found surely took a big toll on young Jun. He was often bullied, baited an eye on, just because he has a broken family and a darker complexion.
Name-calling and teasings had been a daily part of his life. He barely had any decent sleep. And he often times cry alone at night, not aware that his mother could hear him from the other room. Also awake and bothered by the fact that she hasn't seen him smile for a long while.
After things just got worse, to the point that Murasaki refuses to eat, his mother Aiya, decided to just move to States, where boys like him are quite common.
He felt empty when he first arrived at their neighborhood. He feels as if they just moved places and there wouldn't be any change.
He went to school, without anyone he knows of. He walked up to the front, their teacher Mona, happily introducing him to the crowd.
MONA: This is Murasaki Jun, a new student, isn't he just adorable? Now go on and greet him.
One kid however, named Janet, felt confused hearing his name.
JANET: Teacher! Teacher!
MONA: Yes, dear?
JANET: Why is his name Japanese? When he looks like that. Isn't it his mama who dropped him to s...school? Why doesn't he look like her?
MONA: Now, now, maybe he got them from his father.
JANET: Why didn't he took his dad's name then?
MONA: Janet, enough questions, you'll know that when you get older. Murasaki, you can, you can take your uh...seat...
The teacher looks for a vacant space, when she saw the available seat next to the sleeping Gabby.
MONA: Oh, there!
Murasaki looks to where his teacher is pointing, and he felt his young heart thump wildly knowing just who he's about to sit next to.
A beautiful red haired girl.
He tiptoed happily, almost excited after knowing he'll have a pretty company.
She wakes up when she hears the young boy sit next to her.
Murasaki felt insecure seeing the red haired beauty that he stuttered when she introduced herself.
GABBY: Hi! Sorry if I sleep lots. Name's Gabby. What's your name again?
MURASAKI: J-Jun...Mu...Mura...saki...
GABBY: Mumura?
MURASAKI: Jun Murasaki!
GABBY: Too long and hard to pronounce. MJ will do. Plus it's easier to write.
The young boy blushed at her statement, and of course, the nickname she gave him. She's right, it's easier that way.
Gabby yawns and wanted to proceed to sleep again, until Murasaki poked her shoulder to get her attention.
GABBY: Hm?
MURASAKI: Can I give you a nickname too?
GABBY: Oh? Okay.
MURASAKI: Akane!
GABBY: What does that even mean?
MURASAKI: In my mom's language it means 'brilliant red'!
GABBY: Sounds cute but also very difficult for me to get used to. Just call me Gab. See? Not that difficult.
MURASAKI: Okay!
Gabby though, after that, continued to sleep in class.
Murasaki always wonder why, but she just does.
Because it seems like Gabby was kind, even verbose when she's not sleeping, Murasaki decided he wanted her to be his best friend. She listens to his stories, and even plays along, plus she also draws like him, which is why they made a promise that they'd both be animators and mangakas.
Murasaki would hang out with her.
His mother and Gabby's parents don't seem to mind much. Sometimes, they even fall asleep right next to each other.
But a secret was what made their bond stronger.
One night, Murasaki discovered her most treasured secret.
While they were playing at their living room, their parents outside talking about other matters, Murasaki noticed Gabby's nervous glances at the kitchen.
MURASAKI: What's wrong?
GABBY: Nothing!
MURASAKI: Why not? I thought I'm your friend?
Gabby's body began to tremble in fear when she heard the entity getting closer.
GABBY: Want to play outside?
MURASAKI: Why?
GABBY: Please?
MURASAKI: It's hot outside.
GABBY: But there's a monster in the kitchen.
MURASAKI: Mama said, monsters aren't real.
GABBY: But I'm telling the truth! There's a big man out there! He's looking at you!
MURASAKI: Me? Why me?
GABBY: I don't know! Please MJ, let's go!
Gabby clung to Murasaki, who still didn't believe her, until he decides to look at the kitchen as well.
He didn't saw anything.
MURASAKI: He's not there, I told...
But even though he can't see it, he swear he could smell a familiar scent in the kitchen. As if he had smelled it before.
Well, actually, the scent had been following him since he was 2 years old.
This sent a chill on his spine.
He knew Gabby isn't joking around.
Murasaki decided to investigate the kitchen, even if Gabby warned him not to.
He wished he didn't follow. And just stayed right at Gabby's side because he swore he felt a man breathing next to him, then a voice.
"How you've grown.."
Murasaki sprinted next to Gabby, where he told her the truth about the scent, and his guess on who the man could have been.
Gabby told him not to tell anyone about her eyes as well, or else kids and adults alike might make fun of them, as well as assume they're out of their minds.
After that, they experience more horrifying memories. Murasaki may not see them like Gabby, but he knows when one is near. Sometimes he senses them first, sometimes, he just choose to ignore it, because Gabby may not get any sleep.
As they grow older however, ghosts and demons became more fearless in showing themselves.
The more her eyes become stronger, so as his sixth sense. They were extremely close and protective of each other, that some tease them as young lovers. Only Murasaki feels that romantic pull however, as Gabby had her eyes set on fictional characters with magic powers and such.
Still, he didn't feel bad. No. Not at all. Being beside her, feels warm and cozy. Even if she warned him that he may get himself into lots of trouble with her, he stayed because he feels the opposite. Well...yes he might feel creeped out, sometimes he can't sleep as well, but he still feels good whenever she looks at him, smiles, and just...call him. He loved his name more because of her.
He never regret a thing being with her.
Even when something bad really happened.
...
Gabby was at school, when a pale white woman followed her. It was the same woman she and Murasaki saw at their backyard, when they were young. So strong that even Murasaki ran out in fear, leaving her.
This time, she looked more angry.
Tears automatically flowed from her eyes the moment she realized that the ghost, or whatever it should be, was smiling evily.
She ran.
But when she looked back.
The woman, thin and frail, was now running on fours. Drool dropping, still smiling, and her big lidless eyes, staring at her with hunger.
That made her so scared she managed to shout aloud.
GABBY:Go away!
She ran, ran fast to the stairs where she accidentally slipped and lost consciousness.
Murasaki heard it immediately and rushed to the school infirmary. She didn't sustain any serious injuries but she did swear she saw something following her.
Murasaki calmed her down. But the next days became worse. Even at class the ghostly apparition was disturbing her. She would throw books, shout and point at what percieve as thin air. People began assuming she was crazy, even Murasaki was not safe from the gossiping.
Gabby ignored it, they both did. But Murasaki's mom didn't.
On one day, when Murasaki turned 16, his mother talked to him, and told him about going back to another country, saying that there's better schools there. Murasaki didn't agree. But his mom kept on pushing him to consider it.
MURASAKI: Mom, if I go, Gabby will be left behind!
AIYA: I'm sure she'll be okay.
MURASAKI: Mama, I'm contented here.
AIYA: No, you're not.
MURASAKI: Please, mama.
AIYA: That girl is crazy! She's mentally sick! And you want that crazy person to be entangled with your name forever? No! Your stupid father left us with nothing, you are not going to end up with nothing as well! You are going to another school, study hard, and become known throughout the world!
MURASAKI: Mama...
When Murasaki realized that it wasn't about the school, he felt hopeless. No matter where they go, he can't...simply can't forget her.
He began sniffing, trying to stop his tears from falling.
Aiya softened by the sight of it and told him that because it's his birthday today, any wish he'd ask for will be granted.
Murasaki wittily replied that he wanted to stay with her.
Aiya, pissed but true to her words, told her that they can stay for another one year, but that's just it.
That was when Murasaki first made his manga. Published it, so he can give the first copy to her.
Gabby almost cried, hugging his oldest friend, even begging him to not go, but she knew none of those would make him stay.
Murasaki smiles, then waves goodbye. Even if he doesn't want to let her go.
Because he knows, that once he leaves this state, his now controlling mother wouldn't allow him to contact her any longer, believing that she will hinder his success.
AIYA: You know she's no good for you. You'll just get yourself into major trouble with her. You'll regret it later.
He didn't reply.
What she said can be applied to others, but not to him.
Even today, as he looks at the Jorugumo's eyes, he didn't feel the slightest regret having gone through trouble because of her. If he regret anything that includes Gabby, it's that he listened to his mother and left her behind.