A BOY FROM STREET

A boy from the Street

There are many moments in my life that I would remember forever, though one would rather wish to forget. Knowing to not be as expressive as I should or could be, this is one such moment that I will always come back to.

Happily.

You.

~Lan Wangji 5 years old~

"Wangji" hearing Gege calls my name softly, I look up from the scriptures I was reading, patiently waiting for him to continue, "Do you wish to accompany us to Yunmeng Sect?"

I neither agree nor deny. Would it matter that I wish to go? Would Uncle even allow me? What would a kid like me even have anything remotely interesting in Yunmeng Sect?

Brother smiles. He knows I want to go. Giving me his hand, GeGe waits patiently for me to accept it, and when I do reciprocate, his face transforms into a serene smile, "We're going on a long journey, Wangji, you might never know, there might be an adventure waiting ahead for you." He grins as I look at our co-joined hands.

Till you're with me Gege, I will be alright.

~Yunmeng, the City of Lotus~

Traversing our way through the busy market where Uncle walks ahead of us along with another cultivator, brother smiles kindly and greets everyone who meets his eye. As for me, something about me makes them turn their faces away.

Maybe I 'am' weird.

"Wangji, do you want a toy?" Brother points out and I look at him. Is this my age to play with one? Last time Uncle seized everything that was mine, and some of the other students broke all my toys.

I shake my head and brother sighs. Leaving me to stand there, he goes ahead to buy one and hands it over to me. "If you ever feel someone deserves this more than you, give it to them, until then, they're yours." He gently caresses my hair and before I could thank Gege, Uncle calls him and he walks over to where they were waiting for us.

Unable to comprehend these strange feelings within me, I walk away from them, towards another direction.

Comparing to Gusu, Yunmeng Sect seems quite lively with boisterous laughs and open lifestyles. The smell and conversation of varying degree around were causing sensory overload for me and thus I choose a relatively quiet street. Passing through, I now realise that this particular place is much shabbier than other streets, yet I feel a call within encouraging me to walk ahead, only to stop when I hear some rustle behind a bin hidden inside a small alley.

Curiosity gets the better of me and I take short steps only to reach my final destination and witness a boy having three figures made up of straw in front of him. His hair covered most of his face and he was encompassed in filth. When he saw me approach and realised I am about his age, he raised his head and our eyes meet. His were Jet Black.

Time stands still for me. My whole being is frozen. What is this feeling? Who is this boy? Why am I unable to move nor speak?

For an unknown reason today I wanted to open up to him, speak, share my feelings and thoughts, but they all evaporated in front of his toothy smile.

Even today I reminisce that smile. How can I ever forget that toothy grin? A smile that had no boundaries. It held no malice. It was pure. Just like him.

It was to be protected and cherished. My heart leapt out as my gaze continued to linger on his. I was confused. Why meeting you, made me want to protect you? Who are you?

The more intently I sought your soul, the more I wanted to stay by your side. I wanted to ask you to come back to Gusu with me, but who are you?

"Wangji" I faintly hear my name being called. I had to leave, but I didn't want to leave him alone. He eyed the toy in my hand and so without second thought, I gave it to him.

It's yours. 

Having received a gift from an unknown stranger, he gave me a precious gift in return. That one smile captured my heart forever, lest did I know that we were fated to be forever.

"Wangji" I heard my brother's concerned voice, I had to leave, but how could I? I didn't want to, having no choice, I did leave but not without one last look. Those kind eyes and toothy smile would forever haunt me in my dreams and it's a dream that I never would want to wake up from.

He waved and disappeared behind the bin and I turned to walk away from him.

"Wangji," Gege came running and pulled me into a warm hug, "Where were you? I thought we lost you. Don't scare me again."

Looking from brother's eyes towards Uncle's, it surprises me to find his filled with concern too, but before I could react, they turn cold.

Realising that I could never tell him anything, if I do, he would take that memory away from me. So I keep this secret within me. This is mine. His smile is mine. I will never allow anyone to take his memory away from me.

"Let's go back, Wangji." Smiling my brother takes my hand and we proceed to leave for Gusu.

That night Gege walks into my chamber and sleeps on a futon next to mine "Wangji?"

"Hm?"

"I am sure the person to whom you gave the toy would be very happy right now."

My eyes seeks his and the understanding in them soothes my aching heart.

"Wangji, the moment you came back and you didn't have the toy in your hand, I knew you gave it to someone".

"Wangji, the moment you came back and you didn't have the toy in your hand, I knew you gave it to someone".

"Sorry, Gege."

"Why?"

"I gave him a gift that you gave me."

Ruffling my hair his voice is solemn, "I am sorry Wangji. I wish you could have a friend like him to play with. This clan would never understand your kind heart, but maybe some day, someone will."

That night I dreamt of him and from then on, I always dreamt of him, until he became my reality.