Reaching Out For Help (Part 2)

"Argh! How dare that d*mn b*tch?" Kinrue mumbles out of frustration while taking a heavy step. "Everything hurts! Face, my face stings and my scalp. I feel like she really pulled my scalp. If it isn't because of that man. D*mn!"

"You seem like in a bad mood," she flinches upon hearing a familiar voice. She looked in front and saw Nianan standing with both hands in his jacket pocket.

"I told you to wait inside the playground. Why are you standing like a fool here?"

"You're the one who called me, but you let me wait here for ten minutes now."

She glares at him before rolling her eyes. "Something came up. I didn't intend to make you wait. Let's talk inside the playground."

Nianan didn't talk back anymore and follow her into the playground. He didn't expect to get a call from her again after what happened before between them, but the fact, she didn't argue with him despite of it, means it's a serious matter. A sigh escape from his mouth as they reach the playground. Kinrue sits on the swing while Nianan leans on the sides of monkey bar, crosses both arms.

A deafening, awkward silence came between them as the wind blows. Like before, the rustling of dead leaves on the ground and the sounds of leaves swaying along the wind and a lingering noise from the vehicle on the main road, it's the only noise they can hear.

"Are we here just to see each other face?" Nianan breaks the silence, looking straight at her.

"Fine. I won't beat around the bush anymore. Tell me, where did you get the information about me?"

He chuckles. "Information? Why would I tell you?"

"It's necessary for you to tell me such information. The truth that this kind of information reaches my brother isn't something I can feel relax,"

"What do you mean?"

"You know how the elite world works. It's a huge mistake to stain their reputation. It's fine if I'm the only one who'll receive the punishment, but those people who know and even those surrounding me, they'll doomed to fall down." She said, clench both fists. "I know my brother more than anyone and he's not something I can anger without receiving a harsh punishment, so tell me, where did you get the information about me?"

"What can you give me as an exchange?" Both their gazes met, but Kinrue's the first to look away.

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"Stay away from Raven. I think you already know he's changing into something he shouldn't be."

His words make her grit her teeth while clenching both fists. She's not dumb to not notice it. And it's the reason she's trying to accomplish everything as soon as possible. There's no good outcome in getting involved in a high ranked elite like her.

"Raven's my precious cousin, a kindhearted person. He's not someone that needs to be tangled with your fate. Stay away from him as early as you can before it becomes too late."

"I know every point you want to say to me. It's the reason I'm reaching out for help so I can leave quietly in his life. Callie and him aren't a good match, but how can I force him to love just anyone because of my selfishness? I'd rather step on my pride, so don't worry, I'll leave before you notice it. Now, tell me, where did you get the information about me?"

"Tsk. If you just go back to them, then this scenario won't com—"

"Do you know the difference between elites from their rank?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's freedom. The more you seek for that power, the more you throw your own freedom. It feels like being a high rank elite means binding yourself with an invisible chain in a deepest and darkest place that no one can find. It suffocates me, so before I came back to that place, I want to be me one last time because it's my only chance."

A tear falls down from her eyes. Nianan saw it despite of the darkness engulfing the area. He just look away and doesn't say a single word.

"You said the same words as Yue, but I didn't know that the no. 1 elite gives up almost everything to just make themselves an epitome of perfection." He looks at her again, but she's wiping her own tears like a child. "I know you don't have any bad intention towards Raven or anyone. The big problem is the family where you belong. There's no way they'll let someone as low as us to even have a conversation with you for so long."

"I already know, so stop saying something not related to my question."

"Anyway, regardless of status, you're still the same evil woman I've met."

"Y-you..."

"I only received a message containing an information about you, some evidence that may conclude you and Shenrue Himura are the same person. Based on the picture, it started when the first time you enter the Lunaris High School. It means it must be a student or someone who knows you well."

"You didn't meet the person even once?"

"I didn't meet the person personally, but we once have a conversation on the rooftop. The person stays inside the rooftop while I stand behind the door outside. Although the door's closed, we can still communicate well. It's the first and last time. We didn't contact each other again."

"A person who knows my identity as soon as I enter the Lunaris High School? A person who can enter the rooftop as they wish? I don't know. I can't think of anyone this time."

"You really don't have any idea? I have a person in mind and there's even a 60% possibility that it's the same person as the one you're looking for. A person who's close with you, but if I say it, you'll just doubt me, so find it yourself."

"Well, you said everything I want to know, so please keep your mouth shut and cooperate with me until I left this country." Kinrue said before standing.

"You didn't forget the exchang—"

"I remember. I have my plan, so all I can ask is a bit of help from all of you. Thanks for sparing some of your time with me and act normal in front of everyone. I'll go ahead."

Nianan didn't say a word and watch her walk away with heavy steps. Even without asking, he knows she's in a deep thought. Despite of it, she acts the same in front of everyone. He heaves a sigh and tousles his hair because of the thought running inside his mind.

***

It's around nine o'clock in the evening when Kinrue came home. She feels like any minute her knees will give up before her mind does. After talking with Nianan, she keeps wandering around the streets to calm her mind and thinks a lot of things that might happen. Before she knew it, the time went passed so fast.

A gush of chilly wind came as she walked down the hallway of the apartment building. It made her hug herself unconsciously. As she goes near her rented room, the flickering of lights begin as she heard a pile of scrap woods in the corner fall down that startle her.

Since it's already night, most of the people are sleeping and only a few of them live on the fourth floor. The apartment building also isn't in a good condition compared to other apartment outside. The moldy wall, scrape paints on the wall, broken lights and piles of other broken cabinets and more. It's more like a haunted building rather than human. It seems a ghost lives here.

A deep sigh escape her mouth again because of the thought running through her mind. In the middle of walking, she noticed a shadow of someone near her room. She thought it's someone spying her movements, but it wasn't. As she stop in front of the door, she saw Raven Auclair dozing off, leaning on the wall while cross both arms.

"Mister? Aren't you cold here?" She asked sarcastically and smirk. "It's my rented room. Why're you here?"

Instead of answering her question, Raven holds her face, checking left and right side. There's a sorry look in him while caressing the scratch Callie made before.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Why did you do that in front of her?" He asked.

"You're always like this sh*thead. If I asked you a question, you answer me with another question. Anyway, you know the reason. I hate her for the bones." She said, removing his hand.

"It's not a reason to make her mad."

"Are you worried that she's mad?" She chuckles. "Don't need to worry, the b*tch just hate me the way I do to her, but she'll never do the same to you. You know the interesting things I notice in her reactio—"

"I'm not worried if she got mad or something, I'm worried because you're always ended up getting hurt." She flinches upon hearing his words. "Please, stop being reckless. Do you understand me?"

"W-Well,"

"Let's go inside. I'll treat your wounds."

"H-huh? Aren't you going home?"

"Open the d*mn door," he glare at her that made Kinrue surrender and open the door.

As soon as they set foot inside, Raven roams his eyes around to check the surrounding she's living in. It's just a small room with a small kitchen and a small bed. There're a few appliances and one stand of fan. It's not a healthy surrounding for anyone to live, but it's better than sleeping on the streets.

"Young master, I can't offer you anything. Sit on the bed. There's no chair here." Kinrue said, putting her bag down.

"Did you really live here for over a month?"

"Do you have a problem? It's more comfortable than an elegant room." She sits beside him for a while before lying down, staring at the ceiling.

"Where's your first aid kit? I told you, I need to treat your wound."

Kinrue glance on him while he's searching for the first aid kit inside the cabinet near the bed. He didn't see a thing inside, so he search for the other cabinet. Amidst of it, she didn't answer his question and simply watch him. Even if he asked continuously, Kinrue didn't speak a word.

"Are you deaf? Do you have a first aid kit or none?" He asked with irritation in his tone while still opening other cabinets.

"Sh*thead, do you like me?" Her abrupt question made Raven flinch.

As soon as he finds the first aid kit, it slips on his hands out of surprise. The loud thud sound resounds the entire room as the box falls down straight on the floor. After that, a long awkward silence remains between them.