Burden

The peaceful environment felt soothing to me when I had already gotten used to the barren atmosphere of the dungeon.

My body smoothly adjusted back to normal.

"I'm going to go take rest."

I left her and entered the house.

"Now..."

Even though my body's energy wasn't that drained I still felt mentally exhausted from hours of continuously fighting with my all.

So I made a decision..

「 You have logged out of the User 'Xela'. 」

'Hooo..'

I gazed at the ceiling then my room.

Everything felt the same and I was about to go to rest.

But...

The door had trembling hands punch to create a furious rhythm.

The knocks caught my attention and I opened the door.

Immediately after I found my sister looking at me differently.

"Aisha?"

The look in her eyes was not even close to happy nor plain.

She clenched her fists as she looked up at me.

"What happened-"

"Are you serious right now..?"

"What?"

I reacted a little startled to her mumbling unlike her kind self.

The eyes stared into mine.

"You.. why is it.. that you haven't even told me anything this whole time?"

A small frown appeared on my face.

I didn't know how to respond but she filled the gap in words.

"I knew it.."

The disappointed look changed as anger took over.

"You.. are a selfish foul person."

"..!"

I was still confused at her words.

"Why would you say that?-"

"NO! Stop acting so dumb. I listened to you because you were older but I didn't expect you to act so ignorant!"

"Huh?"

She began screaming at me.

"You take the burden yourself! I try to help you but you act as if I am not capable of doing anything!"

Her hands pushed me back.

It was a weak attempt physically, but not mentally.

My attempts were successful.

I understood what she was talking about,

But.

"..."

My lips were sealed shut.

I didn't even defend myself at all.

Her emotions controlled her hands to push me further until I fell on the ground.

"I hate you!"

My sister had completely changed.

I had never seen this side of her before.

Slap!

My cheek turned red as I looked up in shock.

Tears flooded down her cheeks as she sat on me while slapping me.

It didn't hurt.

'But...'

If we are talking mentally,

'My heart feels like it's getting squeezed..'

I couldn't take seeing my sister in this state.

"Why do you do everything yourself?! Do you not trust me?!?"

She got weaker and weaker.

"I.. I...."

"Then what is it that you want?"

Her eyes widened as she looked down at me after I spoke properly for the first time.

"Are you... seriously asking me that? You don't even know..?"

"I..."

Her eyes slowly closed as her body fell to the ground.

"Ah..."

She laid on the ground unconscious, drained of all energy.

"Aisha!"

* * *

I sat down in a white hallway.

I stared at the ground in shame as I covered my face.

"Mr. Mark."

A voice brought me out of my daze.

"Follow me."

I followed the doctor into a patients room.

I saw my sister on the bed, sitting with an irritated expression.

"Your sisters condition is perfectly okay. She just overexerted herself too much."

"Thank you, doctor."

The man nodded and left the room.

"Why are you still here?"

Aisha scoffed at me.

This was again not anything like her.

"Because you exhausted yourself."

"So? I'm old enough to look after myself."

She turned away and never made eye contact with me. 

"Aisha, I'm sorry. I-"

"Then don't take on the burden alone. Can't you.. at least do that much?"

I looked down while her eyes trembled. 

I clenched my fists. 

Her expression had calmed down to a very innocent one. 

The pupils felt like a cushion had wrapped around my body. 

As if I could let go of a heavy weight which I could only maintain between the bridge of tears and lies. 

'I want to listen but..'

Why should I?

I am the only one who can do this. 

Everyone else.. I'm surrounded by many wonderful people. 

Every single one of them have been very helpful.

"I'm sorry."

My sister flinched. 

She already knew what I was about to say. 

"I.. I can't."

Although.

My feet exited the room and I fought against my emotions till I left the hospital. 

"I am selfish for this but.."

I looked up at the stars. 

It was a beautiful night, contrary to how I was feeling. 

'I'm the only one who is capable of paying off my dad's bills..'

A tear was about to fall out, but I swept it off quickly and clenched my fist, eyes and teeth. 

"I can't rely on others. There is nobody who can help me."

And I will continue to remind myself this, 

Till I finally reach the light. 

* * * 

Click—

The door opened then closed. 

Buzz—

I felt my pocket ring. 

My fingers grabbed the case and eyes gazed at the email.

"Ah.."

I almost forgot. 

[SNU: Dear, Sir/Ma'am.

We warmly welcome you to S National University. We hope you enjoyed our Freshman Orientation that took place last week. We will now begin our first lesson starting tomorrow from 9am onwards. 

You will have your timetable attached to this email. 

We hope you and the rest of the students have a wonderful time learning and enjoying life at S National University!

Kind regards, 

Sotongteam.  Email: xx@xx.xx.xx]

"Shit! I missed the Freshman Orientation?? How am I supposed to get to my class without getting lost, tomorrow?"

I immediately felt stress. 

"Oh no.."

My knees were on the floor as they quivered. 

* * * 

The streets were rustling and I stood in front of the gate. 

Many other freshman or even older students walked in and out of the university. 

"No way, he really did that?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm saying!"

"Oh little Kain, we got in!"

Those many people had also already formed groups. 

They all had friends, 

But that didn't matter to me. 

I only cared about making it to my class on time. 

'08:40.'

My digital watch displayed the time. 

'Here goes nothing.'

I walked through the main campus but I realized something. 

'Hold on..'

I walked through the campus more and more. 

'Wait a minute..'

It was as if something clicked inside my mind. 

"Ah.."

I arrived. 

Right at my lecture room. 

'I... made it?'