Pitch Perfect

(Netalai's POV)

I'll never forget the day I first met Rytem. A faction of the Eastern Infaniyan army had followed Afarions from Earth to my hometown. Apparently, they were guilty of killing several humans. They chose my town as their hiding place, and my family was caught in the crossfire. Both my parents died—huddled around me, shielding me from the surrounding blasts. I peeked out from between their charred corpses and cried, because that was all I could do at the time. But it didn't make anything better. It felt like my world had ended. That's when he found me.

"Oh, it looks like someone is still alive," he said with an amused voice. Then he pushed aside rubble and corpses until he reached me. "I knew I heard someone," he added, squatting down with a smile. I was curled up, hugging my knees, trembling and sobbing.

"Hey... how about I take you away from here? You can come home with me," Rytem offered. At that moment, he was still a stranger, and my mind was spinning from the tragedy I had just witnessed, so I didn't respond. He reached out and grabbed my wrist, pulling me into the dim light of the setting sun. I stumbled toward him, and he grinned again.

"From now on, you're mine. So I'm going to take care of you," he said, stroking my head, looking down at me with soft admiration. I didn't recover instantly, but his words made something in me ease. I nodded and let him lead me back to his home.

Four years later...

Rytem feels like a hypocrite lately. He says he regrets killing Gini—but if he does, he hides it well. It wasn't even a day later that he was back to his old self—clingy and bossy. His attitude lingered in my mind for months, festering inside my chest. I don't mind the bossing. But I hate the lying. I hate how he overlooks my feelings. So... I moved out. I've been avoiding him for weeks.

"I think she's avoiding me," Hyzi said, sulking on his bed. He was talking about Tana again. "I only flirted with her a little... and now she won't even talk to me."

I patted his back. "No offense, but I don't care about your love life."

Hyzi laughed and fake-sobbed. "You're so harsh, Nelly. Okay, fine—I'll change the subject. I learned a new trick with my powers."

It's easier to talk to him. Since my vow removed my inhibitions, I stopped worrying about what people think, and made a friend.

"Cool. Show me."

He grinned. "Lift your feet off the floor."

I sat cross-legged on the bed. He raised his middle finger and transformed the floor into rows of sharp black needles—thousands of them.

"It's a concentrated numbing agent. If I pierce an opponent, that part of their body goes limp. I can do this to walls and ceilings, too. Just showing you the floor for now."

I clapped, impressed. "I'm proud of you. Guess you're not a slacker after all." I commented with a mocking tone.

He flipped me off again—this time without triggering the technique.

"I've been practicing too. I can make ten clones now." I remarked.

He raised his brows. "I can make five hundred." Hyzi bragged, instantly diminishing my accomplishment.

"You're lying. No way." I replied, pouting.

"It's too cramped in here to prove it, but maybe someday we can go outside and I'll—" He stopped speaking as one of his clones phased into the room through a wall crack and handed him a flower, neatly preserved.

"Is that for her?"

"I thought you didn't care." He replied. I scoffed and said,

"I don't." 

"Then mind your business." He replied as he tucked the flower under his bed. "I think twenty clones can fit in here. Let's see."

"No—wait!" But it was too late. The room filled with clones until I could barely move.

"Wanna count them?" he shouted from across the chaos.

"No! Get rid of them, idiot!"

He dispersed them. I stormed out, annoyed. Why show off so much? I'm working hard too. What's the point of getting that strong if you just hide it?

Still... I admired him. He's strong. And unlike me, he doesn't need validation. He knows who he is. I wish I were more like that.

Back in my room, it felt too quiet. Night thirty-three of sleeping alone. I wondered if I'd ever get used to it.

"Nelly! I missed you! I learned a new card trick!"

"Wow, Nelly, you got taller again. Stop growing, you're already perfect."

"I studied all the textbooks. If you've got questions, ask me. You can rely on me, Nelly."

His voice kept replaying in my head. Even when he's not around. It pissed me off. I should punch him again.

The next day...

I went to Hyzi's room to play BS with him and one clone each. We sat across from our doubles.

He placed a card. "Ace. By the way, how'd you sleep?"

"Two. I slept fine," I replied, badly masking my irritation.

"Bullshit."

I gasped. "I did!"

He snickered. "I meant your card."

I flipped it—a five. He laughed harder as I picked up the pile.

"Also, I knew you were lying about sleep."

"How would you know?"

"You always scowl when you don't sleep well."

My metabolism burned everything fast: food, water, and energy. I needed big meals, constant hydration, and full nights of sleep. Still, I was the skinniest of us all.

"Fine, I didn't sleep. Happy now?"

His clone placed a card. "Three."

Then Hyzi said, "I'm not happy. I want you rested so you'll remember when I kick your ass."

My clone placed a card. "Four."

"Bullshit."

"What?! Are you cheating?"

He flipped the card—another three. "Looks like your clone has to draw."

I groaned. I taught him this game, and now I was losing.

"You should talk to him," he said suddenly.

I threw my cards down. "Why the hell would I do that?!"

He met my eyes. "It's not just hurting him. It's hurting you. And you're my friend."

His words softened me. I muttered, "Fine..."

He grinned, looking triumphant. So, I mischievously launched a waterball at his face.

He yelped, then summoned a smoke orb and smirked at me with a glint of mischief.

"What does that do?" I asked, feeling slightly worried.

"You're about to find out."

I tried dodging. Got hit. Ran face-first into a wall.

So... it confuses your sense of direction... understood...

The room echoed with laughter. We tussled playfully. And for a moment... I forgot about Rytem.

But walking back to my room, the irritation crept in again. I hadn't seen him at dinner. I knew he couldn't sleep without me.

Why did I care? So what if he wasn't eating or crying himself to sleep? He deserved it.

Still... my feet carried me to his door. Instinct.

I knocked. "Are you dead?"

The door swung open.

Rytem looked awful—red, swollen eyes, malnourished, unwashed, slouched. The room reeked of liquor and despair.

"Nelly!" he choked, hugging me.

I pushed him off. His composure shattered.

"I'm sorry... I..."

His body convulsed, then went limp. lood poured from his eyes, ears, nose—his mouth. It was everywhere.

His vow—it had to be his vow.

"Thank you... for seeing me... I wish... I was better for you... I know I'm awful. I don't deserve you..."

I laid him on the bed. Should I get help?

"I should just die." He muttered at last, and that's when...

I kissed him. His breath steadied.

"Don't die! Whatever you're thinking—stop! You have to atone for what you did, you piece of shit!" I shouted.

His eyes widened, and he looked more alive. I wiped blood from my lips and rushed to get help.

It took a day, but he stabilized. I skipped my lessons to stay by him.

When he woke, he smiled weakly. "You're still here... or am I dreaming?"

I slapped him. "Did that feel real?"

He winced. "Yeah..."

"Good. I'm leaving."

He grabbed my hand. "It was regret that I gave up. I thought... I never felt it before. I thought it was safe to give up. But then you hated me. And I couldn't take it, and I got overwhelmed with that accursed feeling. I tried to fight it, I know I'm awful. But I love you, Nelly. I can't live without you."

I sighed and sat by his bed, squeezing his hand.

"You're awful. You killed someone who loved you. You're obsessive, overbearing, selfish... But... why..."

My voice cracked. I breathed in deeply.

"Why can't I hate someone like you? I should. But if you died on me... I don't think I could go on either."

His eyes widened. I warned, "Stop staring or I'll pluck them out."

He squeezed them shut. "Do you mean it?"

I laughed. "If you want me to stay, there are rules."

He nodded rapidly.

"One: no killing anyone who isn't trying to hurt you."

"Okay!"

"Two: if I say stop, you stop."

"Anything. I promise."

"Three: don't lie to me. Ever. If I catch you, it's over."

"I'll tell you everything."

My chest fluttered. I looked away.

"Also... I'm not gay."

He drooped. "Oh... I understand."

"But... if you follow every rule, I'll make an exception. We can try... more than friends."

His hand trembled in mine. "You mean it?"

"Slowly. Rule four: Don't starve yourself. I don't care how mad I get—take care of yourself."

He looked relieved. Lighter.

"Yeah. I understand."

"Lastly... you're never penetrating me. Don't even think about it. If you're fine being on the bottom forever, I'll be your boyfriend."

His jaw dropped. His cheeks turned red.

"I didn't think... you... could say stuff like that... Yeah. That's fine. You could ask me to cut off my arms, and I'd still do it."

I flicked his forehead. He flinched.

"If you cheat, we're over. Get a hobby. You're suffocating me. And shower—you stink."

I kissed him again and walked back to my room.

Finally... I slept.

It's annoying to admit. But no matter how crazy he is, I can't stop caring.

He's always been the exception, to person I can't help but forgive, and the one I need by my side.