A small accident

In the car, Soren drove himself and Solace to the NGO silently. His face appeared indifferent, but his heart was still distracted by thoughts of Zale.

He kept making himself believe that it was just a few hours until he'd meet Zale again and that Zale would be fine on his own in that time.

Nevertheless, he was still distressed about leaving him alone. Zale was his responsibility to keep safe, including everyone near him. Everyone felt safe as long as he was with Soren, because only he could keep Zale in check, and Zale only obeyed him.

Soren's sole goal and motive in life is to provide Zale a happy and normal life that he was never able to live. Soren doesn't need anything as long as Zale could live a normal and decent life.

"Hey, hey, hey...man, get out of your fairyland. I've been calling your name for a while now. Don't daydream while driving, dude. Or you'll crash us both," Solace kept on grumbling.

"Shut your crap or I'll seriously crash us." Soren chuckled without any humor.

"Oh God no, please don't even think about doing anything like this. It's not funny. I'm not immortal like you or something. I'm just a little human who can get hurt badly. I don't want my pretty face to get smashed and lose its glory, urggggggg...ahhh, W-what the..huh, how?" Solace's soul jumped out of him and really crashed his face into the window when Soren slammed the brakes.

"Hey, you fucker! I was just joking about the crashing thing. Now, what will you really do if I die here, huh?" Solace cried out. "I hit my head! Why are you making a face like you just saw Zale in the middle of the road?" Solace shakes his hand to get Soren's attention.

"Shut the hell up. It looks like we have gotten ourselves into a real accident," Soren made a guess. "Let's get out and see."

After they got out, indeed there was an accident. Soren wasn't able to comprehend when the other car sped towards his car and slammed into it. Fortunately, Soren stopped his car in time, or it would have turned into something bigger and more horrible.

However, the person from the other car also came out furiously. "Stay inside, Elinor. I'll handle this, you don't need to get out."

The person sitting in the passenger seat nodded, caring less about it.

"You didn't kill anybody, did you? I don't wanna rot in jail for a murder case and meet my parents there. They'll skin me to death if they find me there. They can't handle the sight of me now," Solace shuddered at his dramatic future plan.

"Can you not for once? And it's not our fault, their car came at speed and slammed into us," Soren rolled his eyes.

"Whatever you say, man. Just apologize politely, and let's leave as quickly as possible, come on."

When both parties were in front of each other, the person from the other car spoke.

"I'm so sorry, gentlemen. Are you alright? We're running late for our destination. It would be a great favor from you if we just settled it down here."

Soren sighed mentally. It didn't seem like a big deal. He also wanted to settle things like this and not in front of cops.

"What do you mean by, 'if we're alright?'" Solace started out of nowhere with a serious face. "Do we look fine to you? We just saw our death from this close, see this close," he said, explaining with his hands almost poking the person's eyes. "You are not going anywhere without clarifying things here, understand?"

He looked at Soren, who was already staring at him with murder in his eyes.

"My friend here almost dislocated his arm. See his face, oh my God," he gasped. "Look how terrified he is right now because of you. Just wait and see. Soren, call the cops."

Soren, though confused and agitated by his behavior, dragged him to the side by his arm. He whispered and yelled at him.

"What are you doing? Have you seriously lost your goddamn mind? I'm here trying to figure things out so that we won't be late for the NGO more than we already are. Why are you making things more complicated? Did you forget to bring your brain?"

"Ok, listen here, you unholy creature. I'm also here to help, but...but that was until something caught my eyes," Solace said desperately.

Soren looked back at the person who was eagerly waiting for their conversation to end and back at his half-minded friend.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the thing I'm able to catch but wondering why it hasn't captured your attention yet," Solace exclaimed.

"You know what, before I claw your eyes out and use them to fix my car by selling them on the black market, spit it out what the hell your eyes were catching and mine's not," Soren scoffed madly.

"Ohh... you could be so oblivious at times. What'll you ever do without me?"

"Live a good and peaceful life, I guess."

"It's a given then. Now look over there in that car, you blind creature," Soren looked at the way directed by Solace and back to his crazy friend only to find him staring at the long-haired beauty.

"I believe you get the idea about what I'm up to by the way your eyes are poking holes into my face," Solace let out cheekily.

Soren was about to smack the smartness out of him when the person behind them spoke.

"Gentlemen, if you're done there, I request we sort it out with each other. I'm really running late." The man called out to them confusedly.

Soren nodded and sighed. "You are not up to anything, you hear me. I'll not let you do anything ridiculous again, so shut your mouth and get back into the car." Soren didn't wait for Solace's nonsense to perk up again and talked directly to the person.

"We don't have any objections. And the car is not much damaged, the repair won't cost much. It's fine if you want to leave first. We're also leaving, so it's really okay."

"Thank you so much. It's really considerate that we were able to wrap it all up here. But just in case you decide to change your mind, this is my card. You can call anytime if you ever need the damage expenses."

Soren was ready to refuse the card, but Solace took it for him.

"Do you think you can get away with this accident just because my friend is kind? No, absolutely fucking not. You think that only you are running late? We were already late, and because of you, we won't be hitting there on time. Where are you going, though, that you are this eager to reach there?...No, forget it. Get that lady out here. I'll ask her myself."

Solace rumbled, and Soren looked at him, confused and shocked, mentally facepalming so hard. Solace was the kind of person who would embarrass their parents in front of others, no matter how hard he had to use this talent of his to annoy people around him.

"What?" the person asked dumbfoundedly.

"Nothing, I got this. You may leave," Soren said while slapping Solace on the head, who winced dramatically, rubbing his throbbing head since Soren hit him quite harshly.

"You come with me. We need to talk," Soren dragged him away towards their car.

"Hey, wait! I can walk by myself. Hey! What about the accident they caused? We have to go back... the girl should pay us!" Solace protested as Soren dragged him away. "Hey... stop dragging me, damn it!"

Soren opened the car door and threw him inside, then went to the driver's side himself.

"What the hell, man? I thought you were my friend, but from today onwards, it's going to change a little, I'm telling you. You were supposed to help me like a true friend to get to talk to her, getting to know her. If nothing, at least I could get her number if we had tried enough," Solace grumbled, flipping the card with his fingers.

"Solace, you!... When will you stop acting so recklessly? If your behavior doesn't change, I'm not letting you move in with us," Soren sighed, which silenced Solace.

After his parents were sent to prison in a corruption case they were found guilty of in the company they worked in, he decided to leave their house as their property got sealed. But he cared less about his parents as his bond wasn't good with them. However, when he asked for help from Soren, he immediately said yes because he was one of the true friends he had, and it was his responsibility to help him.

"But-"

"No, not a single word do I want to hear from you. Now zip up your lips till we reach the NGO," Soren said, starting the car and driving down the road.

On the other side, the person got inside of his car, putting his seatbelt on.

"Well, we should hurry up and enter the territory before they catch us."

"I don't care, Leo," Elinor sighed beside Leo, looking out the window, particularly into nothing.

"But I care, El. It's a matter of time, just don't give up. I have Mr. Shilister's permission. He gave his word to me. He said we can live in his son's house for the time being," Leo looked at him and found him staring emotionlessly at the ongoing trees.