The Feelings I can't Explain

Suo sat under the fake, rounded trees, the artificial light beaming down on everyone that played in the "sunlight" as the aliens would call it.

It was never possible, however, to experience the true warmth and glow of the genuine sun. Such warmth could never exist here, despite all the children who were smiles on their faces.

"Suo!"

Suo looked up, her bang in her eyes as she managed to see it was Oiron there in front of her. He seemed to have a sullen look on his face, extending a hand out and making a gesture to take it.

"Come on." Oiron's gaze eventually had softened, and noticed Suo's hesitation. "I'm not mad." He mumbled, his other hand rubbing the back of his neck- or well, collar. The white shackles that bind us here.

"Thought you were." Suo mumbled, eventually taking Oiron's hand (much to her reluctance) and letting him pull her up. They stood there momentarily, Oiron's gaze flickering to Suo's purpled hands.

"I could never be mad at someone for more than a day. You know that." He replied, squeezing her palm as his gaze moved back to meet Suo's. "I'll cut your bangs later." Oiron tugged Suo forward, letting her stumble for a moment before catching her in a swift motion before they could both tumble down. Suo flinched at the heat, already feeling too hot for comfort.

"See?" Oiron let out a quiet, amused laugh, letting go after a moment and brushing the fringe away from Suo's eyes. "I'll take care of it for you later, 'kay?" He retained that smile, somehow contagious. The heat that grazed her skin felt like it was burning her, yet, the sensation was welcomed, despite her fear.

"... I suppose it's okay. Just a little trim though, okay...?" Suo replied, a hesitant smile forming on her lips while Oiron dragged her out from under the fake tree. "Smile more often. I mean a genuine one." He glanced at Suo from over his shoulder, his eyes somehow seeming brighter than normal.

Everytime, her hand felt warmer in his. Maybe it was just his body heat, but at the same time, she couldn't understand the warmth she felt within.

"I can try." Suo swore she heard her heart in her own ears. "I mean, as long as it's fine with you." Suo let him continue dragging them across the false grass, beginning to approach the rest of the kids adorned in white.

"Suo!" Nami ran over, small as ever, delicate. As all young children were. It would have been better if she never competed at all, living a long life. Nami clung to Suo's free arm, tugging her along with Oiron. "I missed you! I was not able to see you at dinner!" Nami pouted, her lips downturn.

"Yeah... Well, you know how it is." Suo glanced to the side, the flowers on the ground flowing in the artifical wind that seemed to come from no where. The sky, the clouds, the heavens above... a gigantic hoax.

The day always goes on, and while the fake sky never changes, the light does.

"Suo! You're it!" Oiron laughed, running away from Suo, who he had caught in a game of "tag"... Suo was sure she'd never heard of it before, but there's a first for everything.

"Hey! Come back!" Suo smiled, her glasses crooked and her short, brown hair flowing behind her as she ran after Oiron. "Oiron, come back!" Suo yelled, eventually lunging forward and tackling him onto the grass.

"You're... it." Suo mumbled, seeing Oiron beneath her as the two laid there for a second. It felt like more. Oiron reached upwards, fixing Suo's glasses and making them sit properly on her nose bridge.

"Are two going to get off each other now, we have tag to play!" A voice yelled, a girl approaching the two.

Suo scrambled off Oiron, her hand still on his chest. It wasn't a mistake, was it? She could feel his beating fast under her touch.

"Sorry, Avri!" Oiron sat up, taking Suo's hand of his chest gently, still holding on to her purpled finger tips. "We can get back to playing now." Oiron stood up, eventually letting go of Suo's hand to go run after Avri, who laughed and ran off.

Suo sat there, her gaze following the rest of the crowd. Her heart was beating so fast. Why? She kept staring at Oiron, watching him chance Avri and a few other kids who he thought he could tag.

Suo eventually let out a quiet laugh, her face feeling hot. Why was her face so hot...? She didn't know, she just knew it felt embarrassing.

Suo stood up, walking towards Nami and letting the younger cling onto her arm. Nami cheered Oiron on while he was still chasing Avri, the two surrounded by other kids.

For once, even if most couldn't see it, she felt a smile form on her one frown-stained lips. The sensation of an intense feeling of happiness. For some reason, it only appeared when Oiron would be there. What did it mean to her? Was it more than happiness? She had never been told about this kind of feeling by her guardian.

Suo eventually turned her head away, covering her mouth with her hand and letting out a quiet laugh. It didn't go unnoticed by Nami, the younger proceeding to laugh about whatever God-knows-what.

Suo moved her hand from her mouth, the blood on her knuckles. "Ah..." Suo glanced down at Nami, unaware. Suo tried to wipe the blood from her nose, trying to be inconspicuous.

"Are you okay?" A voice spoke up, a dark haired male appearing beside Suo, reaching out and moving Suo's hand from her nose. "Nosebleed, huh?" The male spoke, eyeing her.

"I don't recall giving you the right to touch me." Suo mumbled quietly, trying to remember the dark-haired male's name. It was there- on the tip of her tounge.

"You don't remember? It's Min." Min repeated, eventually letting go of Suo's arm. "It's normal of you not to remember, we don't talk. We're in the same class though." He took a step back, watching Suo wipe the red blood on her white sleeve.

"It contrasts nicely." Min mumbled, eyeing the blood that stained her sleeve.

Suo shivered at that, taking a step back despite the distance already. "It's red." Suo simply replied, watching as Min stared at the sleeve.

"Right. Sorry, I'm an artist at heart." Min mumbled, tugging at the collar around his neck- as if feeling stuffy. "I like seeing... the more captivating things in the garden." Min turned his gaze elsewhere, eyeing the flowers on the grass. "Contrast, complimentary." Min glanced Suo's way, as if captivated.

"I'll leave you alone now. Art doesn't paint itself." Min walked off, and that's when Suo noticed a canvas and a few painting supplies. His guardian must have given them to him. How lucky.

"Right. Uh... have fun." Suo simply said to themselves, watching as the male was already in his own world. Distant. There, but distant. Like a certain person Suo could recall.

The sensation lingers, the connections will forever shape a persons reality. That's what she knew. She wasn't in that dark room anymore.

Perhaps, just maybe, she wouldn't need to think she was in the dark room. She could enjoy life as it was. Suo's gaze downcasted, Nami by her side, still watching the game of tag.

"I'm tired." Suo simply said, a small smile on her lips while she simply stood there, letting herself bask in the moment of just existing.

"It means you had fun." Nami tugged at Suo's clean sleeve, not bothering to mention the blood on the other.

"I did. I still am." Suo replied quietly, admiring Oiron from afar.