#gugeta

On a late night like this, when the streets change their colours, Break loved wandering around. He can feel the chill right to his bones, even though it’s early autumn. The doll perched on his shoulder attracts less attention as well, although that isn’t really what makes the difference for him. At this time of the day, Break dedicated his thoughts for the family he used to have.

He knew that the 100 year cycle was still supposed to be in motion, if both Sharon and Reim lived a long and happy life just like Gilbert had told him. That’s why he could only appreciate the memories he was allowed to keep after being reborn himself.

Small street, dim lights. Break was only half-aware of the things that were in front of him- he never let his guard down, just like before. That’s why, when he heard his lady’s soft laughter, the man stopped dead in his tracks.

At the end of the street, coming right at him, were exact replicas of his two dearest people. The same hair, the same sparkling eyes, the same voices. Break blinked quickly several times, as if trying to remember he was indeed not blind. It was them. Not waiting any second more, he approached the pair and hugged them.

They were warm. They were alive, and he was with them again. He departed from his last life while embracing his family, and he reunited with them the same way.

“Sir, sir what are you doing!?” Reim’s panicked voice broke the first moment of shock. Some people looked at them, some continued their way throughout the night.

“Are you injured?” a worried but startled Sharon tried asking, bringing Break back to his sense. He chuckled, realizing that what he did just now was very careless of him.

There’s no way they could remember, right?

“Ah, sorry sorry, I might be still a bit wobbly- I had a bit too much to drink tonight,” he let go of them, switching imitating a drunk. He surely doesn’t smell nor look drunk, but the redness of his face from the cold might as well be enough. “I hope I didn’t scare you two kids too much.”

Reim put on his stern face, composing himself enough to look like an adult- even if he seemed to be 18 at the most. “Sir, you should not walk around intoxicated at night. We can call you a cab if you’re in need of one.” He pushed his glasses up a bit, making Break grin widely from the uncanny behaviour his friend seemed to keep even now.

But he didn’t feel like he’s ready to let them walk out of his life just yet. He stood up straight and smiled, tilting his head lightly. “Would you mind keeping me company until I get back home? I recently moved here, so I only know how to get to my place by walking.”

 He wouldn’t mind calling himself selfish if that’s what he was being right now- he figured he could be, knowing they would forgive him. Reim and Sharon look at each other, obviously a bit uncomfortable. It’s understandable, really- no sane person would fulfill a stranger’s request, and such a suspicious one at that.

“Alright, but just so you know, our families know where we went today, and I can dial 911 anytime,” Sharon finally answered, surprising her companion. He seemed to not fully agree to such an idea, but nodded along. She surely is as brave as ever, my lady, Break happily thought as he pointed to where their destination was.

“So, are you high schoolers? Should you two be walking around this late at night, when it’s so dangerous?” Break piped up, both curious and wanting to hear their voices more.

“We were running an errand, and it took up too long,” Sharon disapprovingly shook her head. “I personally never expected for the bookstore clerk to be so disagreeable.”

“Well, we asked for something that he kept at the very back of the storage room, it was to be expected he had to go through extra trouble for us,” Reim responded, but the tired look in his eyes betrayed it took a lot more energy from him than he expected as well.

Not denying the first question, so they really are high schoolers! Break spent the rest of the walk asking questions and listening to Sharon and Reim talk about their life as the comfortable atmosphere eased them into talkativeness.

“It seems we finally reached our destination,” Break says as they stop right next to an apartment building. Both his companions seem to realize that their journey together ended as well, becoming quiet again. They stand around there for a few moments.

“I’ll call a cab for us,” Reim broke their silence first, taking out his phone and dialling a number. Break can feel the chill settling into his bones again- did he forget to feel it while they were walking?

His eyes wandered up, where the stars shine softly sprinkled across the dark night sky. It looks just the same as before, when they would have to stay up for a Pandora mission, and the streets were much calmer than now. Break sat down on one of the stair steps, crossing his arms in front of his legs.

“While you wait for the cab, come and sit here with me.” Sharon and Reim reluctantly agree, sitting from both of his sides, shivering from the coldness of the stone. A genuine smile spreads on Break’s face. “Fulfill a drunk man’s wish - let’s watch the stars together.”

They sit in silence, all three staring up at the endless view above them. Break honestly doesn’t remember the last time he felt so warm. Their legs and shoulders are slightly touching, which he doesn’t know how to feel about. Their time is almost up.

He already repeated to himself several times the same thing- ‘just a bit more’. But they’re not his Reim and Sharon, they don’t have the same memories, they have completely different lives now. As the cab arrived, he stood up to say goodbye. He surely couldn’t have asked for more than see them at least once in this lifetime.

When the pair seat themselves, they leave the door open. Sharon peaked out, smiling lightly. “It was a fun evening, mister. I hope we may meet again.”

Break responds to her smile with one of his own. “I enjoyed your company as well, my lady. I hope both you and Reim get back home safe.”

He doesn’t wait for a response and turns around, thinking of making himself some coffee once he came back. Such an evening seemed almost like a dream, but he wouldn’t let it turn into one in his memory. Break even let himself call them by their old names one last time- they surely took it as him still groggy.

Even something so good as a reunion doesn’t last so long. The stars disappear, and the sun takes their place in the sky.

“Wait!”