《A Summer鈥檚 Tragedy》


 The first day of vacation

    The warm, summer sunlight entered Callisto¡¯s bedroom, and it woke him up. For a while, the dark room blinded him, and everything gradually became apparent. He stood up, got out of his room and continued walking towards the dining room where his father, Sebastian, and mother, Dorothy, were sitting on the chairs by the long table filled with delicious foods.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. So, how¡¯s your first day here, son?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Pretty good.¡± Callisto sat down on the chair beside the table.


    ¡°So, do you want to stroll around and see Mount Octover?¡± Dorothy asked.


    ¡°Yup, I want to climb the mountain and y in the snow at the top.¡±


    ¡°No-no!¡± Sebastian eximed.


    ¡°Why, dad? Don¡¯t you want me to get there?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°No, I mean you must not climb to the top of the mountain.¡±


    ¡°Why, dad?¡± Callisto queried.


    ¡°You may fall and your legs may break.¡± There¡¯s a worried frown on Sebastian¡¯s face.


    ¡°But father, I¡¯m not that little anymore,¡± Callistoined.


    ¡°Just follow what your father says, son. It¡¯s for your safety too.¡±


    ¡°For my safety?¡± Callisto screamed in his mind. ¡°What¡¯s that even mean?¡±


    Sebastian stood up and went towards the sink. He washed his hands and got out of the house. His eyes widened and he began to stare at the high mountain that loomed ahead. It¡¯s peak is t and snowy. An obscure scene yed in Sebastian¡¯s mind. He firmly held his head, and an expression of pain appeared on his face. The world turned dark as he lost consciousness.


    As Callisto glimpsed through the window of his room, he saw his father, who was lying on the ground in their yard. His feet abruptly brought him outside. As an instinct, he shouted for help, and his mother went out too.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, darling, everything will be fine,¡± Dorothy said.


    The ambncemen immediately brought Sebastian to the nearest hospital with Dorothy. Meanwhile, Callisto was struck by panic. He couldn¡¯t calm himself, so he used their car to follow his parents to the hospital, and he left his seven-year-old sister alone in their house.


    After a few moments, Callisto arrived at the hospital. He asked a nurse if she knew where his father¡¯s room was. Eventually, he went towards the room where his mother and father were talking about something. Callisto halted by the door and eavesdropped on his parents¡¯ conversation.


    ¡°I warned you not to choose this location for your vacation because it will only make your head ache. The doctor told me that you must not think about anything bad, or else, you can¡¯t get this,¡± Dorothy advised.


    ¡°Until now, I¡¯m curious about those things that will just suddenly interrupt my mind.¡± Sebastian held Dorothy¡¯s hand. ¡°Please tell me anything that happened in the past, so that I will be enlightened.¡±


    ¡°Okay, so I¡¯ll tell you, but you must take a rest first. Have peace of mind.¡±


    Sebastian let go of Dorothy¡¯s hand and slightly shook his head. He is dibobted about everything. He didn¡¯t even know his name or that he had a family if the woman beside him hadn¡¯t told him. But when it came to the past, he knew nothing. He didn¡¯t even know how much he loved Dorothy.


    The door cried out, and a handsome boy glimpsed through it. Dorothy looked back and saw her son, who was showing an expression of being worried. Callisto went towards them and sat down on the chair beside his mother.


    ¡°Is he just okay?¡± Callisto asked his mother.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, son, he can¡¯t die just because of amnesia,¡± Dorothy replied. ¡°By the way, why did you leave your sister alone in our house, huh?¡±


    ¡°Sorry mother, I¡¯m just worried about him. But because he¡¯s just fine, as what you¡¯ve said, I will go back to our house now.¡± Callisto stood up and attempted to walk out of the room when his mother stopped him.


    ¡°Wait son.¡± Dorothy went towards him.


    ¡°Yes, mom?¡± Callisto was surprised when he received a sp from his mother.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Dorothy whispered in his ear and cried.


    ¡°Oh,e on, don¡¯t be overacting.¡±


    Dorothy eventually let go of Callisto, who also hurriedly went out of the hospital. He got inside the car and drove back home. As he drives on, there¡¯s an ugly girl whom Callisto thinks is insane because she won¡¯t get out of Callisto¡¯s way. So, Callisto got out of his car and started going towards her.


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Callisto asked in a mad manner.


    The girl didn¡¯t say anything and didn¡¯t move either. Callisto heard the sounds of the horns of the cars behind them. But however he begged the ugly girl to get out of the way, she just cried and was determined tomit suicide. Callisto can do nothing but carry the girl and bring her with him.


    After a few moments of being lulled, they could almost reach the house when the girl cried out again, like a hungry infant who¡¯s searching for her mother¡¯s breasts. Callisto stopped the car and brought her out.


    ¡°Sucks, can you stop that piercing sound?¡± Callistoined and turned to leave, but after five steps towards his car, Callisto finally heard the girl¡¯s normal voice, but it still sounded abnormal after all.


    ¡°You sucks! Why didn¡¯t you just let me die?¡± The girl eximed.


    Those words made Callisto look back and grab the girl¡¯s shoulder. It was firm, and that could make the girl¡¯s tears drip with some pain, but not the one caused by Callisto. What he did next was, perhaps, the exnation why he didn¡¯t let her die on that riotous road. His lips took the wrong path, and where it went made the girl curious.


    Without anything else, the girl pushed Callisto away, but not too far, just at the front of her, still lulled, looking at each other¡¯s eyes, which sparkled with curiosity. Seconds psed, and the ugly girl copsed.


    Callisto came back to earth and found himself standing by the girl who was lying on the ground. He lowered his knees and checked if she was still breathing, and found out that he was lucky. Callisto drove the car with the strange, out of consciousness, girl who looked pitiable to him.


    The car eventually stopped at the front of a massive, lonely house that looked like a castle, standing on the contrasty earth surrounded by high mountains. It was Callisto¡¯s grandparents¡¯ house. Callisto¡¯s grandparents gave it to his father before they died, especially since Sebastian was the only child among them.


    Meanwhile, the strange girl woke up, and she immediately chided Callisto. She¡¯s thinking that he wants to do something wrong with her, but that¡¯s absolutely not in Callisto¡¯s vocabry.


    ¡°F*ck! What are you going to bring me here?¡± The girl asked.


    Callisto was lulled. He wonders if what was the reason why he brought a strange girl into his house. He couldn¡¯t think clearly, but his eyes stayed on the girl¡¯s face, which was filled with sweat, dust, pollution, and tears. The girl scratched her head and turned to leave when Callisto said something.


    ¡°Hey, wait!¡± Callisto eximed.


    ¡°Why?¡± The girl turned back, but continued stepping backward.


    ¡°Have you eaten? And please don¡¯t get yourself struck by those cars!¡±


    ¡°And who are you to ask me that? Are you my boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just a concerned citizen. And don¡¯t you see that you can do many things with your life? Why do you want to end it here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not your business anymore, so don¡¯t interfere.¡± She continued walking.


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want. By the way, I¡¯m Callisto.¡±


    The girl didn¡¯t mind Callisto, who was eager to get to know her; she just continued walking until she disappeared from Callisto¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Who is she?¡± Ruth (Callisto¡¯s younger sister) asked.


    ¡°Nothing. Just a new friend of mine,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°Will you invite her to y with us? Please?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s busy, so we shall not bother her. Just y with me, baby girl.¡± Callisto carried his sister and went towards their house.


    On the other hand, the strange, ugly, abnormal, and a bit insane girl can¡¯t forget what happened. She couldn¡¯t believe that a handsome boy would stop her frommitting suicide. Would that boy still show his face to her if she didn¡¯t want to die? Perhaps not, she thought, because she¡¯s ugly.


    ¡°Oh Stalin, where did you go?¡± Linley (her friend) asked. ¡°Your mother is searching for you. You will be scolded by her again, for sure.¡±


    ¡°I just strolled around, and do you know what happened?¡±


    ¡°No?¡± Linley sounded askance.


    ¡°I met a handsome boy. As in, he¡¯s so handsome. He has short bronze hair, bronze eyes, high eyshes, pinkish lips, etcetera, etcetera.¡±


    ¡°Wake up, my friend. Ask the mirror first before you talk about that.¡±


    ¡°Linley? But he¡¯s not just handsome. He¡­ kissed¡­ me.¡±


    Linley chuckled at her friend. ¡°That¡¯s just hunger. You must go now.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    After a few moments, Linley took a different path from Stalin, who eventually reached her house, and what happened next could be one of the reasons why she wanted those cars to run over her. Stalin¡¯s mother is a grim woman who could p her face a hundred times.


    Stalin lowered her knees on the rugged floor. ¡°Mother, mother, please forgive me. I will never do that again!¡± She implored.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even have a job to buy your own necessities, then you¡¯ll also make me pay for your funeral, huh?¡± The woman scowled.


    Stalin was lulled. She finally realized that nobody cared for her since her father was used of stealing and then died. But she also knew that no matter how many tears flowed from her eyes, nothing would change.


    ¡°Now go to your room, because the dusk has gathered!¡± Shemanded.


    ¡°Wait, mother, wait!¡± Stalin cried. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone!¡± She screamed, but it was toote because a powerful force, like a million mas, drew her inside her bedroom. The door boomed, and she couldn¡¯t go out lest the sun show.


    It was a curse that Stalin could only go out of their house during the daytime, and when dusk came, she could do nothing against the strong force that was pulling and imprisoning her inside her bedroom. And that¡¯s simply the exact reason why she wanted to die, because she couldn¡¯t do many things in her life if there was something limiting her.


    Tears run down Stalin¡¯s face while punching the door of her bedroom, but however she did it, she only got pain and her eyes were out of tears. It was the heartless goddess, she remembered, her mother told her that she was the one who cursed her.

 He鈥檚 not that little anymore

    The sunes up, but Callisto is already inside their kitchen, preparing their breakfast, because he knows that his parents are exhausted from what happened yesterday, and his younger sister isn¡¯t of age to do household chores. It urred to him how insane it was. He was aware that he should not trust strangers he met anywhere, but what else could he do? He doesn¡¯t have any friends in the town of Isab. He can y with no one but his little sister.


    Anyway, he thought, he¡¯s not that little anymore to y with children. He has to be mature, because nobody stays young, and death. He knew death was inevitable, and although sometimes he wanted to be a cat, which is believed to have nine lives, still, what he remembered was his father. He observes how his ck hair has turned gray, but he still wants to enjoy his teenage life before acting like a column in their home.


    ¡°Why am I thinking this?¡± He thought and sat down on the chair beside the table. ¡°Perhaps thinking like this tells me that I¡¯m not that little anymore.¡±


    After a few moments, Callisto heard some footsteps going towards the kitchen, and he knew who it was. No one other than the person he was thinking about, and he¡¯s thankful that amnesia can¡¯t kill a human.


    ¡°You woke up early?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t go with us going to Mount Octover today,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s our second day here, and the first one wasn¡¯t as good as we expected, but we can make the second unforgettable.¡± Sebastian reminded, then got the electric heater, tested if it had boiled water, and continued walking towards the wardrobe.


    ¡°This town has a lot of crazy girls,¡± Callisto said.


    ¡°And why won¡¯t you just y them instead of going to Mount Octover?¡±


    ¡°With those jerks? It would be better to y with my sister.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s your choice. But don¡¯t forget to, you know, hang out sometimes, with friends and even strangers.¡± Sebastian advised, then blended his coffee and sat down on the chair beside his son. ¡°There are many beautiful girls out there, so have some fun.¡±


    ¡°I wish to know that too, but I actually don¡¯t want to die young.¡±


    ¡°And why are you thinking about that? Those girls won¡¯t kill you, right?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t trust those who could even kill them themselves. How much more others?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s she? Tell me and I¡¯ll call the police.¡± Sebastian suddenly stood up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, dad. I¡¯m just joking.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re joking, and I¡¯m not as mad as you think!¡± Sebastian half-shouted. He left his empty cup on the table and went back into their bedroom.


    Meanwhile, Callisto also feels like it¡¯s not summer yet, but winter as the cold air chills him. He didn¡¯t expect that it would be the climate of the town. But he knew that it was just caused by altitude, and if they came back to downtown, for sure, they would be like dust in the torrid desert.


    Not bad at all, he thought. Now he knows the reason why his father chose to have a vacation in this ce, and that¡¯s because of the tempting climate. Unfortunately, Callisto didn¡¯t bring any girls to help him make his bed warm. So, he just stood up and went to his parents¡¯ room.


    Callisto acted in a manner that did not give any privacy to those who wanted to make love, and then, his parents were not surprised at all that their son was glimpsing through the door of their bedroom. They both know that they made Callisto through it, but they were still frozen and eventually stopped.


    ¡°Oh, what are you doing in our room, huh?¡± Dorothy asked.


    ¡°I¡­ Can I borrow your coat, dad?¡± Callisto replied, and shivered.


    ¡°It¡¯s on the washing machine, but you can check the closet upstairs.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thanks. You can continue what you¡¯re doing now.¡± Callisto mmed the door of his parents¡¯ bedroom and went upstairs.


    Callisto opened the door of what was once his grandparent¡¯s bedroom, but currently, nobody¡¯s using this room, except the dust that could almost cover itself. There was an old closet behind the door, and Callisto didn¡¯t hesitate to open it.


    His father wasn¡¯t wrong, he thought. There were two pairs of coats and pants, all bloody red in color, and that attracted Callisto¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t know how these branded clothes hung in this old closet, but that¡¯s not important anymore. He locked the door and tried them all, and found out that they all fitted.


    The door upstairs cried out, and a handsome boy in bloody red clothes eventually went out. And he¡¯s not content with what he wears. He also brought the other pairs, and as he felt in that, he walked out of their house and bragged about it to his younger sister, as there were no other people to talk with.


    ¡°Handsome,¡± Ruthplimented. ¡°Are you going to date a girl?¡±


    ¡°Oh! How could you know that, huh?¡± Callisto teased his sister, who had also run out of their house. Callisto chased Ruth, and they hadn¡¯t realized that they had already brought themselves to the foot of Mount Octover. The sun had juste out, and it stroked the glistening snow up the high mountain.


    ¡°I caught you,¡± Callisto panted while going towards his sister.


    ¡°Brother look! Chunks of snow are falling down!¡± Ruth eximed.


    ¡°Goddammit, what trouble we brought here. Come on, run!¡±


    Callisto held his sister¡¯s arm and ran, but while running, hepletely carried Ruth in his back back to their house, as he knew that his younger sister would be buried by that snow if he didn¡¯t do that. After a few moments, the siblings stopped at the front of their house. It was still early, but sweat covered their whole bodies. Ruth attempted to open the door, but Callisto stopped her.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Callisto warned, ¡°Promise me first that you won¡¯t tell mom and dad.¡±


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want them to y with us?¡± Ruth replied, and shepletely opened the door, which made her brother scratch his head. Callisto took a deep breath and followed her.


    Their parents werepletely awake, and it seemed that they were mad. But Callisto can do nothing against what they felt, and what should they feel about what happened? He knew that they were just worried, especially about his sister. He sat on the couch inside the living room and turned on the television, but then his mother came and turned it off.


    ¡°God. What did you do to Ruth?¡± Dorothy asked in a mad manner. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to say sorry, huh?¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Callisto whispered, and heid down on the couch.


    ¡°You¡¯re not that little anymore. Have fun with older people, not with your sister,¡± Dorothy advised. ¡°Okay?¡±


    Callisto is just lying on the upholstered couch in an inverted position. He¡¯s not really listening to his mother¡¯s counsel. He realized he wasn¡¯t that little anymore, so he stood up and walked out of their house, walking as if he really wanted to run away from their house.


    After a few moments of walking, Callisto reached the bench where he made his first kiss with the girl whom he didn¡¯t even know. He sat down there for a while and waited for something terrible to happen, but an hour psed, there was nothing, and hepletely fell asleep from tiredness.


    Across the street, there were four sexy girls wearing ck and pink flimsy clothes. One of them was Linley, and they noticed the boy who was lying on the bench and sleeping soundly like a beggar.


    ¡°Look at that boy,¡± Delh said. ¡°Do you think what I think?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, girls!¡± Adide said, and they went towards Callisto.


    ¡°He¡¯s so handsome,¡± Carolineplimented.


    Handsome, Linley thought. She remembered the emigrant boy who talked about Stalin to her. And this boy lying on this bench has short bronze hair, bronze eyes, high eyshes, pinkish lips, etcetera etcetera, and he wears bloody red clothes.


    ¡°Wait, what are you going to do with him?¡± Linley asked.


    ¡°What do you think? I can flirt with him and be his girlfriend,¡± Delh replied.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? He¡¯s handsome and young, but for sure there are also many girls chasing him. He¡¯ll just fool you,¡± Linley said.


    ¡°Linley had a point. So let¡¯s go, girls!¡± Adide interrupted


    The four girls left the spot where Callisto was, but Linley didn¡¯t. She was just looking at his face. Her mind was telling her to go, but her eyes wouldn¡¯t leave his face, and then she eventually sat down on the bench beside him. After a few moments, Callisto awoke, and he saw the beautiful girl.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Callisto said as he sat straight on the bench.


    ¡°Hi¡­ Um¡­ Just¡­ I just passed by when I saw you here,¡± Linley stammered.


    Callisto unexpectedly said, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Linley asked in a curious manner.


    ¡°For driving those crazy girls away.¡±


    Linley was ashamed. ¡°So, you were just listening to us?¡± She asked.


    Callisto nodded and stood up. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m Callisto. And you?¡±


    ¡°Linley.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I have a friend named Stalin, and she already told me something about you. You know, with bronze hair and bronze eyes. She¡¯s a bit crazy, but it seemed that she had infected me too.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I thought she was crazy, but it seems that she has many friends. Do you know that she attempted tomit suicide by letting those cars run over her?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that, but perhaps because she was just exhausted and wanted to sleep on that road so she couldn¡¯t wake up anymore. Stalin is just a bit crazy. Do you know that she even told me that a boy like you kissed her? Is that true?¡±


    ¡°That girl is undoubtedly crazy. She doesn¡¯t know how to lie.¡±


    ¡°So do you mean you did it?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t know. I was busy, and¡­ I have forgotten what I really did.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just okay. I¡¯m not the one for you to talk about that. Well, if you want to talk with me, juste here. You know, let¡¯s hang out sometimes.¡± Linley shook her shoulder left and right as she stood up and was surprised when someone held her shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯re just here. I have been searching for you,¡± Lazaro (Linley¡¯s friend) said. ¡°Who¡¯s he?¡±


    ¡°Callisto, dude.¡± Callisto introduced himself and offered a handshake, but Lazaro didn¡¯t ept it.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to know who I am, and please, Linley, stop talking with strangers, and you boy must return to where you came from,¡± Lazaro advised.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°What are you?¡± Linley asked, referring to ¡°Who are you to tell us what to do?¡±


    ¡°Just follow me if you don¡¯t want to be beaten,¡± Lazaro warned.


    ¡°You can beat a girl without any reason?¡± Callisto queried, then grasped his palm. Lazaro saw it as well. ¡°Why won¡¯t you beat someone who¡¯s stronger than you?¡± He challenged.

 Worse than it was

    ¡°Do you think that you¡¯re stronger than me, huh? Then let¡¯s¡ª¡± Lazaro hadn¡¯t finished saying his words when Linley interrupted.


    ¡°Can you just stop fighting? We¡¯re not here to fight!¡± Linley eximed.


    Callisto thought that the second day of their vacation in the town of Isab would be better than the first one, but what happened is definitely worse than what it was. He ran away from home, and now he wondered if his parents were searching for him. And it seems that he brought himself to a fight.


    Fortunately, a friend of Linley isn¡¯t as bad as what Callisto thought. It was just a little exnation, although they didn¡¯t really need to exin anything to make Lazaro believe that not all strangers were untrustworthy.


    ¡°Okay, you win. You don¡¯t really need to ask my permission if you want this man to stay in your house. Your parents left you to me, and if he lost my trust, you must not me me that I failed to warn you,¡± Lazaro reminded.


    Afterward, the three began walking on the road, but not long as Lazaro told them that he would be going somewhere. A few momentster, Linley told Callisto that they were already at the front of their house.


    ¡°Sorry, this is just our house,¡± Linley apologized.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t need to say that. Because I had bothered you, I must be the one to apologize. But I really need somewhere to stay,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°Okay, but I still want to say sorry for my friend. I thought you didn¡¯t mind him. You know, Lazaro was just protecting me, but the truth is that he just didn¡¯t want my parents to scold him.¡±


    ¡°So, let¡¯s get inside?¡± Linley opened the door and stepped inside their house. ¡°Actually, you¡¯re lucky that my parents are not here these weeks. You know, they are always busy at work, especially when summer arrives.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure that you¡¯ll let me let the night pass by here?¡±


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want to?¡± Linley asked.


    ¡°Of course I want. What I mean is that if you really trust me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t trust strangers, but I trust you.¡±


    ¡°Well, thanks for trusting me, and I¡¯ll not throw that away.¡±


    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be shy. Do you want anything? Coffee? Water?¡±


    ¡°Water would be great. I haven¡¯t drunk since I left home.¡±


    As Callisto sat down on the couch, Linley disappeared into their kitchen and came back with two bottles of distilled water. She threw one to Callisto, who also caught it, and sat down beside him.


    ¡°So, do you have a n to go back?¡± Linley asked.


    ¡°Perhaps when it bes cooler, but summer seems too long.¡±


    ¡°Summer is long, but still, winter won¡¯t refuse toe,¡± Linley advised.


    ¡°By the way, you told me that Stalin was a friend of yours. Why won¡¯t we go to their house?¡± Callisto asked. ¡°That girl was interesting,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°No problem. I can lead you to their house. But there is one thing you need to know: that Stalin¡¯s mother isn¡¯t so good as you thought.¡±


    ¡°Stalin¡¯s mother?¡±


    ¡°Yup, her father died¡­ He was killed after being used of stealing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s tragic, and perhaps your friend needsmiseration.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve told me that you want to visit Stalin. So what are you waiting for?¡± Linley walked towards the door, and so did Callisto. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    While walking on the road towards Stalin¡¯s house. Callisto met three people he hadn¡¯t expected to meet. It was his family who were looking for him, and now they found him, but it seemed that Callisto didn¡¯t want to go home.


    ¡°Son, we¡¯ve been searching for you. Where have you been? Don¡¯t you want to go home? Have you eaten your breakfast? How about lunch?¡± Dorothy asked in a continuous and worried manner.


    There were many questions that swirled around Dorothy¡¯s head, and they all told us that she was worried about her son, but she couldn¡¯t express them all through words, but through her embrace.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be an overacting mom. I¡¯m just fine, and look, I have a new friend,¡± Callisto replied, which made her mother let go of him and stepped backward.


    ¡°Oh! Who¡¯s this beautiful girl, huh?¡± Dorothy asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s Linley. Linley, they are family.¡± Callisto went towards Ruth. ¡°And this is my younger sister Ruth, who¡¯s so cute.¡± He cheerfully introduced them to each other.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, auntie, uncle, and Ruth.¡± Linley smiled.


    ¡°Are you my brother¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Ruth asked.


    Sebastian and Dorothy snickered.


    ¡°She¡¯s just your brother¡¯s friend, baby girl,¡± Dorothy said.


    ¡°But brother Callisto already has a friend,¡± Ruthined.


    ¡°Okay, okay, if you want her to be your brother¡¯s girlfriend, then fine.¡±


    Hearing those words, a pink tinge grew on Linley¡¯s face, but Callisto was really lulled because their topic was absolutely not in his vocabry. He suddenly carried his sister, which made herugh.


    ¡°So, will you go home with us?¡± Sebastian asked.


    Callisto looked at Linley and remembered that they were going to Stalin¡¯s house. The choices brought him between the devil and the deep blue sea. He knows that someone always has a choice, but sometimes it¡¯s just difficult to choose.


    He said, ¡°Sorry dad, but I have somewhere to go right now.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t need to say that, son. You can go back hometer, but don¡¯t let the dusk fall before going home,¡± Sebastian replied.


    ¡°Thanks dad!¡± Callisto eximed. ¡°And bye.¡± He went away with Linley.


    ¡°Our son isn¡¯t really that little anymore.¡± Sebastian frowned.


    ¡°Children are growing and they¡¯re not forever young. The day that they need to build a life by themselves won¡¯t refuse toe, but don¡¯t worry about Callisto, my love, because we still have this little girl.¡± Dorothy¡¯s hands were perched upon Ruth¡¯s shoulders who is smiling, although she was sad to hear those words from her parents.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry mom and dad. Whatever happens, I won¡¯t leave you,¡± Ruth said.


    On the other hand, Callisto and Linley eventually arrived at Stalin¡¯s house, which is just like any othermon house in the town of Isab. Linley went near and knocked on the door several times, but nobody answered.


    A few moments psed, the door cried out, and a girl with knotted hair, a round head like a watermelon, and ck eyes that sparkled and were still visible within her graded eyesses glimpsed through the door.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Callisto said.


    ¡°Oh! Linley, what are you doing here with this boy?¡± Stalin asked.


    ¡°Callisto wants to see you,¡± Linley replied. ¡°Is your mother here?¡±


    ¡°My mother is at the market. Come, let¡¯s get inside while she¡¯s not back.¡±


    Linley entered the door of her friend¡¯s house, but it seemed that Callisto didn¡¯t want to enter there; therefore, Linley went back towards him, grabbed his hand, and pulled him inside Stalin¡¯s house, which is made of polished wood throughout.


    ¡°Come, sit here.¡± Stalin offered them seats inside. ¡°Sorry guys, I haven¡¯t fixed anything here. Well, do I need to do that just for you? By the way, can you tell me the reason why you want to see me?¡±


    For a while, silence spread throughout the living room. It seemed that they didn¡¯t want to tell the exact reason why they wanted to see Stalin, especially that they didn¡¯t want her to think that they also believed, in other people¡¯s words, that she¡¯s an insane girl who needsmiseration, but most of all, is attention.


    ¡°Do you have a n to tell me or will you both be just lulled there looking at each other?¡± Stalin asked. ¡°Is there something between you, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Stalin, but honestly, we have realized that you need someone to talk with and now we are here to talk with you. I hope you don¡¯t mind if¡­¡± Callisto hadn¡¯t finished saying his words when Stalin interrupted.


    ¡°Who are you to say that? Are you my boyfriend? Of course not, so you don¡¯t need someone to talk with and if you don¡¯t really have an important reason why you¡¯re here now, sitting on the seats I offered, then you must go before I can push you out of here!¡± Stalin eximed.


    ¡°You seem to be not considering me as your friend anymore, Stalin.¡± Linley slightly shook her head. ¡°If you want us to go, then you don¡¯t need to shout. Just because of that.¡± She stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Callisto. Leave that crazy girl behind.¡±


    ¡°But.¡± Callisto hesitated, although Linley¡¯s blood was boiling.


    ¡°If she can¡¯t talk with us in a gentle manner, then that¡¯s not our business anymore. Let¡¯s go if you don¡¯t want to be dragged by that insane person!¡± Linley grabbed Callisto¡¯s arm and pulled him out of Stalin¡¯s house.


    Meanwhile, Stalin seems to have copsed on the floor. She cried out without tears, but then sheughed as if she was tickled by many things, and she cried andughed again, crying like an infant out of her mother¡¯s breasts.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening to that girl?¡± Callisto queried.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind her,¡± Linley replied. ¡°People were right, she¡¯s a psycho.¡±


    ¡°No, she¡¯s not a psycho. We just don¡¯t understand her.¡±


    ¡°What? After what she did, you can still say that?¡±


    ¡°Yup, she shouted at us to get out of her house, but it doesn¡¯t mean that she doesn¡¯t really want to talk with us, and most of all, that house doesn¡¯t belong to us.¡±


    ¡°But how could she do that if we just wanted to help her?¡±


    ¡°Stop. We have to stop this conversation, which is going to lead to a fight. Look, I don¡¯t want to contradict what you believed in about what¡¯s happening to Stalin, so please don¡¯t contradict what I believed in too.¡± Callisto tried to exin, but Linley wouldn¡¯t let him as she went away without saying anything.


    Callisto scratched his head. This day is even worse, he thought, but he could do nothing except go back to the people who truly understand him. He knew that however he would exin his point of view to Linley, she wouldn¡¯t understand it lest they switch their positions.

 Love for one another

    Callisto went home earlier than his parents thought. The sun was setting on the horizon when he arrived, and the smile on his parents¡¯ faces gradually turned into a sad expression seeing him, who seemed to be carrying the whole world.


    ¡°We thought that you¡¯d stay in your friend¡¯s house forever, but why did you go home earlier?¡± Dorothy asked. ¡°And what happened to your face?¡±


    ¡°Mom, please stop scolding me. I know it was my mistake, but I have nowhere to go this time but home,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m not scolding you. We¡¯re just worried. You have put your sister in danger, you have left home earlier, you didn¡¯t listen to me, when you could have realized that family is more important than anything else, huh?¡±


    ¡°Sorry mother, if I¡¯m being disrespectful, but my sister is alive, I¡¯m still alive, and I¡¯ve made some friends outside of what you¡¯ve told me. I know that I¡¯m a bit unlucky today, but I hope you won¡¯t regret that I was born in this world,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°You!¡± Dorothy barked. ¡°Why would you wait to be killed, huh? Where did you learn to talk to your mother like that? From your new friends?¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey,¡± Sebastian interrupted. ¡°Rx. You can get nothing from fighting.¡±


    Callisto continued walking towards his bedroom while his mother slightly shook her head. He noticed Ruth, who was sitting on the stairs. Perhaps she was listening to their conversation, he thought. Ruth¡¯s knees are both inside her shirt and her head is perched on it. Something was pulling Callisto to get near to his sister. He sat down on the stairs beside Ruth, who seemed to be sullen.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Callisto apologized. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do that.¡±


    Ruth gradually stares at her brother. Tears were running down her face, but Callisto¡¯s shirt wiped them away as she suddenly embraced him.


    ¡°Come on baby girl, don¡¯t cry, that will just lose your cuteness.¡±


    ¡°Please brother, don¡¯t leave us again,¡± Ruth begged.


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, then I won¡¯t leave again,¡± Callisto whispered.


    The sad expression on Ruth¡¯s face disappeared. She smiled and climbed on Callisto¡¯s back, who also stood up and went towards the dining room. He hadn¡¯t eaten yet since he left home, and he could eat cats and dogs right now.


    ¡°Brother, can you tell me what happened? Why are you sad?¡± Ruth asked.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not sad, baby girl. It was just because sometimes there are misunderstandings that grow between people,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°And did someone misunderstood you?¡± Ruth asked while looking at her brother¡¯s face, which was sticking in and out as he chewed food.


    ¡°I will tell you what happened, but first you should be quiet because I¡¯m eating.¡±


    Callisto continued eating his food, and after some minutes (as it shows that he was so hungry because he finished his food quickly), Callisto washed their dishes, and after that, he dried his hands and went inside the living room where his sister was watching television alone.


    ¡°What are you watching?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°Brother look!¡± Ruth pointed an index to the television screen. ¡°That man is so bad. Look at what he is doing to that woman. Brother, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s going to kill her.¡± She got closer to her brother and embraced him while Callisto reached for the remote control and changed the channel.


    The other one was worse than it was. The shows on television all need strong parental guidance, so even Callisto isn¡¯t suitable to watch them because of his minor age. He knew that it was just a little time of waiting and he would be totally free from everything, and he didn¡¯t need to follow his parents¡¯ counsel.


    Ruth suggested, ¡°You gotta turn off that brother, and tell me a story instead.¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    ¡°So, you are demanding me now, huh?¡± Callisto asked. ¡°You are younger than me, so you need to show respect. Always say the word ¡°please¡± if you want me to do something. Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re the king.¡±


    ¡°Sorry brother, I will not be disrespectful again. So please turn off the TV and please tell a story instead.¡±


    So, as the little girl demanded, Callisto turned off the television, stood up, and then attempted to get a book from the shelves.


    ¡°No, brother,¡± Ruth said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to listen to that repeated story. I want to hear your story today. Please tell me what happened with you and your friends.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Callisto went back to the couch andid down there beside Ruth.


    Callisto started, ¡°I am going to tell you a secret that nobody knows.¡± He continued, ¡°There was an ugly girl who looked so interesting. Guess who? She¡¯s my new friend named Stalin. Linley led me to her house, but she¡¯s not as good as I thought. It seemed that she had lost her mind.¡±


    ¡°And how could you say that, brother?¡± Ruth asked.


    ¡°I must not tell you this, but Stalin drove me and Linley out of her house.¡±


    ¡°Is she crazy? How could she drive my handsome brother away?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean. I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t want to court her?¡± Ruth interrupted.


    ¡°You!¡± Callisto barked. ¡°You must sleep now.¡±


    ¡°But brother, I¡¯m not that sleepy yet,¡± Ruthined.


    ¡°Just go to your room, lie there and wait for drowsiness toe.¡±


    Ruth and Callisto both stood up and went inside their bedrooms, Ruth a little grumpily. But they both went into their bedroom, leaving the living room empty.


    Someone opened the window inside Callisto¡¯s bedroom. It was he who glimpsed and saw that the sun was already drowned on the horizon. It creates a stunning disy of colors in the sky as it darkens. But it can¡¯t be dark, he knew, because the moon will be there for him tonight.


    Callisto turned his eyes elsewhere: to Mount Octover, where he could almost bury himself and Ruth in snow, and down to their open-air verandah. He suddenly mmed the window when he noticed two shadows of people who were sitting there. It was Sebastian and Dorothy who were having a good time on their verandah and enjoying the cold air that moved hither and thither.


    ¡°My love, don¡¯t be so worried about our son. He knew what he was doing,¡± Sebastian said while going towards his wife from the other side of the porch. ¡°We must be happy instead because Callisto is not acting like a child anymore.¡±


    Dorothy sighed. ¡°I know that, but it can¡¯t be removed from a mother to worry about her son, and there are many dangers in this town. I can¡¯t forgive myself if we lost our only child, Sebastian.¡±


    ¡°Rx, you must not say that. We can lose no one. Do you remember what you told me? Stop thinking about things that can only cause you to worry.¡± Sebastian sat down beside Dorothy. ¡°We came here to rx. So, what if we go to the top of the mountain tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°But my love, nobody¡¯s going in that ce. It¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    ¡°No, we can get there. Some people also get there. Our son insisted on getting there, and he even risked his sister¡¯s life just for that. And I also want to know what makes that mountain wonderful.¡±


    ¡°What else can I do? I can¡¯t contradict my husband¡¯s n, as that¡¯s exactly the reason you chose this ce for vacation. I know that we went here to rx, but it seemed that¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop that. You¡¯ve said it already, so you don¡¯t need to worry about anything.¡± Sebastian embraced his wife. ¡°Rx,¡± he whispered and nibbled her ear.


    Many things were coloring Dorothy¡¯s mind as she felt her husband¡¯s warm body, which caused an electric-like volt to flow in her veins. She thought he had never changed. She knew that he loved her more than anything else, as he could despise anyone who would stand in their way. And now, Dorothy still hopes that her husband will remember those good memories.


    It seemed like it was just yesterday that they were both young when they met each other during cold, lovely nights like this: sneaking in and out of their houses, avoiding being caught by their strict parents. It seemed like only yesterday that they were fighting for their love, willing to give their lives for each other; when they weren¡¯t thinking about themselves, not what they could get from each other, but what they could give.


    But still, yesterday isn¡¯t today and things can change every time, but those memories will stay the same. Although their minds faded, Dorothy and Sebastian knew, within their hearts, what really happened in the past.

 The story of the past

    Seventeen years earlier, when the top of Mount Octover wasn¡¯t that snowy, there was a beautiful woman who was peacefully living there with the cold climate and other creatures that could impossibly exist at all. The woman wears a long, white dress that reaches the grassy ground when she walks, as if she were in a beauty contest.


    ¡°I am Estre!¡± She eximed. ¡°The goddess of Mount Octover.¡± She got the blue bird perched on the branch of a leafless nt. ¡°This is Cryrie, my favorite bird. Not just because she¡¯s obedient, but she¡¯s also honest. Right, Cryrie?¡±


    ¡°Tweet, tweet!¡± the bird chirped.


    ¡°No one else can understand Cryrie, but me!¡± She eximed.


    Loudughter and apuse suddenly spread around the covered court. The woman on the stage, who was acting as a goddess, was deafened by the loud apuse of the herd. She bowed and made herself disappear from their sight. Many said that she could be the queen of acting. Some cried that she looked like Estre. Another eximed that she¡¯s undoubtedly the goddess.


    A few moments psed, and the crowd gradually disappeared from the court where folktales are disyed. It was Caroline who acted as the goddess of Mount Octover. She¡¯s currently sitting on a chair behind the stage.


    Caroline hopes that Isabnians won¡¯t stop patronizing their culture, and that¡¯s to exhibit their history and folktales every summer season. She knows that their folktales aren¡¯t just tales that can disappear, because they can teach everyone a lesson, especially those younger people.


    Not long after Caroline changed her clothes, she was taking the road back home when she met Linley, who had a frowning face. She¡¯s wearing long sleeves and pants. Her curly hair swayed as she walked towards Caroline.


    ¡°Oh! Linley, where are you going?¡± Caroline asked.


    ¡°Caroline? Is that you?¡± Linley replied. ¡°I can¡¯t easily recognize you.¡±


    ¡°Me too. I can¡¯t easily recognize you because of that face. Is there something wrong that happened that¡¯s why you looked so sad?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh. Can we talk for a while? I just have something to tell you.¡±


    Linley led Caroline to the bench by the roadside under themppost. It was the bench where Linley met Callisto, the bench where Stalin met Callisto, and the bench where everything about Linley¡¯s feelings started.


    ¡°We¡¯re here, so what¡¯s that thing you want to tell me?¡± Caroline asked.


    ¡°Do you remember the boy we saw here yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. I can¡¯t forget that handsome boy. Why? Is there something wrong with him? Aha! Why didn¡¯t I see you leave with us, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Carol if I didn¡¯t support you in what you were doing these days. But I want to tell you something that I haven¡¯t told anyone before.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that, Linley?¡± Someone asked behind them. It¡¯s Adide who suddenly emerges as if she didn¡¯t want to miss their conversation.


    ¡°Oh! Adide! What are you doing here?¡± Linley asked.


    ¡°Why? Do I need to ask your permission before going somewhere? And why won¡¯t you just tell me your secret too instead of whispering it there?¡±


    ¡°And why won¡¯t you just stop eavesdropping on our conversation?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so bad, Linley. I¡¯m not the same as those gossipers out there who could spread your secret in just a second.¡±


    ¡°This is enough, guys. You¡¯re just wasting my time here. Don¡¯t you know that I¡¯m exhausted because of acting? So we¡¯d better go home instead,¡± Caroline advised. She stood up and attempted to walk away.


    ¡°Wait. Okay, I will tell you now. I have feelings for that boy!¡± Linley eximed.


    ¡°What?¡± Adide and Caroline simultaneously eximed.


    ¡°Howe?¡± Adide asked.


    ¡°Yup, how can you have feelings for a boy you just saw yesterday?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so good and¡­¡±


    ¡°What did you just say, Linley? Do you want to exin something?¡± someone interrupted. It was Lazaro who suddenly emerged from behind them.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry girls, but you should go back first. I just need to talk with him,¡± Linley ordered, which made the two girls turn back, but they were still gossiping about what Linley had just told them.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Linley hadn¡¯t finished saying her words.


    Lazaro wanted to ask many questions, such as, ¡°Do you really have feelings for that boy who you just met yesterday? What about me, Linley? You¡¯re so unfair. Don¡¯t you know that there¡¯s not a second that goes by that I¡¯m not thinking of you? Why did you just make me believe that there would be an us?¡± But what he could only say was, ¡°Please, exin it to me.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Lazaro. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt your feelings. I know that you¡¯re hoping for us, but I already told you to stop. So there¡¯s not a thing which I should exin.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, you just made me believe your lies. From now on, I won¡¯t be a follower of you.¡± Lazaro turned and attempted to leave.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Linley eximed, and she went towards Lazaro.


    ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want me to leave? I can¡¯t endure getting hurt anymore, Linley.¡± He attempted to step, but Linley¡¯s arms spread around his belly.


    ¡°Please forgive me. I know not what to do,¡± Linley apologized.


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny me. This pain I¡¯m going through. Please forgive me if I need you like I do. Please believe me, every word I say is true. Please forgive me, I can¡¯t stop loving you.¡± Tears ran down Lazaro¡¯s face as he faced Linley, and his lips caught hers.


    Linley couldn¡¯t breathe well, but she couldn¡¯t help herself from the hungry boy who wanted to drink her saliva. Her eyes turned closed as she couldn¡¯t fight any more, but to weep in pleasure and replied his kiss.


    On the other hand, Sebastian, Dorothy, Callisto, and Ruth are preparing for their trip to Mount October, which is just a kilometer away from their home. They knew that danger was waiting for them, but they also knew that they wouldn¡¯t be in danger if they just followed the route made by tourists. It¡¯s a conspicuous, winding route going to the top of the mountain.


    ¡°Are you ready for the venture?¡± Sebastian asked while wearing his boots.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nobody answered Sebastian¡¯s question. His family knew that they could risk their lives by going to that mountain, but they hoped that everything there would be worth risking their lives. After a few moments, everyone was ready to go.


    They left home with the things they needed for their venture and also for their pic at the mountain. Meanwhile, Dorothy wasn¡¯t so sure if their journey would be fine because there were many bad things that happened on that mountain when they were still young couples, she remembered.


    She saw Mount Octover wasn¡¯t that snowy before, and it surprised her even when she just saw it in the picture, and even more so when she saw it with her own eyes. That mountain was green before, and there were many trees, nts, and animals that were living there.


    ¡°Is she still enraged at us?¡± Dorothy thought.


    Even though she knows that they did nothing wrong, that it wasn¡¯t their mistake if that woman chose to kill herself, it can¡¯t be removed from Dorothy to be worried, especially now that she has a family. It¡¯s the same with other people. No one would ever desire something wrong to happen, and so she does.


    ¡°Come on, my love, don¡¯t you want to feel the cool air on that mountain?¡± Sebastian asked when he noticed Dorothy halted.


    ¡°That¡¯s not that, my love. I also want to rx, but I¡¯m still worried that we can dig our own pit,¡± Dorothy panted. ¡°What if we just go back?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll go back and say that we are already here. Come on, there¡¯s nothing else we can do but continue following this route, or else you¡¯ll just tire yourself without getting anything from it. Look, our children were so fast.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so cold here. Are you sure that you want to continue? We don¡¯t really know the exact temperature above that mountain, so we may be frozen,¡± Dorothyined with worry.


    ¡°I¡¯ve researched that already, and if other people visit there too, why can¡¯t we? Come on, stop lingering, or just tell me if you¡¯re tired, and I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Sebastian went near to Dorothy and grabbed her hands, but it wasn¡¯t just hands, but her whole body. He unexpectedly carried her on his back.


    ¡°Oh my! Just put me down, we may fall!¡± Dorothy shouted with fear, but Sebastian was already defeated by the thrill, and he continued walking.


    ¡°Rx, we won¡¯t fall. Just hold on, because the car will run fast.¡±


    Dorothy didn¡¯t expect that her husband was still as strong as before, although his hair had gradually turned gray. She remembered those moments like this: that he was carrying her on his back, going to the same destination.


    ¡°At longst!¡± Sebastian eximed and put Dorothy down.


    ¡°Not finally, dad. We¡¯re still at the foot of the mountain. It will take us half an hour before we can reach the top,¡± Callisto panted.


    ¡°I already told you. It¡¯s just a waste of time, and how can we climb that mountain, huh?¡± Dorothy asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mother; there¡¯s a winding path to the top, so we don¡¯t need to climb this mountain; instead, let¡¯s just follow the path,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°So let¡¯s go?¡± Sebastian asked. ¡°Just be careful; nuggets could fall at anytime. It¡¯s good to see that it isn¡¯t windy here, or else we can¡¯t get up.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not good. I¡¯m still tired, and I want to sit here for a while,¡± Dorothyined. ¡°And how can it be windy here if it¡¯s summer right now?¡±


    ¡°Yup, but we need to go now if you want to go home early. Stopining, my love, because Ruth isn¡¯t tired yet, even though she walked half a kilometer. Come-on, let¡¯s go!¡± Sebastian turned and took the winding route towards the top of the snowy mountain. He didn¡¯t evenin that he was tired of carrying her, he thought. Howe she¡¯s tired even though she didn¡¯t walk?


    Sebastian stopped when he noticed that everyone wasn¡¯t following him. They were all sitting on the ground, and he finally realized that sweat was already running down their bodies even though they felt cool in that ce.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Sebastian asked while going towards them.


    ¡°Ruth¡¯s dogs are barking,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you just carry your sister¡¯s son? And you, my love, let¡¯s go.¡± Sebastian seized Dorothy¡¯s arm and pushed her to take the winding route, although she was reluctant to take it.


    ¡°Just stop pushing me. I can walk on my own,¡± Dorothy said.

 Where are your black eyes?

    Going to Mount Octover wasn¡¯t just fun. Callisto saw how much his parents loved each other. The way Sebastian would carry Dorothy, even though she was just acting tired, still showed that he was very patient.


    The way he would care for Dorothy, as if he were just used for a thrill, was worse than anyone thought, because he could make himself a servant of her, so even just to get a ss of water, he would bother himself.


    Sometimes, Callisto would just abruptly stand up and yell at him that she could get a cup of water by herself. But then, he thought that maybe that was just what love was like, or at least, what love was like for his parents.


    He was exhausted because even his father had involved him in their game. How could he make him carry Ruth on that winding path towards the top of the mountain? He thought. It was a strenuous game, but at least it was worth it.


    Callisto is currently sitting on his bed. Looking at the photos on his phone, Ruth and he didn¡¯t have simr faces, he thought. But it never crossed his mind that they were not siblings, because she had been there since they were young.


    ¡°Are you not asleep yet?¡± someone asked. It¡¯s Dorothy who glimpsed through the door of her son¡¯s bedroom. Shepletely opened the door and went towards her son.


    ¡°Mom, please tell me the truth. Is there something about my sister that I don¡¯t know?¡± Callisto asked.


    Dorothy was frozen. She didn¡¯t expect that her son would ask something like that. Her mouth was half-opened, but it seemed that she couldn¡¯t breathe well. Seconds psed, Dorothy was freed, and she slowly walked towards her son. Her face shows an expression of bewilderment.


    ¡°And why are you asking me that, huh?¡± Dorothy asked.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    ¡°Just curious,¡± Callisto replied. ¡°But you don¡¯t need to think deeply about that question.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­ So, how¡¯s the third day of the vacation?¡± She changed the topic.


    ¡°It¡¯s the nicest day, and I hope to stay longer here.¡±


    ¡°You can stay here as long as you want. But don¡¯t forget your studies.¡±


    ¡°Study?¡± Callisto screamed in his mind. Studying is abination of study and dying. He thought that although he would study every day, still, there would be many things that he needed to study and die. He knows death is unpredictable and studying will be a waste of time before dying.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, mother; I won¡¯t forget that we were just here for the summer. And the time that we need to go back home won¡¯t refuse toe. I¡¯ll miss my school, ssmates, and teachers if we won¡¯t be back either.¡±


    ¡°Okay, so You are a good son. But sleep early, so that we can make tomorrow better than the other days, as we¡¯re just temporary in this wonderful ce.¡±


    Dorothy grabbed Callisto¡¯s phone. She doesn¡¯t want him to spend a long time on it. He¡¯s curious why they don¡¯t have simr faces, she thought, closing his phone and putting it inside the wardrobe. She was closing the door when Callisto hid himself behind his thick nket. Dorothy smiled and went into their room.


    But Callisto couldn¡¯t sleep. There are many things messing with his mind, such as his sister and the crazy girl. So he nned to sneak out, even though he knew that his mother would be mad. But it¡¯s just a short time, so he went against himself and opened the window, jumped out, and took the quiet road.


    As he walked on, Callisto met four boys. They appeared to be addicts in their vices, such as cigarettes and alcohol. Callisto attempted to shun them, but one boy grabbed his shoulder and tried to break it up.


    ¡°Where are you going, huh?¡± Samson (a street boy) asked.


    Callisto didn¡¯t reply to his question, but to his fight, he replied. He got his arm on his shoulder and broke it up. That made Samson cry in pain. But birds with the same wing flock together. Once they see theirrade hurt, they will not refuse to help him. And the three helped beat Callisto.


    One, two, three, four! ck eyes! appeared on his face. Three of them were around his brow, and one strayed onto his cheek. The four left him bby and helpless, and hepletely keeled on the ground by the bench.


    After an hour or two, Callisto woke up and found himself barely lying on someone¡¯s bed. He remembered what happened, but didn¡¯t know who brought him to this house. He looked around, but saw no one, so he wore his clothes and opened the door when someone emerged at his front.


    ¡°Linley?¡± Callisto eximed.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. Do you remember what happened?¡± Linley asked.


    ¡°I remembered. But how did you bring me here? I mean¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so worried. I hope that you¡¯re just fine.¡± Linley walked towards their living room, and so did Callisto, following the sack of her orange shirt.


    ¡°I was going home when I saw you lying on that bench where we first met. Remember? I thought that it was destiny, but as I walked towards you, you were not moving. I thought you were dead, but you¡¯re lucky,¡± Linley exined.


    ¡°O, thank you!¡± Callisto embraced Linley, who was surprised.


    ¡°Wee.¡± She removed his arms from around her as she really didn¡¯t like him, but her mind was racing and screaming how much she liked him to be near. ¡°Perhaps your parents are now searching for you. Let¡¯s just meet tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Bye.¡± Callisto whispered and grabbed an opportunity to kiss her face. Then, he went out of their house and continued walking back home.


    Linley was frozen. She couldn¡¯t believe that Callisto would kiss her cheek like that. She was staring at Callisto when he walked out of their house, preventing herself from standing. She wanted to shout, to scream, to jump, and so she did when Callisto disappeared from her sight. She didn¡¯t know that the boy was just hiding himself behind themppost and looking right at her.


    Callisto was grateful, and he¡¯s aware of that. He didn¡¯t know what could have happened to him if Linley hadn¡¯t brought him there. But lying on the bench? He¡¯s curious about who put him there. It crossed his mind that perhaps it was someone who saw him before Linley, and that was insignificant anymore.


    He made some noise when climbing the window of his bedroom. Finally, he¡¯s not aware that heid down on his bed and took a nap. It was already midday when he woke up. His parents didn¡¯t know what happened, but they were curious about why he didn¡¯t wake up earlier, even though Dorothy saw him sleeping.


    ¡°Good morning mom,¡± Callisto greeted while going towards the table inside their dining room. He cheerfully cuddled his mother and sat down on the chair beside them. But he¡¯s curious about why their eyes stayed on his face.


    ¡°What happened to your face, huh?¡± Dorothy asked in a mad manner.


    ¡°Yup, how did you get those ck eyes?¡± Sebastian queried.


    Callisto tried to cover his forehead and cheeks and didn¡¯t say anything about it. He just let them look at him, as if they were hungry lions who would suddenly grab him. He continued eating his food, not minding what they were thinking. If they are worried or want to scold him. He eventually went inside the restroom. He saw his face, with a high nose and bronze eyes, in the huge mirror.


    I could almost forget what those boys did to me. I could kill them, he thought.


    ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Someone asked.


    Callisto saw his younger sister in the mirror behind him. The little girl looked so worried, but she could do nothing about it. Callisto just remained quiet while putting something, such as a cream, on the contusions around his eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a little bruise, baby girl. You should go back and finish your food.¡±


    ¡°I have eaten my breakfast already,¡± Ruth replied. ¡°Can I touch them?¡±


    Callisto turned back and lowered himself in front of his sister. ¡°Which one?¡± he asked, referring to the bruises on his face.


    ¡°All. I¡¯ll just blow an ear and they will all disappear.¡±


    ¡°No-no-no. I don¡¯t believe you.¡±


    ¡°You should believe me if you want them to disappear.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, you win. I believe you now.¡± Callisto felt the warm air as his sister blew them on his forehead and cheeks, and even on his lips. He knew it wasn¡¯t just the air, he knew it was her terrible saliva.


    ¡°Please take a look in the mirror,¡± Ruth demanded.


    Callisto stood up straightly, but he could almost copse from what he saw. It wasn¡¯t because of Ruth¡¯s saliva that diffused on his face, but of the disappearance of his ck eyes. He slightly scratched his eyes to see if it was just a mirage, but it was not.


    ¡°How did you do that?¡± Callisto (who couldn¡¯t believe it) asked.


    Ruth replied, ¡°it¡¯s just a little conjuring, brother,¡± and left.


    Meanwhile, Callisto scrutinized his forehead. It was just heretely, he thought, but how could it suddenly be gone when his sister blew air on it? He shook his head, but the incredulity stayed in his mind, so he just washed his face, hoping that it would flow out with Ruth¡¯s saliva, although it wouldn¡¯t.


    When Callisto went to the living room, where his mother was sitting on the couch, embroidering her torn clothes. She could almost sew her hands because of what he saw on Callisto¡¯s face. The ck eyes are indeed gone.


    Callisto was thinking deeply about how to say this thing to his mother. He knew that she wouldn¡¯t believe it. Consequently, he¡¯s aware that he put himself between the devil and the deep blue sea. He can¡¯t lie to his mother, but he also can¡¯t tell her such an unbelievable thing. What he can only do is to remain silent.


    ¡°Am I just dreaming? Why is there no ck eye on your face?¡± Dorothy asked with amazement. She left what she was doing on the couch and went towards Callisto. She held his face and scrutinized it, but saw nothing but his perfect-curved eyebrows.


    Callistoined, ¡°Come on, mom, it¡¯s just me¡ª¡±


    ¡°Huh? Where¡¯s your ck eye? Tell me! Where did you put it?¡±


    ¡°Come on, do you see something on my face?¡±


    Callisto avoided his mother and continued walking out of their house, where he saw his father fixing their car. He knew that it¡¯d be more difficult to avoid his father¡¯s questions than his mother¡¯s as they¡¯re close. And Sebastian could almost hit his head on the car when he saw his son going towards him.


    He stood up and said, ¡°Something was wrong!¡± But he didn¡¯t know what it was. Perhaps he had forgotten it already as he had amnesia, and that thing favored Callisto at this moment because there¡¯s something he¡¯s not telling.


    ¡°How¡¯s your car?¡± Callisto tried to speak normally. ¡°Will you let me finish fixing that? You know, I was the one who used that when¡ª¡± Callisto stopped talking when he noticed his father, who was just looking at his face, bewildered.


    ¡°Okay,¡± that was the only word that came out of his lips before he left.


    ¡°What happened to that man?¡± Callisto screamed in his mind and got below their car. He began by fixing its throttle. The drips of fuel strained his branded clothes, he thought. But he needs to fix this thing or they can¡¯t go back to their home after this temporary vacation.

 The hidden pulchritude

    It was not so difficult to avoid Callisto¡¯s parents¡¯ questions about his ck eyes. He didn¡¯t even tell them how he got those bruises, much less how they disappeared. It was already nightfall, but still, he couldn¡¯t believe what had happened. He has a hunchback about his sister: that she¡¯s not really an ordinary girl, and that she¡¯s not even his sister at all.


    ¡°Can you tell me how you did it?¡± Callisto asked his sister several times in a begging manner.


    Currently, they are sitting on the upholstered couch inside the living room and watching television while their parents are outside their house doing nonsense or reminiscing about their memories. Unfortunately, it was just Dorothy who could remember them.


    ¡°It was the beautiful woman,¡± Ruth replied without looking at her brother, but at the screen of the television, where they were watching Spongebob.


    ¡°A beautiful woman?¡± Callisto became curious. ¡°What about her?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s Estre, and it was herself who gave me this power.¡±


    Callisto screamed in his mind, ¡°Estre?¡± He hadn¡¯t heard that name before and it sounded rare, because he didn¡¯t know anyone whose name was Estre, and he became more confused.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°She told me to be good and help those people who are in pain.¡±


    Callisto turned his sister around and looked at her eyes, as he didn¡¯t want her to lie in his question, ¡°When did she demonstrate to you?¡±


    ¡°It was the first day of our vacation here.¡±


    ¡°Four days earlier?¡± Callisto thought as if he were investigating. ¡°And why didn¡¯t you tell mom, dad, and me?¡± He asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry brother, I didn¡¯t mean to hide this, but Estre will be mad at me if I tell mom and dad and even you. I¡¯m so afraid.¡± Ruth¡¯s face showed an expression of worry, but the exact word was fear.


    Callisto emitted a long, deep, audible breath, but instead of expressing relief, he expressed worries for his sister, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, baby girl. She won¡¯t hurt you, or at least I won¡¯t let her.¡± Callisto embraced his sister when their parents suddenly entered the room.


    ¡°And what¡¯s happening here, huh?¡± Dorothy asked.


    ¡°Nothing, mom. We¡¯re just watching TV,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°How many times do I need to tell you not to y with your younger sister? You should be a mature son and y with those people outside who are the same age as you.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Dorothy, just let our son do what he wants. Look, it¡¯s already dusk to y outside, and there¡¯s nothing that will be gone from him if he ys with Ruth. And you, better y with me,¡± Sebastian said, then held Dorothy¡¯s waist and brought her inside their bedroom.


    Callisto suddenly stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll just go to my friend¡¯s house,¡± he said.


    ¡°But didn¡¯t you swear not to leave us?¡± Ruth held the tip of Callisto¡¯s shirt and slightly shook it as if she didn¡¯t really want him to leave.


    ¡°Sorry Ruth, but it¡¯s something important.¡±


    Callisto insisted on going, although he just want to stroll around, and as a little girl, Ruth could do nothing to stop him going. So, she just turned off the television and went towards his parents¡¯ bedroom. As was her habit, she eavesdropped on their conversation. She saw them through the crack in the door; they were sitting on their bed.


    It was at the farm, Dorothy remembered, where they saw the little girl falling from the tree. That was almost impossible, but because she looked so cute, like an angel, they didn¡¯t hesitate to raise her.


    ¡°What we did was just the right thing,¡± Sebastian said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what could have happened to her if we hadn¡¯t raised her with our son.¡±


    ¡°Yup, and I must not talk about that; it¡¯ll just give you a headache.¡±


    Dorothy made her husband lie down on their bed and she began massaging his head, chest, abdomen and so on. Ruth didn¡¯t mind; instead, she went into her bedroom. As she opened the door, Ruth felt someone¡¯s presence by the wide-opened window.


    The cold air was saying, ¡°Don¡¯t mind everyone, always remember and follow what I told you if you want to stay longer in that body. Now, go and stop them from doing what they are doing.¡±


    So, as the wind demanded, Ruth got out of her bedroom and continued walking towards her parents¡¯ room. She opened the door and the thing that must not be described was exposed on her front. Don¡¯t they love her anymore? She thought. Why are they making another baby?


    Dorothy and Sebastian¡¯s faces showed an expression of surprise when they heard the door cry and Ruth glimpsed through it. They were stuck for a while and eventually stopped what they were doing, sprang out of their bed, and got themselves dressed.


    ¡°Yes, baby girl?¡± Sebastian asked. ¡°Where¡¯s your brother?¡±


    ¡°He told me that he¡¯d be going to his friend¡¯s house,¡± Ruth replied.


    Dorothy got out of their bedroom and continued walking towards the kitchen, and so did Sebastian and Ruth, who followed her. They helped prepare the food, thinking that Callisto would be back before dinner.


    On the other hand, Callisto visits the bench where he met the crazy girl, the bench where he met Linley, and the bench where he got bruised. He sat there for a while, waiting for something toe, but nobody came. Not long, he stood up, and after a few moments of walking on the quiet road, he arrived at Stalin¡¯s house.


    Everywhere he would look, the silhouettes of houses and the silence of a cold night were waiting. He looked right at Stalin¡¯s weary house. It looks like there¡¯s something within it, and that¡¯s pushing him to go near. He knocked several times on the wooden door, just to see if there was someone inside, but some minutes psed and nobody answered.


    As Callisto looked up, he saw the window open and saw a beautiful girl gazing right at him. Her eyes were sparkling in the dark, her hair was tied perfectly, and her dress, although it was worn, was well-suited.


    ¡°Who¡¯s she?¡± Callisto screamed in his mind.


    Within a minute or two, Callisto and the weird girl were just looking at each other, without saying anything and without even making any noise, as if they could understand each other¡¯s silence. But what Callisto heard was the whispers of boredom and his legs ached from standing.


    ¡°Bye!¡± Callisto eximed, but the girl didn¡¯t answer.


    Her eyes stayed on his face, scrutinizing and familiarizing each line on it. When Callisto turned to leave, she also turned and left the window. Callisto was so curious, he couldn¡¯t understand what he felt about it. But it seemed like it was just a waste of time.


    At the same time, the weird girlid down on her bed when she heard the door to her bedroom cry out of decrepitude. It was Stalin¡¯s mother, and as it should be, the girl was Stalin herself.


    She became ustomed to her condition, believing that she was an ugly girl during the daytime, but her real identity showed up during the nighttime, the time when she couldn¡¯t go anywhere because of the curse. But there¡¯s one thing she¡¯s not aware of: she doesn¡¯t know that she¡¯s insane during the daytime.


    ¡°Thank you, mother,¡± Stalin said while her mother was putting food on the table beside her bed. ¡°I know that you¡¯re tired, but thank you for not giving up on me.¡± Tears unexpectedly ran down her face.


    ¡°Good to know that you noticed your mother¡¯s sacrifices. But although I¡¯m tired of this, going in and out, cooking foods for you, doing household chores alone, I need to fulfill my responsibilities as your mother.¡±


    ¡°Thanks mother.¡± Stalin attempted to embrace her mother, but she shunned it and said, ¡°You should eat your food first. It¡¯s not time to be weak and either act like everything is just fine or¡ª¡± Her voice gradually disappeared.


    Stalin wiped the tears diffused on her face by her rugged dress and devoured the fried chicken that was innocently perched on the te. She ate as if she were so hungry, and after that, she took a nap.


    It¡¯s already morning when Stalin wakes up, but her transformation is earlier than when she woke up. Most of the things didn¡¯t stay in her mind, but some things did, such as how the boy stares at her, his eyes telling her something she didn¡¯t know, as she didn¡¯t know that they were staring like that. She doesn¡¯t know that she¡¯s currently crazy.

 An obscure dream

    A handsome man was rambling in the forest at the foot of Mount Octover. He was looking anywhere to find a way back home when he saw an old woman standing by the leafless tree ahead. She was wearing worn clothes and it was not obvious that she had a bad intention towards him, because she looked kind and weak when she walked; she couldn¡¯t even walk without her cane.


    ¡°What are you doing in this forest, mister?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Good day, grandma,¡± Sebastian greeted her. ¡°I feel lost. I don¡¯t know how to go back to the town. Can you direct me the way?¡±


    ¡°Follow me,¡± she ordered, and turned to leave.


    The woman took a path and so did Sebastian, following the tears in her worn clothes. Along the way, Sebastian saw a swarm of birds of different colors perching on the leafless nts. After a few moments, they arrived at a small shack. The old woman offered Sebastian a seat and some food to eat, as she knew that he was hungry and tired.


    ¡°Thank you grandma, but I need to go home now,¡± Sebastian said.


    ¡°No!¡± She barked as if she were mad. ¡°It is still early for you to go, and I know that you¡¯re tired, so you can take a nap here.¡±


    Although the woman was right, Sebastian insisted on going, but it seemed that the old woman had be mad. Her identity has changed! She became beautiful, and it was a shock, Sebastian thought. But it was already toote. She used her power and turned him into a frog.


    ¡°Sebastian, wake up. You¡¯re dreaming!¡± Dorothy eximed while shaking her husband, who was so afraid in his dream and even when he woke up, as he suddenly embraced his worried wife.


    ¡°She turned me onto a frog!¡± Sebastian panted screamingly while his sweat rained down from his forehead.


    ¡°Take a breath first,¡± Dorothy suggested. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my love. It was just a bad dream. You are not a frog. And even if you are, my love for you won¡¯t decrease and you¡¯ll be my frog prince.¡± She tried to convince him, and she didn¡¯t fail.


    It was the curse, Dorothy remembered. She knows that those times when they were facing the great hindrances of their rtionship still mess with her husband¡¯s mind, and it won¡¯t give him peace, especially since he has amnesia.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°You should go back to sleep, my love.¡± Dorothy gripped her waist clock on thep beside her and nced at it. ¡°It¡¯s still early to wake up.¡±


    Sebastian took a deep breath andid down again. Afterward, he wasn¡¯t aware of bringing himself back to the ce where he met the old woman. He doesn¡¯t know that he¡¯s dreaming. But this time, he thought, he¡¯d be kind and follow what she told him to do because he was afraid that she¡¯d turn him into a frog again.


    He repeated what he had said, but in the most respectful way. Expectedly, the woman led him to her shack at the center of the forest. There, the same thing happened, but Sebastian didn¡¯t just eat the food and drink the water she offered, but he also took a nap.


    ¡°He¡¯s a courteous man,¡± the woman murmured.


    She went out of the shack, and suddenly transformed into a beautiful woman as if something had happened. She¡¯s so beautiful, Sebastian thought while staring at her through the small hole in the door.


    Lovely form with high, rounded, firm young breasts, a small waist, trim, curving hips, and shapely, shimmering legs. It made him unbuckle his pants and imagine the thing that was in his hand was inside of hers.


    But when he noticed that she was going towards him, Sebastian immediately put the fat creature back in its cage and pretended to be asleep. He thought the woman smelled something different, but then, she sat down beside him, looking at the hard lines on his face.


    The woman thought that it had been a long time since they hadn¡¯t seen each other. She knew that Sebastian knew that she loved him more than herself, which is the reason she chose to sacrifice herself. It was during their wedding when her blood streamed on the floor, symbolizing her undying love for this mediocre man.


    It crossed her mind that she must forget those bad memories, because now that Sebastian is with her, she won¡¯t let him escape the anger of her undying love. It must be revenge why she came back, and what happened, she won¡¯t let it happen again.


    A sharp dagger that glimmers when hit by sunlight appeared in her hand. She was going to pierce his chest without hesitation. But it just went through the air. She remembered that they were just in his dream and that they couldn¡¯t hurt each other. It made her disappeared of rage, and at the same time, Sebastian woke up.


    Then, everything was still not clear to Sebastian: He doesn¡¯t know why he¡¯s dreaming about that woman. He didn¡¯t know why she looked so familiar to him; most of all, he didn¡¯t remember anything.


    ¡°Are you just okay?¡± Dorothy asked. ¡°Tell me, have you had a dream again?¡± The grimace of worry appeared on her face.


    ¡°No, there¡¯s something messing with my mind,¡± Sebastian whispered. He stood up and went towards the window of their bedroom, while his wife followed him. He thought: that woman won¡¯t let him sleep.


    ¡°I know whom you¡¯re thinking about, and perhaps it¡¯s time for you to know what really happened. I¡¯m sure it can give you peace of mind.¡± Dorothy spread her arms around her husband¡¯s waist, but she identally touched the bulging part on his front.


    Sebastian opened the window and took a deep breath, but his ears were listening to what his wife was going to tell him. He knew she never lied, and that¡¯s one of the reasons he loved her: he couldn¡¯t just remember.


    ¡°Seventeen years ago or earlier,¡± Dorothy started. ¡°When I was still bearing our son Callisto, before we left this town. I know you don¡¯t remember it because you even chose this ce for vacation, but. ¡± She sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t really know how to tell you this.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what you can, my love.¡± Sebastian turned around to face his wife and stealthily kissed her cheeks. ¡°Don¡¯t bother yourself if you can¡¯t really tell me, because I¡¯m not coercing you.¡± He carried his wife¡¯s two legs near his waist and brought her back to bed.


    ¡°There are many things that I don¡¯t know how to exin, but for sure you can understand them if I tell you,¡± Dorothy started again, but at the same time, her husband also began using his exasperated tool, perhaps to make her narration more enjoyable.


    But the next words, or not even words that came out of Dorothy¡¯s lips, but a moan while her husband¡¯s tool is entering her hole, are certainly unpredictable. She knew that this time, her husband was deafened by pleasure against the things that she wanted to say.


    ¡°How could I tell my husband the truth?¡± Dorothy asked herself. ¡°He doesn¡¯t even want to know them either, so why would I bother myself? Perhaps everything will be better if I also pretend to have amnesia and forget everything in the past.¡±


    Dorothy and Sebastian were surprised when the window angrily mmed, but it couldn¡¯t stop them from doing what they were doing. It just became warmer as the cold air couldn¡¯t enter their bedroom.


    On the other hand, Callisto had woken up because of the noise they made. He probably knew what they were doing, and he became envious that he was all alone. He thought he wanted to have a girlfriend to put an end to this monotonous life.


    Callisto knew only one person who could help him understand why he was thinking. Consequently, he wore his sanguine cloak and again jumped out of the window of his bedroom. The moon is different tonight, he thought, and the whole night could be different too.

 Don鈥檛 know why he did that

    It¡¯s quite weird why Callisto brought himself to Linley¡¯s house in the middle of the night. He knew he must not do that, but adventurous boys followed the preference of their flesh, regardless of what consequences were waiting for them.


    Afterward, he knocked on the door several times before someone glimpsed through it. Linley, who was surprised why Callisto was now standing at the front of her house opened the door.


    ¡°Can I enter?¡± Callisto asked in a direct manner.


    ¡°Um,¡± Linley hesitated, but she concluded, ¡°Yup, but just be quiet.¡±


    She locked the door, turned and walked to their living room, and so did Callisto, who followed her. His eyes stayed on her round, fleshy buttocks, as if asking, ¡°Do you want to touch me?¡± Yes, of course, but he prevented himself from doing that.


    ¡°So, what brought you here in the middle of the night?¡± Linley¡¯s face expresses curiosity while sitting down on the couch.


    Callisto sat down beside her and replied, ¡°I just can¡¯t fall asleep, and I don¡¯t have anyone to talk with.¡±


    ¡°Well, you brought yourself to the right ce, because I can¡¯t sleep either, because of the snoring man inside my bedroom.¡±


    Callisto screamed in his mind, A snoring man inside her bedroom? Then, What was that man doing in her bedroom? There was no one else in his mind, but the boy was too bombastic for him. The boy who wanted to hurt Linley just wanted to do what he wanted her to do, and Callisto misunderstood it.


    ¡°Do you mean Lazaro?¡± he asked. ¡°Does he sleep here every night?¡±


    ¡°Who else? Lazaro always sleeps here with me, but not every night. You know, he has his own house. How about you? Tell me why you can¡¯t fall asleep, and why ites to your mind toe here. ¡±


    ¡°Alone.¡± Callisto sighed. ¡°I can no longer sleep alone in my bedroom. No offense, but I want someone to sleep with me.¡±


    Linley got what Callisto wanted to say, so she led him into an empty bedroom in their house. She prepared the abandoned bed, and eventually became aware that they were both already lying on it.


    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Linley asked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you can¡¯t still fall asleep. Or maybe you¡¯re just thinking about unpleasant things. Come on, those things won¡¯t make you sleep.¡±


    She smiled and twisted her shapely legs. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will not do anything to you, unless you want me to.¡±


    Callisto suddenly sprang from the bed and took several steps.


    ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± Linley asked while looking at Callisto, who was removing his sanguine cloak and shirt. Her eyes turned big. It appeared to her how masculine he is. She never expected that Callisto would have that kind of body, but she doesn¡¯t really want to think deeply about it, although her heart beats fast and loudly.


    ¡°I just felt warm. I thought that summer here isn¡¯t so warm, but I know I was wrong.¡± Callisto got back on the bed beside Linley, whose eyes were stuck on his abdomen with amazement.


    ¡°Wanna touch it?¡± Callisto asked, then smirked.


    ¡°What are you?¡± she asked, but Callisto put an index on her lips.


    ¡°Be quiet if you don¡¯t want to be heard by Lazaro.¡±


    Callisto got closer to her, as if he wanted their bodies to conjoin. Linley can do nothing against what this lewd boy is doing. She struggled, trying to avoid his kiss, moving beneath him and out of the bed, but he would not let her go. Holding her with arms of steel, he easily took her lips, kissing her until she began, against her will, to respond. She answered his kiss, pressed herself against him, and moaned.


    By the time when Callisto was going to use his angry tool, he was surprised why Linley halted. She realized what he meant to do, and so she insisted on getting out of his warm body and jumped out of the bed. Callisto was curiously looking at her back, as she couldn¡¯t look directly into his eyes, but sat down on the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Why, Linley? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°I thought that you were a gentleman, but I was wrong. You better go out of here and don¡¯t show your face again!¡± Linley angrily threw the pillow at him. She exited and entered her room, where she sat on her bed beside Lazaro, who appeared to be dreaming.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Lazaro cuddled her from the back.


    ¡°I just drank a ss of water and got ventted because it¡¯s so warm here. And can you please stop snoring because I can¡¯t sleep?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sorry, I didn¡¯t know that I was snoring, but I can¡¯t stop myself from snoring unless you help me stop it.¡± He secretly smirked behind her.


    These boys are making her tired, Linley thought. Now she realized how it would be so difficult to have many boyfriends or to be a prostitute, and that¡¯s exactly not in her mind. She didn¡¯t mind Lazaro, just letting him do what he wanted to do, but with limitations.


    On the other hand, those words that came out of Linley¡¯s lips were a bolt from the blue for Callisto. He didn¡¯t know why she didn¡¯t want to do with him what his parents were always doing. He eventually had a clear mind and realized how embarrassing it was.


    Instead of doing what he should do, instead of apologizing, he didn¡¯t even show his face to her because of embarrassment. He went back home, performing the thing that turned out to be his routine: climbing the window of his bedroom and lying down on his bed.


    He don¡¯t know how could he do that, if he could sleep alone without someone to rub his tool? Perhaps because of being young and of the ridgil of his feelings, he brought himself and attempted to involve Linley in a night of forgetting themselves, but he didn¡¯t seed. He knew there would be a gap growing between them because of what he did. It seemed that he had disappointed her, and he was incriminated.


    When tomorrow came, Callisto noticed something that he didn¡¯t want to notice at all. Every time he approached, Linley would also stand up and walk away, as if she didn¡¯t really know him.


    ¡°How much pain did I give her to avoid me like this?¡± Callisto asked himself with regret.


    Callisto knew there was nothing else he could do if Linley wanted to avoid him, but he also knew that apologizing was the only way he could repair their broken rtionship, or even their friendship.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Consequently, his feet brought him into Linley¡¯s house. He wondered if she was there, but the house seemed empty. He turned and was going to leave when someone held his shoulder. When he looked back, he saw the person he hadn¡¯t expected to see.


    ¡°Stalin?¡± Callisto asked. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Callisto.¡± Stalin pronounced his name well, and her lips could almost reach her ears as she smirked. ¡°What do you think I am doing here?¡± She grabbed his shoulder with her dirty hands and attempted to kiss his lips, but he shunned it.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, huh?¡± Callisto asked, then ran off.


    ¡°Come back, don¡¯t avoid me! I want to kiss you!¡± Stalin eximed.


    Callisto was curious about what was happening to Stalin, but it crossed his mind that perhaps there was nothing wrong if he¡¯d just believe what people were saying about her. He ran and ran, but Stalin pursued him until he reached the bench where they first met. He hid himself behind the post some feet away from it.


    ¡°Callisto!¡± Stalin called. ¡°Where are you now?¡± Every word she said, she pronounced it one by one. She looked from side to side, front to back, and noticed a shadow on the ground by the post.


    ¡°There you are.¡± She went near to the post and saw Callisto, who was innocently leaning on it. His sweat is raining down his forehead onto his face and neck. ¡°Why are you avoiding me, huh?¡± She asked.


    ¡°You crazy girl, stop bothering me and stop pretending you¡¯re crazy if you¡¯re not,¡± Callisto said, but Stalin remained silent.


    His words stunned her for a while, then after that, her hand reached the post behind Callisto and looked directly into his eyes. This time, he couldn¡¯t escape from her, he thought. But instead of kissing his lips, Stalin fell over him.

 Why did she take a rest

    Stalin was out of consciousness, and Callisto didn¡¯t know why. Perhaps she was exhausted from what she had done. So he just carried her back to their house. After a few moments, Callisto reached their house and finally met Stalin¡¯s mother, who was also searching for her.


    ¡°Thank you so much, boy. I have been searching for this girl everywhere. By the way, where did you find her?¡± the woman asked while helping Callisto carry her daughter inside their house.


    ¡°Good day, ma¡¯am,¡± Callisto greeted. ¡°I saw your daughter strolling down the road again. I was afraid that those cars may have run over her, so I decided to take her home. By the way, I am Callisto.¡±


    ¡°Again? Do you mean that it¡¯s not the first time you saw her strolling on the road where too many cars are taking over?¡± They entered the house andid Stalin down on the wooden bed.


    ¡°Yes, I have seen your daughter since the first day of our vacation here.¡±


    ¡°So, you are just here for vacation?¡± The woman got the chair and offered it to Callisto, who also sat down on it with a sigh.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for my daughter. You know, she has autism. Perhaps it¡¯s caused by¡ª¡± She stopped because of her whim. ¡°I shall not tell you that you looked so exhausted from carrying my daughter. Do you want to drink some water before going home?¡±


    Even though Callisto didn¡¯t reply that he wanted to drink water, the woman immediately disappeared from the kitchen, while Callisto was just looking at Stalin¡¯s pitiable face. A while psed, and the woman went back with a cup of clear water. She gave it to Callisto, who also didn¡¯t refuse to ept and drink it, then she sat down on the wooden chair.


    ¡°You and my daughter look so close. I want to ask you directly: is there something between you and her? You know, what I mean is, if you have a rtionship?¡± The woman asked in a serious manner.


    Callisto was lulled; he didn¡¯t know what to say. He felt something for her for the very first time, he thought. But it¡¯s justplicated, because Stalin isn¡¯t telling him anything about it. She wanted to kiss him, but he knew that was not enough reason that she liked him too, because it was just because of autism.


    ¡°Okay, I know what you¡¯re thinking. You don¡¯t need to answer my question if it¡¯s difficult. I understand that. I¡¯m just curious.¡±


    ¡°No, I have feelings for your daughter, ma¡¯am,¡± Callisto admitted. ¡°I know that even though she has autism, that can¡¯t stop me from loving her. I know that it wasn¡¯t just sympathy because of her condition, but isn¡¯t it that sympathy leads to love?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not in your position, Callisto, right?¡± She asked, and Callisto nodded. ¡°So, I don¡¯t know what you really felt for my daughter. What I only want is her safety and happiness. You know, I¡¯m getting old, and soon I will die, and I don¡¯t want my daughter to be a beggar who¡¯s strolling around the town during the daytime.¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, you don¡¯t have to say that. You can live as long as you want,¡± Callisto tried to convince her, but it seemed difficult.


    ¡°Callisto, tell me that you won¡¯t leave my daughter alone once I die.¡± Tears ran down her face for an unknown reason. ¡°Please don¡¯t abandon her when I¡¯m gone.¡± She said it like she was leaving.


    A few hourster, Callisto and Stalin¡¯s mother hadn¡¯t realized that they were having a conversation since Stalin was out of her consciousness and now she had already woken up.


    Stalin¡¯s eyes turned wide at the first thing she saw when she woke up: her mother was lying on the chair beside her, but she wasn¡¯t just simply lying, because she looked pale and was not breathing anymore. Stalin didn¡¯t know why her tears dripped, but Callisto did.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ma¡¯am, I¡¯ll take care of your daughter whatever happens,¡± Callisto said quietly, looking at the woman in front of him, who was beaming with hope and happiness.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    That woman was confident that Callisto would take care of her daughter. Especially since she saw in his sparkling eyes that he cared for her. And she hadn¡¯t encountered someone who took care of her daughter except herself before, until Callisto came.


    Callisto called an undertaker and let them prepare a simple funeral for the poor woman. Some hours psed, but Callisto didn¡¯t go home; he wanted to stay beside Stalin. At the same time, the coffin of Stalin¡¯s mother was sent to her house early.


    They couldn¡¯t even give her a formal funeral. How much less for her burial? It seems that their government isn¡¯t really responding to the needs of its people, because they just put the poor woman inside a polished, wooden coffin. Perhaps they thought that whatever coffin they ced her in, she couldn¡¯tin about it anymore.


    Callisto already told his parents what happened through talking with them on the telephone. He can¡¯t go back home today. Perhaps his parents became worried because they didn¡¯t really care what happened to Stalin¡¯s mother, because they were indeed worried for them.


    If Callisto is just like those other people out there who are so carefree about their brethren, he already went home and left the crazy girl behind, following her mother. But because of sympathy, and we can call it love, he¡¯s the one who manages everything withoutining. He acted like a column, but of someone else¡¯s home.


    As dusk came, an average of five people (Stalin¡¯s neighbors) went to their house to convey their condolences. They just nced at the woman¡¯s face and left without saying anything. Does that act show that they¡¯re conveying their condolences?


    They don¡¯t even want to waste their seconds on a dead person, much less for those who are alive. Those people would just annoy Callisto, so he just changed his attention to Stalin, who still didn¡¯t know what was happening around her. As is customary, Callisto is witnessing the curse¡¯s pration for the first time.


    He didn¡¯t know what was happening. So he tried to hold Stalin¡¯s hands when something was pulling her towards her bedroom, but nobody could stop that strong force, not even the strongest person in the world. So he eventually let go of her. The door of her bedroom mmed shut, and he didn¡¯t know what was happening inside.


    ¡°Stalin! Stalin! Are you just fine?¡± Callisto yelled and knocked on the door loudly, and it shows that he was so worried about her.


    ¡°Who¡¯s knocking on my door?¡± A girl¡¯s voice asked. It sounds unfamiliar to Callisto.


    ¡°Stalin? Is that you? Can you open the door for me? Please?¡± he implored.


    ¡°The door is already open. You can get inside, but first you must introduce yourself to me and my mother. Do you know where my mother is?¡±


    ¡°I am Callisto, and have you forgotten what happened?¡± Callisto slightly scratched his head. ¡°Please open the door. I want to see if you¡¯re just fine, and please make everything¡ªgoddammit¡ªI¡¯m so confused.¡±


    For a while, silence prevailed over the whole house. Callisto dropped himself down on the floor by the door of Stalin¡¯s bedroom. He wasn¡¯t the only one who was confused about what was happening, but also Stalin, who had transformed into a beautiful girl, as what always happened.


    Eventually, because of his eagerness to see if Stalin was just fine, Callisto insisted on opening the door, and he found out that it wasn¡¯t locked after all. As he entered, a great surprise met him.


    ¡°Stalin? Is that you?¡± Callisto asked with amazement.


    ¡°Oh! You¡¯re the boy I saw yesterday who was gazing at me through the window of my bedroom. By the way, what are you doing in my house and how did you know my name?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you really remember anything?¡±


    ¡°No?¡± Stalin sounded interrogative. ¡°Can you please exin everything first?¡±


    ¡°I am Callisto, the boy who¡¯s always with you during the daytime, and now I know that you have a different character during the nighttime. Can you please exin that thing to me too?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re with me every time I transform into an ugly girl?¡± Stalin queried. ¡°I want to exin it to you, but first you must tell me where my mother is and how you could enter my house.¡±


    ¡°Your mother, your mother has died.¡±


    ¡°My mother? My mother had passed away? How can you say that? I don¡¯t even know you. You must be lying. Please withdraw what you¡¯ve said. My mother is not dead yet!¡± She screamed.


    Seeing her cry, Callisto wanted to withdraw what he said, but what he could only say was, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Stalin couldn¡¯t believe him, but when Callisto opened the door of her bedroom, she saw a coffin below and realized who was lying inside it. She remembered theirst conversation, but she didn¡¯t expect that it would be thest. She told her that she¡¯d do everything to fulfill her responsibility as her mother even though she was tired, but now Stalin couldn¡¯t believe that she took a rest.

 Chapter 11 His huffy daddy

    Stalin exins everything to Callisto. She told him that even though she hadn¡¯t seen the world yet, the goddess of Mount Octover had already cursed her, and she didn¡¯t know why, because she hadn¡¯tmitted any sins to anyone but her mother, who was a little bit grim.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you really remember anything?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°If I have, then why don¡¯t I even know you?¡± Stalin replied.


    Because of that question, Callisto also narrated to her anything that happens every time she¡¯s with him. Such as the ce where they first met. At that time, she wanted tomit suicide, and even the way she would kiss him, he didn¡¯t lie.


    There was just one thing he didn¡¯t tell Stalin, and not that he was the one who kissed her, but that she turned into a crazy girl during the daytime. It doesn¡¯t matter anymore, he thought. He knows that Stalin would just be more sad if she knew that the girl she bes every time the roaster crows has autism.


    ¡°That ain¡¯t funny.¡± Although Stalin could smile because of Callisto¡¯s story, the expression on her face still gradually changed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do now that my mother has passed away. Perhaps I¡¯ll also follow her.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Stalin. Your mother won¡¯t be happy if you follow her.¡± Callisto got closer and spread his arms around her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much; I have promised your mother that I would take care of you.¡±


    Stalin couldn¡¯t prevent herself from crying. Although there were many things messing with her mind, she could hear the allegiance in Callisto¡¯s words. She wanted to go near her mother, but there was no chance because of the indiscriminate curse.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Callisto.¡± Stalin stood up and nced through the window of her room instead of at her mother, who was inside the coffin.


    Callisto thought: she couldn¡¯t endure seeing her mother inside the coffin. So he just closed the door and went towards her. This night seemed so long and lost, as if to say, time is long when we¡¯rementing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so sad, Stalin. Everyone¡¯s time to die won¡¯t refuse toe, but we don¡¯t have the right to cut off our own lives, however worst it is,¡± Callisto tried to persuade her.


    ¡°My mother had passed away. I couldn¡¯t sleep thinking of her. I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m the one who was cursed amongst billions of people in this world.¡± She faced Callisto with eyes filled with tears.


    Callisto can¡¯t measure the sorrow felt by Stalin. He doesn¡¯t even know what the feeling of being left by any member of the family is. He didn¡¯t know how to remove that sadness that surrounds her existence, so he just made her lean down on his shoulder; he wanted to make her feel that she wasn¡¯t alone in this fight.


    Although sad, Stalin could still whisper, ¡°thank you.¡±


    The moon, like a pale melon, slowly drifted across the wide sky, and night eventually turned into day. Callisto found himself lying on Stalin¡¯s bed. He slightly scratched his eyelids and everything became apparent in his sight. But when he looked around, he saw no one; he didn¡¯t know where Stalin went.


    It crossed his mind that Stalin was so gregarious. A girl like her, she¡¯s demure and beautiful when night falls, but when daytime. She definitely can¡¯t control herself right now; she can¡¯t remember anything she did during the daytime. Callisto hurriedly got out of that bedroom and saw the wooden coffin below.


    He remembered his promise to Stalin¡¯s mother: he wouldn¡¯t abandon her whatever happened, and so he did what was in his mind. He left the poor, dead woman alone in that house and began searching for the crazy girl. But instead of Stalin, Callisto found Linley along with her friends Caroline, Adide, and Delh.


    The three girls were teasing Linley when Callisto stopped at their front and attempted to say something, but Linley wasn¡¯t that easy to catch. She ignored him. So instead of coercing her to forgive and forget what he did, Callisto just did what he needed to do. He eventually found Stalin at the ce where they always met.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°You crazy girl, what are you doing here?¡± Callisto asked, but Stalin didn¡¯t reply. She just stared at him with astonishment.


    Even her clothes have changed. How much more her way of thinking? In Callisto¡¯s eyes, she¡¯s still beautiful, and the impression he has of her has never changed. He¡¯s also eager to grant his promise to her mother, whatever it takes.


    Stalin wasn¡¯t saying anything, just staring at him, confused and bewildered. So Callisto just carried her even though she seemed to be heavier and more vigorous than him. It was because he couldn¡¯t really convince her to go with him in a gentle way.


    After a few moments of ying the strenuous game, which is unenjoyable, Stalin sighs and viscous sweats told Callisto that she was exhausted of escaping, so instead of insisting on running, she just let him take her anywhere he wanted.


    ¡°O darling, what happened to you yesterday that you have juste back now, and who¡¯s this girl with you, huh?¡± Dorothy asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry mom,¡± Callisto apologized. ¡°She¡¯s Stalin, and as I told you on the telephone yesterday, her mother had just died, and she had nowhere to go because her father had also gone.¡±


    ¡°And who told you to bring her here?¡± Dorothy asked.


    ¡°Look mom, I have promised her mother that I will take care of her when she¡¯s gone. She has autism and no one is going to take care of her. I don¡¯t want to fall short of my promises,¡± Callisto exined.


    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t contradict that, because I¡¯m not the one who¡¯s striving hard to support our family. But you must consult your father about this. And if he didn¡¯t let you take care of the responsibility that¡¯s not really yours, you could do nothing but let her go.¡±


    Dorothy turned and entered their house, and so did Callisto and Stalin, who followed her. Stalin was still astonished by what was happening. Her eyes strayed anywhere and around the house in amazement.


    Finally, her brother is back, Ruth thought. But what about the crazy girl? She appeared to be jealous of what she was thinking: that her brother wouldn¡¯t take care of her anymore.


    Especially when he asked her to get a ss of water for that crazy girl, she knew her brother had forgotten her. Ruth¡¯s rival had to disappear in order to gain her brother¡¯s attention. She nned like an old person.


    Ruth continued walking inside the dining room and got a ss of water. When she realized the opportunity, it spontaneously appeared. Ruth came back to the living room with a ss of water. She gave it to her brother, who, in turn, handed it to Stalin, who was reluctant to ept it.


    Even just to drink a cup of water, Stalin needs someone¡¯s help. But it seemed that, in a gentle way, Callisto had convinced her to drink it. Meanwhile, Ruth was just looking at them, preparing for what could happen next, but there was nothing. She just wasted her time.


    Meanwhile, in the bedroom upstairs, Sebastian was searching for something in the dusty closet. He remembered it was just hanging there, but he had forgotten that his son had borrowed them a few days before.


    He scratched his head and got out of the room, but he scratched his head again, not because he saw Callisto wearing the clothes he was searching for, but because his son brought a stranger, an ugly-inexplicable-girl into their house.


    Although Sebastian was just taking the stairs, his eyes were asking, ¡°Who¡¯s that girl with my son?¡± When he¡¯s at their front, he doesn¡¯t really need to ask because Callisto understands the way his father would act, and now he¡¯s curious about the girl beside him.


    ¡°Who¡¯s she?¡± Sebastian sounded mad. ¡°Your girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°No dad, she¡¯s Stalin, my friend,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°There are too many girls out there; why her?¡±


    ¡°Do you mean she¡¯s so ugly that we can¡¯t be friends?¡± Callisto asked. ¡°Who are you to judge someone without knowing them?¡±


    Callisto¡¯s words awoke the heat inside Sebastian¡¯s flesh. He was going to lift his son a fist with looming veinules, but fortunately, Dorothy suddenly emerged from the kitchen. As a light in their house, she easily noticed that her husband and son seemed to be fighting, so she went between them.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so mad at your son,¡± Dorothy suggested. She stared back at Callisto. ¡°And who are you to speak to your father like that, huh? It was just one night that you didn¡¯t sleep here, and now you have be so disrespectful.¡± She scoffed.


    ¡°Sorry mom,¡± Callisto apologized. But in his mind, he¡¯s grateful that his mother had good timing, because if she hadn¡¯t, he¡¯d already gotten another ck eye from his father.

 Chapter 12 She really needs a carer

    Callisto didn¡¯t expect that his father could lift him a hand. He was just lucky that his mother went between them, and that dispute ended when his mother asked his father to be calm. Sebastian got out of their house and went somewhere to get ventted.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I told you,¡± Dorothy said. ¡°It¡¯s never easy to get your father¡¯s permission to take care of a girl we don¡¯t even know.¡±


    ¡°Mom? But Stalin can¡¯t live alone. There are many mysterious things about her that you don¡¯t know,¡± Callistoined.


    ¡°It came out from your own lips: there are many things about her that we don¡¯t know. It might be better if you just avoided her. You know, I and your father were just thinking about your safety.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be worried about my safety, mom. I¡¯m not that little anymore, and I just want to help other people. What¡¯s wrong with that thing?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s not-¡± Dorothy stopped, as she realized the next words she was going to say. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with helping other people, and you must exin that to your father. I¡¯m sure he can understand you too.¡±


    ¡°But I can¡¯t do that if you won¡¯t help me. He was so mad when he went out, and he¡¯s not in the mood to talk with me right now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the problem, son. You know your dad well. Perhaps he¡¯s just thinking of anything else why you brought this girl into our house.¡±


    Callisto sighed. He felt relieved that his mother told him that his father wasn¡¯t really mad at him; he knew that he wouldn¡¯t be mad just because of petty things. What he¡¯s going to do could not really enrage him. He must be happy because he had a helpful son like Callisto.


    Dorothy stood up from the couch and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry son, I¡¯ll be the one to exin it to your father. For now, you and Stalin should go to the dining room and feed yourselves. I know you¡¯re hungry.¡±


    The living room suddenly became empty as everyone did what they should do. Callisto leads Stalin to their dining room, and he feeds her like a little child who knows nothing to do but stare at everything with astonishment. Meanwhile, Dorothy got out of their house.


    Looking at the clear view of the high mountain, Sebastian was thinking about his son when an unambiguous scene interrupted his mind. It was the time when the happiest day of their lives was going to happen. Dorothy, wearing a beautiful white gown, was walking down the aisle, and Sebastian was waiting for her right at the altar.


    Unfortunately, that incident didn¡¯t turn out to be the happiest day of their lives, because it turned into a nightmare that his wife doesn¡¯t want to remember anymore. That was the day of regret for Dorothy, not because they didn¡¯t love each other, but because the one who also truly loved her husband killed herself during that day.


    Blood is shed on the floor. Undying love: it was written by the blood that was shed on the floor. That¡¯s how deep her love for him was, that even though she died, that love didn¡¯t die with her, and she didn¡¯t really die with her love for him, and it seems that she came back to take revenge.


    ¡°What are you doing here, huh?¡± Dorothy asked.


    When she saw her husband holding his head again, she was definitely panic-stricken. The nightmares of the past still bother his mind, she thought. So she approached him with worried expressions and led him back inside their home.


    ¡°I already told you to take your medicine and stop looking at that mountain, but you still did, so look what happened,¡± Dorothy reprimanded while helping her husband sit on the couch.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my love, but something waspelling me to go out and stare at that mountain,¡± Sebastian replied. ¡°You know, it wasn¡¯t because of Callisto that I went out. I¡¯m not really mad at him.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t really have to be grim on him, because he just wants to help that poor girl. And, are you sure that you¡¯re just fine? Don¡¯t you want to consult a doctor?¡± As Dorothy suggested,


    ¡°I¡¯m not sick as you thought. But I can be sick because you¡¯re so caring for me, and why won¡¯t you just make everything clear? I know that there¡¯s something you¡¯re not telling me.¡±


    Dorothy screamed in her mind: something she¡¯s not telling him? She knew she had told him everything; it was almost just yesterday, and the problem was not with her, but with him, because he¡¯s so oblivious. Well, she couldn¡¯t me her husband. It was only because of his amnesia that he could easily forget little things.


    Moreover, it seems that Sebastian doesn¡¯t have that simple kind of amnesia, but an Alzheimer¡¯s disease, because he could even gradually lose control of himself as he was brought by his own feet outside their house and his hand wanted to punch Callisto.


    ¡°Okay, my love. I¡¯ll tell you anything, but first you must tell your son that you¡¯re not mad at him, or else he will be sulking at you.¡±


    ¡°Do I really need to say sorry?¡± Sebastian sounded reluctant.


    ¡°He¡¯s your son. He can understand everything you say.¡± Dorothy stood up. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be so shy about your own son. He will not eat you.¡±


    Sebastian isn¡¯t really in the mood to apologize. How unmanly would he be to do that? But he also knew that he couldn¡¯t really hurt his own son, and although reluctant, he followed his wife because he knew his mistake.


    They walked towards the dining room and halted right at the door. They were looking at their son and the girl, whom they didn¡¯t really know, but it seemed that they were as intimate as twin bananas. They are just worried about their son: he¡¯s too young to take care of other people.


    ¡°Look at him. Our son doesn¡¯t really have any other intention than to help that girl who couldn¡¯t help herself because of her poor condition,¡± Dorothy whispered, then embraced her husband.


    ¡°So, what do you think is the best thing to do?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°What else? You should let our son help her. We don¡¯t really feel difficulties in raising children. We can even add another one if you want,¡± Dorothy suggested. Her fingers crawled down Sebastian¡¯s chest and down to his abdomen.


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait, wait, not now.¡± Sebastian grasped her hand and got out of his wife¡¯s arm. ¡°I just want to talk to Callisto.¡± He went near to them without making any sounds, while Dorothy went somewhere.


    Callisto had just finished feeding the girl under his care when his father sat down on the chair in front of them. He didn¡¯t know why his father was seriously and curiously looking at Stalin¡¯s face.


    There¡¯s something wrong, Sebastian thought. He couldn¡¯t just remember it, but he knew for sure that Stalin was involved. But instead of searching for them in his degenerated mind, he didn¡¯t want his head to ache again.


    ¡°Where does she live?¡± Sebastian asked.


    Callisto led his father to Stalin¡¯s house, where Stalin herself was. As they walked on, he told him that Stalin¡¯s mother wasn¡¯t buried yet. They both knew that they didn¡¯t have the decision on when she¡¯d be buried. In that case, Callisto revealed the truth about the curse.


    ¡°A curse?¡± Sebastian eximed. ¡°You will be mistaken for an insane boy, son. There¡¯s no such thing urring in this world, at least not at this time. But generally, that¡¯s drastically impossible.¡±


    ¡°I know you won¡¯t believe me, dad. But if you can see her transforming into a beautiful girl, you will be amazed-and for sure, your belief will change,¡± Callisto defended.


    ¡°Now I see why you¡¯re so eager to take care of her. But then let¡¯s see if you¡¯re really telling the truth.¡± They eventually arrived at Stalin¡¯s house.


    The smell is so bad, Sebastian thought. He doesn¡¯t know why they just let Stalin¡¯s mother decay inside the wooden coffin. That¡¯s so disrespectful, but he knew that it was nobody¡¯s responsibility to take care of it but her own daughter, and her own daughter must be put in the booby hatch.


    ¡°It¡¯s still early. We shall wait until duskes, so that we can watch Staline back to her real identity,¡± Callisto suggested.


    ¡°Do you notice anything wrong?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Something wrong? Such as the bad smell? I also smelled that, dad, but we can do nothing, and you shall stopining if you won¡¯t ask an embalmer to embalm Stalin¡¯s mother.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean. I have already called an embalmer. But what I mean is that the girl you¡¯re taking care of was gone. Do you know where she went?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Callisto eximed in shock. Where did that crazy girl go? He thought, but he didn¡¯t know, and his feet immediately brought him outside their house. He turned around and began searching for Stalin.

 Chapter 13 Priest without a head

    Inside her bedroom, Ruth seemed to be an insane girl talking alone. She opened the window and stared outside, and had a conversation with something that could not be seen.


    ¡°It¡¯s your chance to kill her,¡± whispered the whirling wind.


    Ruth thought that she had definitely changed into a merciless woman since she came back; she didn¡¯t know how to love anymore. Ruth hesitated to do what the windmanded, but it pushed her to go outside her bedroom and go inside the kitchen where her mother was cooking something.


    Dorothy was cooking food for their dinner when she saw her daughter going towards her. She felt something was wrong with the way her daughter walked, as it wasn¡¯t the way she did before, but because she¡¯s just a little girl who wants to act like an old woman through imitating others, Dorothy prevented herself from making a bad hunch.


    ¡°Hi darling,¡± she greeted. ¡°Do you want anything?¡±


    ¡°I want your life,¡± Ruth replied in a familiar voice. ¡°Your life for her life.¡±


    ¡°Ruth?¡± Dorothy interrogated. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend that you don¡¯t know, mom.¡±


    Ruth approached her mother and, without thinking, pushed her. Dorothy ricocheted against the wall. She didn¡¯t know why her daughter was so strong, but one thing crossed her mind: it wasn¡¯t her real daughter, but the woman who came back to take revenge.


    ¡°Stop! You got to stop this!¡± Dorothy implored. ¡°Please¡­ I don¡¯t made any mistake to you, it was you who killed yourself during my wedding.¡±


    Ruth, was screaming the same thing in her head, but no one could hear her. Her feet and hands conspired to follow their master. And currently, she was handing a sharp dagger and slowly walking towards her mother.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you really know why I killed myself?¡± Ruth yed the dagger on her mother¡¯s cheeks then to her temple.


    ¡°Please.¡± Tears rolled down Dorothy¡¯s face because of fear.


    But Ruth continued; priest without a head: blood sheds on the floor!


    ***


    Where did that crazy girl go? Callisto asked himself while walking down the riotous road. He already searched for her everywhere, but he can¡¯t find her. Currently, he remembered one ce she always went every time she transformed into an ugly girl.


    Consequently, Callisto went to the bench, but instead of Stalin, he found Linley, who was sitting there. She seemed to be waiting for someone, but for sure it wasn¡¯t Callisto, but Lazaro, who turned out to be her boyfriend.


    ¡°Hi, Linley,¡± Callisto greeted. ¡°Have you seen Stalin?¡±


    ¡°Who am I to know where she is?¡± Linley stood up. ¡°I¡¯m not her watcher.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just asking, why are you so snobbish? Are you still mad at me? Why? Would you like it if I became gentle?¡± Callisto simpered.


    ¡°Your face is too thick to show that to me again.¡±


    She turned to leave, but Callisto grasped her arm and what happened next made their worlds turn slowly. He imed her lips, and wouldn¡¯t let go of them, as long as she didn¡¯t turn bby and he didn¡¯t fail. Linley was frozen, her heart was racing, and she remembered her feelings for him.


    They were both lulled as they sat down on the bench. Linley couldn¡¯t directly look at Callisto¡¯s eyes, but Callisto does. He himself turned her face to face him.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ um¡­ I¡¯m sorry for my recent acts,¡± Linley stammered.


    Callisto couldn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t know what he felt for her, but one thing was certain: he wanted her to be with him always. He wanted to kiss her lips, touch her face, and bolster her every day and every night. But he remembered that he was searching for the ugly girl.


    ¡°So, have you seen your ex-friend?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Callisto, she never showed her face again,¡± Linley replied.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just fine. I can search for her.¡± Callisto stood up.


    ¡°Can¡­ Can you let me help you search for her?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Callisto grabbed Linley¡¯s hand and their world stopped and stared for a while as their eyes met again.


    On the other hand, inside Stalin¡¯s house, Sebastian was waiting for a call from an embalmer. If they could really embalmed the stinky woman, because it¡¯s already dusk, but they were not going there yet. Meanwhile, the telephone rang.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Hello, dad? It¡¯s Ruth. My mother¡­ My mother was¡­¡± She sobbed on the other line.


    ¡°Why? What happened to your mother? Huh?¡± Sebastian sounded curious, but the exact description made him, worried.


    ¡°She¡¯s blee¡­ ding, ad, ad, need to o home aw.¡±


    ¡°Ruth? Ruth? What did you say? Ruth?¡±


    Even the telephone doesn¡¯t work well, Sebastian thought. He couldn¡¯t understand his child¡¯s words, but he knew she was crying and saying something about her mother. So, Sebastian didn¡¯t waste his time; he immediately traveled back home.


    When Sebastian was going home, he met his son with a beautiful girl. Callisto inquired about his father¡¯s ns. Sebastian told him that there was something wrong that happened to his mother.


    Consequently, Callisto wanted to see his mother too, but his father told him that he didn¡¯t need to do that. Therefore, Callisto and Linley only mind their own task, which is to find Stalin. They didn¡¯t really need to search for Stalin because Callisto knew that whatever happened, she woulde back to their house, especially at dusk.


    ¡°I thought that we were going to search for Stalin, but why did we go here?¡± Linley queried.


    ¡°And why did you seem to know nothing about the curse? Don¡¯t you know about it yet?¡±


    ¡°The curse? What curse? Stalin didn¡¯t mention anything about that to me.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re not really close friends if you don¡¯t know about the curse that¡¯s prating your friend.¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Hai,¡± Linley sighed. ¡°I and Stalin were friends since young. Since she wasn¡¯t crazy like this-I don¡¯t know what happened-she¡¯s always avoiding me now.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that because of me?¡± Callisto smirked.


    ¡°Because of you?¡± Linley inquired. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Yup, we don¡¯t know. I also didn¡¯t believe at first that she was crazy, but as time went by, there are many things about her that I came to know,¡± Callisto said. ¡°Let¡¯s get inside their house first, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be amazed of what you will see.¡±


    Callisto didn¡¯t let go of Linley¡¯s hand as he led her into Stalin¡¯s house. The smell is now worse than it was in the morning, but Linley wasn¡¯t really surprised to see the coffin where Stalin¡¯s mother was lying. She wasn¡¯t informed that her friend¡¯s mother died.


    Meanwhile, Sebastian arrived home before dark totally gathered. He hurriedly went inside their house. His mind was telling him to be calm, but he also felt something was wrong. As if his house was surrounded by darkness.


    The door screamed, and the bloodied Dorothy, covered in cuts, was exposed at his front. Sebastian wasn¡¯t aware that tears were already streaming down his face. He wanted to scream, to jump, to run, etcetera, etcetera, but what he could only do was cry.


    His feet slowly brought him towards his wife. He embraced her shiveringly. No sounds wereing out of his lips, but his face could not be painted as his heart was hammered a thousand times.


    ¡°Who killed my wife!¡± Sebastian yelled.


    Ruth heard him, but she didn¡¯t say anything. Her mind was screaming that she didn¡¯t mean to kill her, but it was already done. She couldn¡¯t bring her mother back to life, and her conscience wouldn¡¯t give her peace.

 Chapter 14 She killed her mother

    The incriminated Ruth ran out of their house. Her feet couldn¡¯t be recognized anymore as she ran faster than a cheetah. Eventually, she became aware that she was already flying towards Mount Octover. She also knew that her master was following her.


    At the top of the mountain, the whirling wind appeared in front of her. The way it whirls has changed; it¡¯s now faster like a small gale. Ruth wondered how she could be mad at her after what she did to her. Why did everything she did never be enough for her? Why does she still want revenge?


    ¡°Why are you now escaping from me, Cryrie?¡± asked the familiar voice. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to be obedient anymore? I thought you would support me with whatever I wanted to do, but now, why are you doing this to me?¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re not so merciless, Estre. And, is it not enough that I killed my mother for you? Why do you still want to hurt the other members of my family?¡± Ruth asked while tears were oozing out of her eyes.


    ¡°Dorothy¡¯s life isn¡¯t enough. I want to make Sebastian and his son feel what I felt. And how can you say they are your family? Cryrie, they never loved you like I do, and now you will just disregard that?¡±


    ¡°I can no longer be a servant of yours!¡± Ruth screamed.


    ¡°I hope that you are thinking well about your decision. You already know what can happen to you if you stop being my servant, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of what may happen to me. I¡¯m more afraid that you willpletely get everyone I loved from me.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s see.¡± The whirling wind suddenly disappeared.


    Her words echoed many times in Ruth¡¯s mind. She knew that her master always did what she said, and if she wanted to kill anyone, she would do everything to achieve it. But now that she¡¯s not in any body, she can¡¯t hurt anyone, and Ruth hopes that she will be forever a whirling wind.


    However, Ruth couldn¡¯t becent. She can¡¯t believe that she killed the woman who had raised her since she was young. Her mind screams: she killed her mother! She killed her! But she didn¡¯t know how to tell that she had murdered her.


    On the other hand, Callisto couldn¡¯t prevent his jaw from dropping as Stalin transformed into a beautiful girl. He had forgotten everything; all the attention was drawn to her, including his own; she was a perfect match for him.


    Linley could almost copse from what she saw. She didn¡¯t know that she had a gorgeous friend. But what she could not almost believe was that Callisto couldn¡¯t notice her anymore because of that girl. She was trying to get his attention, but he had quickly changed.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Callisto¡¯s attention only left Stalin when his phone vibrated inside the pocket of his pants. So he got it and saw that it was his father. He knew it was important, so he answered his call.


    ¡°Hello, Dad?¡± Callisto asked. ¡°Why did you call?¡±


    ¡°Son? There¡¯s something happened to your mother. You need to go home now, because your mother, your mother, your mother died.¡± Sebastian¡¯s voice ispletely dejected.


    For a while, hearing his father¡¯s word, Callisto¡¯s world stopped turning around. His mouth was falling open, but he couldn¡¯t pronounce any words. His phone slipped off his hand. It¡¯s broken! His family will never be whole again.


    Stalin saw Callisto¡¯s expression suddenly change to sad, so she asked him if he knew what happened. Callisto told her the truth. Stalin also understood him, as she knew how he felt right now, so she let him go with Linley, and they left her alone with her mother.


    Callisto goes home, as his father told him to do. Linley, although she couldn¡¯t decide what to do, followed Callisto where he wanted to go. Callisto knew that nothing could ever be worse than this day. It was just yesterday when his mother was scolding him, but he knew she only did that because she was just worried, and now he can¡¯t believe that she won¡¯t scold him again.


    ¡°Just, just be calm, Callisto. I know what you feel right now,¡± Linley tried to convince him.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what I feel, Linley-now I know what Stalin felt when his mother died. It¡¯s never easy. I feel like nobody will prepare food for me, wash myundry, take care of me when I¡¯m sick, etcetera.¡± Callisto sighed. ¡°I feel like nobody cares for me.¡±


    Linley screamed in her mind: Stalin again? Meanwhile, she knows she must not be jealous right now, especially since Callisto needsmiseration.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think like that, Callisto. There will always be someone who cares for you. I hope you know that.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Callisto asked. ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. I care for you. Always.¡± Linley tried walking fast to keep up with him, but he was definitely sorrowful as his feet never took rest.


    They eventually arrived at Sebastian¡¯s house, and as expected, it was alreadyte. Dorothy was sent to the deadhouse. Sebastian stayed in their house alone, tormented and didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Currently, sadness prevails over their massive house. It feels like home has lost its enthusiasm as the wind whispersmentations around it. Linley conveyed her condolences to them. It came that Callisto became eager to know if what really happened to his mother was true, so he asked his father about it, who also told him the truth.


    At first, Callisto doubted his sister, but it also crossed his mind that-it¡¯s impossible-his younger sister is too young tomit a crime, so his hunch spontaneously disappeared. But who else? Callisto thought. He knew his mom didn¡¯t have enemies.


    ¡°Dad, are you sure that there¡¯s no one else who was with mom? You know, she can¡¯t be-¡± Callisto hadn¡¯t finished saying his words when his father interrupted.


    ¡°Son, please, let¡¯s not talk about this thing for now.¡±


    Callisto nodded as he understood his father, but as he looked at the floor, he remembered his sister. She was with their mother before she died. For sure, she knew many things about it. Think about the devil and she shall appear. Ruth had just arrived home, and she had just met her brother.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Callisto asked.


    Ruth didn¡¯t reply. She just stared at the floor as she entered their house. She¡¯s incriminated as to what happened to their mother. She knew she couldn¡¯t me everything on Estre, especially since she was the one whomitted the heinous crime.


    As she sat on the couch, it crossed her mind what Sebastian and Callisto could do to her if they knew that it was her who killed Dorothy. Perhaps they will throw her back to where they picked her up.


    ¡°Hey, I was wondering where you came from,¡± Callisto said as he sat down beside his sister on the couch.


    Ruth tried to speak normally: ¡°I just get ventted.¡±


    ¡°Um, I just want to ask you some questions. I hope you¡¯ll not lie to me. It¡¯s very important.¡± Callisto looked directly at his sister¡¯s eyes, which sparkled with inexplicableness.


    ¡°Where were you when our mother died?¡± Callisto asked if a police officer was investigating the crime.


    Ruth screamed in her mind, ¡°What kind of question is that?¡± Did Callisto doubt her? If she doesn¡¯t want to be sent to the farm, she needs to clear her name with them.


    ¡°I was inside my bedroom, brother. I don¡¯t know what was happening to mom when she was, perhaps, cooking our dinner, but when I got inside our kitchen-¡± Ruth hadn¡¯t finished saying her words as her feelings prevailed.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean, you know, just curious if what really happened to mom.¡± Callisto embraced his sister. ¡°By the way, have you seen someone else enter our house?¡±


    Ruth got out of her brother¡¯s arms. She doesn¡¯t want to add another lie and sin, but she also doesn¡¯t know how to tell the truth. She doesn¡¯t know how to exin why shemitted that crime. Consequently, she said and did nothing, but stare at her feet, as she couldn¡¯t even look directly into her brother¡¯s eyes, which were asking many questions.

 Chapter 15 Estrella鈥檚 return

    ¡°Mom, what are you doing in that box?¡± Callisto asked his mother, but she¡¯s not replying anymore. ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise me that we¡¯d have an unforgettable vacation, but why aren¡¯t you moving?¡±


    Tears wanted to run down Callisto¡¯s face, but he was preventing them from going out. It certainly turned out to be an unforgettable vacation, an unforgettable nightmare of a vacation.


    It was all my mistake, Callisto med himself. He left her mother alone at that time, and he chose to take care of other people, though he couldn¡¯t even take care of his own family.


    Looking at her mother¡¯s fearful face, Callisto tries to convince himself that everyone¡¯s time to die won¡¯t refuse toe, but still, he can¡¯t prevent the sadness from reigning.


    There were many things Dorothy hadn¡¯t told her son, and she couldn¡¯t tell him anymore, as she could do nothing right now but lie inside her coffin. It¡¯s still traceable in her eyes that she¡¯s worried about what could happen to them, especially that the felon is just an inch away from them.


    Meanwhile, Sebastian wondered why he was mourning his wife¡¯s death if he could follow her anywhere he wanted. But his son, he remembered, would be alone in this world if he died too.


    Don¡¯t care about him: he¡¯s of age to take care of himself. Those thoughts are drowning Sebastian between the devil and the deep blue sea. He doesn¡¯t know what to do right now.


    It was the saddest, slowest, most unforgettable days that happened in their lives, but life still continued as long as they didn¡¯t want to follow Dorothy. So, they just believe that there¡¯s a reason why these things are happening.


    A week psed. Dorothy and Stalin¡¯s mother were buried on the same day and at the same cemetery. There were no more people who attended the burial; only those who were concerned attended, and it shows that a lot of people are carefree.


    In the days that followed, Callisto¡¯s way of life had changed. He always woke up earlier than his father. He didn¡¯t have someone who would prepare food for them anymore, so he was doing everything for himself and for his younger sister, who was still pretending to know nothing about what happened.


    It never became easy for Ruth to shift her attention to other things. Meanwhile, Sebastian always spent his whole day drinking tonic, and that¡¯s why he was lying on their couch all day.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Callisto doesn¡¯t know how to stop his father from drinking-he¡¯s bing an alcoholic, and that¡¯s not good for his health-but how much more frommenting? He didn¡¯t know when everything would end, and he didn¡¯t know when his father would ept the truth that his mother was gone.


    Meanwhile, during the days that they were busy mourning Dorothy¡¯s death, the whirling wind was also searching for a way to start its dark n, which is to take revenge on the man who brought her too much pain.


    As the saying goes, ¡°Love conquers all,¡± and perhaps it was because of her love to avenge. The whirling wind unbelievably turned into a beautiful goddess. Not a show on stage nor a bad dream, and not acted by Caroline or any other artist, but the real goddess had returned.


    The pile of snow gradually disappeared as Estre walked back towards her home on the mountain. Many things were painted in her mind as she took the path going to what seemed to be the past.


    It was here, there, Sebastian here, Sebastian there, everywhere she saw Sebastian¡¯s face. On the leaves and trunks of trees, on the grass, and on the water in the stream.


    It just made her remember her miserable past. The first time they saw each other, she thought it was destiny: she spontaneously fell in love with the strange man who she thought wouldn¡¯t deceive her. But that fake innocent face was just a camouge of his deceitful self, because now it¡¯s so obvious where everything ends.


    ¡°Sebastian will never experience peace as long as I¡¯m in this world,¡± Estre soliloquized. But her servant suddenly interrupted her mind.


    She was so disappointed that Cryrie became so disobedient. She thought that she had made a mistake by letting her stay with her mortal enemies. It¡¯s not toote, and if she¡¯s clever enough, she knew whom to choose.


    While Estre was thinking about Cryrie, Ruth was also staring out the window of her bedroom. Looking at the high mountain that loomed ahead, Something had changed. Half of it turned green, woody and grassy, and the other half stayed snowy. A hunch spontaneously struck her understanding.


    Ruth knew that she came back, and now she had be more powerful as she could reinvigorate her home in just a few days. Ruth suddenly mmed the window, and as she halted, she could hear her own heartbeats.


    Her dad and brother need to know this. But how? She can¡¯t exin everything she knew about Estre. For sure, the males won¡¯t believe her words if she tells them that she¡¯s the blue bird.


    Ruth shook her head and finally made a decision. She had no choice anymore but to tell them the truth if she wanted to keep them safe. So, Ruth got out of her bedroom and went to their living room.


    Sebastian was using a toothpick to remove the bits of food lodged between his teeth when he heard a few footsteps going towards the couch. He knew it was his little girl, but he didn¡¯t know why she looked so worried.


    ¡°Have you eaten your breakfast?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Ruth replied in a mild voice. ¡°Do you know where my brother is?¡±


    ¡°Your stubborn brother went anywhere he wanted without asking my permission. Well, he can go wherever he wants, he¡¯s already seventeen and-why are you asking me-¡± Sebastian went near Ruth, who also stood up, and she disrespectfully walked out.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening to that girl?¡± Sebastian screamed in his mind. He sat down on the couch and turned on the television.


    He was surprised to see the news; he hadn¡¯t noticed it, but the journalist reported that Mount Octover had gradually turned back to its old identity. There¡¯s no scientific exnation for it, but perhaps historical studies about nymphs, fairies, and goddesses, which are almost unbelievable.


    The journalist surveyed the Isabneans to know what they thought about this happening. Others believe it was caused by climate change, possibly global warming, so that the weather no longer depends on altitude but rather on season. It can¡¯t be denied that some say the end is near, without the knowledge that Isab is just a small town.


    In this incident, everyone is prohibited from going to the top of the mountain, nor going near the mountain, and if possible, the people who live at the foot of Mount Octover should evacuate to the nearest evacuation centre so that they can avoid danger, because that mountain seemed to fall.


    On the other hand, inside the rest room, Callisto had just finished bathing himself, and now he was checking his tongue in the mirror. He stepped backward to try to see it clearer, but his breath fogged up the ss, so he drew a new face andughed. He looks inspired right now, perhaps because he¡¯s falling in love. Not long, he noticed his sister¡¯s obscure reflection on the mirror.


    ¡°Brother.¡± Ruth went near and cuddled her brother¡¯s shank.


    Callisto knew that his sister was sad, but he didn¡¯t know that the exact description was ¡°worried,¡± worried about their safety. Callisto lowered himself and looked at her eyes, which were filled with tears. He didn¡¯t know why she was crying again, so he just wiped her tears out of her face using his index finger.


    ¡°Stop crying.¡± He tried to make herugh by grasping the skin on her face. He tried to expand her lips to her ears, but he still saw the sadness in her eyes. So he asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°You know many things about me, but still, there are a lot of things I¡¯m not telling you, and perhaps it¡¯s time for you to know the truth.¡± Ruth climbed on her brother¡¯s back, and he brought her inside their dining room.


    ¡°So, what are you going to tell me?¡± Callisto asked while putting a bowl of pork stew on the table. He then sat down on the chair beside his sister.


    It was already night, and Callisto climbed into his bed and began to think. He couldn¡¯t believe that after a long time of being with Ruth, he had just known that they were not real siblings. He didn¡¯t know that he was ying with someone who was one hundred times older than him.


    Something different interrupted Callisto¡¯s mind. Not bad at all, he thought as he reminisced about the way she would kiss his lips. There¡¯s one thing he wants to know: if the real one has feelings for him. He was showing her thousands of signs every night, but she never showed anything that she liked him too. He didn¡¯t know when he could kiss her lips either-perhaps everything would just end like this.


    He knew their time to go home wasing, but he didn¡¯t know if he could leave Stalin alone, and let her be a beggar, or even get struck by those cars. As an advanced boy, Callisto thought how this would end. He had to choose between himself, his future and the crazy girl who made his heart beat in an abnormal way. He thought about the consequences and found out that he couldn¡¯t have a future if he chose her.

 Chapter 16 For the second time

    To make everything clearer, Callisto jumped out of the window of his bedroom and headed to Stalin¡¯s house. While walking on the road, he met Linley, who seemed to be waiting for someone. He came to a halt in front of her, not saying anything but staring into her eyes.


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re going back one of these days,¡± she said in a sad tone. Her eyes was telling, ¡°I just want to say goodbye, and I know I must not tell you this, but I¡¯m grateful that you became a portion of my life in such a short time.¡±


    ¡°I can still visit here if I so desire. Don¡¯t worry. I mean, I¡¯m sorry for everything I did wrong. I know I hurt your feelings, but you must know, I¡¯m just temporary in this ce,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°I know, you don¡¯t need to exin. You¡¯re going to Stalin¡¯s house?¡±


    ¡°Yup, I know you noticed me showing interest in that girl, especially the beautiful one, but still, the ugly one is interesting. I just want to say goodbye, and if she stops me from going, then I will think about it.¡±


    ¡°Well, I can apany you to their house. If you won¡¯t ask, I¡¯m a good tourist guide.¡± She smiled and offered a hand to Callisto, who also epted it. As she felt his cold hand holding hers, she hoped it wouldn¡¯t be thest.


    They eventually arrived at Stalin¡¯s house. Without wasting any seconds, Callisto happily opened the door of Stalin¡¯s bedroom, and the beautiful girl who was trying to kill herself with a rope attached to the ceiling was exposed in front of him.


    ¡°Goddammit! Stalin, what are you doing?¡± Callisto asked and hurriedly got Stalin down from the chair she was standing on.


    Stalin was crying as she embraced Callisto. There was something the boy couldn¡¯t understand about it, but her next words expound them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone! Callisto, please, don¡¯t leave me!¡± She cried.


    Callisto finally understands what that means. She also has feelings for him, but perhaps he was just expecting too much, that Stalin just didn¡¯t want to be alone because nobody would take care of her if he left.


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Callisto asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you want me to go back home?¡± He asked in a happy voice, and a smile glimmered on his face.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t, please don¡¯t, please don¡¯t. There¡¯s no need toplicate it. Our time is short; this is our fate. This is it.¡± Notes stumbled out of her lips and danced in the air, but what surprising is, she eximed, ¡°I¡¯m yours!¡±


    Callisto could not prevent himself from yelling, jumping, dancing, etcetera, etcetera. He suddenly held Stalin¡¯s waist and lift her up while their eyes never left each other¡¯s. He finally imed her lips. At that moment, Stalin felt something was gone, but she didn¡¯t know what it was.


    ¡°Hey, there are too many ants here!¡± Linley bantered as she glimpsed through the door. ¡°You gotta cancel your flight, Callisto, and marry that girl instead!¡± She shouted, which made the twough.


    Afterward, Stalin¡¯s footsteps can be heard as she walks towards Linley.


    ¡°Please, Stalin, if you¡¯re going to p my face because I was used of flirting with you, with your boyfriend, you shall not continue that,¡± Linley suggested.


    Stalin was dumbfounded. She raised her hands, but instead of pping Linley¡¯s face, she unexpectedly embraced her and whispered, ¡°Thank you for taking care of my Callisto. And please, be content with your Lazaro too.¡±


    Linley got out of Stalin¡¯s arms. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m always content. I don¡¯t want to be a prostitute. By the way, can we still be friends?¡±


    Stalin didn¡¯t say anything, but as she cuddled Linley for the second time, it was clear that she also wanted to be friends with her.


    Night had quickly turned into day, but when Stalin woke up, he found Callisto was not beside her anymore. She remembered a song and doesn¡¯t want to experience that kind of rtionship that ends up after seven days.


    On the other hand, Callisto remembered his n with his sister. It¡¯s definitely true that, whether in love or war, everyone is fair, everyone can be deceitful. So they need to be deceitful for their safety.


    They nned ahead of time for what might happen. They knew that Estre would not refuse to visit them one of these days, especially since this is thest week of their vacation.


    ¡°I hope that she will bite the bait,¡± Callisto hoped.


    It was already night, and the climax of summer could be felt. The cold air turned into a warm, but everyone didn¡¯t know that it was caused by the goddess¡¯s anger. She waited too long for this time toe, and she didn¡¯t want to waste this given opportunity, or else she would need to wait for the next summer again.


    There was no moon drifting in the sky, so it was a good time for the goddess to attack. Her evil-likeughter filled the mountain and gradually disappeared as she did. Where she did go is already expected: to Sebastian¡¯s house.


    She entered their house without making any noises. She didn¡¯t want to be caught, or else it would be a possibility for her n to fail. As she halted inside their living room, she saw many photos of Sebastian¡¯s and the woman whom she hated the most, even in her ultimate breath.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my beloved man, you won¡¯t be sad anymore, because you¡¯re going with the woman you choose rather than me,¡± she whispered.


    Estre continued walking towards Sebastian¡¯s bedroom and peered through the crack on the door. She thought that he was in a deep slumber, and he couldn¡¯t wake up anymore. She cautiously entered, andpletely saw the man who enthralled her before, but now, those feelings turned into wrath.


    A sharp dagger was removed from its sheath and was going to pierce his heartless chest and-she pierced it-blood spurted out from his chest. It took her a few seconds before she realized it wasn¡¯t his chest, but Ruth¡¯s. It was Cryrie. She put herself in between them and she was the one who was pierced in the chest!


    Estre¡¯s mouth drooped, but she couldn¡¯t pronounce any word. She was frozen for a while, but a little cry came out of her. As she shiveringly touch Ruth¡¯s face, she remembered many things about her, almost everyday, they were with each other. Now she couldn¡¯t believe she ended everything here.


    That feeling and scene were familiar. Estre felt like everything about her was gone, that even her own hands became mad of her. They seemed to have their own mind, and because of anger to her, they pierced her own chest.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    As blood was spilled on the floor, she knelt and eventuallyy down with her favorite servant. It was absolutely not in her n to kill herself for the second time, but what would her life be like if she became alone again?


    Meanwhile, inside Callisto¡¯s bedroom, he and his sister were secretly observing, and they suddenly jumped when they saw their n seed. They were relieved because they no longer had to deal with her power and rage because their greatest adversary had voluntarily killed herself.


    Ruth had just realized her master¡¯s word: ¡°They never love you like I do.¡± She could almost not believe that it was true. That she loved her more than herself, and that she could die if she died too.


    Although sad that Ruth knew she didn¡¯t appreciate Estre¡¯s love for her, she knew what she did was the right thing. It was right as rain that a killer experienced death too.


    For now, they only need to celebrate someone¡¯s death. The goddesspletely turned back into a whirling wind, which cannot help itself but to flow hither and thither.


    ¡°So, what are we going to do next?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°What else, brother?¡± Ruth replied. ¡°Our summer vacation ended here, so we must pack up things because we¡¯re going home tomorrow.¡±

 Chapter 17 The last day of vacation

    The warm, summer sunlight entered Callisto¡¯s bedroom, and it woke him up. For a while, the dark room blinded him, and everything gradually became apparent. He stood up, got out of his room and continued walking towards the dining room where his father, Sebastian, and sister, Ruth, were sitting on the chairs by the long table filled with delicious foods.


    It feels like the first day of their vacation: their father isn¡¯t so depressed anymore, and his sister smiles at him. But there¡¯s something different about his mother. His mother is not with them right now, and perhaps she¡¯s happy wherever she is, as her family is happy because they are finally leaving the ce where many bad things happened, but Callisto knew that they were not all bad.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. So, how¡¯s yourst day here, son?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Pretty good,¡± Callisto replied. ¡°How about yours, dad?¡±


    ¡°Not so good at all. But I¡¯m grateful that we¡¯re finally leaving this hell.¡±


    ¡°How about yours, Ruth?¡± Callisto sat down on the chair beside the table.


    ¡°Mine?¡± Ruth asked. ¡°Um¡­ um¡­ I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she stammered.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Callisto sounded curious. ¡°Why are you saying that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry brother, father, but it wasn¡¯t, it wasn¡¯t, really good, the same as yours, and perhaps it could be better if we didn¡¯t just visit here,¡± Ruth attempted to maintain a normal tone of voice.


    ¡°I must be the one to say sorry to you guys, because it was me who chose this ce for vacation. But everything has already happened. No one can turn back the clock and fix what they did wrong in the past,¡± Sebastian remarked, then silence attempted to prevail as he sighed.


    ¡°I believe your mother is now in heaven, but regardless of that, she will never leave my heart, whatever happened, and also yours?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve said that, dad. So you must not find another woman to rece my mom, or else she will ghost you,¡± Callisto warned and began eating his food.


    ¡°But it can¡¯t be removed from me toin about the difficulties of raising children!¡± Sebastian half-shouted as he walked out of the dining room.


    Meanwhile, as silence returned, Ruth noticed her brother sad.


    ¡°Oh! I thought you were happy because we¡¯re leaving this house,¡± Ruth said. ¡°But why do you look sad? Don¡¯t you want to leave your girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°How did you know that I have a girlfriend?¡± Callisto queried.


    ¡°So you have?¡± Ruth asked as a defend to her hunch.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    ¡°No-I mean, I have. But please, don¡¯t tell Dad about it. I knew that he didn¡¯t like that crazy girl as much as I did. He didn¡¯t even want me to take care of her. How much more being her boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°I understand you, brother. This time I won¡¯t tell Dad about your ns. But let me warn you: it will be big trouble if he know it by himself.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I knew that. But don¡¯t worry. I will tell him at the right time.¡±


    ¡°The right time? When?¡± Ruth stared at her brother¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t tell you when, because the right time can¡¯t be predicted. It wille on its own, especially if we don¡¯t expect it,¡± Callisto advised. ¡°So you shall finish your food if you want to see the right time.¡±


    Callisto stood up and went towards the sink while his sister continued eating. Afterward, they began packing their things because they know that tomorrow is the day of going back to their own house.


    While packing his things, something is ying in Callisto¡¯s mind. His girlfriend-there was not a second that went by that he wasn¡¯t thinking of her. He doesn¡¯t know when he can see her again, nor does he know if he can see her again.


    It¡¯s difficult for him to make himself believe that her friend will take care of her when he¡¯s not in this ce. But he can do nothing against the will of the wind-they are going back, and everything will just end like that.


    Meanwhile, Sebastian went to their verandah and became curious as he began staring at the high mountain, which looked serene from a distance, but he knew it would never be as peaceful as it was, especially since it had witnessed a lot of tragedies.


    ¡°My love, if you¡¯re just here right now, I know what you¡¯ll say, ¡®Stop staring at the mountain, because that¡¯ll only give you a headache.¡¯ Don¡¯t worry, my love, we¡¯re leaving this ce and we¡¯ll never take a glimpse at it,¡± Sebastian promised.


    As daytime had gradually turned to night, Callisto climbed onto his bed, still thinking about Stalin. He couldn¡¯t becent that she was just fine. He didn¡¯t even know where she went when she became a crazy girl.


    It was thest night of their vacation, but he still couldn¡¯t believe it. Time is definitely quick when we rejoice, and it¡¯s slow when we grieve. Callisto insisted on sleeping, although the thought of her wouldn¡¯t set him free. He knew she would only make him cry if he saw her face again.


    The roaster has just crow, but Sebastian and Ruth are already inside their car, waiting for Callisto toe out of their house so that they can leave early before the sun shines.


    ¡°Son!¡± Sebastian called. ¡°What are you still doing there?¡±


    Callisto was wearing his favorite clothes when he heard their car¡¯s horn. He knew it was his father who was so excited to go, so he hurriedly fastened his clothes and went out. He locked the door and got inside their car.


    ¡°I thought you would not leave with us,¡± Ruth said.


    Callisto replied, ¡°No-I¡¯m just checking if there¡¯s something I left.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps your heart.¡± Ruth chuckled.


    The throttle was applied, and they are now taking the quiet road back downtown. It¡¯s still early, and no more cars are on the road. They are leaving, but Callisto¡¯s mind stayed here, thinking about Stalin. He had already became ustomed living with her craziness. It will surely be difficult for him to live without her.


    A few moments after, Callisto, Sebastian, and Ruth felt like the car had struck something. Consequently, Sebastian stepped on the brake and immediately got out of it, and so did Callisto and his sister.


    ¡°Goddammit!¡± Sebastian scowled. ¡°Is she crazy?¡±


    It was totally surprising when Callisto saw what it was. His eyes turned big as his heart was hammered several times. Tears spurted out from his eyes like a fountain. His face could not be painted as he cautiously walked near.


    His voice gradually came out, ¡°Staliiiiiiiiiin!¡± He screamed.


    Silence prevailed. Callisto spread his arms and cuddled her shiveringly. Blood was shed on the road near the bench where they first met, and now it turned out to be the bench where everything ended. With that terrible strike, blood tainted her worn clothes.

 Chapter 18 His obstinate son

    Callisto was panick-stricken as he helped his father carry his bloodied girlfriend towards their car. Then, Sebastian hurriedly drove to the nearest hospital. The buzzing of trepidation jangled in Callisto¡¯s ears; he couldn¡¯t sit down there and wait.


    ¡°Can you just calm down, son?¡± Sebastian asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been walking back and forth since we arrived here. Someone might think you¡¯re insane.¡±


    ¡°How can you say that, dad? How can I not be insane if-¡± Callisto paused.


    ¡°If what? Is there something you¡¯re not telling me?¡±


    ¡°Brother, maybe this is the right time,¡± Ruth interrupted.


    ¡°The right time for what?¡± Sebastian furrowed his forehead.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell him, so that you¡¯ll not bother me anymore.¡± Callisto took a deep breath before saying that, ¡°I and Stalin have a rtionship. I¡¯m sorry, dad, if I didn¡¯t inform you about this. I didn¡¯t mean to hide our rtionship from you.¡±


    He don¡¯t need to worry about it, Sebastian thought. His son doesn¡¯t need to exin anything, for he understand if Callisto was thinking that he don¡¯t like that crazy girl because he really don¡¯t.


    ¡°What you need to worry about is how you will manage everything. Your studies and, are you still going back home with us?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Go home with you? After all what happened to Stalin? Do you think I can leave her like that?¡± Callisto responded, thinking that his father didn¡¯t consider him and he doesn¡¯t know what to do now.


    ¡°Sorry son, but I can no longer stay here,¡± Sebastian apologized. ¡°Everything will only make me remember those misfortunes.¡±


    ¡°Dad, I know you can¡¯t, but please, give me some freedom to decide on my own, even just for now,¡± Callisto begged.


    Sebastian sighed and with brooding eyes stared at Ruth, who was listening soundly to their conversation. Even this time, he still considers the safety of his fake daughter, but how much more of Callisto¡¯s?


    ¡°You two may go back home, but my decision is final. I won¡¯t leave Stalin as long as she¡¯s not fine,¡± Callisto told them.


    ¡°I understand, but maybe you¡¯ve made an instant decision. Please think about it first. Think about those things which could be affected if you didn¡¯t go with us.¡±


    Callisto sat down on the floor and leaned on the console. His studies, his future, he knew he didn¡¯t have a future if he stayed with Stalin, and he was too young to apply for a job, and those things brought him into a dilemma, as he didn¡¯t even know if Stalin could survive.


    ¡°I think you should not stop schooling, because that¡¯s the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,¡± Sebastian advised.


    Callisto thought that his father¡¯s mentor version showed up even in the worst situation, but he already knew what he wanted to convey, so he asked him if he could transfer in a public school in the town, so that he can¡¯t abandon his studies in case his girlfriend survive the ordeal.


    ¡°Well, but you¡¯ll surely feel difficulty with that, and we¡¯ll also stay here with you if that happens. Ruth can also study here, although I can¡¯t endure seeing Mount Octover again, we will do that for you.¡±


    ¡°Thanks dad!¡± Callisto stood up and went towards them. He cuddled his father, which he really didn¡¯t expect to do since he had never done that before.


    ¡°Can I have a hug too?¡± Ruth spread her small arms around them.


    ¡°Okay, it¡¯s not the right time to be emotional. We need each other¡¯s help. Your mother is now gone, so we must not be separated.¡±


    When the man in the white suit got out of the emergency room, the three hurriedly got near and asked if Stalin was just fine.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, misters, we already did our best, but the girl, it¡¯s¡ª¡± He hadn¡¯t finished saying his words when Callisto interrupted.


    ¡°What?¡± Callisto eximed, then cried, ¡°Please, withdraw what you¡¯ve said. Withdraw it. Stalin isn¡¯t dead yet! She¡¯s not!¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Calm down, son. He¡¯s not telling us anything yet. I know your girlfriend will be alright.¡± Sebastian tried to convince Callisto with the thought that his girlfriend is such a strong girl who can survive all the difficulties in life.


    ¡°Yup. And it¡¯s incredible that when her heartbeat stopped, it continued beating again. There might be a reason why she keeps fighting,¡± the doctor added.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Callisto¡¯s mouth opened pendulously. He couldn¡¯t believe what he had heard. ¡°Her heart continued beating after it stopped?¡±


    Callisto made some steps towards the door. He glimpsed through it and saw Stalin lying on a cot. She looked like she was sleeping and he didn¡¯t know when she¡¯d wake up. He entered the room and sat down beside her.


    ¡°What?¡± Sebastian eximed in surprise at what he saw when he followed his son to the room. ¡°This is unbelievable!¡±


    ¡°Why? What you can¡¯t believe, dad?¡± Callisto queried.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that? I didn¡¯t realize it until now, but she¡¯s the most beautiful girl I¡¯ve ever seen!¡±


    ¡°Of course I saw it and, can you stop exaggerating? Have I already told you about this before? Have you forgotten again?¡± Callisto asked, then wondered if how Stalin gained her real identity, although it¡¯s currently midday and nothing drew her to their house.


    ¡°Perhaps the curse was destroyed?¡± Ruth interrupted.


    ¡°Mom? Mom? Mom!¡± Stalin moaned and shivered as if she were dreaming. She then held Callisto¡¯s hand and tried to embrace him while asking, ¡°Why did you leave me? Mom! Pleasee back!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening to her?¡± Callisto asked without moving, for Stalin might fall from the bed. ¡°Please, what¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°Nurse? Nurse!¡± Sebastian shouted, calling for the running nurse, who also went towards him and asked why. ¡°Your patient needs help.¡±


    The nurse entered the room and injected Stalin with something, such as a drug to calm her up. She exined that, ¡°she might be facing a problem, it¡¯s because of her subliminal fear. Don¡¯t worry, misters; she¡¯ll be fine after she wakes up. Just stay here always and take care of her.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Sebastian said as the nurse got out of the room and went somewhere. ¡°Don¡¯t be so worried, son. If she even survived the hands of death, how much more this one?¡±


    ¡°Easy to say, but we don¡¯t even know what she¡¯s facing right now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother, I¡¯m here.¡± Ruth winked as if she was thinking of an absurdity again while walking towards her brother. ¡°I¡¯ll help her wake up. You shall amuse your father first.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Callisto whispered back, then he stood up and patted Sebastian¡¯s shoulder, bringing him out of the room.


    Callisto undoubtedly trusts his sister more than those doctors, because he saw many miracles she did before, and he hopes that she can help Stalin wake up from aatose state.


    ¡°Why did you bring me here, son?¡± Sebastian asked, then stared down from the second floor of the building.


    ¡°Nothing, I just want to ask about your n. You know, your work is far from here, and so I can also help you if you need it,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°Me? You¡¯re asking me that? Your talented father?¡±


    ¡°I know that you are, dad. You can easily get a job, and I also want to learn something from you, especially because I have someone to support.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what Dorothy told you: don¡¯t enter into a rtionship as long as you don¡¯t have work, but you still did.¡± Sebastian seemed to pinch Callisto¡¯s thigh; he never listened to his mother¡¯s counsel.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do that, dad. What can we do if I fall in love with the most beautiful girl in the world? Are you not proud of me?¡±


    ¡°Be mature first before having a girlfriend. Don¡¯t let that itch decide your future. Don¡¯t imitate me, who hadn¡¯t finished my studies because I fell in love with your mother too early.¡±


    Callisto was bored of his father¡¯s persistent advice, so he left him all alone at the building, still talking as he thought that someone was listening to him, although the world left him all alone.


    Where did that stubborn boy go? Sebastian thought. He¡¯ll surely pinch his ears if he saw him. Sebastian continued taking the stairs down to the building. As he enters the hospital¡¯s emergency room, Sebastian is surprised, not because his son is there sitting beside the crazy girl, but because Stalin is already awake and she breathes well like nothing happened.

 Chapter 19 Amnesia girl

    ¡°Stalin?¡± Callisto queried. His feet immediately brought him near, and he embraced his girlfriend. ¡°Why did you ran on that road again?¡±


    ¡°Who are you? Please don¡¯t get too close! I want to go home.¡± Stalin pushed Callisto away. ¡°Why did you bring me to this cabin?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Callisto¡¯s lips fell sideways. With an asking gaze, he turned back and stared at his sister. ¡°What¡¯s happening to her?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, brother, but your girlfriend, your girlfriend is-¡± Ruth hadn¡¯t finished saying her words when their father interrupted.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°I said it! You¡¯re just here. Why did you leave me alone-¡± Sebastian entered the door and got stuck. ¡°She¡¯s already awake?¡±


    ¡°Yup, but we have another problem.¡± Callisto sighed.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sebastian walked towards them.


    ¡°Who are you? And why are you talking about me?¡± Stalin inquired while trying to stand up. ¡°Please, I really need to go home.¡±


    Hearing her words, Sebastian easily realized the answer to his question. Stalin had amnesia, and she undoubtedly needed a carer.


    ¡°Can we have a talk for a while, son?¡± Sebastian requested


    Callisto stood up and followed his father outside the room, while Ruth was trying to calm Stalin, telling and trying to stop her from standing up with her small arms.


    ¡°Have more patience. It¡¯s not easy to take care of someone who doesn¡¯t have memories. I¡¯m not telling you this because I disagree with you, but because I know you need to be patient,¡± Sebastian advised.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dad,¡± Callisto replied. ¡°I won¡¯t give up, just like mom didn¡¯t give up on you when you were sick. I loved Stalin more than anything else, and I¡¯m willing to be her caretaker.¡±


    ¡°Well, we¡¯re always here if you need help.¡± Sebastian tapped his son¡¯s shoulder and they went back inside the room.


    ¡°Do you know where you live?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I want to go home,¡± Stalin replied.


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll go home tomorrow if everything is fine. But for now, you need to take a rest so that we can go home.¡± Callisto kissed the crown of Stalin¡¯s forehead, which drew her into curiosity.


    ¡°You can¡¯t sleep?¡± Callisto asked when he noticed his girlfriend had closed her eyes and opened them again. He held her hands and asked, ¡°What happened anyway that the curse didn¡¯t prate you?¡±


    ¡°Son!¡± Sebastian called. ¡°I already told you not to ask her anything, because you¡¯re only giving her a headache.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what curse you were talking about. I don¡¯t even know who you are, and why I am here,¡± Stalin replied. ¡°Please, I want to go home.¡±


    ¡°Even me?¡± Callisto forced himself to smile, hoping that maybe by this time Stalin would remember him. ¡°I¡¯m your boyfriend. We met on that bench by the roadside, and you were so crazy, so I took care of you.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? But why did I see you leaving? I mean, I already told you. I don¡¯t remember anything and I need to go home.¡±


    ¡°Son, let her rest first. Don¡¯t ask her frequently, or else, you¡¯ll just worsen her condition,¡± Sebastian reprimanded.


    Callisto told his girlfriend to take a rest. Then he got out of the room to get ventted. He knew how difficult it was to take care of the crazy girl, but how much more difficult is the amnesia girl?


    And his studies; he wonders how he can go to school while keeping an eye on his girlfriend. Callisto remembered that he could ask Ruth to look after Stalin, which sounded impossible.


    As the night turned into day, the cold wind entered Callisto¡¯s bedroom, and it woke him up. For a while, the dark room blinded him, and everything gradually became apparent. He stood up, got out of his room and continued walking towards the kitchen where his father and sister were having coffee.


    ¡°You wake up early, how about your girlfriend?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s sleeping soundly. Perhaps she was so tired of what we didst night,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°Why? What did you do, brother?¡± Ruth queried.


    ¡°What we did, don¡¯t forget that we just sneaked out of the hospital, because we don¡¯t have money to pay the bills.¡±


    Ruth justughed while her brother blended his coffee. She thought about different things they did. Well, she knew no one saw them escaping the hospital.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to look for work today. So you and your sister will be left here,¡± Sebastian interrupted. ¡°Please take care of everything, son.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry dad, I¡¯m of age to do what I need. Ruth is also big enough that she can cook food by herself.¡± Callisto sat down beside his sister.


    ¡°Nope! Don¡¯t let your sister touch anything dangerous, or I¡¯ll pinch your ears if something bad happens.¡± Sebastian put his mug on the table, then walked out of the kitchen.


    ¡°I was thinking that we were leaving this house,¡± Ruth broke the silence.


    ¡°Sorry. It was because of me that dad chose not to go back,¡± Callisto apologized. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t be envious of my girlfriend.¡±


    Ruth knew that she must be the one to say sorry to her brother because she hides a lot of secrets, but what she didn¡¯t know is how he knew that she was envious of Stalin, so she asked him.


    ¡°How did I know? I saw you putting something in her water,¡± Callisto answered. ¡°Please don¡¯t do that again.¡±


    Ruth fell down into the silence of embarrassment. ¡°Sorry brother, I won¡¯t do that again. I was just prompted by my feelings. You know, even if you¡¯re not my real brother, I still consider you.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m really curious, especially about that goddess who wants to kill my dad,¡± Callisto changed the topic.


    ¡°Do you want me to tell you a story?¡± Ruth asked.


    Sebastian left the house in his cored shirt and ck pants, not bothering to tell his son that he was leaving. But when his eyes strayed to the high mountain, he remembered something.


    The goddess who fell in love with him is still vivid in his memories. Although he had just gotten off from the disorder, he knew the past could do nothing with the present, so he tried his best to stop himself from thinking and continued inside the car.


    Even this, Sebastian thought, the car made him remember something, and wherever he would look, all he could see were tragedies that happened. On the verandah, inside his room, and in the kitchen, he could feel the presence of his wife, the bloodied Dorothy.


    ¡°Estre had deeply fallen in love with a man, but because of an ordinary woman, he didn¡¯t love her back. The goddess was so mad that she attempted to curse them several times, but no matter what she would do, her impression, and the man¡¯s impression of the woman stayed the same, until Estre was tired, so she decided to take rest.¡±


    ¡°But what¡¯s the connection between that to me and to my father? Why does the goddess want to kill us?¡± Callisto queried.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t get it until now?¡± Ruth responded. ¡°Your father was the man, and your mother was the woman, and the goddess was Estre.¡±


    ¡°Oh! That¡¯s interesting. My parents had an interesting past. But how did you know the whole story anyway?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯tugh, but I was the, the blue bird named Cryrie.¡±


    Hearing his sister¡¯s words, Callisto identally spurted out the coffee from his throat. So he stood up and cleaned the table.


    ¡°But I regretted being her servant. I never wanted to follow her orders, but because she was so close to me,¡± Ruth added.


    ¡°Wow! Good that you freed yourself from her,¡± Callisto remarked. ¡°But I still can¡¯t believe that these things are happening. Maybe I¡¯m just hallucinating after watching fantasy movies.¡±


    ¡°I know, it¡¯s difficult to believe if you¡¯re an ordinary human, but seventeen years earlier, people in this ce were not influenced by technology. Let me tell you how their lives were.¡±

 Chapter 20 Meeting young people

    The town wasn¡¯t that crowded before. Most people, especially the elderly, believed in entities such as elves, nymphs, giants, witches, ghosts, goblins, lycanthropes, and probably goddesses.


    People believed in incantations, especially when a member of their family had a stomachache. They wouldn¡¯t hesitate to visit a witch doctor who would whisper something in the wind, then the patient would be alrightter.


    Other peopleugh and think that they are idiots without knowing that believing in those entities teaches them a lesson on how to be good citizens.


    ¡°Oh! I had forgotten that we have a lot of things to do,¡± Callisto interrupted. ¡°Let me check on Stalin first. She might be awake.¡±


    Ruth jumped out of the chair and followed her brother going towards their room. There are a lot of things ying in her mind, and she wants someone to listen to her stories.


    ¡°Stalin?¡± Callisto opened the door and was surprised by what he saw. ¡°Where did she go? Why is she not here anymore?¡±


    Callisto began to panic, calling his girlfriend¡¯s name. Ruth told him to be calm; she might be just around the house. He had already checked below the bed, and he saw no one. He firmly pulled his hair and squeezed his nose.


    It was because of his sister. She told him amazing stories which made him forget about his girlfriend, but he couldn¡¯t me everything on her, because it was he who listened.


    He immediately checked around the house, but Stalin wasn¡¯t there. Callisto¡¯s feet won¡¯t stop bringing him anywhere to find the amnesia girl. Until he remembered the ce where she always went.


    ¡°Said it! You¡¯re just here.¡± Callisto ran towards Stalin and cuddled her tightly. His heart throbs fast, and she can feel it too. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this again. You made me so nervous.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Stalin removed herself from his arms and yelled and jumped. ¡°I¡¯m home now, now, now. Yehey!¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy? This isn¡¯t your home. Come, let¡¯s go home.¡± Callisto holds her hand and pulls her to follow, but she¡¯s not moving.


    ¡°No, no no! Don¡¯t take me away!¡± Stalin shouted, but Callisto carried her. ¡°Put me down! Put me down! You meddling!¡±


    ¡°Aaaaahhh!¡± Callisto screamed. ¡°Why did you bite my shoulder?¡± He identally released Stalin, who hurriedly ran back towards the bench.


    Callisto pulled the shirt from his shoulder and saw the bruised tooth-like shape. What the hell, he thought, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself from whimpering. He remembered his father¡¯s words, so he took a deep breath and got close to his girlfriend.


    ¡°Please, Stalin, we need to go home. It¡¯s cold here,¡± Callisto begged.


    ¡°Bring me somewhere if you want a kick!¡± She eximed. ¡°I¡¯m not Stalin, so don¡¯t call me that ugly name!¡±


    ¡°Then tell me who you are.¡± Callisto sat down beside her.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m Milo!¡± She shouted, but appeared unconvinced.


    ¡°You have a lovely name. But it¡¯s not your home. Our home is there.¡± Callisto pointed to their house, which can be seen from a distance.


    ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m not living in that tower. I¡¯m not Rafunsel!¡±


    How can it happen that a beautiful girl is crazier than the one whom he met first? Callisto asked himself, but he knew that everyone has their own mind, even if one person has many minds too.


    ¡°Okay, if you don¡¯t want to go home, I¡¯ll stay here with you.¡±


    Stalin felt very ufortable that the boy, whom she doesn¡¯t even know, wouldn¡¯t leave her alone. She can¡¯t exin what she felt, perhaps anger, ufortability, or inexplicability.


    ¡°Callisto?¡± Someone asked. ¡°I thought you had already left.¡±


    Callisto stood up and turned back. His eyes widened when he saw a beautiful and familiar face. Linley, along with her friends, was strolling around when she saw him sitting on the bench.


    ¡°I¡¯m, we didn¡¯t continue leaving,¡± Callisto replied.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    ¡°Why? Is there something wrong that happened?¡± Linley queried. ¡°How about Stalin? Why does she seem not to notice me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s probably the reason. She was identally struck by a car when we were leaving, and now she¡¯s having amnesia.¡±


    ¡°Oh? I¡¯m sorry to hear that. Who¡¯s with you anyway?¡±


    ¡°Dad and Ruth, we¡¯re still living there. My father doesn¡¯t really want to live here again, but he was forced because of me.¡±


    ¡°Who are you? Why are you talking with my boyfriend?¡± Stalin asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s your friend, Linley. Maybe you also remember her as you remember that I¡¯m your boyfriend,¡± Callisto exined.


    ¡°Ah, I have a friend too? But where¡¯s my family?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going now, Callisto; perhaps you need to talk with your girlfriend.¡± Linley turned back and went away.


    Callisto did nothing but sighed. He knew no one could help them in their situation right now but themselves. He must not expect that those people he met earlier care about them.


    ¡°I¡¯m your family, dad and Ruth. We are your family,¡± Callisto replied. He knew he must not make his girlfriend wish that she still had a family, because that¡¯s not real. ¡°So, we need to go home now.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯m thankful to have a boyfriend, a friend, and a family.¡± Stalin cautiously followed Callisto back to their house.


    ¡°Where did you two go again?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Nothing, she just wants to stroll around with me,¡± Callisto panted and sat down on the stool. ¡°How about you, dad? Did you find a job?¡±


    ¡°Yup. My old friend offered me a job. I¡¯m also thankful that some of my old friends are still here and they still know me.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s great. I want to work too.¡±


    ¡°Nope. I think you should enroll in school this semester. Let me work for us. I know it¡¯s difficult to be in that situation of yours.¡±


    ¡°Thanks dad. But I also want to help you, even just with a part-time job.¡±


    Sebastian reminded him, ¡°Search for work that suits your time, but no one is coercing you.¡± He entered the house and continued to the living room, and so did Callisto and Stalin.


    Callisto felt ashamed that he couldn¡¯t help his father work. He doesn¡¯t want them to think that he¡¯s so indolent that he only relies on his father. Therefore, one night, when everyone was asleep, he jumped out through the window of his bedroom.


    Working while studying, Callisto thought it would not be as difficult as that. As he walked on, he saw four familiar faces. He remembered. They were those boys who made ck eyes on his face.


    ¡°Hey! Look who¡¯s here!¡± Samson eximed.


    ¡°Psssst!¡± the other hissed. ¡°Where are you going, huh?¡±


    ¡°Sorry dudes, but I¡¯m not looking for a fight right now, especially if you won¡¯t challenge me one-on-one,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°Well, he¡¯s right. It¡¯s so unfair if we¡¯ll kick him here again. Anyway, we¡¯re also not looking for a fight. We¡¯re not that foolish anymore.¡± He patted Callisto¡¯s shoulder and perched his arm on it.


    ¡°You might have a job to offer?¡± Callisto removed his arm.


    ¡°A job, yep, we need a new member, haha, right?¡± Samson asked and smirked as if he were thinking for an absurdity. ¡°But we don¡¯t ept someone who looks weak.¡±


    ¡°Do you want a kick? If you don¡¯t, then I need to go.¡±


    Callisto didn¡¯t mind those addicted boys who could do nothing in their lives, and most of all, those people who had no sense to talk with. He continued to the next group of huge houses, but realized that he had just wasted his time.


    ¡°You¡¯re not in a city, son, so it¡¯s difficult to find a job, especially since you¡¯re a minor. People in town are poorer than us,¡± Sebastian remarked.


    ¡°Dad? But how did you find a job as easily as you did?¡± Callisto inquired.


    ¡°I told you!¡± Sebastian shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t bother yourself helping me, because I can raise our family without anyone¡¯s help!¡±


    ¡°But dad, I just want to know.¡± Callisto insisted though his father¡¯s blood was boiling for the reason he didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°No more buts, that¡¯s not important anymore. Stay here with your girlfriend. Look at her, she doesn¡¯t even care about anything, but she¡¯s still alive!¡± Sebastian added.


    Callisto sighed. He continued inside his bedroom. It¡¯s so difficult to have an argument with someone who has bigger muscles than him. He might get hit by something and punch his face, so he continued inside.


    ¡°I saw youst night jumping down the window,¡± Stalin insinuated.


    ¡°People don¡¯t understand me.¡± Callistoid down on the bed. ¡°Dad doesn¡¯t want me to work, though I love working more than going to school.¡±


    ¡°The problem isn¡¯t with you, but with them. You must not bother yourself; just be who you are, do what you love, and everyone will love you as I do.¡± Stalin touched his face while staring at his bronze eyes.

 Chapter 21 Her devilish intentions

    She chose to leave the world of goddesses just for that man, but he never loved her back, the cold wind whispers. She needs to find a way in order to take revenge. Flowing hither and thither until it reaches the house where Linley lives, someone screamed!


    ¡°Do you think you can manage to do things yourself?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°Yup, even Ruth can cook food alone. How much more if I?¡± Stalin replied. ¡°You should go now, because your dad is waiting outside.¡±


    ¡°Son! Come on! What are you still doing there?¡± Sebastian yelled.


    In his sanguine jacket and jeans, Callisto walked towards the car and got inside. He¡¯s not so excited about going to school, especially leaving his girlfriend, who looks like she can¡¯t be trusted, but he knows he needs to sacrifice a lot for their future.


    ¡°I thought you would bring your girlfriend with us.¡± Sebastian began driving towards the public school where Callisto was transferred and also to his workce.


    ¡°She visited the ce where the ident happened. Do you think she¡¯s just fine?¡±


    ¡°What do you think? You two are always with each other. You must know her better than I know her,¡± Sebastian replied.


    ¡°I think she is, but I¡¯m not convinced,¡± Callisto admitted.


    ¡°You! Why did we leave her with your sister if you¡¯re not sure?¡±


    ¡°Dad, I need to go to school. Do you think it¡¯s just fine to take her? My teacher will not let me enter my ssroom, and those students will bully us, saying that I am bringing an insane girl.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not that insane anymore. So stop exaggerating. She just has amnesia. I know she¡¯s in a normal state of mind.¡±


    ¡°Without memories, do you think that¡¯s normal?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Sebastian opened the car¡¯s window. ¡°You should get out, because your, oh! Is that Linley?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Please dad, I don¡¯t want to go out,¡± Callistoined.


    ¡°Are you ashamed that you¡¯re attending the same school?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡±


    ¡°Then get out, or I will bete to work. Remember, this is the first day.¡±


    Callisto reluctantly stepped out of the car, and he was surprised when his father called Linley. But the crowd had gathered instead. Those girls¡¯ gazes drew him into embarrassment. Is he so handsome? He¡¯s not used to having a lot of students following him.


    ¡°I¡¯m so surprised! You said you¡¯re going home, and now I met you here on our campus?¡± Linley interrogated.


    Callisto touched his eyelids and smiled. He doesn¡¯t know what to say but observes the people around him. The feeling of being in a public school is quite different. Even those students seem to be off.


    ¡°Why are they working instead of studying?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s the punishment if you don¡¯t follow the rules of our school.¡±


    ¡°Ah. What are the rules anyway?¡±


    ¡°You need to carry one sack of rice every day,¡± Linley replied. ¡°Joke. Don¡¯t be nervous; they won¡¯t punish you if you are kind.¡±


    Callisto knew Linley was just joking, so they continued to their ssroom. Perhaps it¡¯s destiny that brought them together in one room? They are not just ssmates, but also seatmates.


    ¡°Good morning, ss,¡± said the teacher. ¡°Anyway, we have a new student here. Come, mister, introduce yourself.¡±


    Callisto stood up and walked to the front. ¡°I¡¯m Callisto Buenaventura. You may call me Cal, Lis, To, or anything you want.¡±


    Hearing him, the room drowned inughter. They don¡¯t know that their new ssmate is a bit funny. Callisto brought himself back to his seat and listened to their teacher¡¯s discussion.


    After the ss, Callisto took his backpack and stood up. He hadn¡¯t even gotten out of the ssroom, but he knew the girls and gays were waiting for him outside, looking at him through the windows. He doesn¡¯t know if he can stay here longer.


    Without Callisto¡¯s notice, Linley grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the room. She was so brave to make their way through the crowd, and then they both took the road back home.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me just because of that. We¡¯ve been friends since the first day you arrived here. Forgotten?¡± Linley asked.


    ¡°But you know, I didn¡¯t know that I was so handsome. I was so out of confidence that I always hid myself from the crowd, but now, I just realized.¡± Callisto shook his head.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to deny it; you¡¯re handsome. Though people see you differently, just be who you are.¡± Linley wonders how those people will not pursue Callisto if he inherited his father¡¯s looks as a child. That even a goddess would fall in love with him.


    ¡°That¡¯s also what Stalin told me. You know, she¡¯s alone again in our house. I¡¯m thinking if Ruth can take care of her.¡±


    Stalin again? Again and again? Linley secretly clenched her teeth. How dare she take care of her rival? She was really wrong to trust her. She could even go against her master¡¯s will!


    ¡°You¡¯re lulled? Is there something wrong?¡± Callisto asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m just curious if Stalin, you know, a goddess, cursed her right? How could she get out of that curse?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I can¡¯t make myself believe that I¡¯m in a fairy tale, that when I kissed her, the curse was destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Maybe you¡¯re right. What if you decide to visit meter? Let¡¯s have a good time with our friends,¡± Linley invited.


    ¡°But my father won¡¯t let me. You know him, he seems to be a fish out of water every time I won¡¯t follow his advice.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will ask him about it.¡± Linley touched and slightly massaged Callisto¡¯s shoulder with her devilish intentions.


    After a few moments of walking, Linley told Callisto that she would be there. She thought that a father¡¯s sin is also a son¡¯s sin. Callisto continued until he finally reached home.


    ¡°How was school, bro?¡± Ruth asked in a worried manner, although her brother hadn¡¯t yet stepped on the floor of the verandah.


    ¡°Exhausting!¡± Callisto panted. He sat down on the floor and could almosty down. His legs, he thought, would be bigger if he did this every day.


    ¡°And why didn¡¯t you just wait for dad?¡±


    ¡°He told me he¡¯s working extra hours today.¡± Callisto sighed. ¡°Have you cooked for dinner? How about Stalin?¡±


    ¡°Yup. I also took care of your girlfriend. She¡¯s been talking with me the whole day, and she¡¯s taking a rest now.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Callisto eximed and stood up. ¡°Taking a rest?¡±


    ¡°Yup, she¡¯s sleeping in your bed. Why? ¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ I thought she-never mind. Thank you, anyway.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s just hunger. Come in, let¡¯s get inside.¡±


    Callisto gathered his belongings from the floor and followed his sister into the dining room. He was thinking, but he didn¡¯t know what to do if his girlfriend died. He even thought of dying, but not her.


    ¡°My boyfriend is here!¡± Someone shouted.


    Your boyfriend? Callisto turned back and saw Stalin holding an exp¨¦rimented teddy bear. He stood up and walked towards her. He took her hand and led her to the table.


    ¡°There¡¯s someone outside,¡± Ruth reported when she heard a doorbell. She jumped down the table when Callisto held the tips of her shirt.


    ¡°Let me have a look. Have your dinner first,¡± Callisto ordered. ¡°Maybe it is dad!¡± He continued to the door and opened it.


    ¡°Hi,¡± the girl in flimsy clothes said, smiling.


    ¡°Linley?¡± Callisto queried. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that I¡¯de here to invite you to have a good time?¡± Linley grabbed Callisto¡¯s hand and pulled him out of the house.


    ¡°But. I haven¡¯t even changed my clothes or eaten my dinner.¡±


    ¡°No more buts, let¡¯s go to my friend¡¯s house.¡±Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    The loud music and scrambling noises pierce the silence of the night. Callisto didn¡¯t know that he had an outgoing friend, which made him think. How? Linley hadn¡¯t been like this before.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have a toast.¡± Linley gave him a ss of gin. ¡°Cheers!¡±


    As soon as time went by, Callisto could no longer hold the drunkenness. He didn¡¯t know how many sses of alcohol he had taken, but all he remembered was that Linley had done something.


    As the night turned into day, Callisto was shocked to find himself barely lying on someone else¡¯s bed. He firmly held his aching head, and he remembered what happened. That wasn¡¯t right! He searched for his clothes when the door cried out.


    ¡°Good morning. Are you searching for this?¡± Linley asked while holding a sanguine jacket.


    Callisto stood up and tried to get his jacket from her, but she threw it back to him, and so he chased it without his awareness that they were now both lying on it.


    ¡°Wanna do what we didst night again?¡± Linley whispered.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Callisto queried.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend that you don¡¯t know. I know you were not that drunk, because you even have the strength to fight.¡± Linley smirked.


    ¡°What the hell!¡± Callisto sprang out of bed and put on his jacket.


    ¡°Ohe on, I know you love to do that with me.¡±


    ¡°Do that with yourself if you want, but I need to go to school.¡± Callisto opened the door and hurriedly went back home.


    Linley smiled in her devilish manner as the obscure but explicit scene yed in her mind. The way he would kiss her lips, she wanted to give everything to him; her neck, her breast, her navel, even her cleavage.

 Chapter 22 She knew the truth

    Callisto¡¯s steps were screaming. He didn¡¯t mean to deceive his girlfriend. He did not. He¡¯s thinking, why did he go with that harlot if he knew she was? Perhaps he was thinking that she had changed, but she really had. She¡¯s not the Linley he knew.


    He¡¯s lucky, he thought, because Stalin wasn¡¯t yet awake when he jumped out of the window of his bedroom. He made no noise while picking his clothes from the closet.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Stalin asked.


    Callisto didn¡¯t move for a while, and slowly turned with a surprised face. Stalin saw him in a situation which she didn¡¯t expect, as if he hade somewhere and hadn¡¯t evenbed his hair.


    ¡°I¡¯m, I was, I¡¯m preparing for school,¡± Callisto stammered.


    Stalin didn¡¯t say anything. She sprang out of bed and got out of the room with the thought, Where is her boyfriend gone? Why didn¡¯t he sleep with herst night? She continued to the dining room.


    ¡°Oh! You wake up earlier. Where¡¯s Callisto?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I haven¡¯t seen him sincest night,¡± Stalin replied.


    ¡°What do you mean? He didn¡¯t go home yesterday?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what she meant, dad,¡± Ruth interrupted. ¡°Brother-¡±


    ¡°Why are you talking about me?¡± Callisto appeared at the door. He hadn¡¯t even fastened his shirt when he heard them talking, so he came to, ¡°I slept herest night. We just had research for school.¡±


    How dare he, Stalin thought. He¡¯s not ashamed to lie? Where did he learn to do that? from school? She wants to shout everything she knows, but she can¡¯t pronounce any words.


    ¡°So, what are you still waiting for?¡± Sebastian asked. ¡°Eat your breakfast so that you can go with me, and you won¡¯t need to pay for a jeepney fare.¡±


    Callisto sat down beside Stalin and joined them in eating food. He feels so sorry and guilty every time their elbows touch. But he knew he couldn¡¯t me everything on Linley because it was him who joined. So he thought he would never do that again.


    After eating their breakfast and going to school, Callisto walks into the campus while looking at the ground. He doesn¡¯t want to show his face, because those students will follow him again. As he walked on, Callisto bumped into someone.


    ¡°What the hell!¡± She eximed. ¡°Are you blind?¡±


    As Callisto looked up, he saw a beautiful face. He has a friend who he doesn¡¯t want to be his friend anymore. Delh, Samson¡¯s girlfriend and also one of the most beautiful girls in their school.


    ¡°Callisto?¡± She smiled, but her jaw drooped. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to exim at you. I was thinking, you were one of those repulsive boys.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to: I¡¯m not looking in that direction,¡± Callisto responded.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to your ssroom?¡± Delh asked. ¡°I just noticed: you and Linley are friends, right?¡±


    ¡°Yup, I¡¯m going to my room, but I don¡¯t really want to be Linley¡¯s friend. I think she¡¯d changed a lot.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. She¡¯s also not talking with us anymore; even Caroline told me that they don¡¯t have anymunication either.¡±


    So what¡¯s the connection between that and him? Callisto nodded and told her that he needed to go, for he also noticed that the students were looking at them. He entered his ssroom and took a seat.


    If you¡¯re so unlucky, Callisto thought. Linley sits beside him. And not just that, she seems tomit sexual assault too. So when he had an opportunity to go away from her, Callisto grabbed it.


    ¡°Why are you avoiding me?¡± Linley chased him towards the gate.


    ¡°Why are you asking me that?¡± Callisto responded. ¡°You must know that yourself. I¡¯m not here for you, but for my studies.¡±


    Linley was lulled, but she never thought that what she did was wrong. She feels irritated that she made a quick decision. It will be difficult for her to win back his trust.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry! Please forgive me!¡± Linley implored.


    Callisto didn¡¯t want her to do that, especially since he didn¡¯t want others to think that he was a bully, that he could hurt even a girl, so he turned back and pulled her out of the campus.


    ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you, but you must not act like a harlot. Distance yourself from me because I¡¯m not the only male in this world. Why won¡¯t you go with your boyfriend instead?¡± Callisto suggestedOwned by N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°That meddling? I already killed him yesterday,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Callisto queried but didn¡¯t stop walking.


    ¡°I said, I don¡¯t like him, but you. You already know that!¡±


    ¡°Can you stop eximing here?¡± Callisto walked faster so that she couldn¡¯t reach him, but she¡¯s so aggressive and won¡¯t stop chasing him.


    ¡°But that¡¯s the truth. I like you, Callisto! And I¡¯m willing to be your concubine! Please just give me a chance!¡±


    What the hell? Is she crazy? Does she think that she¡¯ll be given a chance because she tells the world that she has feelings for him? She must get out of what she¡¯s thinking, because he¡¯ll never love another.


    ¡°I already have one, and one is enough. If you could give me two hearts, I might love you, but I¡¯m only human!¡± Callisto eximed.


    ¡°But Callisto, I¡¯m willing to offer you my heart, as how I offered you my flesh! I¡¯m just asking for a chance. I swear, she won¡¯t know. Just have a try; there¡¯s nothing that will be gone if you try to love me.¡±


    Callisto sighed. Is he free to do whatever others tell him to because his girlfriend has amnesia? But he¡¯s thinking that it¡¯s just a test of how much he loves his girlfriend.


    Callisto eventually arrived at their house, and Linley wasn¡¯t following him anymore. Perhaps she was tired of chasing him, and he didn¡¯t care either. Because of that, he quickly arrived home.


    ¡°Why are you sweating?¡± Ruth asked.


    ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just because it¡¯s so warm.¡± Callisto sat down on the verandah and wiped the sweat that dripped from his face and neck.


    ¡°Warm? But the summer is over and it¡¯s getting cooler here.¡±


    ¡°Okay. You won. You¡¯re older than me to be fooled, but please don¡¯t act like you¡¯re mom.¡± Callisto sighed. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t tell my girlfriend if I tell you about this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not mom, but of course I won¡¯t. You know me well.¡±


    ¡°Linley was Stalin¡¯s friend. You know her, right? Have you already met her before?¡±


    ¡°The sexy girl who resembles a bamboo?¡± Ruth sat down beside her brother. She looked at his cheeks and listened soundly to his story.


    Callisto chuckled at hearing Ruth¡¯s words. ¡°She¡¯s changed. Last night, remember that person who visited here? It was Linley. She invited me to go to her friend¡¯s house, and-¡±


    ¡°And what? Did she have a good time with you?¡± Stalin asked, who suddenly appeared at the door behind them.


    Callisto looked back. ¡°Stalin?¡± His mouth drooped. ¡°Nope. We-¡±


    ¡°Can you stop fooling me, Callisto? I¡¯m older than your sister, and how can you lie to your father? How can you lie to me? How can you lie to us? Don¡¯t you love me anymore? Don¡¯t you trust me anymore?¡± Tears rolled down her eyes, down to her cheeks. ¡°My best friend invited you to her friend¡¯s house and you had sex, right?¡±


    Callisto couldn¡¯t say anything, but suddenly stood up and cuddled Stalin. He was thinking that she really had amnesia, that she really forgot those beautiful memories, that she couldn¡¯t remember everything that happened every day, but he was wrong.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± He cuddled her tightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t, I¡¯m so sorry. I don¡¯t know what to say, but you¡¯re wrong in what you¡¯re thinking. I¡¯m not fooling you. I didn¡¯t mean to lie. I love you more than anything else.¡±


    ¡°But why? Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this?¡± Stalin asked while wiping the tears out of her face and pushing her boyfriend away.


    ¡°Why?¡± Callisto replied. ¡°Why did you pretend to have amnesia? Why didn¡¯t you tell me that everything was just fine?¡±


    ¡°Can you stop changing the topic? I¡¯m asking you, everything isn¡¯t fine because of you, so answer me.¡±


    ¡°I know, you don¡¯t trust me either. That¡¯s why you¡¯re thinking about that. But I would not deceive my girlfriend, even how crazy she is.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Someone interrupted. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡±


    Seeing their father, Ruth stood up. ¡°Honestly, dad, it was my mistake. I know everything that happened between them, their secrets, their ns, but I remained silent,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°Oh? My baby girl knew their secrets?¡± Sebastian carried Ruth.


    ¡°Dad! Listen to me. Don¡¯t call me baby girl, because I¡¯m no longer little. Everyone¡¯s secrets are revealed. I also want to be frank,¡± Ruth said in a serious tone of voice.


    Sebastian was surprised at how his daughter would say things as if she¡¯d already matured and knew a lot of things about them. He put her down on the floor and let her exin what was happening.


    ¡°Stalin doesn¡¯t have amnesia. She told me to backup her n, which is to test how much Callisto loved her. Whereas, my brother, you¡¯re old enough to exin your side, you must exin that.¡±


    ¡°What? Am I the only one who doesn¡¯t know these?¡± Sebastian interrupted. ¡°Son, what¡¯s that thing that they are talking about?¡±


    ¡°Dad, I really didn¡¯t mean to lie. I thought it was just fine. I thought that you would scold me and hang me upside-down, though I¡¯m not that little anymore. But we, Linley and I, We had sex that night.¡±


    ¡°I unders-but, you! How many times do I need to tell you not to let that itch decide your future?¡± Sebastian bridled up, then seriously walked towards his son.


    ¡°Dad dad dad, please don¡¯t pinch me!¡± Callisto begged.


    ¡°Who told you that I would pinch you if that¡¯s not enough?¡± Sebastian patted his son¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I just want to remind you that you need to do your responsibility if her hips expand.¡±


    When the silence prevailed-is that all he could say? Stalin thought. Perhaps he inherited his father¡¯s stupidity. That they consider them as rugs, which they¡¯ll throw away after being used.


    What about me? Stalin screamed in her mind. Why are they not thinking about me? Am I just an ad for them? That when there¡¯s nothing left, I¡¯ll be a substitute? She got inside their bedroom,id down on the bed, and covered herself with the nket.


    ¡°I was wrong. I don¡¯t totally know him. How could he do this to me? How could he hurt me so much?¡± Stalin wondered.


    She stood up with an unrighteous thought. She stared at the nket on her hand, then climbed to the attic, and attached it to the ceiling. She doesn¡¯t care if she died, as if she¡¯s not in her normal state of mind.


    ¡°Stalin!!!¡± Callisto screamed when he opened the door of their bedroom. ¡°Why are you hanging there? Why did you leave me? Don¡¯t you love me anymore? Stalin!¡±


    Stalin, pale and lifeless, is dangling from the ceiling!

 Chapter 23 Post of unexpected death

    Sebastian couldn¡¯t believe that his son could do that. He didn¡¯t listen to his advice. Perhaps he feels pleasure in flirting with others, although he already had a girlfriend. When he was of age, Sebastian remembered, he was even more repulsive than his son.


    ¡°Stalin!¡± Callisto panted.


    As he opened his eyes, Callisto realized that he was dreaming, that Stalin wasn¡¯t hanging from the ceiling and that she was sleeping soundly beside him. It was a nightmare. He cuddled her tightly as if he didn¡¯t want her to go. He didn¡¯t know what to do if she went.


    ¡°Why? What happened?¡± Stalin queried.


    ¡°I thought, I thought you died,¡± Callisto gasped. ¡°Please don¡¯t think that I didn¡¯t love you.¡±


    ¡°Why are you thinking that I should. You¡¯ve been taking care of me since I was crazy, and even if I have amnesia, so don¡¯t doubt my love for you.¡±


    ¡°But your friend. Are you not mad at me?¡±


    ¡°If I am, what can anger do? I know you didn¡¯t like what she did.¡± Stalin put herself near Callisto¡¯s body, leaving no space, then kissed his cheeks and wiped his tears. ¡°I can be better.¡±


    The cold air flows hither and thither, but Callisto feels the warmth of Stalin¡¯s love with how she would kiss him and rub herself against his body. They couldn¡¯t feel the coldness of the winter.


    ¡°Let¡¯s continue thister. I still need to go to school.¡± Callisto kissed Stalin¡¯s cheeks and jumped out of bed.


    ¡°Can I go with you?¡± Stalin asked. ¡°I swear, I won¡¯t disturb you.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever gone to school? I mean, if at what level are you?¡±


    ¡°I never did. I don¡¯t know. I have no memories of when I did, and this might be the first time if you¡¯ll let me.¡± Stalin sprang out of bed and walked towards him. ¡°I was homeschooling during those days.¡±


    ¡°But promise me you won¡¯t ask for a fight.¡± Callisto opened the door and they continued to the dining room.


    ¡°Good to see you both here,¡± Sebastian remarked. ¡°You should not hide secrets from each other if you want to have a longsting rtionship.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ruth anyway?¡± Callisto sat down on the chair.


    ¡°Your sister is not that young anymore; she acts like an old woman.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not Ruth, Dad, she¡¯s Cryrie. Do you know her?¡±


    The name sounded familiar, Sebastian thought, as if he had heard that name before. He just doesn¡¯t remember. What came to his mind was how he had amnesia. That exciting moment in their lives, they were driving to their honeymoon when they had an ident.


    When he woke up, Sebastian wondered if he was already in heaven and his wife was the angel taking care of him, and he was thankful that she never changed, though his memories were wiped out with the wind.


    ¡°I remember!¡± Sebastian eximed. ¡°But how did it happen? Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? She might be nning something wrong!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be overacting, Dad. We have been with Ruth for over eight years,¡± Callisto defended. ¡°She will never n to do wrong to us.¡±


    ¡°And how can you be sure?¡±


    ¡°You were the ones who raised her, you and mom. How can she hurt those people who considered her a family?¡±


    ¡°You have a point, but I¡¯m still not convinced. I can¡¯t even believe that she¡¯s Cryrie, but if she is, there¡¯s probably a reason why Estre sent her, and that might be to take revenge.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so worried, dad. Estre has already died. She¡¯s not that smart as we think, because she killed herself.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What are you talking about? Don¡¯t you know that she might just suddenly appear and sh your neck with that?¡±


    ¡°But dad, I¡¯m not as mediocre as you think, because Ruth already told me the whole story. That Estre killed herself during your wedding, so you don¡¯t need to worry about her.¡±


    ¡°Okay, and why are we talking about this? You still need to go to school and me, I¡¯m going to work. How about Ruth?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve said it already, Ruth is not that young anymore. Perhaps she¡¯s doing something for herself.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ Stalin will be left here?¡± Sebastian asked.


    ¡°Nah. She¡¯s going to school with me,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s nice; no one will be left here. You should prepare yourselves now if you want to join with me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still early, so we¡¯ll walk to school, and we haven¡¯t even eaten our breakfast yet, but you are so excited. You may go first.¡±


    After tying his shoes, Sebastian opened the door and went outside the house. Every time he would open the door and see Mount Octover, the first thing which crossed his mind was how their lives were.


    ¡°Hi Dad. Are you going to work?¡± Ruth asked.


    ¡°Yup. And what is my baby-Ruth doing here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m nning vegetables. I¡¯ll make our surroundings green again.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nice. You¡¯ll be a certified ntita soon.¡± Sebastian then continued to the car. ¡°You¡¯ll be left alone here today!¡±Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry dad, I¡¯m ustomed to being alone!¡±


    Hearing his daughter¡¯s words, Sebastian felt guilty. He knew they weren¡¯t paying much attention to her because they knew she wasn¡¯t their biological daughter.


    But what can they do? Ruth was reincarnated through her master¡¯s power, and Sebastian can¡¯t force himself to trust her any longer. He even wondered if she had a connection to his wife¡¯s death.


    With his bad inference and foreboding, Sebastian drove furiously. Then a car dashes off and identally collides against the post of unexpected death. The bench was thest thing that appeared in his sight before everything turned dark.


    Callisto halted and held his chest when he felt a sudden heart ache. He and Stalin were going to school, but Callisto feels like he doesn¡¯t want to continue. The ufortability is telling him something he can¡¯t exin.


    ¡°Why did you stop?¡± Stalin turned back and walked towards him.


    ¡°Maybe, I feel like,¡± Callisto paused, ¡°I don¡¯t know what I feel.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a stomach ache? Head ache? Fever or what?¡±


    ¡°Heart ache; My heartbeat isn¡¯t normal every time you¡¯re with me.¡±


    ¡°And you still know how to joke regardless of that?¡± Stalin reprimanded him. ¡°If you¡¯re not in the mood to go to school, then we can go back.¡±


    ¡°But we have a test today. My grade will be affected if I don¡¯t attend.¡± Callisto insisted, though his palm wouldn¡¯t leave his chest.


    ¡°No more buts, send an excuse letter to your teacher. You have your phone right?¡± Stalin stepped back, but noticed that Callisto wasn¡¯t moving. ¡°Do you want to go or are you waiting for me to carry you?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re strong, but I¡¯m heavier.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go. You might be tired of what we didst night. I¡¯m sure your teacher can understand. Let¡¯s go home and take a rest instead.¡± Stalin grabbed his hand and attempted to go when someone blocked his way.


    ¡°Hi, Callisto!¡± She greeted them. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Adide,¡± Stalin remarked. ¡°Do you know Callisto¡¯s teachers?¡±


    ¡°Yup, why? And who are you anyway?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m,¡± Stalin stammered.


    ¡°She¡¯s Milo! My girlfriend,¡± Callisto interrupted.


    ¡°Oh! So you have a girlfriend? I thought you were single.¡±


    ¡°Yup. We¡¯ve been dating since March.¡±


    ¡°So what are you doing here? Are you going to school?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly the reason why we stopped. He¡¯s not feeling well, so I¡¯m asking if you can help us by telling his teachers that he¡¯ll be absent.¡±


    ¡°Of course. No problem. I hope that he¡¯ll be fine soon.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Laide!¡± Stalin eximed.


    How did she know me? Adide wondered as she took her way. They were not even friends, but why was she calling her like they already knew each other? That gorgeous girl named Milo is perfect for a bread.


    After a lot of moments of walking, Callisto and Stalin eventually arrived home. They saw Ruth, who still nts vegetables while humming a song as if she¡¯s a bird with her catchy voice.


    ¡°Oh! Why did youe back?¡± Ruth inquired.


    ¡°Callisto is so theatrical. Perhaps he needs to take a rest for now.¡±


    ¡°Said the one who¡¯s not!¡± Callisto half-shouted as he continued inside the house. She was the one who persuaded him to go back, and now she will tell him that he¡¯s so theatrical?


    ¡°How about you?¡± Stalin asked Ruth. ¡°Why won¡¯t you take a rest first and drink some warm soup? It¡¯s cold here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s cold and I have no one to hug and to talk with except these nts, unlike you, but we can prepare a soup together,¡± Ruth suggested.


    They went inside the house and continued to the kitchen while Callisto was inside his bedroom. staring out through the window with inexplicable feelings. His father, he suddenly thought, he hoped nothing bad had happened to him.

 Chapter 24 Why did she do that?

    The sun had sunk to the horizon and the darkness gathered, but Callisto could not calm himself down thinking about why his father was not home yet. Is there something wrong happening? He did not inform them that he would be working extra hours today.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just wait for a little while,¡± Stalin suggested.


    ¡°Dad will never do this without informing me.¡± Callisto sighed.


    Ruth was holding her chin on the table, looking at the food they were cooking, which was gradually turning cold. She, too, became curious about why their father was not yet home, though it was already eight o¡¯clock.


    ¡°Brother, why won¡¯t you call him?¡± Ruthmanded.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Let me get my phone first.¡±


    Callisto stood up and continued to the living room, while Stalin followed him. He unplugged his phone from the socket, and remembered that his father did not have a phone. He also does not know the number and address of his workce.


    ¡°What kind of-how can we contact him in that case?¡± Stalin asked.


    ¡°Maybe he left something inside his room that we can use to know where he works.¡± Callisto threw his phone on the couch and continued inside his father¡¯s bedroom.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Stalin took a magazine from the desk.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch Dad¡¯s-¡± Callisto grabbed the magazine from Stalin and looked at it. ¡°Right! He¡¯s working there.¡± He pointed to the address written on the page.


    They got out of the room. Callisto pulled his jacket from the clothesline and told his sister that they were going to the address he saw in the magazine. Ruth told them that she would be left at home so that someone could watch for it.


    A few momentster, Callisto was stuck seeing their car, which bumped onto a post ahead. The way his heart beat had changed: it throbbed faster like a machine as he approached slowly.


    ¡°Dad? Dad!¡± He screamed while punching the window. ¡°Open this!¡±


    Stalin did not say anything, but she could feel how worried her boyfriend was. Callisto angrily punched the car¡¯s window several times, so she got close and opened it for him. Then his loud scream neutralized the silence of what was exposed in front of him.


    ¡°Please, dad! Wake up! Don¡¯t leave me! Dad! Please!¡± Callisto implored while shaking the dead Sebastian.


    ¡°He¡¯s dead. We can do nothing; we can¡¯t bring him back to life,¡± Stalin remarked.


    ¡°No, no no! He¡¯s not dead!¡± It was just yesterday, Callisto remembered. His father would pinch his ears because he was so stubborn, but now he cannot do that anymore.


    He cuddled him in a shivering manner, while Stalin was calling for help. Fortunately, there was a group of people passing by the spot where the ident happened, and they helped them bring Callisto¡¯s father to the morgue.


    Callisto would not let go of the dead Sebastian, even though those men were telling him he was already a corpse. But a corpse or not, Callisto knew he was the man who took care of him since he was little, the man who could sacrifice everything for him, the man who brought him here, and also the man who left him alone. Callisto does not know what to do now that he¡¯s gone.


    ¡°Please Callisto. I know how sorrowful you are right now,¡± Stalin told him. ¡°But we got to ept that everyonees to death.¡±


    ¡°That is easy to say. But how can I ept that everyone is taken away from me now?¡± Callisto cried. ¡°How can I ept that I¡¯m alone? That everyone I love leaves me!?¡±


    ¡°Stop thinking like that, Callisto. There¡¯s always a rainbow after the rain. And please, don¡¯t forget you¡¯re not alone because I¡¯m here. I will be there with you in every fight.¡± Stalin embraced Callisto who was also embracing the dead Sebastian.


    ¡°Even though everyone will leave you, I will always be here by your side. That¡¯s what you should think. I think that we can win these trials together. Remember, it¡¯s not yet the end of the world.¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    At first, it was only his mother who died, and then his father followed. What sort of life did he lead!? What kind of sin did hemit that everyone he loved would be taken away from him? Callisto could not stop crying, although he knew it could not change the situation.


    After being embalmed, Callisto could feel the pain as if he had been the one who had been inserted with a trocar in the chest instead of his father. Thereafter, the operation waspleted, and Sebastian was ced inside his coffin. Callisto and Stalin went back home.


    Seeing them step out of the vehicle with a casket, Ruth became curious. She did not know who was the person lying inside the box, but she remembered and had an inference that it was the man who had raised her, which was true.


    ¡°Daddy?¡± Ruth eximed. ¡°Dad! What are you doing in that box?¡±


    Even though she knew that they did not have any connection when it came to blood, Ruth could not stop herself from being emotional. After over eight years of being with each other, although she was acting like a little girl before, she could not deny that they had be so close.


    ¡°How did he die? I mean, how did this happen?¡± Ruth asked in a serious tone of voice, as if she was nning to take revenge for Sebastian.


    ¡°We found him inside the car, lifeless. Based on what I saw, I think he had an ident because the car was bumped against the post,¡± Stalin exined.


    Ruth knew she was wrong in what she was thinking. The nymph did not have any connection with what happened to Sebastian, although she felt ufortable as if the nymph was doing something again. Maybe that was only a hunch, so she got near to Callisto, who was taking a glimpse at their father, and embraced his shank.


    ¡°I hope everything will be fine soon,¡± Ruth whispered.


    Callisto carried his sister so that she could also see their father¡¯s face, which looked like he was afraid, as if even when his eyes were not closed, he saw something incredible, and that might be the reason he had an ident.


    It was over then, the whirling wind whispered. She finally took revenge on those people who gave her too much pain. Perhaps it was time for her to take a break, but no, she needed to stand on something she had done.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Stalin asked in a mad voice.


    ¡°I received news that uncle Sebastian died, so I came to convey my condolences,¡± Linley replied, and attempted to step on the floor of the verandah when Stalin seized her arm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever try to get near my boyfriend,¡± Stalin warned.


    ¡°Wow! So you now know how to fight?¡± Linley pulled her arm back. ¡°Are not you affected that your boyfriend and I are having a child?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Stalin eximed. She could not believe that what Linley and Callisto did some days ago had quickly yielded.


    ¡°Why are you lulled? Will you let me enter or not?¡±


    Stalin appeared to copse from shock, and she did when Ruth caught her with her little arms, despite the fact that she was heavier than she was. Ruth felt like there was something different about Linley; she smelled the familiar scent.


    ¡°Oh! So my obedient servant is also here.¡± Linley¡¯s voice changed.


    ¡°Estre?¡± Ruth inquired. ¡°How-how could you do this?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking me that? I must be the one to ask you why you became disobedient. And how dare you deceive me?¡± She grabbed Ruth¡¯s arm, which made her identally release the unconscious Stalin.


    ¡°Can you stop dragging me? My arm hurts!¡± Ruthined.


    ¡°Hey! What¡¯s happening-Stalin?¡± Callisto eximed in surprise of what he saw when he stepped out the door. ¡°What did you do to my girlfriend?¡±


    Callisto shook Stalin to wake her up. He was thinking that she had already followed his father, but he was lucky that she was just unconscious, and she woke up with a slight headache after a few moments.


    ¡°Where are Linley and Ruth?¡± Stalin asked while trying to stand up.


    ¡°Thanks you¡¯re awake. I saw Linley carried Ruth away, she was running and I don¡¯t know where they went.¡± Callisto offered her a hand.


    ¡°Are you not worried about your sister?¡± Stalin asked.


    ¡°Nope. She¡¯s old enough to manage everything herself. Why have you asked me that?¡± Callisto led his girlfriend to the stool, and they both sat down.


    ¡°But you¡¯re wrong. That girl isn¡¯t Linley,¡± Stalin stated.


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Callisto inquired.


    ¡°I know Linley well, for we¡¯ve been friends since we were little. And that girl who talked like that was not really a friend of mine. And Linley would never fight me, even though I¡¯m the one who started to fight her.¡±


    ¡°Oh? But who was that person if she was not Linley?¡± Callisto asked curiously. ¡°Though your words sound impossible, I¡¯m trying to believe you.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the-perhaps-but I¡¯m not sure,¡± Linley tried to exin.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that person in your mind? Tell me.¡±


    ¡°The nymph who cursed me. You knew her well. Perhaps she came back in order to take revenge, and she might have a connection to your father¡¯s death,¡± Stalin guessed. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    ¡°You might be just tired. Estre died for the second time, and Ruth told me that she could note back to her real appearance if it¡¯s not summer.¡±


    ¡°Did not you get it? She entered Linley¡¯s body,¡± Stalin exined.


    ¡°We¡¯ll know that once Ruthes back,¡± Callisto replied.


    ¡°But what if she can¡¯t? What if Ruth won¡¯te back?¡±


    Callisto wondered why it had just entered his mind. If Linley was Estre, his sister could not probablye back, and he did not know what to do if she was also gone. Therefore, Callisto stood up and hurriedly ran to the direction where he saw Linley and Ruth were going.


    ¡°Hey! Wait for me!¡± Stalin shouted and ran behind her boyfriend.


    ¡°Goddammit!¡± Callisto scowled at seeing his lifeless sister hanging from themppost by the roadside near the bench.


    ¡°Oh my gosh! Why did she do that?¡± Stalin screamed.


    Horrendous! Screamed their minds. Loud heartbeats, Callisto did not know what to feel. Although Ruth was not his real sister, he considered her as part of their family for over seven years.


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