The Upcoming Winter

"Little shit! Get a grip!"

W—what happened? Why can't I move? It hurts, it hurts so much! W—why?

"Ready the —"

Wha— Urgh!! Ha— Ha— I—m losing my —

*beep—beep—beep*

"You awake, little shit?"

Am I— this room is so unusua—

"Calm down first, I'll explain kid."

Zuan? Explain? What? Urgh— my body hurts so much— What happened? I can't reca—

"Little shit, calm down and listen. When you guys took a taxi, you remember there's a light, right?"

"The taxi you rode, it got hit by a dump truck."

Huh?— wa—wait!! We got hit by a truck? Da—dad!! Shit! I'm truly hapless!

"I overheard earlier from the police that, the truck driver was drunk and fell asleep."

Dad!— where's dad? I can't— why can't I speak? Did I got injured so much that I can't move even my mouth?

"It's unfortunate, kid. Just rest for now, and take your time to heal."

Do I even have the leisure to do that! Where's my dad! I need him! I need to see him! I need to see my da—

I just can't seem to calm myself, the pain, the numbness, and the confusion are affecting my thoughts, I can't think properly, all I wanted was to see my dad, to know what happened to him.

Even if I put all my effort, I can't lift my fingers, nor open my mouth. I'm just wide awake and all I can do is unfurl my eyes and cry.

I just cried until no tears are falling. I'm grieving, I'm in pain, I'm crumbling, and I couldnt blame anyone, but only myself.

I've regressed, but for what? For this? I've already lost my mom, but it seems like I will also lose my dad.

Zuan was the one ray of hope; I want Zuan to tell me that my father is well, that he is doing well, but my mouth won't open, and Zuan can't read my thoughts.

Is this truly what I deserved? For beating Christian? Is this my fate? Will fate keeps on strangling me until I'm exhausted?

Weeks have gone, and all I can do is open my mouth, and I still haven't heard anything about my father. The only thing I know is that the truck driver received a life sentence.

Life sentence? Why? No one told me why, because even though I can move my mouth, I don't have the courage to ask and face the inevitable.

Deep inside of me knew that I'm alone, but my heart kept on declining that reality.

"Kid, are you ready to talk now?"

"Zuan, am I?" *sob*

"Will you always run? Will you continue to run?" *sigh*

"Kid, you already know what happened to your dad, even if you mourn all your life, nothing will change."

"Listen here, kid. That's just what life is, it's not always balance. Take you time."

*Knock—*

As soon as I saw the person who entered my room, before I knew it, I was already filled with hostility, pain, and rage.

The truck driver fell asleep because he was drunk? It was just a coincidence you say? I know something's wrong, I know you set it up!

I know it was you all along, Christian! But, even if I know, what can I do—

"Did you like my present, gareth? This is what happens when you messed with the wrong person! It's not the end, gareth! I'll make sure you live a living hell!"

"For now, I'll make sure you live and pay your bills! When you get discharge, expect another present from me, gareth."

"I know it was you all along."

"Do you want to hear the secret my dad was hiding from everyone?"

"Even if I know, that won't change a thing."

As I lay on my death bed, with dead eyes, and express a prideful words, nothing will change. I already resolved myself, I just need time.

"Oh my~ well let me tell you then, I just love seeing you suffer. HAHAHA"

"Gareth, let me tell you a very sad story."

"11 years ago, my dad was having a walk on a park, near bolton. He just wanted to breath some fresh air. However, he saw a beautiful lady, a beautiful one. My dad was curious of what thats girl origin, so he approached that woman, but— when my dad's already near the beautiful lady, a street vendor approached that lady and kissed her. Well, my dad made a call, and after that, coincidentally, that beautiful lady died from a car crushed, and his husband got disabled. HAHAHA this was a story that my father told me, what a great story, right?"

My dead eyes turned into an eyes fall of hostility and rage. Pain, depression, depravity, sorrow, madness, and rage, these mixed feelings cornered me—

"YOU ARE A FUCKING PSYCHOPATH!! HOW COULD YOU AND YOUR FATHER KILL MY MOTHER JUST BECAUSE OF SOME INSIGNIFICANT REASONS!! CURSE YO—"

"Oh my~ seems like our dear Gareth still not ready for this conversation, rest well gareth, be ready for my upcoming presents. I'll make sure you regret being alive!" *smirks*

"JUST WAIT FOR ME CHRISTIAN!! I'LL TURN YOUR FAMILY, FATE AND YOUR LIF— URGH!! UPSIDE DOWN!! JUST YOU WAI—"

I wanted to say more, but I suddenly felt dizzy and lost my consciousness. So that's what happened, huh? That's why the driver was never known, and the car was unregistered and the case was closed.

You killed my parents, took my life, and made it a living hell for some irrational reason, and you're saying it's still not a living hell I'm experiencing given that I have nothing to lose?

Just— wait, just you wait, Christian, I'll pay you back, a hundred fold! No! A thousand! This pain, this sadness, this sorrow, and this rage, I'll make you feel it! I'll make sure you die a horrible painful death!

"You need to decide now, kid. Think about it."

"Help me— help me on my revenge Zuan, I'll do whatever you say! Whatever you make me do!"

"Think about it first and firmly resolve yourself, because as soon as you agree to follow the path of killing, you won't be able to change the course of it."

"I've already lost everything, Zuan! What else do I need to think about!"

"Calm yourself first."

I cried and cried, because there's nothing else I can do with my condition right now, all I can was move my hand, tilt my head and speak.

— 6 Months have passed —

"I'm ready now, Zuan. I'm on my peak condition."

"Run."

"Run? Where?"

"Get out of this hospital kid, hide for now. While you're hiding, I'll teach you everything you need and prepare you for the path you wanted to take, the path of Asura."