Chapter 104 - Encircle Ears

"That person must be Lyra, your savior," guessed Baron Jason, who got a nod from Tania.  Now he knew why she had been so loyal to Lyra, to her enemy.  The business of repaying the favor will never be timeless.  Even life can be at stake.

His gaze was vacant, toward her, filled with understanding.  That didn't mean he could forget his grudge against Lyra though.

"Right," Tania nodded, taking a very deep breath, a breath she would share with Lyra if she could.  "She is indeed my savior. She came bravely to fight the little thugs who tortured me, then took me to hide somewhere until Gerald came.  They evacuated me to their permanent hideout."

This topic is too sensitive for her, shaking the deepest core of her heart, making her teary-eyed, choked, and almost crying.

"Then the three of us lived together, lived in harmony, taking care of each other until we were adults."  There was a change in the tone of her voice, which previously sounded relaxed, now it sounded deeper and flowing.  "Finally, I can achieve the life I dream of.  I can live like other children."

Tania's gloom evaporated suddenly, replaced by an unfamiliar glow.  Like beads of light oozing out of the corners of her eyes, down following her eyelashes, and flying through the air filling the room.

The twinkle that created peace, which Baron Jason now shared.  His heartfelt calm is much better than before.  "So until now, you didn't know the identity of your parents?"  Seeing she shook her head, his pity deepened.  "Aren't you trying to find them?  If they still refuse to take care of you but at least you can prove that without them you can live well."

That's the most effective revenge that is showing your success to the person who hurt you.  It's just that right now he didn't want to use that method to get back at Lyra.

"At first I wanted to look for them when I was a beggar."  Now the binary in her eyes is back again, as the wick of fireworks is lit.  "I thought if they found me they would change their mind.  I know my mind is stupid."

That's what's on his mind too.

"But most kids are, right?"  Choked, her shoulders began to shake.  "We tend to think foolishly, even the most genius of children, even if it's only once."

He nodded gently, approving her as well as giving her moral support.

"While working I tried to find them, dig up as much information as I could.  However, I never managed to gather enough information because all the information was held by the chairman, one thing I wouldn't be able to do much about it.  So I hit a dead end, it's often like that."

Baron Jason understood that he was in Tania's position.  If the adults will do anything, try anything to get something then it will be different from the children.  Their type of effort is the same, but their intensity is different.  If as adults they can steal or rob to bribe people, then when they are young they will not have the power to do that.  As a result, they will not survive their current condition, such as wallowing in the same mud pool without being able to move even though they have tried to move.

"But when I grew up I put that desire down," she continued, earnestly.  "I chose not to seek or meet them.  It's better that I don't know where they are now than to feel hurt again."

Tania's story stopped there, about her sad past, which was full of unfair things.  When she tried to wander in the past, trying to make new friends with other people, her heart would feel empty.  Like a gap in a puzzle that never finds the right pieces.

"Are you talking nonsense again?  There are no bad parents.  They all love their children very much.  They do their best for you, Tania!  Maybe at that time, they had no other choice, therefore you were sacrificed, in the hope that you would be happier.  You should be grateful.  They still want to raise you until you grow up, even if they have to sell you."  That's what her new friends in the past said, who always compared how damaging Tania's behavior was to the perception of her parents.

They always assume that there are no bad parents, no parents who don't love their children.  They believe that all parents are good, it's just that they have a different love sign.

Tania could not answer anything at that time, silent with her lips tightly clenched as if she had been whipped by vile things because of her life's misfortune.  Even the social environment does not want to accept her.

Until then Lyra came suddenly, like the sun shining through the tiniest slit, emitting the most terrible light to burn vile things.

"You say all parents are good?"  she pointed at Tania's new friends, clenched her fists almost punching them.  "You say they never go bad?"  She squeaked.  "I was just wondering if the parents were angels or humans?  Even people say that angels can fall asleep and sin, so what makes you think all parents are good and never bad?  They are only humans, only humans, who will always tend to become demons.  If the parents are good, then there will be no murder cases involving children, selling minors just because they want to enjoy wealth.  Try to explain!"

It was the umpteenth time that Lyra became a hero in Tania's life, which finally gave a clear perception of her disappointment with her parents.  Difficult times full of doubts often torment her, such as clawing and tearing endlessly.

"You know, I feel bad for having thoughts like this."  At that time Tania complained to Lyra, after a big fight between her and her new friends.  "I'm like a monster who hates the people I care about.  I mean I love my parents, but my hatred for them sometimes feels more real."

"Tiny!"  Lyra gripped her fingers tightly, rubbing the back of her hand.  "We are not telling stories or spreading heresies.  We only do what is right for us, and we do things because our experiences are different from others.  If they think something is good, then let it be.  We obey what has become a fact.  Even if they think Gerry is a gorilla then it doesn't matter, because only we know that he's a real human."

That's when Tania's view opened to many things, that it doesn't matter if she has different opinions with other people, gets hate from others because that's how she is, that's how she lives.  She will never admit that the apple is green while the apple she has is red.

"Tania," said Baron Jason, causing Tania to immediately look up and open her eyes wide.

"Yes?" she frowned.  "What is it, My Lord?"

"You're daydreaming," he said, running his fingers along her face, looking for a corner near her ear and encircling it, making her face blush.

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