Chapter 89: Sil's regrets III

"Young man… Where are your parents?" asks his grandmother.

Sil freezes when that question comes out of nowhere. It pierces him deep into the heart. It's like a nightmare turned reality. He never expects that his grandmother would ever pronounce those words, and now that she does, he cannot stop his entire expression from slumping. A feeling of heaviness that won't fade presses onto his chest, and lifting his chest to breathe becomes difficult. 

His mind floods with thoughts and memories, making him go mad internally - none of which he can even express with words. 

He clenches his jaw to avoid his tears from flowing out. However, he lifts his shoulder back and forces out a smile. 

"Grandma… It's getting late. You should go home," utters Sil.

Catching Sil's distant and dull eyes, his grandma understands that she has spoken the wrong thing. She notices that she has maybe spoken a harrowing thing to the young man. She only wants to redirect to another topic so that the young man can think of happier moments, but she has a terrible aim this time.

"Young man… This grandma does not want to walk alone. Could you walk with me?"

"Of course, grandma."

Sil responds, but his tone is deeper, enveloped with a sadness that Sil has never felt in years.

On the way back home, the grandmother takes Sil's hand and pat his hand. The clench on Sil's heart loosens a bit when he sees his grandmother's tender and nurturing smile. 

"Young man… If you want some lunch, you can come and have some noodles."

Sil smiles after hearing about the bowl of noodles - it seems as if this dish has been deeply carved into his heart. Nothing heals him as effective as eating a bowl of noodles with his grandmother.

"That would be great, grandma, but don't put too much chili oil! You will burn off my tongue!"

"Hahaha! Child! You remind me of someone, although I can't wrap up my thoughts as to who… That kid also used to hate it when I put too much chili oil! He is so bad with spicy things! I am sure that kid is as wonderful as you, young man."

Sil's eyes glisten, and his smile deepens. 

"You should smile like that more! You are a good child… The heavens will look after you… Don't be too sad, young man. Sometimes, some things need time. Be patient…"

"Hmm…" 

He will never abandon his grandparents, not after what they have given him throughout his life. He hopes Kyrie could understand.

They are close to the house when violent shouting and clashing sounds come from the open metal door. Sil and his grandma hurry into the place to find his uncle inside, trying to yank an envelope out of his grandfather's hand. 

"You can help your son, and you won't! Look at how great you are as a father!" Sil's uncle yells.

Sil's grandfather would not let go of the envelope no matter what his son is yelling at him.

"This is Sil's hard-earned money!!! We have saved this for his wedding! How could you use this for your gambling and drinking?!"

"I need to pay the debt! DEBT! Loan sharks will kill me if I don't pay! How could you let your son die like that!?!"

Unable to get the money off of his father's hand, Sil's uncle raises his hand. 

Rage boils inside Sil when he sees his uncle willing to hit his grandfather for his petty excuses. He runs into the house and flies a punch onto his uncle. His uncle tumbles down to the floor, but when he sees Sil being the one responsible, he cowards, tugging his neck back while stiffening his shoulders.

He stands back up, stumbling. He furrows his eyebrows, trying to find out what to do or say because he thinks that Sil should have already gone to work by this time.

Seeing Sil's piercing, raging eyes, his uncle squares his shoulders, puffs up his chest, trying not to get overpowered. 

"You freaking brat! How dare you punch your uncle!" He raises his arm like he is thinking of slapping Sil. However, Sil's stare intimidates him.

He clutches his hand into a fist and swings in back down angrily. 

With a finger pointing at Sil, he shouts, "Don't think you are all that great just because you got lucky in life and managed to get a good position despite being a measly high school graduate! When they fire you, you are nothing!"

The uncle storms out the house, kicking anything that is on the way, destroying anything that comes to sight.

"Don't listen to him, Sil," his grandfather says faintly. 

All energy drains from his grandfather's face. His unfocused eyes start to shift from side to side. Then, Sil's grandfather tilts and falls backward. Sil hurriedly catches his grandfather. He shakes him desperately, but his grandfather is not responding despite his eyes being opened. 

When Sil comes to, he is already inside the hospital facing the nurse's station.

"Sir? Sir! I need you to sign the documents for the surgery. Do you want me to go over it again?" asks the nurse.

"No… You can proceed with the surgery. Thank you."

"Okay, sir… I understand you are very shocked. There is a garden outside. Breathe deeply to clear your mind and come back. You will need to go to take care of the finances too."

"Yes. Thank you," Sil walks away from the station.

He searches for his grandmother and sees her in one of the patient beds resting. He sits on the chair next to her and puts his palms on his face.

'How am I going to pay for the surgery?' 

His phone vibrates in his pocket, and he picks up his phone to see that a message from his bank came in.

He clicks on the tab, and the message opens. His eyes slowly widen at the screen. 

One, two, three, four, five, six… 

A million dollars have been transferred into his bank account.

Sil shoots up from his seat while looking at the screen. President Han has sent him money.

'But why?'

Sil dials the president's phone number. The dial tone makes him feel out of breath. 

'Why is the president giving him money? Kyrie? What is he going to do with Kyrie?'

"Hello? Sil? What? Too touched seeing the message of the goodies into your account?"

"What do you mean by this?"

"Don't tell me you have forgotten about this! We just talked about it this morning! I told you that I will give you money if I ever touch your boy!"

"What are you going to do to him?"

"Ah! You are really pissing me off… Not only are my documents not found in the pile that he uncovered to us, and now you are talking bullshit."

Sil suddenly remembers that the call got cut when he was in the elevator.

"Are you going to take it or not? Either way, he is already in the playroom… Sil Riverty. Don't act all goodie two shoes! You are not. Just accept the money and enjoy~ You can always find another toy."

"President-" Sil stops once the ending tone beeps on his ears. 

He looks at the message on his phone of the transferred money, and his sight starts to spiral. 

---

<End of flashback>

Sil squeezes his eyes shut to prevent his mind from going deeper into the painful memories. 

'Master, your emotions are unstable…' A voice echoes in Sil's mind.

'I know,' Sil replies to the voice in his mind.

He lets his breath out after a deep inhale, cooling off his mind from wandering too deeply into the memories of the past. Those memories are better off not remembered since they cause such distress to him. However, he cannot help but remember when in the presence of Kyrie. Because he chose against Kyrie, fate has cursed him with a tragic end in his previous life- everything uneventful happened one after the other like a curse.

He stands up from sitting on one of the rows of rocks that circle the magic inscriptions. He faces towards the only entrance and exit of the chamber. 

Kyrie comes into the chamber, and as soon as he enters, Kyrie's pupils direct to him as if he knew where Sil was from the start.

The last moments before his death rush into Sil's mind. Kyrie's eyes with tears flowing out unceasingly as he asks his surroundings desperately to call the ambulance. His devastated voice rings in his ears, "Sil, stay with me. Sil!" before his world turned black. 

Kyrie truly loved him.

How could he...