The Creatures That We Are-Chapter 1124: Sunshine

On a spring afternoon, windchimes tinkled at the ajar glass door of an upscale dessert shop, letting in the sun's warmth and fragrance. A man and woman sat at a secluded booth, hidden from casual glances.

The man appeared to be in his fifties. His thick blond hair was combed back to reveal his full forehead and deep blue eyes. His goatee was well trimmed. Only a hint of wrinkles suggested his age.

He dressed preppy with a kind face and a gentle temperament. A cup of Earl Grey waited on the table before him.

Across the table sat a college-aged girl in a light green sweater and jeans. Her short black hair and soft features made her instantly forgettable. She stared past her matcha mousse yogurt with vacant eyes, her expression hovering between emptiness and exhaustion.

“Stop spacing out. Eat something.” Edmond picked up his black tea and took a sip, glancing at his wristwatch discreetly.

Ke Yo's hollow gaze flickered to the dessert before drifting away. She didn’t feel like eating, so she continued to stare at nothing.

She didn’t remember how long she had been staying at home. She had no energy for anything other than going to bed, and sleeping didn’t require energy while it did wonders to decrease the number of meals she had to have; it was a vicious cycle—or a benign one if she had a say in it.

Gradually, she began to smell of mold, but she didn’t mind.

She imagined herself a piece of dead wood lying in a dark forest where sunlight didn’t reach. Mold and bacteria caused the wood to rot and decay until it returned to nature entirely.

It wasn’t until Edmond opened her door and brought her a mission that she woke up, involuntarily.

She'd showered, brushed her teeth, dried her hair, dressed, and climbed into his vintage car. She'd ordered something sweet without thinking. Each action had drained her, yet these were merely preparations.

“Eat something,” Edmond ordered gently. “It’s a mission.”

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

Ke Yo lifted her spoon with mechanical movements, placing a bite of mousse in her mouth.

Bitter.

The texture was silk-smooth, dissolving instantly, but the taste lingered harsh on her tongue.

Why would something like this be considered a dessert? Ke Yo questioned.

“Did the target show up?” Ke Yo asked. She yearned to return home, to lie in the dark and let her mind float away. She might not sleep, but spacing out was always an option, and it required no effort.

Edmond lowered his voice and said, “Stop speaking. Eat.”

“Don’t wanna,” Ke Yo mumbled.

“Play your part. I’m your grandfather, taking you here to have desserts. You’re happy about that. You should eat more.”

“Aren’t you too young to be a grandfather?” Ke Yo ate another spoonful of mousse, wincing when it touched her tongue.

Still bitter.

“I had a son when I was nineteen, and my son had a daughter when he was nineteen. Moreover, I took care of myself and stayed active. Anything wrong with the story?”

“No.” Ke Yo cocked her head. She began to taste sweetness.

Oh, it’s quite good.

Ke Yo ate a third spoonful. Her taste buds were awoken, and her hunger stirred. One spoonful after another, she went through half of the dessert before she realized it.

Edmond nodded with a smile, satisfied.

Ke Yo wiped her mouth. “Has the target not shown up yet?”

Edmond checked his watch. “Soon. Another two minutes.”

Ke Yo lowered the spoon and waited quietly.

“Act natural,” Edmond softly suggested. “Relax and do something, anything.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Then listen to the music and enjoy the afternoon.”

“Right.”

Ke Yo propped her chin in her hand, gazing out at the street. Soft, soothing music drifted to her ears.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

“It’s a nice song,” Ke Yo said absent-mindedly. “What is it called?”

Edmond looked up with surprise. “You haven’t even heard this song? What music do you usually listen to?”

“Is it so strange?” Ke Yo rarely listened to music. It sounded like noise to her.

“It is,” Edmond said. “No wonder you’re Strange.”

They fell silent once more. The music alone filled the air.

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you in my arms

But when I awoke dear, I was mistaken

So I hung my head and I cried

The song continued. Then the world suddenly brightened.

Sunlight found the gap between two rooftops across the street, streaming into the dessert shop. Ke Yo closed her eyes against its brilliance.

Behind her eyelids, darkness thinned to a warm crimson glow. The sunlight seeped into her skin, lifting the weight from her body. Breathing came easier.

When she opened her eyes, Edmond was holding his teacup and a book, reading quietly.

“You lied to me, Edmond. There’s no mission.”

Edmond turned a page without looking up. “The mission is dragging you out to get some fresh air,” he argued. “I have to make sure my team members are all physically and mentally well for the smooth execution of our future missions.”

Ke Yo fell silent.

Although she didn’t like being lied to, the sun was warm, the mousse sweet, and the music pleasant. It was all fleeting, and nothing made sense, but it wasn’t too bad to enjoy moments like this every once in a while.

She ate another spoonful of her dessert.

Then she looked up at the older man before her seriously. “Edmond, why must people live? What’s the point of living?”

Edmond closed the novel he was reading and met her eyes. “I’m older than you are, Ke Yo, but I don’t have all the answers.”

“You must have an answer,” Ke Yo said. “Otherwise, why would you save me back then?”

Edmond considered this, then offered her a genuine smile. “Maybe so. I have my answer regarding life, but it may not be the right answer for you. You have to find your own.”

...

The basement door clicked open. In the dim room, the girl lying on a metal single bed quickly opened her eyes. A cold smile flashed through her shadowed face.