You're Wrong

The black hands stopped suddenly. There was the sound of a door opening. A sudden voice interrupted them. Kevin searched back, a young boy was standing near the classroom door, feeling anxious. He recognized that face. How could he forget? It's Alfie!

"Alfie! Why are you here?!" Kevin asked in surprise. He never expected I would show up.

"It is a long story." I answered, "We have been searching for you."

"We?" Kevin felt odd, he looked up and pointed out his finger. His body shook. He realized I was not alone.

"You're!...........Jay." he exclaimed. Jay widened his eyes.

"Oh. I'm surprised you know my name. I don't remember talking to you."

"How can I not remember? Since the day Alfie talked to you in front of me, I never could forget your name."

"Is it?" Jay scratched his head, "I don't really care. Anyway, you are the host who is behind this, right? I can see that scary girl behind you is your ghost partner. I heard your name is...........Bloody."

"Hi there, Jay," Bloody leaned forward her head, "I'm glad I finally can talk to someone. It's the first time I meet a ghost who can communicate well. Other ghosts that scrambled at the streets are either in weird shapes or they just keep on saying gibberish and rubbish. I've been bored for ages. They are just so weak." She sighed, she observed Jay's body. Her smile grew. Tav leaked out from him as rivers.

"Jay. I can see that you are different. You are way stronger than those weaklings." Bloody praised. Her hands were wiggling. Jay gripped his sword.

"...........you too. Those black hands creep me out."

"Hehe...I'll take that as a praise. I'm interested in you, why don't we sit down and have a lovely chat?"

"I would love to but why don't you take back those black arms first?"

"Why don't you take back your sword first then?" Bloody argued back, she walked closer towards Jay, Kevin grabbed her arm.

"Bloody! That's enough. Jay is not our enemy. Sorry Alfie, we didn't mean to be rude."

"Ah....it's fine. Never mind that. Anyway, I was just outside and I heard all of what you guys said. Kevin, what you did is all for me, right? You hurt those bullies in order to take revenge for me. I am sorry that I didn't notice your feelings."

"No! Don't apologize! I should be the one who apologized! If I had done something at that time, you wouldn't have suffered so much. It's all my fault. So let me end this."

"No, it's already enough. You don't have to do anything else for me anymore."

"Enough? HOW CAN THIS BE ENOUGH?! Don't you remember what he did to you?! HE DESERVED TO BE PUNCHED LIKE THIS! If he doesn't pay for what he did, then why do you need to be punched and kicked for so many times in the first place?!! Why do you have to be hurt by a guy like him?! If I don't punish him now..........then WHY I AM HERE ANYWAY.......?!" Kevin continued wailing, yelling loud. His anger and screams sounded more like sorrow and sadness hidden deep inside his heart chambers. All his emotions and words bursted out at the same time like endless rivers. Every word he spoke was scolding at Philip, but in the end he was just blaming himself. Looking at him, some part of me got shattered. It was nothing more than guilt.

I guess Kevin must have wanted to talk to me for a long time. Sadly, I wasn't even able to be aware of his existence until now. I don't even remember him.

Why?

Well, it's obvious.

All I ever cared about was Jay.

No matter if I got bullied by classmates, got kicked by Dad or encountered a ghost sweeper, it was always Jay who saved me and stood by my side.

I always rely on him, isolating myself from the outside world, giving up anything else.

I was living in a small place, protecting myself hidden inside my own little world.

Escaping from all the problems, ignoring all the solutions.

Even though one of the solutions is just so close to me. Yet, I couldn't see it. If only I had the courage to talk to people again, I guess I could have had a better life sooner. And Kevin doesn't have to blame himself so much like now.

So Kevin, please don't apologize to me.

You did nothing wrong.

I'm the one who made mistakes. Not you.

Looking at Kevin, emotions emerged from my heart.

I looked at him and made a smile. A smile that came from my heart, my body and my soul. It is the first time I think that I smile in front of anyone except Jay. Or at least the only smile I could remember. Memories are always harsh. We can only remember sad and tragic things but not the happy ones. Why on earth is human such a pessimistic living being? Only to complain, to tease and to cry?

To tell the truth, I hardly remember anything about Kevin. After all, we only talked to each other for a few days. But Kevin remembered me for all those years. For a guy like me who doesn't have any friends to be remembered by someone, isn't this the cheapest and most valuable gift in the world?

So, thank you, Kevin.

For becoming my friend.

"Kevin," I threw away my thoughts and called out his name, asking.

"Do you want to go out to the shopping street with me?"

".......what? Shopping street? What are you talking about?" Kevin's eyes stopped blinking, he didn't seem to understand what I was talking about.

"Hanging out together, of course! As I remember, there is a great board game shop nearby. I'm sure you will like it. There are also lots of snacks over there, octopus balls and pearl milk tea.....oh I nearly forgot, that shop is closed already. But no worries, I'm sure we can find one we both like. But you know, it is the first time for me to hang out with someone except Jay so I may be a bit nervous. You don't mind, do you? Well, I'm sure I will get used to it when I spend more time with you. We can go exploring, buy stuff or do anything together. I'm willing to try. So, what do you say, Kevin?"

"What? I don't understand. We.....going to the shopping street together....?"

"Yes, of course. We are friends, right? Or at least, I want to be friends with you."

"Friends? Don't be kidding me, Alfie! Don't you know what I did to you? I ran away when you needed help the most! I betrayed you! How can a guy like me become your friend? I'm not worthy."

"No, you're wrong. I'm the one who is not worthy. I broke our promise, kept on escaping on what I encountered and kept on relying on Jay. I'm really helpless, am I?"

"No, you're not! Alfie, you are—---"

"It's ok, Kevin. I accept who I was in the past. But now I want to change, to become a better person, to be worthy to stay with the ones who care about me. So, Kevin. Please forgive yourself."

"You don't have to feel guilty anymore. You have already given me the most precious gift. To let me know that I have a friend that loves me. Those things in the past are already over, so you don't have to be trapped by past memories anymore. Instead, let's make even happier memories. Memories that can fill all the holes in our heart and wash away all the sadness. Memories that we can never forget no matter how long time passes by. Kevin, you have already done enough. So let us end everything here, shall we? And move on together." I held his hands and smiled at him. Drops of tears fell down from his eyes one by one. He grabbed my hands and hugged me.

"........Alfie!!! Alfie! Alfie! Alfie! Yeah, let's go to the shopping street together. I have so many things I want to say to you! I want to tell you all about my hobbies, my past, my parents and everything and everything! So let's go to the shopping street together!"

"Yeah! Of course!" I promised. Watching the two of us, Jay smiled and let go of his sword. The sword vanished in the air. Bloody gazed down at the ground, took back her black hands and made them disappear, releasing Philip.

"Looks like everything is solved. As long as Alfie is happy, I'm happy too. Lucky for you, Philip. You should be happy that you don't need to be killed. Isn't Alfie a kind and generous person?" Jay teased him.

"Yes! Yes! Alfie is the most kind and generous person in the world!" Philip answered, "Thank goodness. I don't need to be killed. I do not want to experience this ever again......" He said softly to himself. Jay laughed.

"What a wonderful happy ending, don't you think?" said Jay. Bloody smiled.

"Yes, indeed. No matter it is my host, Alfie Rivas, you Jay or that boy, we all got an ending that we deserved. An ending where no one gets hurt anymore and an ending where everyone is happy........"

"...................isn't it hateful?"