Chapter Text
The eventide sun bared down on him, Kel’s eyes staring into the skyline. His breath was sluggish and his body an unfamiliar motionless figure; a contrast from his mind that moved vividly, attempting to comprehend the moments that had passed earlier. He was sitting on the swings, he hadn’t really visited the park alone in seemingly forever. Kel could swear that in the corner of his eye, he’d see them in the playground. Was his mind playing tricks on him now, had he become so vulnerable?
Kel usually found himself as a sturdy personality, unwavering mentality and capable of pushing past most of his problems. It’s what made Kel Kel in the first place. Even in the toughest of times, he’d learnt to keep a smile on his face. Though that seems harder these days. It made sense of course, if he wasn’t positive all the time, how could he help others? It’s how Kel had helped Hero get back on his feet after that incident. ‘Bright as the sunrise’, Kel’s basketball coach would often say that to him. To live up to that, was his role. He averted his gaze from the piercing sunlight, choosing to rest his, tucking his head into his knees as his mind flickered back to the hospital.
A blissful spark had appeared in his eyes, when he saw Sunny awake and with them. Kel remembered breathing a sigh of relief as his expression read solace and confusion. He scanned the gowned boy from head to toe, the patch on his eye standing out. He had felt constantly on edge since finding the boys in their room. Hero and Aubrey had woken up from loud noises from Basil’s room, Hero nudged him as he forced his half-awake body to move. The next few moments wouldn’t vanish from his mind.
Blood stained what had looked like every crevice of his room, he didn’t know if that was an exaggeration of his mind. The other two were yelling, even now Kel couldn’t remember what was being said. The clear image of a garden shear impaling Sunny’s eye, he cursed his brain for his vague recollection of the incident and yet that image wouldn’t disappear. Half of his face was painted red with blood pooling onto the floor, the cut was grotesque and mangled-
“I have to tell you something.”
Kel’s attention was drawn back by a distinct raspy voice, he stared at the scrawny boy with widened eyes, his eyes drew across the silent hospital room as his surprise was shared by the two others with him. He hadn’t heard Sunny speak in roughly four years, not since the day Mari passed. It was clear he was struggling to speak as is, whether from lack of use or the incident with Basil, Kel wasn’t sure.
“Sunny..? Are you okay?” Hero’s voice broke through the silence as the older boy took a step towards Sunny. Hero, always the one to take the lead. Kel respected him for that, his brother was smart and he’d know what to do in these situations. Aubrey and Kel followed behind as they looked at him with a worried expression. His nails dug into the side of his top as he watched Hero move closer to Sunny, he saw how Hero’s hand was raised as if to place a hand on the boy’s shoulder; though he kept a short distance as Hero’s eyes continued to assess him.
“You shouldn’t be out of your bed yet-”
“No.” Sunny interrupted, his expression solemn as if he was holding something back.
“It’s i-important..” The three could hear the uncertainty and shakiness in his voice, yet his eyes seemed to glint with resolution. Kel felt a strange pressure in the air, the atmosphere in the room was restless as he fought to stay composed. Whatever Sunny had to tell them, would it be the key to his fight with Basil? He switched his attention to Aubrey and Hero, his older brother’s concern was apparent but he remained listening for what Sunny had to say.
“Mari.. It’s about Mari-”
“It wasn’t your fault..” Hero interrupted this time, he glanced back at Kel and Aubrey as he began to speak almost desperately.
“Mari’s death wasn’t your fault Sunny, you were just a kid and you didn’t know what she was going through-”
“So please Sunny, don’t blame yourself.” Hero spoke with a determined tone. Don’t blame yourself. If only Hero had followed that advice that time, Kel thought crudely.
None of them blamed Sunny for what happened to Mari. Even Aubrey who’d previously appeared to loathe each of them wouldn’t have blamed Sunny for his sister’s death. The realisation nearly broke Kel, Sunny had been blaming himself for Mari’s death, hadn’t he? Sunny’s appearance made sense to them now. Even before the incident with Basil, he had seemed so worn and ragged; not to mention how skinny and stunted he looked. Kel had glossed over it with the fact that he hadn’t seen him in years. Instead of bringing him about everywhere, he should’ve made sure he was okay.
How could he have been so stupid?
Sunny hadn’t been taking proper care of himself, he was never hiding from the others like Aubrey had said. For all these years, Sunny had been blaming himself.
“No.. You’re wrong..!” Sunny’s voice cracked as a singular tear streamed down the side of his cheek. Kel could’ve sworn he was holding his breath, he ignored the stinging pain of his fingernails digging into his side as he tried to mouth something, anything to comfort Sunny. He found himself unable to speak, simply staring at the boy who had lost himself years ago. Kel had never been good and comforting others, the last time he tried.. Well. He knows to be careful.
“Y-you don’t u-understand..” Sunny’s composure had collapsed entirely, his body trembled with his hands rubbing his teary eyes. The three of them had moved towards him as he fell to his knees, Kel couldn’t hold himself back as he practically dashed towards Sunny, not wanting anymore than to hold him tightly. Kel’s arms reached out to Sunny as a pair of watery eyes peeled up to him. An expression of guilt.
“I killed Mari.”
It was as if time stopped moving. Aubrey, Kel and Hero stopped in their tracks. Kel’s arm remained stretched out but his body remained unmoving. Three words rang out in his mind, clear as day. It couldn’t be true, Sunny had gone that far to blame himself-
“Y-you didn’t kill Mari.” Hero rasped out again, his tone of uncertainty was audible even to the likes of Kel himself. His statement sounded more like a question now. Kel failed to find air in his lungs, suffocating in the strained atmosphere that he wanted to end.
“I killed Mari.. a-and Basil helped me hang h-her..* Sunny’s voice trailed off.
A deafening silence remained in the air.
Kel’s lip was bleeding now, had he accidentally bit it? He couldn’t remember taking a step back but he found himself standing behind Aubrey and Hero who were all staring down at Sunny. He couldn’t read their expressions over the rush of emotions that struck him.
No, he’s lying..?
Everything seemed to fade away for Kel, Sunny’s quiet voice replayed in his head, a hundred times louder. Kel listened as Sunny began to explain everything.
Kel listened as Sunny began to explain everything.