As if fate itself were playing a game, Elara found herself talking to none other than Ren's brother — about Ren. A glint of embarrassment crossed her face as she looked down at her toes, unwilling to say another word.
"Ryu!" Ren shouted again, running toward the blond-haired boy standing beside Elara. He was out of breath, hands braced on his knees, his face stretched with anger.
"Why are you here? I told you to wait for me at the station," Ren said, his voice edged with annoyance. He didn't notice Elara at first, since Ryu's tall frame completely blocked her from view.
"So a big brother can't come to see his little brother on his own?" Ryu replied with a wide grin. "By the way," he continued, "do you know this girl?" He stepped aside, revealing Elara.
Ren's gaze shifted toward the girl hidden behind Ryu. His eyes widened in surprise. "Elara…" The word escaped his lips before he could stop it.
"Ohhh" Ryu streched the word, a teasing smile stretching his lips. "So she's the girl you were talki—" Before he could finish, Ren quickly pulled him aside.
"Don't tell her," he whispered, a flush creeping across his cheeks as he looked away shyly. Ryu chuckled softly, ruffling his brother's hair.
A short distance away, Elara stood frozen — confused and a little afraid.
Confusion, because she didn't know why Ren had pulled his brother aside and Fear, because she suspected they were talking about her. She took a deep breath and started walking toward them, stretching her hand out toward Ren — but before she could say anything, Ryu spoke again.
"Well then, why don't we go to your apartment?" he suggested casually.
The words froze both Ren and Elara in place. "Ah—why?" Ren stammered, his voice trembling.
"Do I need a reason to visit my brother's place?" Ryu asked, his tone loud and clear.
"But—" Ren began, but one sharp gaze from his brother was enough to silence him.
"Okay then," he muttered, frustration in his tone. Ren raised his hand, hailing a hovering taxi in the sky. As the taxi descended from the heaven down on earth.
"You take that one," Ryu said calmly. "I'll come in the next."
Ren didn't argue or he can't. Without another word, he climbed into the taxi and left.
"Um…" Elara called out to Ryu, her voice trembling. She had no idea what to say.
Ryu chuckled at her nervousness and leaned closer, his voice dropping near her ear. "Don't worry," he whispered. "I won't tell my brother about your feelings."
His words made her heart settle. "Th-thanks," she murmured softly.
Ryu lifted his hand and called another taxi. "Want to hear about my brother?" he asked, holding the door open.
For a moment, she hesitated, unsure if she should go. But her curiosity — wanted to understand Ren take the better out of her.
"So, mind if I ask you, where do you live?" he asked as they entered. The words take Elara by suprise.
"Ah… the same apartment," she said quickly, eyes avoiding his.
"Really?" he said, not expected them to live in same apartment.
***
The taxi doors shut gently as it ascended into the wide blue sky. Inside sat Elara, shy and unsure of what to say to the person beside her.
Ryu glanced at her stiff posture and chuckled. "So, what do you like about Ren?"
Elara jumped, startled by the sudden question. "Ah—no, I mean—" she stuttered, fumbling her words.
"Relax," Ryu said, turning his gaze toward the window, where flying machines glided through the clouds. "If you don't want, You don't have to answer."
"I…" she murmured after a pause.
"I don't know," she said softly.
"I just feel calmer when he's around. Safer. Stronger. Happier. Free," she couldn't able to find the right words.
Ryu laughed. "Ha! He's an idiot. Reckless, carefree, a little strange."
She couldn't help but chuckle too.
"But to me," Ryu continued, his eyes on the self-rotating steering wheel, "no one in this world is braver than him."
Elara nodded silently, lost in her own memories.
"I have to admit though," Ryu added, glancing at her, "I've never seen him shy like that."
"Shy?" she repeated, curiosity bright in her eyes.
"Yeah," Ryu murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "He's always been alone."
Elara looked at him, wanting to know more.
"Ren doesn't have many friends. To be honest, I don't think he has any. He used to stay locked in his room all day back home. I never saw him curious or emotional about anything," Ryu said quietly.
"He never cared what people thought of him. That's why, seeing him blush and pull me away in front of you, because of you… it actually made me happy."
"No," Elara said suddenly, shaking her head. Her firm gaze surprised him. "Ah sorry but," she apologized, then take a slight pause.
"I'm the same as him," she said.
"People always look at me — sometimes with wonder, sometimes with jealousy. Mostly For them, a girl who loves machines doesn't fit their narrow minds. Being smart, scoring higher than them — it made people hate me. It broke friendships. I heard whispers about me, saw fake smiles around me… so I decided to shut myself away — in a world that would accept me."
Her voice softened. "But Ren is different. When I first met him, I thought he'd be like everyone else. So I talked to him sweetly — politely." the first meeting replayed in her head.
She smiled faintly. "But I was wrong. During our Terraforming class, when I answered the professor's question, everyone stared at me like I was some miracle. But he — he said I was amazing, with eyes that gleamed like the sun, like someone truly appreciating me."
She laughed lightly. "He's an idiot, sure, a good idiot. But even through that, his concern makes me feel safe." remembering the times in slum.
Her eyes softened, recalling another moment. "During introductions, when I said I liked machines, everyone looked at me weirdly.
But he smiled — genuinely. And when I told him my dream— I wanted to be the greatest mechanic, he didn't laugh. He said, 'It sounds perfect for you.'"
Both of them chuckled.
"I didn't realize when his compliments became the words I wanted to hear most," she admitted. "That's why… to told the truth he's the reason for me to laugh, to shy."
Ryu looked at her quietly. "Then don't lose him," he murmured.
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
He glanced at the watch on his wrist, counting the minutes before they reached their destination.
"Let me tell you this once," he said softly. "His bravery… sometimes takes the worst of him. Just like the day of Calamity."