Love Bond

  Matthew lives his mother together with his three younger siblings. Their father died of an illness a year ago. Since then, their mother has to work hard day and night. Matthew is the eldest son and he’s 17 years. He would do anything to lighten his mother’s work.

  On a Sunday morning, came a government officer and he told Matthew’s mother that the land they have would be taken as the government’s. Matthew overheard the conversation from a distant. He knew his mother was very upset and heart-shattered as the land is the only thing they have left to survive. Father never did write his will. Matthew knew he have to do something.

  That night, he crept out of the house after he left a letter, hoping to know what to do. He took a bus to a nearby city with the money he saved for a long time. He hoped that he could find a job in the city. He knew that his mother’s sadness will be worse but this is the only thing he had in mind at this crucial moment.

  He reached the city the next morning. He wandered aimlessly in the big city. Finally, he found a vacancy. He doesn’t mind doing anything so he took the job. He worked hard like there’s no tomorrow.

  Several months past, he gained more than he expected. Thinking of his mother back home, she must be worry since the night he was gone. He felt sorry for his mother. He wanted to take leave and visit his mother. Before he could do that, his manager promoted him and he was sent to London to expand their publishing. He couldn’t deny it, as it’s a great opportunity. Again, he felt sorry.

  Everyday, he kept on living in the thought of his mother. His mother might think that he died because he didn’t have the time to write to her but only could ask his company to send the money to her. He promised himself that he’d visit his mother after this trip. He would buy something for his mother and sibling as souvenirs.

  Finally the time has come. He finally finished his work here in London. It has been ten years now since his last encounter with his mother. His misses his mother so much. He met a girl there and they got married. Clair was her name. She has a beautiful face and blonde wavy curls.

 By the time they reached their destination. He hurried grab a cab to his hometown with Clair catching up on him. He was excited and at the same time he was worried what will it turn out. He felt a strange aura when he was away.

 The cab stops in front of the house. It looked the same as the way he left. They were additional garage and a kept garden. It was better than before. There were no sign of human. They must have gone somewhere, he thought to himself. He and his wife waited at the nearest restaurant.

  When the clock struck two, he and Clair went back to the house. Now it was full of voices and it was merrier. Suddenly he felt very nervous but Clair stands beside him, cheering for him. He walks up to the door. He took a breath and rand the bell. “Ring, ring”. Then there were footsteps coming from behind the door.

  As the door open, there stood a young lady in white, oral-shaped face and long straight shiny raven black hair. Her smile was warm and welcoming. He instantly recognized her, his sister, Michelle. She was surprised to see her elder brother. She welcomed him in and offered some drinks for him and his wife.

  Then stood there at the doorway was a woman in her late forties. She was sobbing and there were tears in her eyes. She too has the most welcoming smile. He was happy to see his mother in better condition. He ran towards her with tears streaming down his cheeks. He hugged her tight and whispered by her ears, “I’m back and this time it’s for good.”

Birthday

The sun was shinning brightly through the window. As I woke up, I looked at the time; it was only 7 in the morning. It is a Saturday morning. Like the other weekends, it felt the same but today is not just a Saturday. It was my birthday. Just like my other birthdays, everyone doesn’t remember and rarely celebrate it.

  As soon as I’m done making my bed, I took my towel and freshened myself. After that I went down stairs to see if anyone has awaken from their slumber. When there’s nobody, I walked by the living room and went outside to get some fresh air. I fed my cat and went back in.

  I sat on the couch, thinking when was the last time I celebrated my birthday. I thought about it, it was ten years ago. However, I remembered it vividly like it had happened yesterday.

  I woke up on a bed with a yellow curtain covering the sunrays that shines through the window. I was 6 back then. As I sat on the bed, my mother would come in without knocking and wishes me a happy birthday. At that moment, I felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world for having such a caring and loving mother.

  After I took my bath, my mother would bring me to a few interesting places. Best of all, one of it was my favorite place, the theme park. She would accompany me the whole day without leaving me all by myself.

  When we got tired, we went back home. Even though she was tired herself, she would still bake a wonderful birthday cake for me after that. The bond my mother and me keep on increasing. We would eat together and sing birthday song together. That precious moment felt so magical and wonderful.

  That was how I celebrated my birthday. I missed it so much that I wish I could experience it all over again even in my age.

  As I was coming back to sitting on the couch, I heard something coming from the kitchen. I slowly walked to the kitchen to see what’s going on. Wishing that it wasn’t a burglar or anything bad.

  When I stepped in to the kitchen, there was nothing there. I thanked god that nothing bad had happened. When I turned back, suddenly I saw my mother shouted happy birthday for the first time in these 10 years. She was holding a cake that she used to bake for me when I was younger, Slowly my tears rolled down my cheeks. Both my father and brother were there too.

  I felt so touched that my mother did all this even though 10 years has passed. I immediately hugged her and whispers thank you in her ears. This is the best birthday I have ever celebrated. I love you, mother. She returned my hug.

Be grateful on what you have now

  Shopping was my hobby. I love buying things for myself more over for my friends and family especially during festive seasons or celebrations. I would also try to go every weekend and persuade my sister to join me. I’ll go every shop and buy anything I like as what they “shop till you drop”.

  Until a few days ago, I was shopping for a perfect present for my best friend for her coming birthday. I came across a beautiful dress, which is very suitable for her slim body. Then, suddenly the security alarm sounded. I glanced around and I saw the security guard caught a familiar face. The boy shouted at the security guard to let go of him.

  My first reaction was to rush over to see the commotion. While I was among the crowds, the boy looked straight into my eyes. It was then I remembered. He was the little boy who used to play with me when we were younger until my dad got a job in the city so we shifted. That was the last time we seen each other. Richard was his name.

  After that I bailed him out from the hands of the security guard and apologized on behalf of him. I looked into his bag and found that he stole a t-shirt. He looked at me with an apologetic look like he wanted to say something. I looked into his eyes and it shows misery and painful feelings.

  We rested at a restaurant in the mall after that commotion and ordered a few for our lunch. He ate hungrily as he didn’t eat for days. The more I looked at him, the more I felt sorry for him. After he recovered from hunger, he started slowing down. He told me that after 2 months my family and I moved, his family drop bankrupt. His dad was caught for illegal trading and his mother was heartbroken and disappointed with him and hung herself. Now Richard has to steal to survive and to take care of his younger sister who’s merely a child.

   I felt more terrible and sorry because he kept on struggling to survive another day while all I do is shopping and finish every penny I have. He has to pick the trash or steal food while I can eat in 5-star restaurants. He wore only a pair of cloth while I change every time according to my mood.

  After we are done, I walked him back to his “home”. He led me into an old abandoned house near a hill. His younger sister, Racheal, was waiting for his return. She had grown a lot since I last saw her, which was 5 years ago. She looked just like her mother. She has brown wavy curls, fair skin and the most beautiful eyes. Above all that, she looked really thin and hungry. Luckily, we brought back some food from the restaurant. Just like her brother, she eats hungrily.

  Looking at the surroundings, there were barely anything except an old sofa and a table, which its color had faded. I couldn’t imagine how all the time they survive. Richard thanked me a lot and hoping that he could help in return. I assured him that he could someday to make him feel better.

  When it’s late, I went back home. All the way back, I thought about the ways to help him and his adorable sister. I would help them no matter what and that is my decision. I’m going to help them without limitation until they are safe and have a proper shelter.

  By the time I got home, I hurried to my parents’ room and told them what had happened and asked them if they could help too. I also told them about my decision. Mom was very sad about her friend’s death and prayed that Richard’s mother found peace in the afterlife. My dad however stood behind mom just in case she needs a shoulder to cry on. After mom finish mourning for her beloved friend, we start talking about our plan to help those two siblings.

  The next day, Dad went to the government to arrange foster parents for the both of them. Dad can easily persuade them to do so because dad’s an important businessman to them. While waiting for the result, the both of them stayed at our house. In those times, I got to know more about them and got closer to Racheal whom I never played with when I’m younger. She’s an easy girl to get along with and without thinking of survival; she’s really a very cheerful person. It makes her look more beautiful than before.

  After a couple of days, the government found the most suitable foster parents, who’s friendly, kind and very light-hearted. Richard and Racheal thanked our family and wishes to repay our deed but we refused. Now they looked happy as they have a family again. Before they leave, I kissed Richard on his cheek as a goodbye kiss. He blushed and waved shyly towards me. I just gave him a warm smile and watched them go.

  Ever since then, I started saving money and I don’t spend as much as before. Now I only buy the things that are necessary and for emergency only. My hobby became saving from shopping. My mom is proud of me for start saving than spending. Throughout the event, I’m grateful of my life and it opened my eyes to save for what will come in the future.

  

The days you were gone

-Based on the anime "Kyou kara Maou"-

  A silent night in Shin Makoku, crept a spy bandit among the bushes of the Blood Plagued Castle. He tried to open the window that led to the room of the demon king. With his intention to kill, he finally got the window open. Wolfram Von Bielefeld, who was sleeping with Yuuri Shibuya and Greta, woke by the sound of the window opening. Pretending to sleep, he slowly grabbed his sword that was at the side of the bed. The bandit unsheathed his sword and tried to kill the king. Wolfram instantly got up and shielded Yuuri from getting hurt.

 “Hmph……” the bandit were unsatisfied.

  The bandit and Wolfram exchanged blows. The Bandit was badly wounded and Wolfram got slashed near the stomach.

  “Intruder!!! There’s an intruder in the castle!” The guards were shouting outside the hall, alerting everybody else. The bandit realized that he was seen; he quickly escaped from the window. Wolfram tried to go after him but he realized he was also wounded badly so he stayed instead.

  “Wolfram! What happened? “ Cried Conrad as he barged into the room.

 Trying to hide his wound, Wolfram answered, “ The bandit got away.”

“What happened??” asked Yuuri sleepily. Greta got up too.

  Still trying to avoid people to see his wound, Wolfram told him that nothing happened and that he should go back to bed. While Conrad led the guards to search for the bandit without Yuuri knowing what had happened.

  “I think I should go back to my bed” Wolfram said as he walks slowly towards the door.

  “Okay…. good night” said Yuuri as both he and Greta went back to sleep.

  Wolfram walked to his room feeling the pain spreading across his body. He gritted his teeth to avoid from making sounds while walking. With sweat slowly spreading across his forehead, he used the wall as his support.

  After he reached his room, he cleaned his wound and bandaged it. Then he slowly went back to sleep to ease his pain.

  Next morning at the usual meeting room, Wolfram was unusually quiet. Everyone else in the room felt strange and Yuuri tries to ease the tension.

  “Hey Wolfram, are you feeling alright? Asked Yuuri as he tries to put on a big smile. Everyone else just looked at Wolfram expecting answer.

  “I’m fine ……” answered Wolfram after a few moment.

  “Oh my god……. There is still tension in the room…. Is he really alright?” Yuuri screamed in the inside.

  Suddenly, the door went wide open. A lady wearing a maid costume came in and tried to seduce Yuuri. The lady was a brown-headed and introduced herself as the new maid. Actually, the maid is just the mother of the three guys in the room, lady Cecelia. She was doing this because she heard that her youngest son is not feeling well and tried to make Wolfram jealous. Everybody else in the room knew about her plan.

  Wolfram got up. Everybody was expecting him to shout at Yuuri for being flirty and cheating on him.

 Wolfram touched the maid’s shoulder and said, “ Bring me a glass of water to my room.” And then he was gone.

  Again, Wolfram felt the pain from the day before. At that point he realized that the bandit’s blade were soaked in poison in order to kill his prey fast. But this time, it hurt so badly as the poison is already spread to most of his body.

  When he reached his room, he shut his door and headed for his bed. As he makes his move, he felt even weaker and dizzy. Still trying to walk to his bed, he felt his consciousness fading. He coughed blood and knew that the poison is doing its job. Slowly he dropped on the floor.

  Yuuri was feeling bad about cheating Wolfram before. He knew that was a bad idea.

  “About just now… that’s not really a new maid. It was your mother, she was just worried about you. So please forgive her” “ How was that?” Yuuri asked Greta.

  “I’m sure he will forgive her. Don’t worry” Greta say as she hopes that she was right.

  Knock. Knock.

  “Hey Wolfram! I’m sorry about just now. That wasn’t a new maid. It was your mother. She was worried about you.” Yuuri shouted as he tries to open the door.

   Surprisingly it wasn’t lock. He opened and found Wolfram on the floor in a small pool of blood.

  Immediately Yuuri instructed Greta to call for Gisela, the royal nurse. Without hesitant, Greta did as she was told. She was actually frightened to see her second father lying there motionless.

  Yuuri rushed to Wolfram’s side. He tried to pick Wolfram up. Suddenly, Wolfram yell, “DON’T TOUCH ME!!!”

  Surprising, Yuuri slowly held back.

  “Are you crazy? You’re wounded! I have to pick you up!” Yuuri tries to defend himself.

  “Don’t! It hurts if you touch me.” Wolfram said as he pants for air.

  Gisela rushed into the room. Conrad was beside her. Conrad seem as if his world has shattered to see his beloved younger brother in that state.

  “What happened?!!” Gisela asked as she rushed by his side.

  “ It hurts if we touch him” Yuuri informed Gisela

  “Okay… I know what to do for now.” Gisela said that as she took out a syringe. “ Bear with me as I need to put this solution in you.”

Wolfram agreed silently. Wolfram tries to endure the pain as Gisela held his hand and insert the needle. For a while Wolfram couldn’t stand the pain and so he yelled. Both Conrad and Yuuri felt uncomfortable seeing Wolfram in such pain.

  After a few seconds, Wolfram fell into unconsciousness. Gisela signal Conrad to put him on the bed. Conrad gently picked the boy up and tried not touch his wounded area.

  The two of them were told to wait outside while Gisela tries to heal Wolfram as much as she could.

  Two hours has past, finally there’s a sign of the door opening. Both men rushed to her, expecting to know about Wolfram’s condition.

  “ It seem that the poison has stopped spreading. The blade that wounded his body was apparently soaked in a poison that kills its prey from the inside. As for the part where he is easily hurt is due to magic. A magic that increases the sensitivity of the pain sensory.” Explained Gisela.

  “Who ever did this, must be someone who is expert in this field.” Conrad muttered softly.

  “ Can I see him?” Yuuri asked as e tries to look into the room.

  “Sure, but he’s still unconscious.” Gisela told Yuuri. “ And oh, I have changed his bandage and it’s healing. So don’t worry too much.”

Yuuri walks slowly towards Wolfram’s bed and sat beside it. He could see the handsome face that was sleeping. Yuuri was glad that Wolfram is breathing normally.

  He held Wolfram’s hand close to his face. He could felt the hand was cold and he held it tighter.

  “Please be okay….” Yuuri muttered as a few drops of tears rolled down his cheek.

  “ W..wh…what? I’m not crying, am I? Of course not! You’re gonna be okay!” Yuuri tries to convince himself and he wipe off the tears. He held Wolfram’s hand closer than before.

  Conrad couldn’t make Yuuri felt any better as he felt worse. He would never expect someone would do that to his beloved brother.

                                   **********************************************

  “Where am I?”

  “Why is everybody crying?”

  “Wait! Don’t leave me!!!! W…wa…wait!!”

  Wolfram’s emerald eyes were wide opened. He looked around. At the end of the room, he could see Yuuri sleeping on the chair that is facing the bed. Slowly he got up. Trying not to wake Yuuri, he tried to sit and then slowly stand up. He felt like he has been sleeping the whole time. He was about to left the room when he realized that he was sleeping on the bed. Quickly he looked at both his hand and found that they were transparent.

  “Is this what they called the out-of-the-body experience?” He asked himself while looked around his body. He panicked and tried to call out for Yuuri. It seem that Yuuri couldn’t hear him at all.

Knock. Knock.

  He turned and found Conrad at the door. “ Yuuri, you should rest in your bed,” he said as he tried to wake Yuuri.

  “Has he awakened yet?” asked Yuuri as soon as he woke up.

  Conrad shook his head.

  Yuuri walked towards the lying Wolfram and just look for any waking sign. However nothing happened.

  Slowly he did as he was told to. Conrad took over his place and he too, hoped that Wolfram would open his eyes.

 

“I’m right here!!!! “ Wolfram shouted, trying to get neither one of their attentions.

  Yuuri went out. Wolfram just sat there beside Conrad.

“ I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you that night” Conrad tried to have a conversation with the lying Wolfram. “ I’m sorry that I wasn’t useful when it comes to protect you. Please wake up already! Everybody here is worry about your condition so please….. try to open that eyes of yours….”

  Wolfram was stunned to see Conrad saying those words. Especially when he was shedding tears.

  “I’m sorry too for being such a useless brother.” Wolfram said as he walked out of the room.

  Passing a room where might be Annishina’s.

“Will Wolfram wake up again?” Greta asked while her tears slowly rolled down her cheek.

“ I’m sure he will! I will invent something to make him wake again!” Annishina tries to cheer the poor Greta.

 “Really??!!” Greta’s frown turns into a smile. “ I’ll try my best to assist you!”

Seeing this, Wolfram just continued walking. He passed by the garden where his mother grows flowers. For a while, he sat near his flower. His flowers were wilting and the other flowers seem to mourn for the dead brother flowers. Then, he could hear footsteps so he turned around and he found his mother walking towards the flower.

“Oh, Wolfram.” Lady Cecelia says as she covered her face under her palms and fall on her knees.

Wolfram couldn’t bear to see his mother in misery so he moved on to another place.

*****************************************************************************

Yuuri sat on his bed and try to think as positively as possible that wolfram just tired that’s why. It’s almost a week now since that misfortune event had happened.

Yuuri tries to thought about the night where the intruder broke in. He realized that Wolfram was acting strangely. 

  “I think I should go back to my bed” Wolfram said as he walks slowly towards the door. He realized that Wolfram never really sleep in his bed unless he had something on his mind to think of.

“ What stupid of me for not noticing that Wolfram was actually hurt~!!!!” Yuuri cried out as he gritted his hair.

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Wolfram was standing in front of the door to the room where they always hang out. Slowly he tried to enter the room. There he saw his eldest brother, Gwendal was sitting behind the desk. He was doing his usually job but apparently he was working slower than before. Wolfram just sat in front of him quietly.

“ Urghh….” Suddenly Gwendal just shouted out and crumbles the piece of paper and throw it into the bin, but he missed. Wolfram was surprised at first then he calmed down.

“ He must be feeling the same as everyone else” Wolfram said out loud. His face was sad but he had a little smile. Then out of the blue, Gunter Von Christ entered the room.

“What are you doing?” Asked Gunter as he saw that Gwendal was slouching. Gunter then realized that Gwendal was upset on what had happened to Wolfram.

“ I know it’s hard but that’s what everybody in the castle is feeling right now.” He stopped for a while. “ Who knew that without him for a week, we actually felt so dull and the room is so quite.”

Gwendal just kept silent. Then he just continued his work.

Wolfram stood up. “ I think it’s about time I should wake up!” He said as he walked out the door. “ I should go see Ulrike, maybe she’ll know what to do.”

At the Shrine, he went in to where Ulrike was. She was at the room where she could hear the First Maou of Shin Makoku, Shino, his majesty.

“Lord Bielefeld?” She suddenly felt his present and turned around. She could not see anyone and there was no sign of people entering the room. At that moment Wolfram felt a slight chance of curing.

“Ulrike? Can you hear me? It’s me, Wolfram!” Wolfram shout of joy as someone can actually hear him.

“ Lord Bielefeld! Ohh my…. I can hear you! Where are you?”, she asked as she try to find where the voice come from.

“ I might be experiencing out-of-body so everybody but you can’t hear me. Listen, I need to go back to my body. Everybody is upset and I don’t want to see them that way.” He said sadly.

After she heard his explanations and she instantly knew what to do. She said a few chants and created a potion that was glowing a bright purple.

  She later made her way to the Blood Pledged Castle. Everybody was shocked to see her leaving the shrine and went into the castle. She walked to the room and Yuuri and Conrad were in. They both just looked her.

  She stood in front of the unconscious Wolfram. They both of them got closer to her at the back. She cast a few chant and drop a few droplet of the potion earlier.

  Wolfram felt his body hurting and slowly he looked as if he is fading away. He saw the laying him showing the sign of getting up. He was happy to see he’s cure.

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 “Wolfram! Wolfram! Open your eyes”

Slowly the image of Yuuri appears. He was smiling but there were tears in his eyes. Looking around, Conrad also has the same expression. Ulrike is just standing at the end of the bed, nodding.

“Yuuri…Conrad… I’m sorry…” Wolfram apologized.  Yuuri instantly threw his arms around Wolfram.

 “ Don’t apologize… Days without you is my punishment for not being there for you always” Yuuri said as he hold wolfram tighter in his arms.

Wolfram just smiled. He is glad to see his love ones happy again.