The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Calvin Lee (1)

Emma cleared her throat as part of her fluster.

“I.. I’m sorry. I was too reckless.” Said her while scratching the back of her head that didn’t itch.

Seeing Emma’s guilty face, Calvin immediately laughed while waving his hand a bit in front of his nose, “Nah.. It’s okay. I’m used to being alone and questions like that are used to being thrown at me. Really, I’m used to it.” He winked in a friendly manner.

Even so, the atmosphere became awkward between the two of them. Actually, Emma was a girl who talks a lot. But she always kept her words for fear of saying the wrong thing. Like now, she became afraid to say a wrong thing again, and got confused about the topic.

“My parents died a long time ago in a plane crash. Since then, from my fourth grade of elementary school, I’ve lived with two of my family which were my grandmother and my older brother.” Calvin told a story about himself.

“I’m sorry...” Emma said sadly. “I also lost my mother when I was a kid. I know you missed them a lot.” She continued.

“Thanks.” Said Calvin.

.....

“Then, what about your grandmother and older brother? Are they no longer living with you?” asked Emma.

Calvin nodded slowly, “Yes. They’re already in heaven with my parents. I’m left here alone.” He chuckled. As if comforting himself to not look too pathetic.

“Ah... I see.. I’m also sorry about that..” Emma touched her own chest in a bit of surprise. She again felt bad for the guy in front of her. Calvin must have been very lonely all this time.

“Yes, no problem.” Said Calvin. Then he took a deep breath, “My grandmother died two years after my brother’s death. Sorry to burden you with this story of mine ..” he laughed again with an uncomfortable face.

Emma shook her head, “Don’t think like that. All this time, I was thinking of having a friend who can share each other problems. Whatever it is, I will help if I can. At least, you can feel a little bit relieved after pouring your grievance into somebody. That’s called a friend, right?”

Hearing Emma’s honesty, Calvin felt a warm feeling inside his chest. He smiled gently. In fact, he had never told anyone about the problems in his life. Although known as a friendly guy, Calvin never had any close friends. He distrusts the people around him and was too busy chasing his own goals. But he saw something different in the girl named Emma. Not because of her pretty face, but she could see the honesty and sincerity in Emma’s beautiful eyes.

“You’re right. Thank you for willing to be friends with me. But Emma.. I’d better tell you this first. Before you regret thinking about making me your friend.” Calvin said.

Emma’s brows furrowed, “Why? Is that the gangster problem you were talking about with Troy?”

Calvin nodded, “That’s one of them.”

“I’m fine with that. I can take care of myself and won’t meddle in your guy’s unclear matters. You said that women weren’t involved in gangster matters, right?”

“You’re right. But the problem isn’t just with the gangsters, Emma. The problem is inside of me. I’m a troubled guy with a bad past. If you see me as a good guy, you’re wrong. Because my heart is full of hate.” He confessed.

Emma’s brows furrowed again, “What happened, Calvin?”

“My grandmother died of illness. Even though she was old, but she used to be a healthy woman. But her body became very weak and started getting sick after my big brother died. My grandmother found my brother hanging himself in his bedroom.”

“WHAT?!” Emma immediately covered her mouth with both hands. Her eyes widened, “H.. how come?”

“My big brother committed suicide. He is the reason why I hunted down those bastard delinquents. It started when I was in 5th grade of elementary school. At that time, my brother was in the 1st grade of high school. It was a different school from mine...”

***

Flashback (Calvin Lee’s viewpoint)

My name is Calvin Lee. The youngest of two kids in my family. Since childhood, my life was very happy with my two parents, older brother, and grandmother who always accompanied my days. But everything started to change since I was in 4th grade. Both my parents became the victims of a commercial plane crash while they were on a business trip overseas.

Since then, I had to live alone with my grandmother and older brother, Lucas Lee. Just like me, my brother was a cheerful kid and had many friends. Because he was the first child, my parents loved him very much.

Five years after I was born, my father’s and mother’s business had climbed up, so that they often went back and forth abroad. Because of that, they often left us with our grandma. But that didn’t mean they abandoned us. It’s just, because I rarely spent time with them, I became more closer to my grandmother and older brother.

Because since childhood, it was my brother who spent the most time with my parents, he became very close to them. My brother was an accomplished child. He was very smart and often won science and math olympiads. My brother admitted that the struggles he did were only to please our father and mother. They were my brother’s greatest spirit.

But my brother became a different person after our parents passed away. Even their bodies were not found, because the plane crashed in the middle of the high seas. My brother was very devastated. I knew that... But at that time I was too young to realize that the wound that he was suffering was too big.

I loved my brother very much. As an older brother, he was always been a good example for me. Even though I was not as smart as him, but I always listened to his advice to be a diligent and good kid. But after that incident, the longer the time, he often locked himself in his room. Even so, my brother always smiled at me. Cover the wound he felt, so that I didn’t feel sad.

One year had passed, I was in 5th grade and my brother entered a high school in the Jesper area, near Jen Marry Street. I didn’t know why, but not long after becoming a high school student, my brother often came home in a dirty uniform. Sometimes, also noticed some scratches and bruises on his face.

Grandma was quite old by then. She did ask if my brother was fighting at school. But my brother said he joined the school’s Judo club and often played football after school. Of course, Grandma and I just believed it. Because he always smiled and laughed in front of us. As if there was nothing wrong with him at school.

That day, just like a normal day at my school. I studied in class diligently. I didn’t think it would turn out to be the most terrible day of my life.

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