◃◃ Memory #15 ▹▹

Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul

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"Hyung~? Are you playing Animal Crossing~?"

Ten nearly screamed when he realized I was in the room.

I stumbled in on him playing with his switch, where he was seated in the kitchen. I quietly walked closer, and saw Animal Crossing on his screen.

When he heard my voice, he immediately turned his switch over on its face into his lap, hiding the screen from me.

"H-Hey Renjun~. B-But no, I w-wasn't..."

"I can hear the music hyung"

The blush already engraved on his face grew hotter.

"Hyung, it's just me here. I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to"

He gave up and sighed.

"Promise...?"

"Of course~"

He smiled a little, and finally showed me his screen.

On screen was his house, which wasn't black or any other dark color, surprisingly.

"Wow~. It's really pretty hyung~"

He smiled more.

"D-Do you wanna see the inside~?"

I immediately nodded.

He ventured inside his house, and showed me every room. However, none of them were dark and brooding like I expected.

"Your house is so pretty~"

He smiled again, but it soon faded.

"What's wrong hyung?"

"You've noticed right? How nothing about my house resembles anything close to being dark..."

"I have. But it's that a bad thing?"

"I...don't know..."

I was a bit confused.

"The truth is..., I'm not a dark person at heart... I know everything around me and the things I wear are dark, but deep down..., I really like bright and cute things..."

I listened attentively.

"I want others to know about this side of me, but I'm scared... Everyone sees me as dark and mysterious, both as a person and as a hero. I fear that if I show my true interests to anyone, they'll reject me for who I am..."

So that's why he looked so scared when he found out I was here...

Chittaphrr protruded from his chest, and played the game while Ten was moping. Surprisingly, Chittaphrr looked really happy while playing it.

It must be so hard for Ten. He likes these things so much, that even Chittaphrr started liking them.

I can only imagine how unbearable it must be for them to keep this a secret...

"I don't reject you hyung"

"I know... But everyone else-"

"Doesn't reject you either. I don't know if you've noticed, but you don't act very dark and brooding"

"I don't...?"

"Not all the time. You have a soft and cute side too, and we all know and accept that. Even Kun-hyung has a soft and cute side, and you know how he can be sometimes"

"..."

"My point is, the others will be totally fine about this side of you, just as I am. You should embrace it for everyone to see~"

"...Y-You really think so~?"

"I do~. And besides, a few of the others, as well as myself, play Animal Crossing too~. We can all play together if we go find them~"

Ten and Chittaphrr both looked very excited now~.

"Let's go then~! I wanna see their islands~, especially yours~!"

Ten immediately got up, anxiously waiting by for me to lead the way.

"That's the spirit hyung~"

-

👻

"..."

"......"

"........."

"You were right Renjun..."

"They did accept me..."

"All of them did..."

"It makes me wish I embraced my interests sooner..."

"I would've been much happier back then if I did..."

"Chittaphrr is happier now too..."

"I've never seen him so happy..."

"..."

"Thank you so much Renjun..."

"For being there for us...

"..."

"......"

"Hey..."

"..."

"What are you doing...?"

"..."

"After all you've been through..."

"You're just gonna give in just like that...?"

"Yeah right..."

"The Renjun I know wouldn't give up so easily..."

"Show him who you really are..."

"Make him see just who he's messing with..."

"Embrace your true strength, and..."

"Wake up"