Beneath the Surface: Secrets of an Obsessed Heart -
Chapter 45 - 44
Chapter 45: Chapter 44
Suddenly, a little boy came to view and Raiden became particularly interested in him because unlike the rest of the people around, the little boy was crying. He was sitting alone on the grass, his knees drawn to his chest, his big eyes filled with tears, looking scared and lost.
He reminded Raiden of himself and Raiden felt his heart soften at the sight. Quickly, he stood up from the swing and approached the boy. The closer he went, the more he noticed things like the boy’s expensive clothes and shoes, the bruises on his arms and chin. His red rimmed eyes and tear stained chubby cheeks. He looked to be around 6 or 7 years old.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked the boy, considering the injuries on his body and the boy just stood up, ran to him, hugged his legs and started crying excessively. It was completely unexpected and a bit scary for his sudden outburst drew a lot of attention.
People around began to point and whisper that he had bullied his little brother. One even scolded him and told him to appease his little brother quickly.
Raiden didn’t know what to do. He had never acted as a big brother before but the little boy reminded him so much of himself so he did to the boy what he would have wanted someone to do to him when he was in pain.
He went on his knees and pulled the boy into a tight warm hug, stroking his soft hair, patting his back and whispering soothing words. Telling him everything would be okay.
He relished how the little boy felt in his arms, his fruity scent, the little quivers his body made. The way the boy latched himself to his body, refusing to budge an inch. He suddenly felt a sense of responsibility. Like he was dependable, needed. He felt like he existed.
They remained in that position for quite a while and it was a moment of healing. Not just for the boy but for Raiden too. It was like he needed the hug as much as the boy did.
Afterwards, when the boy had calmed down, he took him home and had his bruises treated by their family doctor then he took him to their large dining hall where the chef already had dinner prepared.
"What is your name?" He asked, watching the boy slurp his soup.
"Hiro." The boy replied cutely. "Watanabe Hiro."
Raiden couldn’t help but smile. The boy was small and a bit plump which made him look very cute. "How come you were at the park alone? Where are your parents?"
"I don’t know where mummy and daddy are." Hiro replied. "They should be at home though. It was big brother that took me to the park and told me to play. He said he wanted to buy something and would be back but I never saw him again. I think big brother forgot about me." He lowered his head, feeling so sad that he wanted to cry again.
Raiden was annoyed. Who could forget such a cute obedient child? "What about the bruises on your body? What happened?"
"Some boys took my toys and I tried to fight them for it. They pushed me down and ran away with them." Hiro looked at his bandages arms and legs. His eyes filled with tears as he remembered that his toys were no longer with him. "Big sister gave them to me but I lost them."
Raiden was never allowed to shed tears no matter the kind of injustice or pain he went through so he was a bit annoyed to see Hiro want to cry again but when Hiro looked at him, his heart turned into a pile of mush as he watched those sparkly orbs, a mixture of golden flecks and hazel, glisten with unshed tears.
"Hey hey don’t cry." He said softly, ruffling his sandy brown hair. "I’ll get you more toys okay?"
Hearing that he would get more toys, Hiro quickly wiped his tears and resumed eating.
Raiden smiled. "Okay then, do you know your parents numbers?" He asked, taking out his phone.
Hiro shook his head. "But I know my big brother’s number."
Raiden sighed. The boy sure liked his older brother a lot but the older brother was irresponsible. How could he leave him in the park alone? "Okay. Call out the number. I’m going to tell him where we are so he can come and get you okay?"
Hiro nodded and called out the numbers in a singing tone which made Raiden laugh. Feeling shy, Hiro covered his face with his palms, mumbling; "Big brother said I will remember faster if I can sing it."
How adorable. "Then, can you memorise my number and sing it that way?" Raiden asked.
Hiro gasped, surprised, the nodded seriously. "Yes! Yes I will! Big brother is nice and has helped me today. I will like to call Big brother in the future!"
"Good." Raiden chuckled. He asked a maid to find him a piece of paper and a pen in which he wrote his number and gave it to Hiro. "Memorise it and make sure you call me okay. I’ll treat you to more delicious food since I’m also your Big brother."
Hiro nodded earnestly. "I’d like to also visit Big brother in the future so we can play."
Raiden laughed. "Sure. We’ll play."
He then dialed the number Hiro gave him and the brother picked. The background was very noisy and he could hear sounds of video games. There was also the clacking of keyboards and clicking of mouses. He could tell that the brother had gone to play games and had forgotten his brother at the park.
Raiden informed him about everything and gave him his address so he could pick Hiro up.
"Is big brother coming?" Hiro asked when Raiden hung up the phone.
Raiden nodded. "How about we watch some TV before they get here?
Hiro cheered, agreeing to the idea and they both went to the living room and turned on the TV. After some serious searching and contemplation, Raiden decided to leave it on a cartoon channel because Hiro wanted to watch a cartoon.
He sat back on the couch with Hiro nestled by his side as they both watched the cartoon. With Hiro by his side, he suddenly wished his real family would disappear and he’d keep Hiro with him as his younger brother. His family.
Unfortunately, it was just a wish. One that could not come true.
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