It should be clear by now that Kei did not live the best of lives. Even now he was only able to stay in college because of the perfect grades that he is barely keeping up with late night studying. The only financial support that he had was by his part time job. Note the past tense: had.
Kei stared blankly at the old man who was keeping all of the chairs inside of the Ice Candy shop, “Um, what are you doing?” he asked.
The old man was his boss, “I’m closing up shop, my boy.”
“Uh, yes I can see that, but sir, why are you closing up shop?” Kei asked exasperated.
“Well, it’s Autumn. Winter is coming and nobody would want to eat cold desserts during super cold weather, right?”
“B-bu— “Kei stopped himself from making another sentence that he would regret, and sighed in defeat. “Let me help you, sir.” He began to gather around the chairs and organizing them inside of the shop.
“Ahh, thank you. An old man like me no longer has the backbone to do things like this.” Kei smiled in response, and continued working.
Well, he guessed that it was time to find another job.
Kei shivered as a cold breeze went by, making him regret not wearing his pajamas underneath his jeans. Looking around, it was indeed Autumn. The leaves were a golden brown and some had already come in contact with the ground. He looked down at his digital watch, a watch that he received as a gift from Ritsu when he had gotten his first paycheck.
It was almost the end of the year.
That was funny. He can barely recall anything that has happened for the past months since the year had started. Kei was sure that there were some things to remember, but everything just appeared as a blur. Well, he guessed that was just how things were.
Kei wrapped his grey scar around his neck, also acting as a mask to protect his face from the cold. He walked faster towards the dormitory, not wanting to stay outside any longer than he had to.
When he had arrived inside of the room, he sighed in relief at the heat that covered his body. The dorms may be cheap, but at least they had some good heaters.
He bumped into someone, and out of reflex, he said, “I’m sorry.” He turned around to see who it was, but nearly gagged in disappointment when he realized that it was the ‘jock’.
“Watch where you’re going— “his angry snarl transformed into a smirk when he saw it was only Kei, “Hey, Crazy.” Kei wanted to choke himself for apologizing to the likes of him. “I see your brain and your eyes have something in common, both are messed up.” There was a woman wrapped in his arm, and she didn’t seem to be comfortable with that fact.
Kei huffed and walked away, there was no point in staying.
“Running away as usual!” he could just hear the guy’s annoying smirk. “Come on, let’s go.” With those closing remarks, Kei was hoping that the two of them would just disappear from his life, but no.
Just when he was about to walk up the stairs to his dorm, he heard the girl shout, “Just let me go!”
Alarmed, he looked over his shoulder just in time to see the jock push the girl against the wall to grip her neck with his hands, “Just stay still.”
In that moment, Kei’s heart started to beat faster.
The room that he was in was dark, with only one light to illuminate it, and it wasn’t enough. It was dirty. The floor was cold, and Kei was sure that he wasn’t alone.
“Just stay still!”
“K-Kei…!”
He groaned and tried to move from his place on the ground. Kei was dizzy, there was a pain in the back of his head.
“Looks like you’re awake.”
And then suddenly, he received a harsh kick to his stomach making him release a sound that sounded akin to someone being strangled.
He held his stomach and grit his teeth. What… what was going on. He looked up and noticed an unfamiliar face staring down at his own.
“Well lucky… you get to enjoy a show, at least.”
“Kei… Kei, get up...!” Freya… Kei’s eyes darted to the other side of the room, where he saw Freya restrained on the floor. Her eyes were wide and frightened, and her body shook in fear.
“F-Freya—!” but he was interrupted with a foot on his face.
“Shut up!”
Other than the continuous pain that was swirling around him, Kei was aware of another thing… Freya. Where ever they were, they were not in a good situation.
There were other men present in the room, and they were approaching her slowly. He wanted to scream at them to stop, but his voice was caught in his throat. He struggled to move, but they had tied him up. Every time he tried to inch closer, he would receive a punch or a kick. There was another thing he was aware of...
Her screams.
Kei released a breath that he didn’t know he was holding, and clutched his chest. His hand had started to shake. He opened his eyes. He knew that he was supposed to see a girl with bleached hair, but in her place he saw a woman with dark hair.
“F-Freya…” he took one step closer, and flinched as if he was expecting a blow to come in contact with his body.
“I-I’m telling you, Sean… I don’t want to go!” his vision made a glitch and for a moment he saw blond hair again, until he saw wide brown eyes.
“Just shut up!”
“Just shut up!” his words echoed in his head, but this time in a different voice.
For a moment, her eyes looked at him, and her lips mouthed the words: “Help me.”
“Kei, h-help me! Kei, please!”
Again, Kei took a step closer, his body shaking as if telling him not to move. He gritted his teeth, his breathing becoming harsh. He looked around himself and saw… He saw Freya.
Everywhere, around him. In front, behind, Freya was everywhere. The saw wide brown eyes, the same messy black hair, and her mouth that stayed open in a silent scream. Kei shook from where he stood.
Suddenly, Kei dropped onto his knees and released a loud scream.
Sean was shocked at the sudden noise, and during his distraction, the girl was able to flee. “What are you screaming for!? Oh my GOD what— “but Kei couldn’t hear him.
“Help me! Kei, help me! Th-they’re— “
Kei curled up into a ball and covered his ears. No… no. He couldn’t help. He can’t.
“K-Kei, please! G-get up! Help me!”
He just couldn’t. He wasn’t able to help. He was useless. He couldn’t do anything.
“You just cost me a girlfriend, CRAZY.” Sean gripped his hair and glared down at the writhing boy, “You are so pathetic. Why are you here, anyways? Go back to the mental hospital, you freak!” but Kei’s screams did not die down, “Just shut up already!” in one move, he kicked Kei, causing the boy to clutch his abdomen in pain.
By now, almost everyone has heard of Kei’s screaming. His voice had echoed through the halls, catching their attention.
“Kei!?”
Teff was one of the people to hear his screaming, and immediately he ran downstairs to find him. What he didn’t expect was for Sean to be in the midst of beating Kei up.
“What are you doing!?” yelled Teff, as he grabbed Sean’s collar, “What is your problem!?”
“Oh hey Teff, I see that your rainbow covered personality is never far away from crazy.”
“Don’t start with me, Sean,” Teff spat out his name, “What did you do!?” he shoved Sean further until he was already backed against the wall.
“Don’t touch me, homo!” then after that Sean received a sucker punch to the face.
“How about this homo beats up your face?!” Teff didn’t stop with just one hit, it didn’t take long for the two of them to be messed up on the ground having a full out brawl with each other.
Some students had already left their dorms to check out what was happening, gasping at themselves when they saw the two of them. A few girls noticed Kei who was gasping for air on the floor, and immediately they went closer to help.
“Hey, hey, shhhh… calm down.” Said one girl as she knelt down right next to him.
“What are you going to do?” asked another who was behind her.
“I’m training to be a nurse, not a psychiatrist, but I can recognize a panic attack when I see one.” She pushed the others away, “Give him room! He needs to breathe!” she made sure not to touch him, not sure if it would make his condition worse, “Hey! Hey, look at me!” Kei had both of his hands around his neck, trying to choke himself, “Calm down, alright?” she tried to pull away his arms, but she didn’t have the strength, “Someone help me!”
A guy who was just watching from the sidelines, jerked and instantly appeared in her side. He got to work in holding Kei’s arms, trying to keep them away from his neck.
“N-no…” Kei’s eyes flashed, they were going to hurt him. He mustn’t move. If he moved, they would start beating him again.
“Hey, it’s alright… can you hear me?” said the girl.
“F-Freya, don’t hurt… n-no… please!” Kei choked in fear, making sure to keep his body as still as he could.
“Okay, okay, uh, shh… you are alright. We’re in the University’s dormitory, you are near the stairs, wherever you think you are you are not. You are safe, do you hear me? Safe. You’re alright.” Kei shook his head and gripped his hair.
Back with Teff and Sean, others had pulled themselves away from each other. “How does it feel to be beaten up by a homo!?” yelled Teff who was sporting a few injuries upon his person. He was trying to shake himself out of the two guy’s grip.
“You’re sick!” Sean yelled, he was being dragged away from Teff, his body in a worse condition, but his anger was still eminent. The people who was carrying him brought him away from Teff, probably taking him back to his dorm.
Teff panted, “Let go.” He slapped the hands that were still holding his arms, and glared at where Sean had disappeared. He heard a strangled scream from behind him, “Kei!” Teff turned and fell in front of him.
“Excuse me, you can’t— “the girl tried to protest, afraid for her current patient.
“All of you, go back to your rooms!” Teff yelled, glaring daggers at anyone who dared to look at Kei, who was shaking inside of his embrace. When some people hesitated, he said in a low voice, “Leave.”
When he was sure that the two of them were alone, he whispered, “Kei… shhhh, it’s me, Teff.” Teff tightened his embrace, looking down at his friend, his heart tightening at the sight, “Kei… Kei, Kei…”
He used his free hand to dig into Kei’s jacket, knowing that he always kept his pills on his person. He was relieved when he found them.
“Kei, swallow this. I’m going to put it in your mouth, okay?” he took out one pill and put it in front of Kei’s face, “This is your medication, it’s going to make you better, alright? Kei, can you hear me?”
Kei tried to even his breathes, his mind calming down when he realized that it was Teff. Shakily, he nodded. His hands finding their way to Teff’s shirt collar.
Teff let out a relieved sigh, and his mouth making a crooked smile. “Good, good. Make sure to swallow it, okay?” at Kei’s nod, he put the pill inside and watched as Kei swallowed it immediately, “Okay, okay… this is good. I’m going to bring you to your dorm, can you stand?”
Kei nodded. His head was still fogged, as if there was something preventing him from fully concentrating. He got on his two feet, but his breath hitched when he couldn’t stop his mind from screaming at him.
“T-Teff…” he whispered.
“Yes?” was Teff’s immediate response. He was doing his best to support Kei as they made their way up the stairs.
Gulping, Kei shook his head, “Nothing… nothing.”
Teff hissed when he felt pain in the midst of cleaning his wounds, it hurt. He had a lot of bruises, but he had no regrets. He looked at the bed where Kei was sleeping soundly, and sighed. The day was just getting good too.
Teff took Kei’s phone and looked for Ritsu’s number, not surprised that he found it quickly since there were barely any contacts inside of it.
You: Asian dude, this is Teff. Kei just had a panic attack, and it was not a good one. Just wanted u to know.
It didn’t take long for Ritsu to reply.
Ritsu: What!? I can’t go there right now, I’m working. Take care of him for me, please! I’ll be there when I get off.
You: Ok
Teff placed Kei’s phone on top of his desk, and went back to tending his wounds. He flinched every time he felt a sting, wondering how he was able to go through the fight without feeling anything until after.
It’s alright. After this maybe he could go to the Ice Candy shop that Kei worked in. Kei always made the sweetest frozen desserts.
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