Jason’s POV
Raven and I arrived at the kids’ indoor play zone at the hospital, where a few kids were playing around on swings, sliders, huge blocks, and many more things for children.
Isla was yet to arrive there, as she must have been on the way after finishing the session with Eira. I hoped it went well and that there was positive progress for her.
Among us five, I was still not close to her, despite the fact that I was trying my best these days to make up for my mistakes.
The worst part was, she still treated as if I didn’t exist, not a single glance did she spare . She showed her anger on others, but . I want her to get angry at , bla for what I did, and what I failed to do. I failed to trust her and protect her.
I had a chance to revive myself that night. I should have trusted her when she said she wasn’t the traitor, instead of torturing her. I could only live in regret now.
I looked down at Raven. "You can go ahead and play as well."
Raven didn’t move. He stood in his place, holding my hand and looking at the kids as if what they were doing wasn’t his thing.
"You don’t like to play with other kids?" I asked, trying to know.
He didn’t reply, so I told him, "How about the swing, or the slider? I will help you with it."
He went ahead toward the chessboard drawn on the floor, with big chess pieces to move. The pieces were already moved by the ones whoever had played earlier, and Raven seed to have the intention of continuing it.
But I wondered—with his small height, could he even see the positions of all the pieces to play? Maybe he would just move random ones and get done with it.
I followed him and stood on the opposite side. "Want to play with you?"
He just looked at with a calm and serious gaze, and went ahead to move a piece. Once he did, I said, "Now my turn."
He offered a gaze that was different this ti. What was it?
I observed the chessboard carefully, as I hadn’t taken a proper look at it before.
The next mont, realization dawned on from that look of his, and I let out a hearty chuckle. I don’t rember when the last ti was I felt this way. Defeated—but it felt truly sweet.
"Damn! Checkmate even before I could start a ga!" I said. "The previous player on this side did a terrible job. But I must say, you are a genius, Raven. I am so proud of you."
In response, Raven turned around and went to sit on the bench nearby.
"Raven, there are more things to play," I told him, but he simply sat on the bench as if everything around him was of no interest.
I let out a helpless sigh. Maybe he wasn’t used to playing like other kids. Even in the pictures from his school, he was just standing on the side while the other kids were playing.
I went to sit next to him, and both of us watched the kids playing.
As I observed those kids laughing and enjoying themselves, I looked at Raven beside and wondered—when would I get to see Raven doing all that? And I knew the answer: at least not today.
"You know, Raven, when I was your age, I never played like this either. I could only watch the kids playing from a distance," I said, lost in the past mories. "The life of normal kids, I didn’t know what it was... until, one day, an angel ca to and took with her.
"That angel gave a ho, family, love, protection, and told I was as precious as other kids—that I had the right to live like them. She was my light who got out of the darkness I was in. She was the most important person in my life, and still is, even if she is not with . Losing her was like, I had lost everything she had ever given to ."
I didn’t know if he listened to or understood what I was saying, but I continued.
"I hope we are that light for you, and you will live the way you deserve. You are such a good kid," I said, and thought, And how I wish you were my child for real. But it doesn’t matter. I have already accepted you as mine, just how Jannifer had accepted back then.
"May I know what you two are talking about?" a familiar voice ca.
I looked at her—Isla.
"I hope I am not disturbing you two," she said with a smile, glancing at Raven, who looked back at her with that sa calm gaze of his that didn’t show his thoughts or emotions.
"We were just waiting for you," I assured her and stood up.
Then I turned to Raven. "She is Isla, my friend."
Raven got down from the bench to stand up and offered her a light greeting nod, which he always did as part of his taught mannerism.
"Good to et you, Raven," Isla said. "Are you not going to play?"
In response, Raven sat back on the bench.
"Well, never mind," she said again and asked, "Can I sit next to you?"
In response, Raven shifted a little, letting her know she could sit.
"Thank you." Isla sat and pulled out a small gift box for him. "This is for you."
Raven looked at . He always did this whenever soone offered him sothing. He wasn’t greedy for anything, or maybe he was just taught to not do anything on his own without seeking permission.
For god’s sake. He was a kid, not a robot. Those bastards!
I offered him an approving nod, and finally Raven accepted it, with a bow of his head to thank her. But then he passed that gift to instead of holding on to it.
"After so long I ca here," Isla said to , letting Raven get used to her presence. "I used to bring my daughter here in my free ti from the patients. So much ti has passed."
I humd and replied, "Last ti for was when Alice was around eight sothing. She was unstoppable while playing."
Isla smiled and turned to Raven. "What about you, little guy?"
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