Night had fallen deeper. The city lights glowed softly beyond the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow over their small but cozy space.
Auntie Lily stretched her shoulders as she looked at the two children.
"Since there's only one bedroom, Ches and Raeya can sleep in the room, alright? I'll take the sofa."
But before anyone could respond, a firm voice cut in quickly.
"No. I'll sleep on the sofa," Ches said without hesitation.
Raeya and Auntie Lily exchanged confused glances.
"Huh? Ches on the sofa? But you were sitting on the balcony for so long. You'll catch a cold. Let Auntie take the sofa instead," Auntie Lily insisted.
"What? No. Auntie should sleep somewhere comfortable," Raeya added.
"No. I will," Ches shot back, refusing to budge.
And so, the 'kindness war' began. Raeya's small voice kept insisting, Auntie Lily tried to mediate, and Ches—true to form—had already claimed the sofa and wrapped himself in a blanket, unshakable.
"Goodness… this child is so stubborn," Auntie Lily muttered, shaking her head.
Raeya let out a soft huff, then followed her aunt into the bedroom with reluctant steps, though an amused smile still played on her lips.
Ches was now alone in the living room, lying on the sofa with a warm pillow and blanket.
He stared at the night sky through the window, the moonlight drawing soft shadows across his calm yet burdened face.
Why did I even get involved in these human matters? he thought with a scowl. All that arguing just over a bed. So troublesome.
He rolled over, lazily hugging the pillow.
I'm not going to sleep next to that stubborn kid again. Sure… I've slept beside her before, but that wasn't my choice.
His eyes were half-closed, but his mind stayed alert.
Still, despite all the complaints, the night didn't feel entirely cold.
There was something lingering in that little space—a faint warmth, slowly seeping through the cracks of walls he had built for so long.
And as the night passed, it carried with it the sound of ticking time, a new kind of warmth, and the faintest crack in an old, frozen silence.
*+:｡.｡ ｡.｡:+*
Morning sunlight slipped gently through the sheer curtains, dancing on the quiet bedroom walls. Outside, on the small balcony still misted with dew, Ches sat cross-legged in silence, gazing up at the clear morning sky.
Inside the room, Raeya quietly closed the door. She walked slowly and sat at the edge of the bed, staying still for a few seconds as if gathering her courage. Across from her, Auntie Lily was folding clean laundry. The moment she heard Raeya's voice—quieter and more serious than usual—she turned around.
Raeya took a soft breath and spoke in a steady but hushed voice.
"Auntie… I know this might sound strange. But I want Ches to stay here. To live with me."
Auntie Lily paused, looking at Raeya gently, then set the folded clothes aside.
"Sweetheart… you know I trust you. But this isn't something small. He's a child who came out of nowhere—no full name, no family, no explanation at all."
Raeya lowered her head slightly, though her eyes still shone with determination.
"I know... But he's really all alone, Auntie. I saw it the first time I found him. He looked like someone who just lost everything."
Auntie Lily let out a long sigh and sat beside Raeya. Her tone remained soft but cautious.
"And you're sure he's not a missing child? Not a runaway? Aren't you afraid someone might be looking for him?"
Raeya lifted her face, meeting her aunt's eyes with sincerity.
"He never wants to talk about his past. But… it doesn't feel like he's running away from trouble. It feels more like… he's been through something really heavy. Like trauma."
Silence hung in the air between them.
"I even checked the missing children reports last night," Auntie Lily murmured. "None of them match. There haven't been any reports around here either. That kid… it's like he appeared out of thin air."
Raeya's voice dropped to a whisper.
"I know it doesn't make sense… but there's something different about Ches, Auntie. I can't explain it. But I feel like… if I let him go now, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
Auntie Lily studied her for a long time—her calm eyes seeming to weigh many things at once. Finally, she reached out and held Raeya's hand.
"If you really want to take responsibility, you have to understand that this isn't just about giving him a place to stay. He needs to eat, go to school, have an identity. You can't hide him forever."
Raeya nodded quickly, her voice trembling slightly along with her eyes.
"If you don't mind… please give me time. I don't know everything yet. But I promise—I'll find a way. I won't run from this."
Auntie Lily took a deep breath, then nodded slowly. She squeezed Raeya's hand tighter.
"Alright… we'll give it time. But I'm still going to keep watch. If anything seems suspicious, or if you or Ches are in any danger—no matter how small—I won't stay silent. I love you. And I don't want another child getting hurt."
Raeya nodded, then quickly added—almost like a child trying to protect an important secret:
"Auntie… one more thing. Please… don't tell Dad and Celene. I don't want them to know about Ches."
Auntie Lily looked at her for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"Alright. I promise."
Hearing that, Raeya gave a tiny smile—one full of relief and gratitude.
"Thank you… I promise you won't regret this."
Auntie Lily smiled gently in return, then stood and patted Raeya's shoulder.
"Now go. Before he realizes we were talking about him. Invite him to breakfast. Don't let him feel left out."
Raeya got up and, without thinking, hugged her aunt tightly.
"Thank you… you're the best."
Auntie Lily softly brushed Raeya's hair back and smiled without saying a word.
Outside, the sunlight began to warm the balcony, casting a gentle glow across Ches's small back as he sat silently, still watching the sky.
*:..｡o○ ○o｡..:*
Time passed so quickly. Before I knew it, the three of us were already at the shopping mall. At first, I thought we were just going to pick up some soap and a towel for Ches. But apparently, Auntie Lily had a much bigger plan — a full-on shopping spree.
"We'll get some new clothes for you too, Raeya," she said, gently patting my shoulder. "You need outfits that help you feel more confident."
I let out a small chuckle. But honestly… I liked it. It felt warm. Like I was out with my own little family. Strange, right? But also comforting. And from that moment on, I made up my mind. I would take care of Ches as if he were part of my family.
Everything happened so suddenly. But for some reason, my heart felt at peace.
Of course, Ches put on a grumpy face and refused at first. But in the end, he gave in.
"Yay! If you say no, Ches, you're totally missing out!" I said while walking beside him.
He let out a long sigh and turned his face away. "Hmph… If I said no, you'd just keep bothering me. You're such a child."
We walked into a children's clothing store. I was busy picking out outfits for him, but he rejected everything on sight — complete with comments like "weird," "no," or "I'm not a kid." But I caught the way his eyes paused just a little too long on a black T-shirt with a tiny star printed on the chest. So, of course, I secretly bought it and handed it straight to the cashier.
After that, we stopped by a toy store, then the food court, and finally settled down at a small, cozy café. I enjoyed a slice of warm chocolate cake with a scoop of my favorite vanilla ice cream. Auntie Lily ordered her usual hot tea. Ches sat across from us, nibbling on some dry bread he picked himself — though from his expression, it looked like he was chewing rocks.
But before we got here, there was one moment that made me laugh so hard I almost cried…