The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

76 The Blue Sky

The doctor shook his head, “Sorry, Ma’am. But this is the most we can do. Actually, Roger’s case is the first we have ever found in medical history. This is a miracle, Ma’am. No one has been as lucky as your son so far.”

The woman snorted in annoyance, then looked at the old man in front of her with disapproval, “But he won’t be a bother, will he? I mean, we don’t have to totally take care of him like a baby, right?”

The doctor sighed wearily before nodding, “Looking at his progress, your son will be able to carry on with his normal activities. However, the bad news is he will most likely experience a halt in body growth. Roger will have his current body size until his adulthood. He won’t be able to grow taller or bigger. Possibly, will have a slight shrinkage in his legs and some muscles. And, he will also become weaker than the other normal people around his age. Both in strength, immunity, and health. Sorry, but we can only help Roger to get in this state. It’s the furthest we can go for him.”

After months of Roger doing therapy and treatment abroad, he was finally able to return to school. He used crutches to help him walk.

Upon entering the classroom, all eyes were on Roger. No one approached him. They only gave looks of pity, mocking, and surprise. Yes, all that made Roger uncomfortable.

Roger didn’t know what had happened while he was gone. But in the end, he heard all the students say that that time, he almost endangered Poppy’s life. Somehow, the real event that happened was told and spread with a different story.

They said that Roger stopped Poppy for confessing his feelings when she was about to go home. And while he was talking, suddenly, a pot from upstairs fell because of the strong wind.

“Luckily, it was Roger who was hit by the pot. If Poppy had been standing there, then it might have been her. He indeed deserved it.” That’s a phrase Roger often heard. Even though he had been injured, no one knew the truth. Roger no longer had the power to explain because no one else would listen to him. And.. should he start thinking, who was twisting the story?

After several months, Roger was finally able to walk normally without the help of the crutches. But, he somehow felt that his body became very weak. He could no longer be active in sports, got tired easily, and had no strength. When his friends grew taller and bigger, his body was shortened a bit and lost weight instead.

.....

Roger, who had been ostracized from the start and now had a very weak physique, began to make him the best victim of bullying. At first, it was Eric who started insulting his physique in public. Then, he said that the accident was the karma of the evil-hearted Roger. He was instigating everyone to feel that it was ok to abuse the weak guy. From there, Roger’s real suffering had begun.

The impact of bullying was very severe on the victim. Roger’s life that changed 180 degrees made his mental shatter into pieces. Plus, he had no support from his parents at all, who always leave him alone. And.. there’s no more Poppy who used to be the joy of his life.

Because of the repeated blows that Roger received in his life, the guy started to lose his original character. He was so devastated that he turned into an introverted and insecure guy. Because his weak body couldn’t fight those who hit him, made him a coward. His knees trembled in the face of bullies who were much stronger than him. Roger turned into a loser.

Poppy was scared. Yes, the girl was afraid to be friends with Roger again. She knew Roger was the person who had changed and saved her life. But, she was more afraid if she returned to her old miserable life. It might be even worse.

Yes, it was Poppy Castonia who made up the story. When she was asked about the accident that happened to Roger, Poppy was very scared. If she said that Roger was hurt by helping her, then, everyone would know that the scrabble on table event at that time, Roger also just made himself as a scapegoat to help Poppy. Because of this fear, Poppy was forced to give false information. She thought Roger could not survive because the blood he shed was so much at that time.

The feeling of fear and discomfort that Poppy felt seemed to have taken over her conscience. She was too absorbed in the happy life that she had never felt before, and didn’t want to lose it all again. The current Roger was no longer the Roger that Poppy knew before. The guy had become weak and couldn’t even defend himself. Roger was no longer a strong man who could protect Poppy.

Because of that, Poppy kept avoiding Roger until they seemed to be strangers who never knew each other. Even Poppy was kept silent when Roger was bullied in front of her eyes. She was forced to laugh too when everyone laughed at Roger. Even so.. Roger remained silent. He still protected the girl he loved in his own way.

But at least, Roger still could see Poppy was always smiling. It was all enough for him.

-Flashback End-

BUGH!!

Roger’s body lay on the snow with his face facing the sky. The pain was so severe that he could no longer feel his own body. Falling from the sixth floor straight down made all of his bones shatter. Even Roger didn’t want to know anymore how the position of his legs and arms had become.

The dark sky that began to be greeted by the sun was so beautiful. Made Roger smile. Maybe this time, he wasn’t as lucky as before. Maybe this time, the task really was done.

As Roger knew.. He was a child that nobody wanted. Yet, heaven still sent him down. Maybe he was actually an angel sent to protect a girl named Poppy Castonia.

Roger did not regret the decisions he had made, either in the past or in the present. He was very grateful to have met Poppy, the jewel in his life. Because of that girl, he felt that he was important. When the world didn’t seem to need him, Poppy was here to depend on him. Even though Roger felt pain, he could accept it with grace.

Because, to fight for happiness, there are things that must be sacrificed.

Roger understood that and chose to sacrifice his life. Because, Poppy’s smile was the source of his happiness.

A figure with a black helmet rushed towards Roger. It was Emma Hilland who immediately knelt down in panic beside his broken body. The girl opened her helmet glass visor quickly.

“Roger! Hold on! Please.. Hold on!” Emma exclaimed by holding the guy’s left hand which was covered in blood.

Roger seemed to be panting as if he was about to say something. Emma immediately put her ear near his mouth.

“Poc.. ket. Take.. the.. balloon in my.. pocket..” He stammered.

Even though she was confused, Emma immediately reached into all the pockets in Roger’s jacket and pants. Then, she felt a cold, elastic object in the pocket of his jacket. She took it out. It was a deflated faded-pink balloon. Emma looked directly at Roger questioningly.

Roger smiled until his bloodied teeth lined up, “T.. that.. That’s.. Poppy. Poppy’s heart.. Give it to.. her.”

“UGH!” Roger coughed a lot of blood from his mouth. He was barely breathing.

Emma moved frantically, her face pale and her eyes quivering. She shook her head quickly, “No Roger! You gave this to Poppy yourself. Look, I’ve called an ambulance. They’ll be here in a few minutes. You have to hold on! I beg you! You can do it, Roger! We’ve made it!” Emma said with tears in her eyes.

But not only Roger, but Emma actually also knew that the poor guy couldn’t possibly survive with such severe injuries.

Roger smiled again with a face full of blood splattered from his vomit. He looked at Emma with all of his heart and full of gratitude.

“My.. best friend..”

Emma raised her face to look at Roger again while sobbing when she heard him saying words again. Emma tightened her grip on Roger’s hand which had become freezing cold.

“You.. are.. my first.. best.. friend.. Em..ma.. T-thank.. you..”

Then, Roger’s eyes stopped moving, staring up at the sky with his mouth slightly open.

“No!.. No.. Roger.. No..!” Emma cried, laying her head on the guy’s lifeless body.

“Rogerrr!! No!!” The faint sound of a girl’s shrill scream was getting closer and closer.

Emma hurriedly closed her helmet visor, removed Roger’s hand and straightened herself. She desperately suppressed the tremors in her body from the deep sadness.

Poppy burst into Roger’s empty shell. There was no need to check again to know that the guy was gone. Poppy burst into tears, regretting all her evil deeds. Lamenting the fate of her love that came too late.

“No!! Roger!! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Roger!! Please! Wake up!” She screamed as she hugged this empty body.

Behind her, Emma just stood with tears streaming down her face from behind her black helmet. Then, she stepped next to Poppy and knelt beside the girl. Then, Emma handed her the thing she had taken from Roger’s jacket pocket.

“Roger said this is your heart. He asked me to give it back to you.”

Poppy stared blankly at the deflated balloon, then took it from the helmeted man’s hand. She cried again as she held the balloon over her chest.

Sometimes, we only realize how valuable someone was in our life after losing that person. Like the regret that always came too late.

The faint sound of a siren was getting closer and closer. Emma hastily stood up and grabbed the shoulder of Poppy who was still kneeling beside Roger’s body.

“We have to go now. Things will get worse if the authorities find us here.” Emma said.

Poppy was silent, still staring at Roger who looked like he was looking at the sky with his bright blue eyes. Then, she raised her hand, and with her fingers, closed his eyelids, “I’m sorry that I realized it too late. I’m sorry I was late in admitting that I love you.” Poppy whispered before kissing Roger’s frozen lips.