Chapter 24: Return (Filler)
Chapter 24: Return (Filler)
*Drip*
Rewen was sitting under a pole stand when he felt something fall on his hair. 'Is it bird's poop?' He hurriedly moved his hand to check it, then realized it was a bad move but still continued. "It's just water. No, wait."
*Drip*
*Drip*
It didn't even take more than a few seconds to start pouring heavily.
Rewen just sat still like a homeless man. There was no place to take shelter from. There were empty roads everywhere. He took out a smartphone and dialed a number.
Rewen: "Where are you?"
Cal: "Where are you?"
"I'll send you the location. Where are you?"
"I'm working. It should take me more than an hour to complete my work and reach. Besides, it's pouring here. Is it pouring there?"
"No. Come soon."
"Alright."
He hung up and kept it back in his pocket. He was almost wet by now but what else could he do? 'System, create an invisible umbrella above my head! Hah! As if that wor-' He didn't feel pouring on his body any more.
[Not possible.]
He saw a shadow near him. Raising his head, he found a dirty-looking kid with tattered clothes helping him with an umbrella. The boy noticed his gaze and smiled. The smile didn't suit the face of the kid as his face was deformed and dirty but for Rewen, it was the brightest smile he had seen.
"Is there any place I can take shelter from?"
The boy tilted his head. "Shell tar?"
"Forget it. Is there any house nearby?"
The boy looked at him in confusion.
Rewen didn't give up and tried to show him a picture of a house using his hands. "This is a house."
"House! I know!" The boy clapped and proceeded to give him the umbrella.
Rewen didn't actually think this would work. He was grabbed by his wrist by the boy and was forced to get up. He got up cooperatively and followed the boy to venture out of the roads. When he first stepped upon the wet long grasslands, he felt a bit bothered but later, didn't care. His uniform was already wet, it wouldn't hurt if it got dirty.
Walking about a minute, a small hut covered by palm trees came into his view. The boy took him near the door of the hut. Rewen could hear of the sounds of kids. 'Is this some family?' The boy pushed open the door and what came into Rewen's view shocked him to the core. He saw about a dozen children, each of them having abnormalities, doing chores. Some had facial deformities like the boy who brought him here, some had deformed hands and legs and others just staring into space with mouths open. He presumed the last one had mental disabilities.
In the centre, an old man was laying down watching the children. "Ten, you came? Who is this?"
Rewen stepped forward. "I'm sorry for the sudden intrusion. Can I take shelter for a while here?"
The old man nodded. "You can."
Rewen sat down on the floor while the children stared at him curiously. The boy, Ten, ran to the other kids and started brooming the floor.
"Who are they?" He asked the old man.
"I raised them up."
"Were they abandoned?"
The old man silently nodded.
Rewen felt bad for them. He wished he could do something. 'System, is there any Helping Humanity System?'
[Negative.]
'Of course you wouldn't have those. You couldn't care less about these trifling matters. The only thing worth caring for you is my strength.' His mood was bitter. Who wouldn't be? He was dropped at a place he didn't know. Although he didn't know the exact distance, he was sure that it wasn't less than ten miles. 'Wait, ten miles? Couldn't I reach home within a few minutes then? It's decided. I'm officially crowned as the greatest idiot the world has ever seen.' He took out his phone and called Cal again.
"What's up?"
"Oh, I found a taxi. You don't need to come."
"Good."
He hung up.
As Rewen was about to get up and bid farewell, a little girl came to him with a tray full of bread. "No need for this, Sister." He denied with a smile. Unfortunately, the little girl pushed the tray into his hands. He didn't deny it this time. He started eating bread. Finishing it, he picked another one up and started eating. During the process, he noticed that the little girl's and Ten's, who had stopped cleaning, eyes were completely focused on the bread he was eating.
He stopped eating the bread and took the bread to the little girl's mouth. She shook her head but after a single nudge of the bread to her lips, she grabbed the bread and ate it. He smiled and took another bread this time pointing it towards Ten. He took the entire bread in his mouth without any reservations. Picking the tray, he gave it to the little girl then pointed to the other children indicating her to give the bread to them. The girl hesitantly nodded and distributed the bread to others.
Rewen got up, took out his purse and handed over every note there was in his purse to the old man. "Use this well."
The old man was overwhelmed by this sudden gratitude and vehemently refused to take it. "Young man, you are being foolish by giving me these many credits. We're living very well."
He then called Ten and handed him over a bundle of notes and exited the hut without saying anything.
Rewen wasn't a saint and was very stingy with money. He felt some sympathy and pity towards these kids and leaving without giving something would bug him in the future which is why he gave his entire monthly expenses to them. He admitted he went a bit overboard with his kindness but he felt very proud of himself and didn't regret it one bit. 'Maybe I'll regret it after some time whatever, I'll ask her for credits as compensation.'
'Temporarily sacrifice the two features and my bloodline.'
All of a sudden, his body felt lighter as he dashed.
***
Denny was casually watching a TV show when she heard the sound of a car engine. 'They must have returned.' Wearing home slippers, she ran to the door and opened it. She saw Viviana standing outside and looked inside the car. "Aunt, where is Rewen?"
"He... call Cal." Viviana replied with an exhausted voice.
Denny confusedly took out her phone, dialed Cal's number and passed it to Viviana.
"Hello."
"Hello. It's me, Aunt."
"Ah, no need to worry. I heard from Rewen that he found a taxi."
"I see. Are you doing well?"
"Can't say that but I'm trying."
"Okay, I'm hanging up."
*Beep*
Viviana let out a sigh and walked inside the house. Denny, still confused, followed her into the living room. 'Aunt looks really stressed out for some reason.'
"Is something the matter?" She cautiously asked.
"Take this card and help out Rewen. If something happens, call me immediately. I have to go." Handing over a card to Denny, she left swiftly.
Denny just couldn't sync with her. She took some seconds to process what she had said and by the time she was done, she again heard the sound of an engine starting.
*Ding*
After a minute or two, she heard the doorbell.