The Eye Of Death
Chapter 5: Grown up

Due to intensive care from my mother, I had to give up my usual school days. Both Mom and I, we both want me to recover from the trauma and be able to live my life again. The treatment I went through was pretty heavy. In addition to the therapy that Mother always gave me, I also had to undergo heavy training from my father's friend who became my martial arts teacher. I did not expect to be asked to dive in the pool for 1 minute, which even 30 seconds I was not strong. Every time I enter the water, I always remember the tragedy on the beach. It always makes me panic and lose concentration. My chest started to cramp and my consciousness gradually disappeared.

With a program of "therapy" I ran - which I thought looked more like torture - made me get used to the water. During the dive, of course I was unable to escape from the frightening shadows of tragedy on the beach. However, my teacher always encouraged me to be able to face my fears like my father who protected me even though he knew he might not survive if he protected me. Recalling my father's sacrifice and his courage gave me strength to face my fears. Now, I've shown rapid development during militant-apology training, I mean post-traumatic healing therapy. I was able to overcome my fear of water thanks to remembering my father's courage and trying to be like him. After 1 month and 25 days, I was allowed to do my daily activities. Of course, I have to take martial training from my teacher once every 2 weeks plus still taking the medicine given by Mother.

I went back to living my delayed life. Of course, the lessons at school are delayed. Therefore, I chose to go to school once in the morning when the class was still quiet to avoid contact with people. Fortunately, we as students are free to choose the study bench according to arrival, so I chose the back bench. I opened the classroom door slowly, it seemed like I was the first person in the class.

"Zen, are you okay?"

A girl suddenly came to my desk and it surprised me. I thought there was no one in the class, so where did he come from?

"You surprise me, Vega.Can you call me first? "

"I called you earlier, but you didn't respond. I thought you were sick or something, so I approached you. So, you're okay? "

I let out a breath.

"No, I'm fine, "

I rubbed my back neck.

"Ah, that move, you're hiding something huh? "

I jerked. How could he possibly know that? I think only my mother knows.

"Why do you think that?"

"You kidding? We have known each other since the 1st grade. Who do you think has been playing with you ever since you kept your distance from others? Anti-social policy, "

I'm stumped. I can't deny it, because that's the fact. Since the tragedy on the beach, I have become more quiet and kept my distance from others. Only Vega kept coming at me - even though I had asked her many times to stay away, but I gave up on this jolly child.

"I'm not anti-social. I'm just lazy to interact with people.that's all,"

At first I wanted to reply to his words that said it was just a joke - if it was true - but again I relented.

"I was just thinking about how to catch up with the class and how to deal with other people now,"

"Huh? It's just that but your face already looks like one who's lost hope. Take it easy, I'll help you. For lessons, you can come to my house to copy the class notes. As for facing others you just need to do as usual. Ah, I'm sorry I just remembered that you always avoid contact with other people. Forget my advice. Or maybe you could try to relax. Not everyone is exactly what you think. In fact, maybe more will accept you. The point is you just have to try,"

I'm dumbfounded. The advice it gives sounds easy, but all this time I didn't want to think about it. More precisely, my fear was holding me back. I smile.

"Have you seen the movie? I think I've heard your advice before,"

"Not polite, yes. Begin, I can also think of such a thing, "

I laughed softly.

"Thank you, "

"No need to thank me, don't hesitate to ask for my help at any time. That way I can ask for your help anytime, too,"

We continued the conversation until the first lesson began.

At 15:30, the school bell rang loudly, indicating that the time to go home had arrived. As planned, I will visit Vega's house to copy the lesson notes. We walked to Vega's house. We talked and joked. Until we passed a building construction area. After enough talking, I looked straight ahead. Instantly my eyes widened, and my body pegged. A worker who was lifting an iron pipe had a red thread dangling over his head. Shit, of all why must it be this time and here?, I thought at that time. I pulled out Vega's lenagn and suddenly a large iron beam fell on the worker who had a death mark - a designation I made for the red thread dangling over someone's head-.

Vega screaming. The atmosphere became chaotic. People rushed to the scene to help the victims. Some of them called an ambulance. Although I have seen something like this many times, I am still not used to it. I became panicked. My breath was tight and my head was dizzy. But I try to strengthen myself. I try to strengthen myself. Suddenly, a thought appeared in my mind.

"Why am I so hysterical about this? Millions of people die every day and I act like nothing happens and don't even care. Why should I worry about people I don't even know? He never did anything for me. So, maybe it's better that I should be calm, like it's none of my business.

I hate myself for thinking about it. However, what I hate more is that I am calm and even accept the thought. After the incident, I drove Vega home. Vega with a sad, scared, and surprised face made Vega's parents approach her with a confused face and try to calm her down. I didn't copy the notes. If I do, I'm just a self-informed person who can't read situations. After telling everything to Vega's parents, I said goodbye and walked home. On the way, the thought continued to ring in my mind. I guess, if I accept this thought I can face unexpected deaths in the future. For some reason, I felt that I would see the death of someone before my eyes return. I chose to accept it, and from then on I only cared about the people who were precious and kind to me, and did not care about anyone else.