Chiaroscuro Of A Long Wait

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN

I am Celio, twenty-four this year. When I came into the world, my mother was the happiest person alive. She embraced me as the universe embraces a star, and hence, named me 'Celio'.

My father's affection was quite different. He was in the civil services and, upon seeing me, predicted I would become a fitness buff. However, as I grew up, I ended up loving nature and painting landscapes to capture their beauty.

Because my father wanted me to be health-conscious, he made me practice and work out with him from a very young age. On the other hand, my mother helped me get my colours and respected my passion for art.

For a long time, I was reluctant to join taekwondo classes. But when I asked my father to buy me a few expensive colour palettes, he put forth a condition: I had to join the class. At first, I thought I would simply attend for a week to get what I wanted, but then, something changed everything.On my first day of class, while I was trying to adjust and enjoy myself, a few classmates approached to rag me. At ten years old, I wasn't fierce, so I tried to ignore them. Out of nowhere, a girl named 'Galassia' stepped in, chased them away, and consoled me. Even though I hadn't been afraid, her presence brought me a strange kind of calmness. She looked radiant, even with a fierce expression on her face.

Eventually, our parents met, and we began hanging out outside of class. We would have dinner and talk for hours, sharing details about our day. Eating dessert while perched on a tree branch always brought me peace.

Everything was going smoothly until the day my father was transferred to a city far away. I did not want to go, but we had to leave within twenty-four hours. I wanted to meet Galassia one last time, but I couldn't make it happen. I knew I was taking her only friend away from her, but I was completely helpless.

"Snatching your beloved is not a unknown feeling for me, making you stay away is not a different feeling for me, letting you suffer in pain is not a new feeling for me, but I believe this pain, suffering, and distance will all come to an end soon, allowing us to meet again and be happy together forever."

CRISIS OF MY LIFE

I lived in the new city with my parents and my paternal step-aunt. By the time I turned fourteen, I desperately wanted to see Galassia again. I asked my dad, and he agreed to take us back there for a week. However, while my parents were returning from shopping for gifts and essentials, a severe earthquake struck. Their car was crushed under a collapsing building, and they died tragically. Seeing their corpses was so unbearable that I remained unconscious for an entire day.

When I finally woke up, I only got to see their graves; my aunt's husband had already buried them. A few days after the incident, my aunt's true colours showed. As my legal guardian, she sold me to a company that offered large sums of money to talented children, allowing them to pursue their dreams but behind hidden bars.

I was allowed only to paint, though I was given everything required to live a comfortable life. I earned a significant amount of money. My aunt received twenty percent, the company took thirty percent, and the remaining fifty percent was saved as my personal earnings. However, I could only spend it with the explicit permission of our assigned company manager.

Years passed, and I became a successful painter. I also became the fitness buff of our group to make my parents proud, and I began investing in the betterment of children who shared my plight. It was a ten-year contract. Once it expired, I would become the sole owner of my earnings, free to do whatever I truly desired.

With only one month left before the contract's termination, the company wanted to organise an art competition across a few cities to maximize their profits during my final weeks.I am waiting for this month to end so I can go find her; my long wait is finally nearing its conclusion. I do not know why, but I feel a deep connection to her in this city.

When I saw a peach satin gown paired with a white velvet coat in a shop window, I wished I could see her wearing it. The company would not allow me to buy it now, but I will definitely purchase it the moment my contract ends.

HOPE AROSE

I was filled with butterflies, hoping to meet you soon, when I suddenly saw a girl wearing that exact same dress in the competition and exhibition hall. I could not see her face, but I knew you would look beautiful in it. I hope you will be happy to see me after these ten long years. After losing my parents, you are the only family I have left in this world.

I do not know why, but I feel completely surrounded by thoughts of you since arriving in this city. More often than not, it feels as though you are watching over me. Today, I felt this presence strongly near the river. Our company wanted to advertise and launch a cleanup campaign, as many of our art projects rely on the river's beauty, yet it has been growing dirtier by the day.

Now, only one final week remains. Afterward, I will eagerly come to look for you. I want to meet you as soon as possible, because being this lonely has been incredibly difficult. I want to see you and share everything that has been waiting for you all these years.

On the day of my contract termination, both my aunt and the head manager try to convince me to sign a new contract, but I refuse them and walk away. Now, I am on the train back to our hometown, praying that you haven't forgotten me.

It seems it will be a long journey to reach you. No one here knows your exact whereabouts; they say you moved away long ago and that your paternal family is currently away on vacation. I have gone to pursue them.

Upon seeing me, your grandmother was furious at first for making you wait so long. But after a moment, she hugged me tightly and handed me your address. Frankly speaking, it gave me a small, smug sense of happiness to hear that you have been waiting for me all these years. I am moving forward to finally meet you.