Chapter 67 Healing (1/2)
Kay and Kyle took one week off from school, on the pretext that there was a family emergency. Master Shifu had been registered as their guardian and he had personally come to the school to submit the leave application. Principal Godric was worried and had been burning to ask why, but it was too personal a reason and he wasn't close to them. So he had to swallow the words in his throat and show his concern.
As a result of their leave, Principal Godric also delayed the announcement for the new school revamp as there was one particular person he needed to talk to first. He didn't like to force people, though he could be quite heavy handed on things he felt passionately about. He watched Master Shifu go out and shelved the idea for a while.
At least it meant he had been given more time to focus on the logistics. Principal Godric was an opportunist and one who would always try to see things in a positive light. Although he was the type to go in with guns-ablazing, he wouldn't be doing so without some proper planning.
No one, except the Elite Five, knew that the Smith Twins were actually at Master Shifu's house. The more that people knew, the more likely it was for them to know something had happened to Kay and that was something no one wanted. Kay just wanted to stay among her family and heal, rather than have to explain herself to other people. As close as she was to Sarah, it wasn't the same as how she was with the Elite Five and Master Shifu.
In the first two days, Kay seemed to revert back to being a child, always clinging on to Kyle as if she was seeking comfort. He would indulge her whims and pamper her endlessly. At night, they would sleep together as it was the only way that she could feel safe. Kyle was her bolster, just like when they were younger, as she hugged him tightly.
She would have nightmares and whimper at times but the moment Kyle hugged her close, she would calm down and fall back asleep. Kyle's heart was so pained at all of this. Kay was too young to experience such a thing. He had tried to protect her but he failed. He wished he could turn back time again and smash Jason's face before he even harboured such thoughts about Kay. She's only 13, for fu** sake!
Worse, he hadn't even equipped her with the most basic skills to defend herself. He had been blind in that aspect, always thinking that they would be together and he'd be there to protect her. She hadn't shown any interest in learning any martial arts before so he never insisted, and he regretted that.
On the second night, as Kay cuddled to Kyle on the bed, Kyle finally had the courage to ask her, ”Do you want your memories of that day to be erased?”
Kay didn't have to think about it as she shook her head vehemently, her hair flying in Kyle's face. ”No.”
”But-”
”No buts. At first, I did think about asking, really but then ... well, I have always believed that everything happens for a reason.You were reborn for a reason. You were reborn as my twin for a reason. No matter how bitter the experience was, there is a reason for it. I have to learn from it and be stronger for it. If I forget it, the pain might be gone but so would the things I gained from it.”
”Things you gained?” Kyle asked curiously, ”Like what?”
Kay snuggled closer to Kyle, burying her head in the crook of his neck as she answered, ”Our bond, for one. It's something that I don't think about or even wonder about because it's as natural and a part of me as breathing. You don't think about how you breathe, you just do. But our twin bond is rather unique, I would think. You're my twin yet not my twin. Your mind is different and you have a past but I don't.”
Kay took a deep breath as she tried to articulate her thoughts, ”It was getting a bit frustrating without me realising it. I felt as if we were drifting apart as we grew older. It made me frantic and my desire to prove myself stemmed from there.”
Her voice trailed softer as she said barely in a whispter but Kyle heard it nonetheless, ”I didn't want to be left behind.”
Kyle rubbed her back comfortingly and sighed, ”I get you. I took it for granted as well. When I think about it, I guess ... when we were younger, it was easier. I was the older one and you depended on me and followed me around like a little chick. Basically, clinging and clucking. ”
”HEY!” Kay protested, smacking his chest. Kay felt his chest shake as he laughed and she hugged him tighter.
”But you're not a little chick anymore. I lost sight of that. I kept seeing you as someone that needed protecting. I STILL want to protect you but I also know that you need to be you.”