"Rami, you're up to go. Don't disappoint me." Astera told Rami gently, which surprised him because of the tone.
Rami is currently at the airport. He's here together with all of his brothers. The eldest son, Aster. The second son, Redge. The third son, Grayheme. And their youngest, Ezra. His fourth one among five brothers. Even with his illegitimate child title.
Rami nodded slightly. He reached for the bag that Redge handed to him.
Not wasting time even more, he turned his back on them. He was about to walk through the checkpoint for him to board when suddenly, he remembered what happened again and what he'd done.
Overwhelmed by the pain and sorrow he felt, tears began to slip down his cheeks before he even noticed. The moment he realized, he quickly wiped them away so his brothers wouldn't see. Once he was sure no one would notice, he looked back at them and flashed a cute smile.
"Don't worry. I'll get it all done. I'll make sure to finish it with flying colors and blood pooling around me." Rami assured them teasingly, with a confident smile.
Rami admits it—he's not in the right state right now.
Even so, he realizes he doesn't regret what he did, especially because of the sweet memories he shared with Dark that night. But he knows he made mistakes, and he wants to ask for forgiveness—especially from Avery and Ryuzaki—so he wants to return immediately and apologize. Even if he knows they'll be angry with him, and maybe even hate him now.
As for Dark, he wanted to go back—just to plead with him. To beg him not to hate him. Because he couldn't bear that. He could endure anything, as long as Dark didn't hate him.
Rami took his baggage, then he started to walk through the entrance.
"Bye, dear brothers. Until we see each other again." Rami flashed them a smile, then waved without looking back as he walked toward the checkpoint, passport ready—so they wouldn't see his tears falling again.
Meanwhile. . . .
"There's something wrong with him." Astera stated, and the others nodded in agreement.
They trusted their eldest brother's instinct. They weren't blind—far from it. They were all sensitive, especially when it came to Rami.
"Yeah. For some reason, whatever happened made him smile and act like that." Grayheme said, folding his arms.
"His smile isn't right. He smiles a lot, but this time—" Redge stopped, unable to finish. He fell silent, as if continuing would be too much.
"Should we investigate deeper?" Ezra asked, his eyes shifting between his older brothers.
No one answered.
Yes, they didn't make Rami feel important. Yes, they didn't show that they cared. And yes, they never showed the love they carried for him. They had their reasons. But that didn't mean they weren't worried. It didn't mean they didn't love him.
Because the truth was… they loved him—more than anyone could ever understand. They worried like hell every time Rami went on missions. And when their parents died five years ago, they promised to protect him.
Protect him in every way they could.
"Whoever did this to our brother should be grateful it's only their first offense." Astera said coldly. "But if they dare do it again— whatever prayer they utter, whoever Gods or Demons they wish to save them, no one will help them."
The others nodded in firm agreement.
Yeah.
Payback is a bitch.