DEAPECTRUMS
038. CLEVE CHANGE

All the memories in my life suddenly popped up. When I ran looking for Isbell and saw the boy in the car, when I found the dying Isbell, when I dug the ground to find the chest that was in Isbell's grave, when I came back and found Isbell dead, when me and Jatnera buried him, when me and Jatnera were trying to survive, when I went to the treasure pit to take medicine for the Jatnera and met a man who was about to die from being shot by a herd of criminals, the man gave me a packet of bread, when I was chased by a slave and the boy helped me.

When the boy's words made me believe in our next meeting, and until all happened to this day. When we escaped, when the three of us laughed happily, when Cleve and I were caught again and when Marchi's death ended everything. It's all gonna end here.

Right now I am in a hallway that is familiar to me, the red carpet and the doors made of gold-painted wood are familiar enough.

I heard footsteps and the sound of some people shouting my name, scaring me. Suddenly one of the doors opened and a boy appeared smiling at me. It was a boy I had wanted to meet for a long time. But a dazzling light came closer and made my eyes glare.

I opened my eyes and looked at the ceiling of the room I was in. I try to remember what happened to me but my head hurts so much. I tried to get up but my strength was not there.

My left hand was attached to an infusion hose that made me unable to move it freely. I turned to the left and saw Cleve lying blankly on a bed like the one I was in.

I just realized that we were both at the clinic and I was just dreaming. The thing I remember the last time was when I felt like I was no longer strong enough to hold back the hunger and thirst in the dark room and then fell unconscious.

“Cleve, are you okay?” I asked Cleve who was lying on a bed three meters away from my bed. Cleve did not reply and simply continued to stare at the ceiling. “Cleve, what happened? You're okay, right?”

“You're awake, Bee?” Suddenly Gumi came and approached me.

Gumi's right eye was wrapped in bandages.

“Gu—Gumi... what happened to your eyes?” I asked to see Gumi's situation.

“I lost my right eye because of the last task,” replied Gumi. “From the five people on duty we lost three people and Nem one of them.”

“Ma—you mean Nem..” I tried to get up from my position.

“He's dead,” continued Gumi looking at me with only her left eye.

Hearing him I immediately turned to Cleve who had not yet budged from his gaze to the ceiling.

“Since awakening two days ago he kept it that way even when I told him about Nem's death,” Gumi told Cleve's current condition.

“Cleve must have been shaken. He lost all the people he was precious to,” I said still staring at Cleve.

Suddenly Gumi hit me on the head. “Why did you guys run away? Why did you run away if you were finally caught?” Shouted Gumi in annoyance. “You are really stupid, you should not get caught if you run away.”

“How long have we been locked up?” I looked at Gumi.

“Ten days and you were unconscious for four days. You guys are still lucky.”

Three days later Cleve and I were released from the clinic. Cleve had yet to open her mouth and her gaze was always blank.

Aquielle said Cleve was shaken and made her reluctant to speak. I remember Ian, he used to be like that after shooting his own mother and finally Ian came back to talk when he met me. Perhaps one day Cleve will also return to speak.

Cleve walked first towards our adjoining seats, our seats were at the very back.

Suddenly Tiffany grabbed Cleve's leg until Cleve fell on the floor. I helped Cleve get up but Cleve said nothing to Tiffany and immediately sat down in her place.

That makes me very upset. If Cleve was the one he was sure he would immediately make business with the blonde.

“What are you doing?” I asked with an angry look at Tiffany.

“I didn't do anything,” replied Tiffany with a mocking smile. “I didn't do anything stupid to kill my own friend. Marchi died because of you two, right? You two are killer bastards!”

“What happened?” New Wendy arrives. “Bee, sit at your place!”

Tiffany smiled like a smile after winning the war as I walked towards my seat. I really want to scratch my sword into his neck someday. I can't accept what he did to Cleve just now.

I turned towards Cleve who was sitting on my left. He just looked ahead with a blank look. I feel sad to see his current condition. Cleve was a girl who had always been cheerful before. When did he get back to the way he used to be?

After class I went to the clinic to ask Aquielle something about Cleve's condition that made me feel like I wasn't doing well.

Besides that I actually also want to chat with him because other than Cleve I have no friends to chat in this college. Gumi had already left college and the only one I could chat with was Aquielle.

“What do you want to ask? What about coughing up your blood?” Aquielle asked sitting on her desk chair.

“No, I wonder if there is a way for Cleve to return to what it used to be?”

“Actually I also do not understand this, but from the book I read, you have to ask her to talk so that she speaks again,” replied Aquielle.

“I am confused if I see him just daydreaming and not answering my question,”. “Even he let Tiffany bother him.”

“Himself must have been so shaken that he was like that,”, said Aquielle wearing her glasses. “Actually what happens when they catch you? Why did Cleve get to that?”

“They killed her lover in front of her eyes,” I replied. “Cleve met a man there. But they shot the man in the head right in front of Cleve's eyes. It must have made him what he is today. Even after that they also shot our friend Marchi in front of us as a punishment of the heart, and in addition the death of his mentor, Nem.”

“I can understand why Cleve became like that.” Aquielle said. “But Bee, I want you to know something so you don't blame yourself for the death of your friend Marchi.”

Aquielle's words made me a little tense because of something she said about a friend who died because of me.

“Actually Marchi has a disease. He has brain cancer that keeps him from living long. We estimate his life to be about two to three months away. So don't blame yourself for his death.”

I was very surprised to hear Aquielle's statement just now.

...@racing_al.aska...