NOVPUB"Biiiiig broooother!!"
Malik staggered slightly, more out of habit than impact, revealing no particular reaction to her smacking into him.
He only stood still, arms hanging at his sides, as her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, her arms around his chest, and her face buried in it.
Her laughter bubbled up, half sobs, half giggles, as she clung to him, hanging in the air.
Malik lowered his gaze and then, awkwardly—like a man remembering how to be human—raised his right hand and patted her back. Once. Twice. Slow, mechanical. No warmth in the motion, just the act itself.
The girl hiccuped a laugh, using his heavy cloak to wipe her tears and snot.
Malik felt a twitch under his skin.
The clean freak part of him wanted to peel her off, tidy his cloak, and maybe wipe her face. But his body stayed still, his hand kept patting. His heart knew—whoever this girl was, she mattered; she mattered a whole lot.
So he let her cry and laugh and cling.
Strangely… it wasn't awkward. Not really.
Somewhere beneath the numbness, Malik's chest warmed.
After a while, the girl let go, hopping back with a breathless grin.
She looked up at him, cheeks flushed pink, and then, without a word, she spun around, plopped herself down on the grass facing the lake, and patted the ground beside her.
Malik followed, folding his long legs beneath him, and sat.
The girl leaned her small head against his shoulder, sighing happily.
"You grew up a lot, big brother~."
He nodded at her.
"It seems I have."
"Your hair's longer, too! And you smell like sand~."
She giggled, scrunching her nose.
"Not bad though! Kinda c-cool!"
Malik gave a faint hum in reply.
"You're really an adult now! Y-you're even more h-h-handsome."
"…Thank you."
"Um... I... look, I really like your new look."
"Thank you."
Her little fingers reached out, slipping into his large hand.
She giggled as she squeezed.
"Your hands are so big now."
"It seems like it."
"Hehe… you're even worse than before."
"…Hm. Things haven't been all that good."
Her fingers tightened further around his.
"I've been cheering for you."
Malik's head turned slightly, golden eyes meeting her dark ones.
"…You have?"
Her cheeks turned a deeper red, and she ducked her head.
"Always… a w-w-wife always supports her husband, you know that!"
Malik's brows lifted faintly. His mouth opened, then closed, then opened again:
"…We… we were married?"
The little girl froze.
Her eyes widened, only now realizing that he could not remember her.
"Y-y-yes, we were!"
Unlike the others, she didn't fix his misconception or reveal the truth; instead, she fiercely nodded her head and began to weave her lie, as one would expect of a girl her age, a child protecting a fragile dream.
"My name, um, it was Jasmine, um…"
But she fumbled at the starting line, brow furrowing as she struggled to name Malik's father.
"It was… it… Jasmine... Jasmine..."
Her small shoulders sagged.
"I'm sorry…"
Tears threatened to leave them.
"We weren't married."
Malik's thumb shifted, brushing over her hand in a quiet gesture.
"It's fine."
Jasmine's face lit up again, her eyes glimmering as she leaned closer.
"Hehehehe~! I… You saved me… You saved so many like me. We were slaves, and you broke the cages. You made sure we were fed, clothed, and safe, and you sent us away. Not all of us could make it back to the Al-Fawra's surface, but you… you made sure we had the chance."
Thump.
Somewhere deep inside, Malik's heart gave a faint, reluctant twitch.
"Me and Safira became your disciples!"
Thump.
"You started teaching us all about Aether, and I started learning how to become a healer… But then, when we found that cave…"
Thump.
And just like that, it clicked.
Malik's eyes sharpened.
He remembered.
"We met Fallen."
"We met Fallen."
Jasmine nodded, still leaning against him, her smile soft.
"I don't blame you, you know that."
Malik's gaze dropped to the grass.
"I do."
His voice remained flat.
"…You're too sweet for that."
Jasmine giggled, fanning her hand.
"Oh~! You flatterer! Y-you already have me; no need to butter me up!"
Malik's lips curved—barely a smile, more a flicker of expression.
Then, without warning, he lifted her hand and kissed it.
"Eeeeeek!"
She nearly shot a foot into the air, her face an even brighter red.
Malik tilted his head, watching her calmly, the faint quirk at the corner of his mouth turning into more of a smile, still inhuman, but a smile nonetheless.
"W-w-what was that for?!"
"I was thanking you."
Jasmine spun around in a flustered huff, pouting.
"A-at least warn me next time!"
As soon as those words left her mouth, all emotion drained from her face, and worry passed through her eyes as she looked at him.
"I-I didn't mean to say that. A-are you okay?"
Malik's eyes met hers.
"I am now."
Jasmine beamed, stepping closer again.
Instead of sitting beside him, she boldly pushed his legs down and plopped herself in his lap.
"That's good."
She snuggled back against his chest, giggling softly.
"I know you missed me~."
"...You don't realize just how much."
Malik's hands rose, fingers sliding gently through her long, dark hair, smoothing the tangles.
Enjoying his touch, Jasmine hummed a little tune and began to lean left and right, shuffling away, eyes half-closed.
"How is Safira? Did she grow up like you?"
"Most likely."
"Did you check on the other girls? Are they doing fine?"
"I'm sure they are."
"A-Are you married now?"
"No... I'm not."
"Y-Y-You s-s-s-should. You might get too old... no one'll want you!"
"Hm... That's true. Guess I only have you, don't I?"
Jasmine burst into a fit of giggles, twisting in his lap to look up at him.
"Hehehehe~! Yes you do!"
Malik's smile widened a little further, somehow becoming worse, and she returned to her humming, not caring for its twisted nature.
"Hmmm-hm-hmm~ Do you really not remember the others…?"
His gaze slid back to the water.
"…Not really."
"That's okay!"
She chirped, not missing a beat.
"I remember them enough for both of us!"
She leaned back, pressing her head to his chest.
"You were their hope, you know—mine too!"
"That's good."
"...Did you wear that mantle for others, too?"
Malik took a moment to think of his life and what he accomplished.
Had he worn the mantle of hope for others? Or had he failed them?
Once more, for the umpteenth time, he could not say.
'You might even be comparable to me~.'
Or so he first believed.
Being reminded of Rehan's words, he reluctantly nodded his head.
Though it was a struggle, he still had an answer:
"...I'd like to believe that."
Jasmine brightened even further.
"That's great! The world should know my hero!"
Malik's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't say anything.
There was nothing to say regarding that.
Nothing.
