The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

111 The Wheel Of Life

Through the grey eyes in the sharp frame, Emma could see something a bit odd about Levi. He looked tired, but his face didn’t describe someone who was having problems, “You’re working on holidays too?”

Levi shook his head, “I don’t think of my job as a job.”

“Very wise,” Emma replied with a lazy snort.

“Oh! By the way, how’s Nancy?” Emma asked.

“She just came back here yesterday. But two days ago, her health went down again so she had to fly back overseas. Maybe this time, she would be there a bit longer.” Levi explained with a heavy sigh.

“Oh.. Is that so? I was thinking of visiting her on this holiday.” Emma looked down sadly.

Levi glanced at the girl beside him, then cleared his throat, “This time it wasn’t you. So, there’s no need to think too much.”

Emma looked up at Levi, “Of course, I never thought it was my fault. Seriously.. I’ve only met her once! There’s no way I could have had that much influence on her.” Emma chirped.

“You don’t know that one meeting with the right person will be very valuable for someone who feels lonely in all her life,” Levi said.

.....

“Does Nancy that lonely? Well.. Even though you and your brother look cold, I can see that you both love Nancy so much and never hesitate to show it to her.” Emma thought.

“That’s not the point. You don’t know what my mother has been through. So you better stop judging as you please.” Levi reprimand.

Even though she didn’t like Levi’s cynical tone, Emma didn’t deny that it was true that she was too quick to judge someone’s life. Usually, Emma would keep her opinion in her heart. But, maybe, because she felt that Levi was the type of person who was talking out all his heart want, Emma felt that she didn’t have to hold back her opinions either. But it seemed he would be a little sensitive to all things related to his mother.

“I didn’t know you’d be here at this time of night. If I had known, I probably wouldn’t come here.” Levi said suddenly.

Emma woke up from her daydream and replied, “I’m bored at home. Actually.. a vacation like this isn’t that much fun, I guess..” She even mumbled to herself.

Levi glanced at her stared at her for a long time, “What’s bothering you?”

“Hm?” Emma turned to him, then, she lowered her head, “Realizing what envy feels like,”

“So, you’re saying that you never envied other people?”

Emma nodded, “I don’t remember ever doing that,” she answered. Then, she took a deep breath, “A little about myself. I can say that since I was little I lived in a golden cage. I never lacked anything materially. The only thing I didn’t have was freedom.”

“Interesting past. Let me guess. You managed to escape from that cage, and now just realized what the real world was like?” Levi replied.

“Your guess wasn’t wrong. By having freedom, I realized that there are so many things I don’t have in my life. Something I didn’t even recognize before. It feels surprising and fun to discover new things. But, it turns out that it somehow makes me feel sad and think the world is unfair.” Emma answered honestly.

“At least for the rest of your life, you’ve felt all those feelings. I admit, as a woman, your decision to step out of your comfort zone was a bold move.” Levi shrugged his shoulders once, “Knowing that your life isn’t that perfect is also a good thing, right? Now you know that the world is fair because everyone feels that their life is unfair.”

Emma nodded in response to Levi’s opinion. He had a point too. Then, she turned to him, “What about you? I’ve already told you my part. Shouldn’t this be fair?”

Levi stared at Emma for a few seconds, then, mumbled to himself, “Exchange thought Friends. I almost forgot about that.” he looked a little regretful.

Levi’s muttering was heard by Emma. She then laughed in satisfaction. She knew that he was regretful for the incident that made them accidentally make an impromptu agreement for their relationship which was called the ‘Exchanging Thoughts Friends ‘.

“Your fingerprints are still on this hand, Levi,” Emma said by raising her right palm which was covered in a light brown glove, then continued laughing.

Levi snorted. But the agreement was an agreement. The girl had already told him about the problem that weighed on her mind, which somehow made Levi feel curious. But if he thought about it, after all, they could also be said to be strangers who have no relationship in real life. They only know each other faces and names. They didn’t care what kind of life each of them was living.

“I... I could say that I had the opposite childhood of yours. If you lived in a golden cage, then I live in a rat’s nest.”

“A rat’s nest? Hahahahaa..” Emma burst out laughing, “You’re too much! Gosh..” she held her stomach.

Levi didn’t angry to see Emma’s reaction. He even laughed a little. For some reason, his heart was a little happy by seeing that his suffering as a child sounded funny to the ears of the girl who was born in a wealthy life. How unfair, right?

“The point is, my life was not as comfortable as yours. I had to fight very hard and sacrifice a lot of things to achieve my dreams. The good news is, all of that has been paid now.” He smiled mockingly at Emma.

“Are you explaining that now the wheel of life is turning for us?” Emma suddenly stopped laughing and put a straight face to Levi.

The man raised an eyebrow with a faint smile, “I told you the world is fair. Maybe you used to feel at the top, but now you are at the bottom. And I experienced the opposite.”

“That’s right. Thanks for bringing me to my senses, wise man.” Emma replied sarcastically.

“So, what do you think of my backstory?” Now, it’s Levi’s turn to chase Emma, as if he was starting to like this game.

Emma looked at him sarcastically, “What? What advice do you think I should give you? Isn’t your life is ‘PERFECT’ now?” Emma asked by displaying a quotation symbol with her fingers which she held up beside her head.

“Didn’t I tell you? Nothing is perfect in this world. I’ve just had a better life than before. It was my dream, which was to have a better life.” Levi answered.

Emma snorted. It’s not that she envy Levi’s life which had now become better. Throughout her life, Emma had never objected to seeing other people’s success. Only, it was Levi who expressed it in a very arrogant and obnoxious manner. It was as if he was mocking Emma.

“Hem.. Let me think about it first. Your perfect life seems to confuse me,” Then, Emma snapped her fingers which didn’t make a sound because her hands were wrapped in gloves, “If your life is as comfortable as it is now, then, you just have to maintain it. Don’t let yourself be miserable like before, live in a rat’s nest!” Emma laughed.

But Emma’s laughter slowly faded and her face turned a little worried when she realized that Levi’s expression wasn’t like what she expected. The man looked pensive with his jaw clenched.

“Hey.. I was just kidding. Sorry if my words offended you.” Emma said stiffly. She really was just kidding.

Levi slowly turned to Emma, ??then, unexpectedly, smiled broadly. The widest smile that Emma had seen from Levi since the first time they had met. This made Emma’s face, which looked worried before, turn into confusion again.

“Why should I be offended? Your words are true. Thank you,” Levi said with a smile that still lasted.

“What?” Emma could only stare, “Then, why did you look annoyed earlier? I thought you were offended that I mentioned you used to live in a rat’s nest?” she asked quickly.

“I was just a little taken aback by your words. About the rat’s nest, didn’t I come up with that sentence myself?” He chuckled a little, then, took a deep breath, “Besides all that. Something is knocking on my heart because of your words that advised me to protect what I have now. Since I’m used to the current circumstances, I’ve unknowingly become too soft. I forgot if one day, I maybe could be dragged back in a difficult circumstance like before if I didn’t take good care of what’s I currently have. You made me realize that.” Levi explained honestly.

“Woah.. It’s the first time I’ve heard you talk that long. And, your smile! Gosh.. I thought your lips had lacked the nerve to smile.” Emma clapped her hands in amazement in slow motion as she shook her head, “Besides, I’d probably be mad if you actually got offended by what I said. Because you’ve never been watching the way you talk to me either. So... why should I care?” she seemed to be thinking to herself.

“Am I that bad in your eyes?” Levi asked by hearing Emma’s nags. It seemed he had only met someone as honest as this girl. Or do all women have the same honesty?

Emma nodded, “I’ve never made up stories to insult other people. In fact, all of your behaviour deserves to be insulted.”

“Geez.. Your tongue is getting sharper.” Levi mocked as he reached into the pocket of his black coat and took out a white box and a gaslighter. From inside the box, he took out a cigarette which he lit after.

Emma only glanced at the man next to her who seemed to be living his smoking activity. Actually, since a kid, Emma didn’t really like men who smoked. Maybe because her mother died of lung cancer which was most likely caused by her father who was an active smoker. Since then, Emma had had a small trauma in her heart against those who smoke.

But of course, Emma had no right to forbid Levi. She was a nobody and there was no ‘No Smoking’ sign in the place, either. So, it was the right for him to smoke here.

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