n

n

nFor what seemed like a torturous eternity, the Millicent family had been tormented by all the drastic changes that fell upon them ever since the former head was exposed and arrested.

nDamien knew that this was a good change, though. It was only made tormenting by the unwarranted attention from the public - they'd become a huge scandal all over the country, after all. The members have experienced backlash and were put under scrutiny for a long time.

nStill, he was supportive of Adrian all the way. Though it hurt him to see Joshua and Hugo witnessing the dark nature of the adults they respected at such a young age, he was in favor of all these reconstructions and renewals.

nAnd so, Damien decided to step out there and help as much as he could.

nAt court, he had willingly given his testimony against Grisham, his own great grandfather. He told everyone about how he had seen him back at the hotel during the assassination when he was still supposed to be out of the country at that time. And with that, he also revealed that he was the one he saw with Sophie that night.

nHis testimony had become one of the key points of the court trial.

n

"Thank you for helping me out there, Damien. You're a strong and brave young man,

" was what Adrian told him back then - that was the first time his uncle commended him like that.

n

"I'm helping you out under one condition, though...

" was what Damien said to him in return, not wanting to settle with the thought that only this particular matter would get a conclusion.

n

"Get Aunt Cassidy back no matter what, Uncle.

"

nBut then, that did not happen.

nCassidy never returned.

nThat was when Damien realized that their dispute was much more serious than he had taken them for. He knew nothing at all, and he was probably being selfish when he demanded that from Adrian. To make up for that, he decided to learn more. However, Edward could not tell anything past what he was allowed to, Irish was too occupied with the downfall of her career, and Olivia could barely manage their household affairs - he was not able to learn anything from anyone in the end.

nEveryone in the family was either too busy or not allowed to say anything that Adrian didn't want more people to know.

n

"I don't want to remain in the dark, though. Isn't that why our family is collapsing? Nobody knew a thing about what was going on, and nobody tried to know...

" was what Damien thought to himself when he failed to acquire any information from the adults.

n

"In that case, I'll just go and investigate by myself.

"

n---

nAira is on her way home from school when something suddenly catches her attention.

nShe has been walking along that street for a while now. And before she knew it, she found herself already standing in front of a footbridge that went over a small road. The bus stop, her destination, is only past there. That isn't what caught her attention, though.

nOn top of that footbridge, Aira could see a teenage boy in a hoodie getting ready to jump down to his death - or at least for her, he appeared to be preparing to commit something unarguably gore and abominable.

n

"What in the world...?

" Aira breathed out and paled, appalled by the sight.

n

"Is he really... about to jump down...? He'll kill himself if he does that!

"

nWhen that thought registered in her head, she ran off towards the footbridge without hesitation. In a haste, she climbed up the stairs until she made it to the top. That's when she saw that he was still looking down at the road below, probably tempted to let himself fall down already.

nAira furrowed her brows and gritted her teeth angrily. Dropping her schoolbag, she then stomped her feet and made her way to him.

nWithout a second thought, she grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from the handrails, causing him to yelp out loud as he dropped on the ground. She stood in front of him while she spread her arms wide, keeping him from getting an inch closer to his path to doom. While he remained in a world of shock, she braced herself to knock sense into him.

n

"What in the world are you thinking...?!

" Aira spat, piercing her gaze straight into his.

n

"Were you really planning to jump and kill yourself?! Are you out of your mind?! I'm not going to let you do something like that!

"

nHe stared at her with a stupefied and incredulous look, though his body remained stiff and motionless. Realizing that what he was doing must have caused onlookers to misunderstand, he lowered his head in shame and blushed in embarrassment.

nAira was astonished to see him getting all mortified and self-conscious.

n'Oh, poor guy... He must have wanted to do it without anyone seeing.'

nShe bites her lip as she continues staring down at him. He was really ashamed, and it was all because of her. She didn't know what she should do since he was a complete stranger. Even if he was, though, she couldn't just leave him alone like that.

n

"Hey, I'm sorry for scaring you the way that I did...

" Aira began with uneasiness.

n

"I guess I just want you to understand that what you were trying to do was wrong. Don't ever do something like that again.

"

nShe wanted to ask why he had attempted to drop himself dead, but she told herself that it wasn't her business. He continued to stoop his head low all the while, looking so uncomfortable that he kept hiding his face with his hoodie. Her words didn't seem to have gotten to him.

n

"I don't know why you're trying to jump down from the bridge, but I can assure you that there's no reason that's strong enough for you to do that. You should never try to end your life. I'm sure that you'll be able to resolve your problems if you work hard at it.

"

nAt that, he went still for a second before he tilted his head up to look at Aira, giving her a look of bafflement and disbelief.

n