The Truth Within

Summary
Ryuunosuke, also known as Ryuu, is known for his perfectnesses, he got everything that everyone’d die for, he got a perfect family, perfect grades, perfect achievements and lots of friends which is what made him so popular in school. But instead of taking it all in, as every popular kids would do, he absolutely despised his ‘perfect’ self, and wished that someone, just someone, whoever or whatever it could be, could sees him and his values, acknowledge him as a person, not a character that he had to played as everyday to please everyone, to please his parents. That’s until he met a person, that changed his life, for the better, and for the worst.

This is the story of Ryuu’s childhood.

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Ryuu was in an abusive family, a family that made him believed he had no choices, no opinions, no future and all must be decided by his parents, Ryuu grew up as an emotional mess, looking happy and perfect on the outside to maintain the social status for his family and his parents but stoic, cold and sad when he’s alone.

Of course his parents loved him, well, only his perfectnesses, they don’t care about his thoughts or feelings, let alone his true self. Ryuu really disliked this perfect persona of him and wished that someone could sees through this barrier that forever trapped him inside. 

That’s until he sneaked away on his way back from school, he knew it is a dangerous thing to do considering his parents would never let him go out on his own like this, he didn’t know why they would forbids him to go out alone considering he’s in his teens, thoughts aside he reassured himself that it would be fine because they wouldn’t be home right now, like always, everyday. They would never be at home at times like this, it’s not like he would like them to be at home anyway.

Ryuu went to a park pretty faraway from home, he sat down on a bench not knowing what to do in a park as he never went into one before, it’s always home, studies and studies. That’s when he heard a voice.

“Excuse me? A voice coming from his side’s, it was calm, small almost like a breath, but warm, yet, cold. Ryuu looked up to see who is it that was calling out to him. It was a canine guy, dark colored fur with orange accents on top of a white-cream base, he looked a bit older than Ryuu but seems like no taller than him. He wore a simple white T-shirt and a pair of dark pant, held by a belt, kinda odd for this winter’s weather. But the most striking feature of this guy is his red eyes, a big pair of red eyes looking at him, it’s not intimidating or anything, it was kind and warm.

Ryuu was too focused on analyzing him, he noticed he hasn’t reply as silent filling in.

“Oh, um, uh- yes? What do you need?” He rushed as he noticed the awkward silence when he was taking his sweet times spacing out to look at this guy, great you really fucked up on the first impression.

“Well.. you looked troubled.” The guy said. Now avoiding eye contact, looking down as if he’s not even sure about that statement he just made.

Ryuu looked and smiled softly, a fake one and reassured him “Don’t worry I’m not, I’m perfectly fine.” *he is not fine*. He didn’t know what else to say to the guy, this is the first time he ever got someone worried about his problems, it felt strange. 

It took the guy a few seconds to finally looked back at Ryuu with the same red eyes. Expression unreadable.

“No, you definitely had something going on with yourself, or perhaps something.. I-I don’t what is it but, if you want, I could listen to your problems.” He said with the same quiet tone before, it was calm and soothing, much different from what he usually hears from home and school, it’s always loud and annoying narcissists.

That aside, what surprised him the most is that, the guy insisted, completely ignored his statement as if, he could sees through it, Ryuu’s true self. Not the ‘perfect’ persona that he always portrayed himself as, the one that he despised, yet here this stranger here, took notices of it, and saw all his problems, he even offers to listen to it all, nobody, absolutely nobody has ever done any acts of kindness around him, it’s always the same “keep it to yourself, no ones would care” is what his parents told him to. They would never listen to him.

Again, awkward silent filled in, Ryuu finally noticed that he was awkwardly staring at the guy while he was processing his thoughts, he looked down, taking a moment to decide whether or not to vent all his feelings at this random kind stranger he met at a random park. 

Finally, he moved aside and offered his seat to the stranger, “you really got me there, if you can listen to me then it would be appreciated.” Ryuu replied thankfully, he reached to his neck and pulled his scarf down and offered it to the guy, “It’s cold, I don’t have a spare jacket, this is all I have, sorry.”

The stranger, didn’t spoke a word and hesitated on taking his scarf, but he took it nonetheless and sat down right next to him, “Thank you I didn’t even notice it was cold, it really didn’t bother me much tho. It’s always cold for me.” He gently wore it around his neck, the fluffy and warm material pressed against his furs “I like it.”

Ryuu started to talk and vent about all the problems in his life, about how his parents gave him no choices in life and all must decided by them as if they’re ‘writing’ their own character, and how he must always put up this character his parents had made up, neglecting and preventing him from expressing his true self to anyone, not until he’s finally able to express it to the stranger that’s sitting right next to him.

Speaking about the guy, the entire time Ryuu was talking, he noticed that the guy showed no signs of getting bored or tired of his problems at all, instead, he was just, listening, paying attention to every single details and words that came out of Ryuu’s mouth, it warms Ryuu’s heart, he never had anyone that would care for him so much, not even his parents or so-called friends at school, yet this stranger here, knows nothing about him, still decided to take his time to listen to his troubles that made Ryuu wonders if such kindness could ever come from strangers, kinda half-doubting the guy. But Ryuu was grateful that he had someone to talked with about his feelings and problems.

…

“That’s.. all, sorry it was a bit too much,” he nervously scratched his head, fidgeting by twirling his hair “Thanks for umm.. listening to my mess uh.. sorry what’s your name?” Ryuu couldn’t believed that he or the guy never introduced themselves, he was disappointed in himself for forgetting that.

“Ah, no worries, I don’t mind listening, I like to make people’s day by cheering them up, even if it’s just a simple act.” the guy assured Ryuu, he smiled kindly “My name is Asahi, sorry I didn’t tell you before.”

“My name is Ryuunosuke, you can just call me Ryuu.” 

“That’s such a cool name!“

“You… think so?”

“Mhm, I like it, nice to meet you Ryuu! If you ever want to talk again I could be here.”

Ryuu’s eyes lit up and looked at Asahi, he then smiled and nodded, “Nice to meet you too, 

Asahi.”