Siluma Should not be Here

A ring of a bell can be heard after the restaurant door is pushed open. Io and Alet sit next to the window. A waiter walks to the table and gives them the menu, a piece of paper and a pencil to write their order. Every person in the restaurant kept looking at Io.

“Hey Alet, is it really okay for me to eat here? I don’t think everybody is okay if I sit here.” Io asked Alet nervously.

“It’s okay Io, just mind our own business. What do you want to order?”.

“Ummm lets see. Fried rice… fried rice… there fried rice! Also please give it a note to make it not spicy at all.”.

“You don’t like spicy food?”.

“Yes, if it’s too spicy, it will make my stomach hurt. I just don’t want to risk it.”.

“All right then, I’ll order the same as you. Want an extra egg?”.

“I’d love to. For the drink I’ll pick mineral water.”.

“Really? Come on now, we can drink that everywhere. At least pick something.” A little disappointment can be seen through Alet’s face.

“Heee… okay then, I’ll go with avocado juice.”.

“We really have the same taste. Alright. Is that all?”.

“Yeah I’m good.”.

“Okay, wait here. I will go to the cashier to pay.”. Alet stood up from her chair.

Waiting for Alet to come back, Io opens up his phone. Flyn sent him a message, he asked for Io’s permission to stay at his house. Flyn said Fiona needed to stay there because she had a job around that area. Flyn also said they need to stay there for some amount of time, Fiona herself also doesn't know how long the job will be done. Io allows it and texted back to Flyn that he needs to visit him at the Ringin Stay at the Capla’s City to retrieve his keycard. While Io was texting, suddenly a waiter fell right next to him. Water splashing everywhere and half of his body is wet from the water.

“I’m so sorry, I tripped there.” Said the waiter as he stood up and gave Io a napkin.

“It’s okay, thank you for the napkin.”

As Io dries his drenched uniform and his body, Alet comes back from the cashier.

“Oh my god, are you alright?” Alet shocked seeing Io with his body all wet.

“Yeah, I’m okay. The waiter tripped onto something and spilled a jug of water. Thankfully he gave me this napkin.” Io smiles as he continues to dry his body with the napkin.

“Geez… they really need to be careful next time.” Alet says as she sits back down.

Several minutes later, a waiter came to their table to deliver their order. They started to eat. Io keeps hearing a little chatter from people around him. “What is that Siluma doing here, I hope his fur didn’t fly to our food.”; “Is that girl dating with that Siluma?”; “Hey did you smell something? Like wet fur or something.”. Hearing all these words he can’t even eat in peace.

“A-Alet. Let’s get out of here…” Io's face darken and his voice trembled.

“Eh? What happened? We didn’t-“ Before Alet can finish her word, Io grabs her hand and walks toward the front door.

Without saying a single word Io takes Alet home.

“Thank you for the ride…” After Alet got off the motorcycle, she noticed Io’s eyes filled with tears.

Before Alet can ask what happened, Io already went away.

“So cruel, Caplas are so cruel. I hated it here. I just want to go home.” Io try to hold his tears. Arriving at his apartment, Io change his clothes and open his sketchbook. He vented all his anger and sadness to the paper. He draws aggressive lines and the paper starts to rip. His phone rings, Alet tries to check on him but her efforts are none.

Afternoon come, Io wakes up from his sleep. His energy are emptied after what happened from the restaurant.

“This is life, sometimes it is cruel and sometimes it is not. I’m all alone now. I have to keep moving.” His mind is full of his own thoughts. He stares at the ceiling with an empty eye, suddenly the sound of his doorbell awakens him. It was Flyn and Fiona, they came to retrieve his keycard. Io let them in and they sat on the sofa.

“Ah Io, it’s been three years since our last meeting. You look strong and healthy.” A gentle female voice can be heard from Fiona’s mouth. Her voice is very soothing, everyone who talks with her feels safe just hearing it.

“Yeah it’s been three years. You didn’t change much.” Answers Io.

“I believe Flyn already told you everything, I’m so sorry we could help you much.”.

“Don’t think about it. You guys already did your best. Anyway, here is the keycard to my house. Also please take care of my house, I’m going to stay here for a while.”.

“For a while? Didn’t you tell me you moved here?” Flyn was shocked.

“Yeah I did, but I changed my mind. This noon I just saw everything. The Caplas didn’t want a Siluma to live here.” Io said in a low voice.

“But you can’t just give up. All your future starts here.”.

“It won't happen Flyn, maybe this time your vision is wrong.”.

“That can’t be true, my vision is always right!” Flyn voices start to rise.

“Well why is this happening then, why-” before Io and Flyn started their debate, the doorbell could be heard again.

“I’ll get it.” Fiona walks to the front door to see who it is.

Opening the door and Fiona saw a tall beautiful girl standing there, it was Alet.

“Huh!? Why does she have Io scent on her body? Is she… Io’s girlfriend?” Fiona can’t proceed with what happened. She asks the girl what she is doing here. After some explanation, Fiona and Alet enter the room.

“Alet!? What are you doing here?” Io was surprised by her presence.

“You didn’t answer to my call, I try to call you for about an hour. Since you are not answering to it, I decided to visit you in your apartment.” Alet sound worried.

“My, my, You let a girl call you for an hour and didn’t answer it? You really need to work on how to treat a girl.” Fiona teases Io a little bit.

“Yeah bro, that is so uncool.” Added Flyn.

“Arghhh!! Come now, out! I’ll handle this myself!” shouted Io while pushing Flyn and Fiona out from his apartment.

The door closed, Flyn and Fiona were a little shocked by his behavior and they walked to the parking lot.

“Huh! Finally Dione is back.” Fiona sounded relieved.

“Yeah you are right. He will do just fine.” Said Flyn.

Back at Io’s apartment, Io looks nervous. He never had this kind of situation before. Since he can’t ask Alet to go home, he really doesn't know what to say nor do.

“I- uhh… I’m sorry.” Io apologize.

“What are you apologizing for!?” Alet shocked.

“Well, you know. I leave you again without saying anything. I just can’t bear what happened in the restaurant.”.

“I understand, just don’t leave me again okay? We will work this together.”.

Hearing Alet’s answer Io felt relieved. She is the only one that understands what he feels since the first day they met. It’s not easy for the Siluma race to blend in with the other races since they are hated to have more power. Even their heads of government were from the Siluma race. It sounds unfair, but this is the only way to keep peace inside the Living Circle. Not only save the Living Circle from the beast’s raid four years ago, only the Siluma race knew what action to take if some monster entered the city.

Io don’t have any other choice but to let Alet stay for a night. It is a good thing to know that they have no school for tomorrow. After some little talk with Alet, Io walks to the bathroom to take a bath.

“Hmmm… let’s cook something for dinner. He must be hungry since we didn’t finish our lunch.” Alet started to go to the kitchen and prepare dinner for both of them.