Thank you for reading my first story, I know it's not perfect, still have many mistakes, but I'm willing to write, to satisfy my thirst, my hunger, and to ease my mind. Special thanks to all writers out there, I love reading all of your stories so much. Also, thank you, my love, you are always there for me, check out his X (@R3verseP4ranoia) if you want to see his artwork.

This will be the first chapter, the beginning of this story, so bear with me. And do comment even if you like it or not, I appreciate it.

Many years later, I found you on the road. A single tear fell as my heart shattered. You were as beautiful as ever—your eyes still sparkled in the sunlight, and your fur danced in the wind.

Seeing you brought back a flood of memories, ones I’ve clung to for longer than I can say. I am trapped in the past, in a time when you were still with me.

Why did you leave? Was it something I did? Or was I slowly losing pieces of myself, too broken to notice? I’ll never know. But if there's even the smallest chance—just one chance—I would give anything to understand, to finally let go…

.

..

…

Huh? Strange, why did I just have that thought?

I blinked awake, disoriented, my surroundings slowly coming into focus. I was lying on the sofa, the soft cushions pressing into my back. The room felt oddly quiet, like I'd been pulled from another world. Was I dreaming? My thoughts swirled, trying to grasp the fading images.

I sat up, rubbing my temples. "Why am I here? Was that... a dream?" I muttered under my breath, the question hanging in the air like an echo.

"What's wrong, bro? You look like you've seen a ghost." 

The voice startled me. I looked up to see my older brother, Larke, standing over me. A towering figure with turquoise fur marked by sleek black stripes, his presence always carried a comforting weight. His face, however, was tight with concern. His normally confident green eyes softened.

"Uh, I just had a weird dream…" I said, my voice trailing off as I tried to piece together fragments of it. What had it been about? It was already slipping away, leaving behind a strange unease.

"Oh?" He asked, his curiosity mild but genuine.

"I don’t remember the details. Maybe it’s not that important?" I gave up trying to recall, rubbing my temples as a dull ache spread through my head. It hurts like hell.

"If you say so."He shrugged, turning back to the dishes, the clinking of plates filling the room.

I zoned out, lost in thought. I wonder if…

Oh, where are my manners? I should introduce myself. I’m Torku, 24, living with my brother Larke. Just us. Our parents? They’re off doing... who knows what. Haven’t seen them in years. And before you ask—no, I don’t have a boyfriend either. Why mention that? Well, people assume things. Just wanted to clear the air. Haha, who am I kidding? Like it matters.

But that dream... it’s still bugging me. What was it about again? This is the fourth time this month. Ugh, give me a break.

"You sure you're okay? You're talking pretty loud." His voice broke through my thoughts again, concern edging in.

"I’m fine." I waved him off, though the words felt hollow. Fine, my ass. But I kept that part to myself. No point in adding to his worries. He already does too much for me as it is.

Larke’s all I’ve got left. He’s more than a brother—he’s like a father to me. Been that way for as long as I can remember. Through every tough time, every skipped meal, every sleepless night... he’s always been there.

I idolize him. I can’t help it. You can probably see why.

Anyway, it's time to get up for work. I wave goodbye as I hop onto my motorbike.

***

Today’s a sunny day. The road ahead glistens under the bright light, shimmering like it’s alive. The warmth feels nice, but my thoughts drift elsewhere.

Work’s been interesting enough to keep my mind busy—no complaints there. Honestly, I owe it all to my brother. He’s the one who got me this job in the first place, pulling strings and making sure I landed on my feet.

Yet, even now, he’s still juggling two jobs at once. I’ve told him a thousand times to take it easy, but of course, it just goes in one ear and out the other. He’s always been stubborn like that. Sigh. One job wears me out as it is—I can’t imagine how he’s managed to keep going for so long without burning out.

Ding ding ding, the familiar chime echoed through the office, signaling the end of the day. I let out a sigh of relief. Finally–clock-out time. No matter how much I enjoy burying myself in work to keep my mind busy, I can't do it forever.

Outside, the sun began to set, casting a warm golden hue over the city. The last rays of light kissed my fur as I rode my motorbike through the streets, the cool autumn air brushing past me. Autumn—the perfect season to give, and to grief.

I couldn’t help but think back to those early days, when we barely had a roof over our heads. Abandoned by our parents, discarded like we were nothing, even though we were just little boys, still full of hope. But we made it through. We always have, as long as we have each other. My brother and I—we can survive anything.

"I’m home, bro!" My voice came out more excited than I meant, but I didn’t mind.

"Welcome back." Larke’s deep voice echoed from the kitchen. He’s probably cooking dinner for the both of us, as usual.

"You’ve got your second job later, right?"I asked, slipping off my shoes and heading towards the kitchen.

"Oh, that? I actually quit today." He said it so casually like it wasn’t big news.

"Really? That’s awesome!" I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice. I never thought he’d actually quit that job—it’s something I’ve been hoping for. Finally.

"Yeah, haha." He laughed lightly, and I could almost picture the satisfied grin he was wearing.

I leaned against the kitchen doorframe, curiosity creeping into my expression. "What’s the occasion? You don’t seem like the type to make a big change out of the blue."

He paused for a moment, stirring something on the stove. "It’s… a secret." His voice had a playful, yet uncertain edge.

I raised an eyebrow. "A secret, huh? Hiding something?"

"No, no, of course not." His response came quickly, almost too quickly.

I narrowed my eyes, studying him. "You’re acting kinda weird."

He shifted uncomfortably, clearly at a loss. "Um..."

Knowing there was no point in prying when he got like this, I sighed and gave in. "Fine, I’ll let it slide. But honestly, I’m glad you quit that job." There was relief in my voice that I didn’t bother hiding.

"Thanks, bro. Anyway, dinner’s ready!" Larke said with a relieved sigh, clearly glad I hadn’t pressed him further. He turned back to the kitchen, humming softly as he set the table for us.

Tsk, that stubborn head of his. But why is he hiding something from me? I couldn’t shake the thought. Still, dinner was as good as ever, and his mood seemed unusually upbeat. I couldn’t help but grin a little myself—it was hard not to, seeing him this happy.

***

After dinner, I assumed we’d settle in for the evening, maybe watch something together like we usually do. But just as I was about to ask what to put on, Larke stepped out of his room wearing a suit.

“Where are you going? What’s with the suit?” I blurted, my curiosity spiking. He wasn’t the type to go out much, and he didn’t exactly have a large circle of friends.

He looked... different. The suit fit him perfectly, every inch of fabric hugging his frame in just the right way. For a second, it felt like I was looking at someone else—someone sharper, more polished. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was a different tiger entirely.

“I’ve got a meeting with a friend.” Larke says, his distant voice snapping me out of my thoughts.

My brows furrowed. A friend? Really? He’s been acting off all day. Or maybe I’m overthinking it. “Ah, okay. When will you be back?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light, though the unease lingered.

“It’ll be pretty late. Don’t wait up—just head to bed if you’re tired.”His voice was soft, the words carefully chosen, like he didn’t want to disappoint me.

“Fine, just go.” I groaned playfully, trying to mask the sting of disappointment. I guess I’ll be alone tonight.

It's an odd feeling. I had been hoping we could celebrate now that he’d quit his second job, but... what’s the point of dwelling on it? He deserves a break, and I hope he enjoys his night out, even if I’m not part of it.

Too tired to think about anything else, I decided to call it a night early. Maybe tomorrow will feel a little less... strange.

***

Twisting and turning, I saw him again, standing there, glowing in the distance. Now that I could make out his figure more clearly, I realized—he was a tiger in a turquoise coat with black stripes, just like me. Was that Larke? I assumed it had to be him. But why am I dreaming about him? Ironically enough, I can only control my line of thought, nothing else.

There was something different about him this time—he looked sad. As if the weight of the world was resting behind him. I can tell just by looking at his deep blue sea eyes. Can I comfort him? I want to make sure he’s okay, even if it was just a dream. Slowly, I tried lifting my hand towards him, somehow it worked! But before I reached him, he turned and ran, faster and faster, disappearing into the distance.

The sharp sound of my alarm tore me out of the dream. My heart raced, and my head throbbed. That dream again. It keeps coming back, and I still have no idea why.

“Torku~, breakfast is ready!” His voice boomed out cheerfully. Looks like someone had a great evening.

“On it!” I shouted back, brushing the dream away for now. I will worry about it later. Then try to freshen up as quickly as possible.

“What’s on the menu today?” I asked, my stomach already growling. His cooking is always top-notch, and I was eager to see if he had something special in store.

“Scrambled eggs and grilled pork sandwiches.” He grinned, looking quite proud of himself.

My ears twitched at that: “That sounds amazing.”

“Doesn’t it?”

With smiles plastered on our faces, we sat down and tore through the food in a rush. Sundays were meant for time together, and I was looking forward to spending the day with him.

“Got any plans today?” I asked between the bites.

“Actually, I do.” His reply was casual, but it hit me harder than I expected.

Welp, another disappointment, I half-joked, trying to mask how let down I felt. “Oh? You’ve been kinda distant since yesterday, you know?”

He fell silent for a moment before calmly saying: “It’s nothing. One of my friends came back to town, so we’ve just been hanging out.” 

Beep, beep, beep, lies detected, I raised an eyebrow: “Is that the truth?”

“...Yes.” His face strained, his ears twitched uncontrollably and his tail thrashed this whole time.

I narrowed my eyes but said nothing.

“Anyway, I gotta go now. See you later!” He forced a cheerful tone, avoiding my eye contact.

And just like that, he was gone. Sigh. Alone again. I plopped down on the couch. Might as well play some games to kill time.

***

Hours passed.

I glanced at the clock. It was past 10 PM. Why isn’t he back yet? I sent him a message earlier—still no reply. This wasn’t like him at all.

Midnight came and went. Still no sign of him. My eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but the knot of worry in my chest kept me awake until I couldn’t fight it anymore. I collapsed into bed, doubts swirling in my mind.

***

I woke up with a jolt. Everything aches.

The house was still. Only the sound of cicadas filled the empty silence. I rubbed my eyes, then froze. Murmuring? My ears perked up as I heard soft voices outside. Carefully tiptoeing to the window, I caught shadows moving in the front yard.

Peering out, I saw Larke, glistening under the moonlight. He stood by the front door, nervously glancing around while fidgeting with his fingers. But what caught my attention was the figure standing with him.

I squinted my eyes. The person looked like a girl in her mid-twenties. They were talking, but I could only make out fragments of their conversation. Then... he leaned in and kissed her.

My heart sank.

Are they dating? Is that his girlfriend? He never mentioned anything about having a girlfriend at all. And now here he was, kissing her, deeply, passionately, like they’d been together for ages.

I should be happy for him. He deserves all the happiness in the world after everything he’s been through. I’ve always told myself I’d sacrifice anything for his happiness.

But as I found my bed, lying back down, pretending to sleep,  something in me felt... hollow.. I kept replaying those recent events in my mind.

An unusual sense of emptiness brews up in my already sunken heart. Why does it ache like this? Will he leave me? What would I do by then?

Please... don’t leave me. I’m so scared…