#8

“Then where did you grow up, Tennessee?”

The child asked as they climbed into the parked car.

“Several places.”

“Why did you move around so much?”

“I was adopted and returned several times.”

“Is Tennessee your real name?”

“No.”

Since he was answering diligently for once, the child grew excited. He was so thrilled that his shoulders were already bouncing.

“Then what’s your real name? How old are you? Why did you come to Texas?”

“Stop. You’re noisy.”

Hmph. Tennessee cut him off sharply as the questions poured out. The child slumped his shoulders gloomily in the backseat. Still, he didn’t forget to fasten his seatbelt when Tennessee started the car.

Inside the departing car, the child looked down at his half-untied shoe. What a waste. He felt that if he had asked slowly, Tennessee might have answered everything. It was a shame.

It was only a few questions. Perhaps because of Rick’s comment about receiving special treatment, his heart had swelled.

At the same time, he felt resentment and disappointment. He was curious. He wanted to know more. He felt an exaggerated regret, as if he had blown a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Even though he knew he shouldn’t trust adults, he found himself riding an emotional rollercoaster, almost like a puppy with Tennessee as its owner. I mustn’t let my guard down completely. The child reminded himself, but his gaze inevitably drifted toward Tennessee.

“What time are we leaving tomorrow? Just tell me that.”

“0600.”

He must really be a soldier. He tells time in such a weird way.

“……Six o’clock.”

Having witnessed the child’s blank expression in the rearview mirror, Tennessee added a clarification. Finding it funny that he had to repeat it, the child giggled quietly to himself until the car stopped.

“Wake up.”

It was a small command, but the child’s eyes snapped open. He had been in a light sleep. Complaining was a luxury. The child immediately got out of bed and put on his shoes. Not yet fully awake and unable to keep his balance, he tied his laces while his body swayed.

The child looked up at Tennessee. He was already fully dressed. Though there wasn’t much luggage to carry, Tennessee was far too prepared. He was sitting and smoking now, but it felt as if he would leave without a second glance if everything wasn’t ready within five minutes.

“Just a moment, I’m almost done.”

“Wash your face first.”

As he dressed, Tennessee gestured toward the bathroom. The child rushed urgently into the bathroom. Performing the eccentric feat of washing his face and brushing his teeth almost simultaneously, the child intentionally left the bathroom door open. He planned to bolt out the moment he heard the sound of Tennessee opening the front door. While moving swiftly, the child’s attention was entirely focused on Tennessee in the living room.

Just as he was about to spit out a mouthful of foam, the sound of the front door opening echoed, signaling that the cigarette was finished.

It felt as if he had been plunged into the freezing lake water of midwinter. In his haste, the child shoved his toiletries away with trembling hands and rushed out.

“W-wait a moment!”

Seeing Tennessee already in the driver’s seat fastening his seatbelt, the child hurriedly opened the rear door. Only after buckling up and setting down his toiletries did the child breathe a sigh of relief.

However, the car was silent. The engine hadn’t been started. As the child looked on in confusion, Tennessee’s gaze met his.

There were few opportunities to lock eyes in the first place, but every time the child looked into Tennessee’s eyes, he felt a sense of doubt. It was because he couldn’t predict the emotions lying beneath them at all.

The child had always thought he was quite perceptive. When meeting someone for the first time, if the base of his spine tightened and his toes tingled, there was a very high probability that the person was of poor character. That had been the case with Mr. Huston and others.

But he couldn’t get a read on this man named Tennessee. He was completely inscrutable.

He seemed like someone who would shoot without hesitation, yet he never aimed his gun recklessly. He only used it when absolutely necessary; in fact, he rarely even drew it. Between that and his skill at stealing cars, he smelled like a dangerous person in many ways, yet seeing how well he treated him, the child felt like he could almost throw a tantrum and get away with it.

After staring into those deep blue eyes for a long while, Tennessee stepped out of the driver’s seat.

He wouldn’t tell me to get out, would he? Clutching the seatbelt with a nervous heart, the child watched as Tennessee anxiously opened the rear door.

“Get out.”

“……Huh?”

“I said get out.”

It can’t be. Surely not? But he told me yesterday we were leaving at six. Didn’t that mean I should be ready because we’re leaving together? Is it because I didn’t wake up immediately? Or because we’re at home?

In that brief moment, the child’s mind raced, and Tennessee looked down at the small head radiating tension and anxiety. Tossing away the cigarette butt, Tennessee pointed toward the house.

“You still have foam around your mouth. Go wash up.”

“……Oh.”

Blushing, the child scurried back into the house like a squirrel. He looked so embarrassed as he disappeared inside that Tennessee let out a hollow laugh.

When the child emerged again, not only was the foam gone from his mouth, but his fragile aura had vanished as well. The image of him being utterly anxious after becoming so swayed by and dependent on someone didn’t suit him. Tennessee felt a complex surge of emotion.

Watching the child get into the car, Tennessee locked the house door. It was a place he didn’t know when he would return to.

“What do you want to eat?”

Tennessee asked as he drove off smoothly. During their time together, they had stopped at many eateries. They had dinner at diners, steak houses, or famous franchise restaurants, and breakfast was usually at pancake houses or small roadside diners.

The child was confused as to whether Tennessee was quite wealthy or simply lacked a sense of money. He didn’t spare a cent. While he himself only ate a single portion, he would order two kids’ meals and push all the appetizers and desserts toward the child.

Even yesterday, after leaving Rick’s shop, they had gone to another restaurant.

When the child asked, “Are you hungry?”, Tennessee replied, “You didn’t finish your food,” and ordered something new. When the child said it was a waste since half was left, Tennessee had it packed to go. Being at an age of rapid growth, the child’s stomach emptied quickly, and he finished it all before bed.

He’s kind, even though he seems unfriendly. Hehe.

……No, he’s definitely a bad person even if he’s kind.

While the child’s ego split and conflicted, Tennessee silently turned the car toward McDonald’s.

It was early evening by the time they nearly arrived in Austin. The lights of downtown sparkled like Christmas decorations. The streets were full of cars and people.

“Wake up.”

Tennessee woke the child, who had been nodding off since lunch. After calling him once more, the child blinked his eyes open. It was then that the sound of a siren echoed from behind.

It was a police car.

The child snapped awake and hurriedly looked back. With his usual expressionless face, Tennessee pulled over to the side. Because of the police car’s lights, the child’s eyes were drenched in alternating red and blue.

“Why are you scared?”

Tennessee gave a small smirk at the terrified child, and the child felt a surge of emotion, but his tension eased.

“Good afternoon, officer.”

“Good afternoon.”

As the window rolled down, a middle-aged officer approached and peered inside. Not knowing what to do, the child gave a bashful wave.

“Was I exceeding the speed limit?”

“A little. You shouldn’t do that with a child in the car.”

“My apologies.”

Usually, in such cases, they would request the vehicle registration. But perhaps because of the child, the officer ended the encounter with only a verbal warning. However, he didn’t give up on being meddlesome.

“The child isn’t in a booster seat?”

“Officer.”

Tennessee gave a gentle smile.

“He may look like that, but he’s eleven. He’s far too mature for one of those.”

Booster seat? Are you kidding? I’m eleven. Seeing the child’s expression, the officer nodded a few times and stepped back.

“Thank you for the advice regardless.”

“Not at all, have a good day.”

With a light smile and a greeting, Tennessee started the car.

“Phew.”

Despite not being the kidnapper but the kidnapped child, the child exhaled as if he had just survived a brush with death. Though it was a short encounter, it was clear he felt as if his blood had run dry.

Tennessee found the reaction absurd. It wasn’t Stockholm Syndrome; the child should have clung to the police and shouted, ‘This man kidnapped me, I don’t even know where I am.’

I should probably give him a treat. While Tennessee was thinking that, the child was staring out the window.

Though they hadn’t been together for even a week, it was the first time he had heard that tone from Tennessee. He didn’t know he could speak like that.

Unlike usual, it was soft and somehow…… normal. He could speak like that. The child rested his chin on his hand. Then, a thought suddenly occurred to him. No matter how gentle the tone or how much he spoke like an ordinary person, he would have known.

He would have seen the emptiness wrapped in that ordinary tone.