Chapter 45 What is left
Elara stood in front of the mirror, her long green hair cascading down past her waist, shimmering faintly in the morning light that filtered through her window. She tilted her head, examining her reflection with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Her emerald-green eyes, so unusual that they often drew unwanted attention, stared back at her with a fiery intensity that matched the fluttering excitement in her chest. Today felt different. For the first time in her life, a genuine smile crept onto her lips, not forced, not hidden, but real.
At eighteen, she had always felt like an outsider. Her hair and eyes, while beautiful, marked her as different. Whispers followed her through the hallways, sneers lingered in her wake, and friends had always been scarce. But today… today felt like a turning point. The most popular boy in school had asked her out. He had smiled at her in the hallway, offered her a note, and for a fleeting moment, Elara had felt seen, not as a freak, not as the “weird green-haired girl,” but as someone desirable, someone normal.
Her fingers absentmindedly touched the smooth strands of her hair as she took a deep breath.
“I can do this,” she whispered to herself, trying to steel her nerves. Today would be different. She would walk into school confident, proud of herself, and finally feel like she belonged somewhere.
Downstairs, the smell of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee greeted her. Kael, her father, was already busy arranging plates on the small patio table. Even after all these years, he looked unchanged, timeless, as if the burdens of the world hadn’t left a single mark on him. He caught sight of her reflection in the glass door and smiled warmly, his eyes lighting up as he set down the last cup.
“Elara,” he called softly, leaning against the doorway. His voice carried a warmth that melted the nervousness inside her chest. She hurried over, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Good morning, my little spark,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “You look… radiant.”
“I’m excited, Dad,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “Today… it feels different.”
Kael chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately.
“Ah, the excitement of young love. So, this is about the popular boy, huh? The one who has the whole school swooning?” He grinned, teasing her.
“I see you’re finally going to let someone admire those beautiful green eyes of yours. But remember… if he breaks your heart, he answers to me.”
Elara rolled her eyes, laughing despite the nervous pit in her stomach. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”
He leaned back, eyes twinkling. “Good. And don’t forget, I’m always here to remind you that hair like that? It’s a rare gift, not something to hide.”
She smiled, feeling the warmth of her father’s love bolster her courage. With a final hug, she grabbed her bag and stepped outside, feeling lighter than she had in years. The sun was bright, the air fresh, and for a moment, the world seemed full of promise.
But that promise quickly shattered the moment she stepped onto the school grounds. Immediately, she felt the gazes on her, intense, scrutinizing, judgmental. Whispers rippled through the crowd of students like a growing storm. Her confidence faltered slightly, but she tried to ignore them. Today was about her, not their petty judgments.
She spotted him, the boy who had asked her out, waiting by the steps of the school entrance. He looked at her with that same charming smile, and for a moment, her heart soared.
She approached him cautiously, a small smile on her lips. “Hey,” she said softly.
“Wow,” he said, his voice tinged with awe. “It’s real… your hair, your eyes. They’re really green.”
Elara’s smile faltered slightly. “Yeah… it’s natural,” she said, feeling a sudden prick of doubt. “Why? Did you think I dyed it?”
He shrugged, clearly amused. “I just… wanted to see for myself. It’s so rare. You’re… interesting, I guess.”
Before she could process his words, the laughter and whispers around her grew louder. Other students had overheard, and their amusement turned cruel.
“What’s wrong with her?” someone sneered. “Does she have some kind of disease?”
“She’s… disgusting!” another chimed in.
Elara froze, shock and hurt crashing over her like a tidal wave. Her stomach churned, her cheeks burned with shame and anger. She had never been confronted with such open mockery before, not so directly.
The boy in front of her, who she had trusted to show kindness, was now smirking, enjoying the spectacle.
“What is your problem?” she demanded, her voice shaking with outrage. “Do you think this is funny?”
The boy’s smirk widened. “Funny? No… just confirming what I suspected. It’s all real. You’re… different. Truly weird.”
The laughter around them intensified, echoing cruelly through the courtyard. Elara’s heart pounded in her chest, and tears threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes. She had dreamed of this moment being magical, but it had turned into a nightmare in seconds.
“Run away,” one student whispered mockingly as she stumbled back.
Unable to bear it, Elara turned and fled. Her shoes pounded against the pavement as tears streamed freely down her face. The once bright morning felt suffocating and cold.
She ran past the gossiping students, past the school gates, until she finally found a quiet spot beneath a large oak tree at the edge of the campus. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed into the grass, sobbing.
Her mind replayed the betrayal, the boy she thought might like her, the cruel laughter of her peers, and the feeling of being utterly alone once again. She pressed her hands to her face, wishing for a place where she could disappear, where her hair and eyes wouldn’t make her a target for ridicule.
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The bell over the café door chimed softly every few minutes as customers drifted in and out, the air filled with the smell of roasted coffee beans, warm pastries, and faint jazz music humming from the small speaker near the counter. Kael’s café was always busy not just because the coffee was good, but because he was there.
He moved behind the counter with quiet grace, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, strong forearms flexing as he worked the espresso machine. His black hair fell slightly across his forehead, and his sharp features remained calm and unreadable, as though nothing in the world could disturb him.
To most of the women who visited daily, he was more than just a café owner, he was a mystery, a fantasy they came back to stare at. Several of them lingered long after finishing their cups, pretending to read or scroll through their phones, though their eyes often drifted back to him. Some whispered to each other. Some simply watched. And Kael, as always, pretended not to notice.
He carried a tray to one of the tables near the window where a young woman sat, chin propped on her palm, staring dreamily at him before he even arrived.
“Here’s your latte,” he said gently, placing the cup in front of her.
Before he could withdraw his hand, she suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. Her touch was soft, hesitant but full of longing.
“Can we… go out sometime?” she asked, hope flickering in her eyes. “Just one date. I—I really like you.”
The café fell silent for a brief moment. A few of the other women watched closely, waiting to see how he would respond.
Kael paused. His expression didn’t soften. Didn’t harden. It simply remained… distant.
“I’m sorry,” he said calmly. “I’m too busy for that kind of thing.”
“You’re always busy,” she insisted, trying to smile. “But maybe you’d like it. Maybe—”
The door opened. Kael’s attention shifted instantly.
Elara walked in. Her shoulders were tense, her head slightly bowed, strands of green hair falling forward to hide her face. She didn’t glance at the counter. Didn’t greet him. Didn’t even look at anyone. She walked straight toward the hallway leading to the back rooms eyes hollow, movements heavy.
Something inside Kael tightened. He’d seen Elara sad before. But this… this was different.
The woman slowly released his wrist, following his gaze to the retreating girl.
Kael didn’t explain. Didn’t excuse himself. He simply walked away.
He finished serving the remaining customers as quickly as possible, his movements sharper, more mechanical. He wiped the counter, set a CLOSED sign at the door, and locked it, ignoring the disappointed sighs from those who had hoped to stay longer. He didn’t care. Nothing mattered more than her.
He hurried down the hallway and pushed open Elara’s bedroom door.
The room was dim, curtains drawn, the soft glow of a small lamp illuminating her small frame curled up on the bed. She was wrapped tightly in her duvet, as though trying to disappear into it. Her shoulders trembled.
His heart broke.
“Spark,” he whispered, closing the door gently. “Are you okay? What happened?”
Her breath hitched, and a sob escaped before she could stop it.
“I was so stupid,” she cried, voice muffled against the fabric. “I thought he actually liked me, I really thought… he cared.”
Slowly, Kael sat beside her, his presence calm and warm.
She lifted her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“But he didn’t,” she choked. “He just… wanted to see if my hair was real. He used me, Dad. He humiliated me in front of everyone.”
Her voice broke. Kael clenched his jaw, anger flaring beneath his calm exterior. For a brief moment, something old and dangerous flashed through his eyes a cold fury that didn’t belong to the peaceful café owner he pretended to be.
He forced himself to breathe.
“I’m so sorry, Spark,” he murmured softly. “You shouldn’t let what they did break you.”
Her expression twisted in pain.
“How can it not?” she snapped, tears overflowing again. “Why can’t I just be normal? Why do I have to look like… this?”
She grabbed a handful of her hair and shook it angrily.
“I cut it,” she cried. “Over and over and it grows back overnight. I dye it black and it turns green again. I wear contact lenses but the color still shows through they all see it. They always see it. Tell me, Dad… is that normal!?”
Her voice shattered in the air.
Kael swallowed hard. To him… yes. To the world… no.
“You are normal,” he said softly, stroking her hair gently. “Normal doesn’t mean ordinary. You’re special… just like your mother.”
Elara’s breath stilled. A fragile silence fell.
“You always say that,” she whispered bitterly. “But it doesn’t make anything easier. They don’t see ‘special,’ Dad. They see a freak.”
Kael brushed away her tears with his thumb.
“To me,” he replied gently, “you are the most beautiful thing in any world, past or present. Your mother’s hair was blue. Her eyes glowed like starlight. You inherited that gene. You’re extraordinary.”
She shook her head weakly.
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“I’m saying it because it’s true,” he said, voice firm for the first time. “And because you are my daughter and I will not let anyone hurt you. That boy… he will regret what he did.”
“Dad, don’t,” she whispered, gripping his sleeve.
“Please… just leave it.”
His anger faded. He sighed softly and nodded.
“Alright,” he murmured. “If that’s what you want.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“I’ll make your favorite meal,” he said with a gentle smile. “Something warm, something sweet. I’ll be back soon.”
He stood slowly and walked toward the door.
Elara watched him leave. The room fell quiet again. Her chest tightened. Her heart felt heavy.
“I just wish…” she whispered into the empty air, voice cracking.
“I just wish there was a place where people didn’t look at me like I don’t belong.”
Her tears soaked into the pillow as she stared at the wall.
Outside the room, Kael stopped in the hallway. His hand hovered over his chest. He closed his eyes. And for a brief moment…
The air around him trembled. Power he had buried for years stirred beneath his skin, wild, dangerous, ancient.
His fist tightened. He breathed in slowly… holding it down… forcing it back into silence.
For her. Always… for her.
He walked to the kitchen.
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