Humming quietly under his breath.
For once—
He allowed himself to believe this would go well.
The Lunchroom
The cafeteria was loud.
Crowded.
Full of life.
Jasper scanned the room.
Searching.
And then—
He saw her.
Clarissa Jones
Seated with her group of friends.
Laughing.
Talking.
Perfect as always.
Beside her—
Michael Frost.
Relaxed.
Confident.
Easily fitting into her world.
Jasper hesitated for only a second.
Then he walked forward.
Step by step.
Until he reached their table.
He stopped.
Took a breath.
And extended the wooden box forward.
“Hey, Clarissa…”
His voice was steady.
“I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.”
A pause.
“And I got you something.”
For a moment—
The table went quiet.
Clarissa looked at him.
Not surprised.
Not happy.
Just… cold.
Measured.
Then—
A faint expression of disgust crossed her face.
Quick.
But unmistakable.
Her friends exchanged looks.
Then laughed.
Not loudly at first.
Then more.
Jasper blinked slightly.
Still holding the box out.
One of them leaned forward slightly.
Smirking.
“Does the poor kid really think he can just walk up to us like that?”
Another glance at Clarissa.
“Are you seriously going to let him stand there?”
A faint laugh followed.
Jasper stayed still.
His hand didn’t move.
Clarissa finally spoke.
Her voice was calm.
But sharp.
“…Jasper.”
A pause.
“What are you doing?”
The words weren’t angry.
Worse.
They were dismissive.
Like he was something inconvenient.
Something out of place.
And for the first time—
Jasper noticed it clearly.
Not just the laughter.
Not just the stares.
But the distance.
Real distance.
Between what he believed…
And what was actually in front of him.
Clarissa’s lip curled.
“So this is what you do?”
Her voice dripped with contempt.
“You crawl out of whatever corner you live in…”
She gestured at the box like it was garbage.
“…with some sad little trinket…”
She leaned back, crossing her arms.
“And think that buys you a seat at my table?”
Her friends snickered.
One of them spoke up.
“God, the desperation is pathetic.”
Clarissa didn’t even look at Jasper anymore.
She looked through him.
“You’re embarrassing yourself, Jasper.”
“Actually, you’re embarrassing all of us.”
That’s when Michael Frost stood.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Like he was doing everyone a favor.
He stepped around the table until he was between Jasper and Clarissa.
“Oh, get real, you broke loser.”
His voice was loud enough for nearby tables to hear.
“Do you really think she would ever go with someone like you?”
He scoffed.
“Look at you.”
Jasper’s grip on the box tightened.
Something clicked.
His breath hitched.
“After all those nights I helped you study…”
His voice started low.
“…and every time you called me to run an errand…”
His eyes locked on Clarissa.
“Like to buy popcorn for you and—”
Michael cut him off, stepping into Jasper’s space.
“That’s right, Brokey.”
He drew out the nickname, grinning.
“She was with me all those times.”
He leaned in closer, lowering his voice so only Jasper could hear it.
“And guess what?”
His smirk turned ugly.
“You were her errand boy.”
“I was the guy she came to, I even had the first taste of the tight and sweet fruit, if you know what I am taking about.”
“Now get lost, loser.”
He shoved Jasper back a step.
The box almost slipped from Jasper’s hands.
The cafeteria wasn’t loud anymore.
Not to Jasper.
All he heard was the laughter.
All he felt was the distance.
Finally solid.
Finally real.
Jasper didn’t say anything.
Not to them.
Not to anyone.
He bent down.
Picked up the wooden box.
Held it tightly—
Like it was the only thing keeping him steady.
Then he turned—
And walked.
Not fast at first.
Then faster.
And then—
He ran.
Out of the cafeteria.
Down the hallway.
Past students who barely noticed.
The laughter followed him.
Fading.
But not gone. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Not really.
The Artificial Park
The school’s artificial park was quiet.
Peaceful.
A small lake.
Still water.
Benches lining the edge.
Jasper slowed to a stop.
Breathing uneven.
Then he walked to a bench—
And sat down.
Silence.
For the first time since it happened—
He let himself think.
All the memories came back.
Late nights.
Long shifts.
Empty stomach.
Running errands for her.
Buying things she “liked.”
Dropping everything whenever she called.
Even the times he got pushed around at work.
Yelled at.
Taken advantage of.
And still—
He kept going.
All for this.
Jasper let out a quiet chuckle.
“…I really was blind.”
A pause.
“…And foolish.”
He looked down at the box in his hands.
Didn’t open it.
Just stared at it.
“…An idiot.”
A voice responded.
“Yeah.”
Jasper froze.
“That part, you got right.”
His head snapped up.
Standing a few steps in front of him—
Was a man.
Calm.
Composed.
Eyes sharp.
Like he had been there the whole time.
Leon Stardust
Leon looked down at him.
Unimpressed.
Arms loosely at his sides.
“Quite frankly,” he continued,
“You were an idiot.”
Jasper blinked.
Still processing.
Leon glanced at the box in his hand.
“You worked yourself half to death…”
A pause.
“Saved every dollar you had…”
“And spent it all on someone who didn’t even respect you.”
He let out a small scoff.
“…That’s rough.”
A beat.
“Cruel, even.”
His eyes shifted back to Jasper.
“But predictable.”
Silence.
Jasper frowned slightly.
“…Who are you?”
Leon didn’t answer immediately.
Instead—
He tilted his head slightly.
Studying him.
“…So.”
A pause.
“You’re the kid.”
Jasper’s brow furrowed deeper.
“…What are you talking about?”
Leon ignored the question.
“…Seventeen years…”
He muttered.
Then nodded once.
Like something had been confirmed.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“…Yeah.”
“It’s definitely you.”
Jasper stood up slowly now.
Guarded.
Confused.
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
Leon finally met his eyes directly.
And for a brief moment—
Something about that gaze felt…
Heavy.
Not normal.
“I’m someone,” Leon said calmly,
“who made a promise a long time ago.”
A pause.
“And you…”
His eyes flicked briefly to the box—
Then back to Jasper.
“…are the reason I’m here.”
The air between them shifted.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
Jasper stared at the man in front of him.
Confusion written plainly across his face.
“…Hey.”
A pause.
“Can I help you with something?”
His tone was cautious now.
“Who are you…?”
Another step back.
“And why are you here?”
Leon didn’t answer immediately.
Instead—
He just looked at him.
Really looked.
…Yeah.
No doubt about it.
This boy is just like his father.
The same eyes.
The same stubborn energy.
Leon exhaled slowly through his nose.
And he even looks like him too…
A faint, almost tired thought crossed his mind.
This is going to be a headache.
I can already feel it.
He rubbed his temple briefly.
Seventeen years of searching…
Then he took a breath.
“I…”
He paused.
“…Alright.”
“How do I explain this…”
Jasper frowned slightly.
Leon glanced at him again.
Then nodded once—like he’d made a decision.
“I guess the simplest way to put it is this.”
A brief pause.
“You could call me…”
“…your grandfather.”
Silence.
Jasper blinked.
Once.
“…What?”
Leon didn’t break eye contact.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
His voice was calm.
“For seventeen years.”
Another pause.
“And frankly…”
He let out a quiet breath.
“I’m exhausted.”
Jasper just stared at him.
“…Yeah.”
A slow nod.
“I think you’ve got the wrong person.”
Leon sighed.
“Of course you’d say that.”
Jasper took another step back now.
“No, seriously.”
A nervous edge crept into his voice.
“I don’t know you.”
Leon tilted his head slightly.
“Jasper Crimson.”
Jasper froze.
Leon continued.
“Raised at Dragon Scale Roaring Orphanage.”
“Aunt Myra.”
“Top of your class.”
“Works five… sometimes six jobs.”
Each word landed heavier than the last.
Jasper’s expression shifted.
“How do you—”
Leon cut him off.
“Because I’ve been searching for you.”
A pause.
“And I don’t make mistakes like this.”
Silence fell between them.
Thick.
Unsettling.
Jasper’s grip tightened around the wooden box.
“…Even if that’s true…”
His voice was lower now.
More guarded.
“That still doesn’t explain…”
A pause.
“…why you’re calling yourself my grandfather.”
Leon looked at him for a long moment.
Then sighed again.
“…Fair.”
He straightened slightly.
“Let’s just say…”
“I made a promise to your parents.”
A pause.
“And I intend to keep it.”
That word—
Parents—
Hit differently.
Jasper’s expression faltered.
Just slightly.
“…I don’t have parents.”
Leon’s gaze softened.
Only a fraction.
“…Yeah.”
A quiet beat.
“I know.”
Dragon Scale High — Artificial Park
Jasper stared at Leon for a long moment, then exhaled.
“Alright. I see what’s going on here.”
Leon raised an eyebrow slightly.
Jasper gave a dry, almost polite smile and gestured vaguely.
“Look, man, I don’t know who you’re looking for, but it’s definitely not me.”
Inside his head, Jasper thought, Yeah, this guy’s completely lost it.
Grandfather?
Parents?
Promises?
Yeah, no.
Jasper shook his head.
“I’ve got somewhere to be.”
With that, he turned and started walking away.
Not running, but fast.
It was a clear decision.
Nope.
Not dealing with this today.
Five steps.
Ten.
Fifteen—
Thud.
Jasper stopped dead.
“…What?”
He slowly looked up.
Leon stood directly in front of him, exactly where he was heading.
Jasper froze, then slowly turned his head back toward the bench.
It was empty.
His eyes snapped forward again.
“…How did you—?” He took a step back.
“No, wait—what? How did you get here?”
Leon looked at him calmly.
“Good.”
Jasper blinked.
“Good?”
Leon nodded once.
“At least you noticed.”
Jasper stared at him, now fully unsettled.
“…Yeah, okay. Definitely not normal.”
Leon took a slow step forward.
“Listen carefully.”
Jasper instinctively tensed.
“Tyan Crimson,” Leon said.
Jasper froze.
“…What did you just call me?”
Leon’s gaze sharpened.
“Jasper Crimson. Do you know why your last name is ‘Crimson’?”
Jasper frowned.
“…It’s just a name.”
Leon shook his head.
“No. It’s not.”
He took a step closer.
“When you were found at the orphanage, you weren’t just left there. You were wrapped in a red cloak.”
Silence fell.
Jasper’s mind paused for a second.
“…So what?” But his voice wasn’t as firm now.
Leon continued, “That cloak was the last thing your mother gave you.”
Jasper scoffed and shook his head.
“Okay—yeah. Nope. This is where I leave.”
Leon didn’t stop.
“She’s not dead.”
That made Jasper hesitate slightly.
Leon’s eyes locked onto his.
“She’s alive. Trapped in suspended animation.”
Silence.
Jasper stared at him, then let out a short breath.
“…Right. Yeah, okay. Yep. This guy is completely gone. Cloaks, suspended animation, secret parents…” He raised his hands slightly.
“Look, man, I don’t know what kind of story you’re trying to sell—”
Leon moved.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
But in the next instant, he was right in front of Jasper, closer than before.
Jasper flinched.
“—but I’m not buying it.”
For the first time, Leon’s expression hardened slightly.
“…You don’t have to. But you will.”
The air around them shifted.
Subtle, but real.
And this time, Jasper felt it.
Not imagined.
Not explainable.
Real.
His breath caught.
“…What is that…?”
Leon didn’t answer.
Not yet.