Chapter 2

 ⚔️ The Promise ⚔️

....You brought me my tomorrow.....

Dae Pov

"Let's bet, you can't chase me out of here, this will become my permanent residence soon." She told me.

And I face her ignoring my favorite TV series.

"Can we do the test then? My father will chase you out once I ask him to."

"He can't do that." She said and I smiled.

We both heard the hurried footsteps of my father and I did the unthinkable.

I slapped myself hard, so hard that I know my fingerprints must be showing. And I started to cry, surprising the lady.

My father opened the door, and saw my red face and tears.

"What happened Dae?" He asked, his smiling fading.

"She slapped me because I told her I love her hair. She even said I can't afford the money used in making her hair. I want her out of this house now daddy!"

"Leave my house this minute Park." My daddy said in anger.

You see, my father doesn't joke with me nor my late mother.

"So you won't listen to my own side, I didn't slap her, she slapped herself." Park said.

"You are trying to frame up my daughter, get out of my house. I believe you know the way to your house. It is over between us." My dad told her. "You should be happy I am not calling the police for assaulting my daughter."

Park Min huffed out in annoyance and left my room and then we heard the front door slam hard.

I smirk inwardly.

"I am so sorry my dear."

"I told you no one can take the place of my mum but you refuse to listen." I told him, faking my tears the more.

"I am sorry, let me call the family doctor."

Niral Pov

I woke up the next morning and saw myself in my room. I quickly took my bath and got dressed for school, a white shot and t-shirt with sneakers. Using my nose, I followed the scent of Aunty Karen to the kitchen.

"Good morning Aunt Karen."

"Good morning Niral, how was your night?"

"Fine."

"Hope you slept well?"

"Yes aunt Karen."

"Don't hurt anyone in school today Niral, please."

"I won't."

"Good." She said with a smile and gave me cereal and milk which I quickly devour.

I thanked her and waited for her in her car, she locked the house and entered the driver seat, as passerbys came to greet her.

We were living in a small town where everybody knows everybody. Aunty Karen who has a lot of money does help the people living in the town and they respected her for that.

"Oh before I forget." She said bringing me out of my thought, she opened her purse and gave me a bracelet. "You have to wear it, it will make your eyeballs blue and also prevent you from changing into your leopard form." She told me. "You know I am not a powerful witch, that is what I can do for now."

I took the bracelet from her and wore it on my left wrist. It must have worked because she smiled widely.

"You look so handsome with those blue eyes of yours Niral."

"Thank you."

Her smile widened even more and drove me to school.

_____

When I came back from school, I followed the school bus, I met aunty Karen with a human boy, a little bit taller than me.

"Oh, here is my nephew I have been telling you about." She said pointing at me.

"Hi, I am Niral."

"Hi, I am Rama." He introduced himself.

"Aunt Karen, who is he?"

"My son."

"Your son?"

"Yes Niral."

"How? I didn't know you have a son."

"It's a long story Niral, but I finally found him." She told me.

I let it slide. Leopards don't care.

The next day she registered him at the school I go to and we became brothers.

Everyone in the town got to know about Rama. He was always helpful to the people around and just like Aunty Karen, they began to sing his praises. I, on the other hand, was just a leopard who didn't care.

Soon days became weeks and weeks and months and it was time for our exams.

I read like I normally see the humans do, like Rama does.

When it was time for the exam, I tried my possible best.

When the results were out, I failed but Rama passed.

"Back then in Mexico, I always passed my papers." I told Aunt Karen.

"Maybe it's because those teachers were scared of your father so they allowed you to pass their subjects." She said to me.

"Let's go outside and play with the other kids." Rama told me one hot afternoon in my room.

Luckily for me, I and Rama both have separate rooms.

"I don't want to play."

"Please, I have promised them that we would come, please Niral I am begging you."

"Alright."

We entered a ten storey uncompleted building and saw some kids, about 18 of them playing football at the top of the building.

We soon joined them to play, Rama teaching me how to pass the ball to him or our team members. We won against the other team and they left the uncompleted building.

It only remained a boy from the other team and us. When we are about to go when the boy steps on Rama's toe and pushes him hard to the ground, kicking him on his legs.

"I will break these legs of yours."

I shove him away from Rama with ease and Rama stood up from the ground and hurried to meet the boy who started to run away, but Rama was quick and pushed the boy very hard, the boy slipped and fell off the building. The scent of blood reaches my nose

We heard screams and 'He is dead'.

I and Rama both looked at each other Authoress Pov

The police came and took the corpse away and handcuffed Niral.

"You killed him Niral." Karen said in anger. "I try to change you, Niral, I tried and the only way you could repay me is to kill an innocent person? I don't want to see your face ever again." She added.

The police took Niral towards their car and Niral turned to look at Rama who was trying not to cry.

Flash back:

"If you accept this, the whole town who held you to a high extreme will look down on you. Aunty Karen won't be able to take the shame. I won't allow that to happen, I will take the blame, just promise me you won't tell your mom." Niral told him.

"I promise."

End of Flashback:

The police put Niral into their car and drove off.

Juvenile Home:

"The aim of this Juvenile home is to help kids like you to reform and become useful to this society." A highly ranked police man was seen talking to the newly kids brought to the Juvenile home. Niral was among.

"You can engage yourselves in games and social activities after studies. It is all in your hands to make use of this opportunity and shape a bright future for yourselves. I wish you all the best."