Cyberpunk 2074: Shadows of the Past

"Wow... came to life."

Evelin laid her head on the bowl and drank the hot chicken soup in big gulps. The delicious taste climbed along the tip of her tongue and into her heart. Then a warmth spread, bit by bit, to all her limbs. .

"Drink slowly...it's not too hot, you..."

Judy supported her head and slowly tasted the delicacies she had learned so hard, while making fun of Evelyn's chewing and swallowing like a starving ghost.

"Because it's really delicious..."

Evelin smiled and rolled her eyes, not even letting go of the last drop of chicken soup at the bottom of the bowl.

"How about you live here with me from now on? Your house is expensive and small..."

"Judy...we agreed not to interfere in each other's lives?"

Evelin wiped the oil stains from the corners of her mouth, frowned, and pretended to be displeased.

"I regret it now! Look at you, you're all injured. You have to live with me anyway. I'll go back to your house later!"

Judy said viciously to Evelin while clearing away the dishes.

Judy has changed and is not as easy to fool as she used to be.

Evelin sighed softly as she thought about the unexplained change in her closest friend.

"talk later……"

There may be other solutions to reject Judy's request outright.

But Evelin had to admit that facing the person closest to her in the world, her heart softened.

"Humph..." Judy smiled, threw all the dirty dishes into the sink, cleaned her hands, and happily pulled Evelin into the bedroom.

"Judy..."

"What's wrong?"

"No, it's okay..." Evelin shook her head gently, took off the old clothes Judy lent her one by one, folded them and put them aside.

Before the cold air invaded her skin, Evelin opened the quilt and got in.

Tiny dust flew to the sky on the flying quilt horns.

When it fell back to the ground, there was a pleasant warm silence in the bedroom.

"I have forgotten the last time I slept with someone else consciously."

Taking advantage of the tranquility, Evelin turned sideways to the window and expressed her unwillingness to talk to the lonely night.

"It's all with me anyway, isn't it?"

In the silent darkness, someone answered softly.

"Why aren't you sleeping yet?"

The heart was beating extremely fast, and the loud beating sound was like the roar of a big drum in the quiet night. The resonance of the sound waves extended all the way to her throat, making Evelin's voice tremble a little.

"If you don't sleep well, how can I sleep peacefully?"

Evelin turned around in silence and cast her eyes on the sleeping person beside her pillow.

She took a breath to calm down.

"Then you have to wait until dawn."

"So... go to bed quickly!" Judy whispered with half-closed eyes.

"hug me."

"Um?"

"hug me."

"good……"

Judy opened her eyes and hugged the familiar yet unfamiliar friend in front of her tightly.

She had never seen Evelyn Parker so vulnerable.

He no longer looks down on Feng Yue with his youthful body in all his splendor.

No longer walking through the world of mortals with a smile, not touching a leaf.

She just took the initiative to peel off the heavy armor that protected herself, revealing the little tenderness inside.

Like a piece of cracked jade, it is so fragile that it hurts.

"Xiao Ai..."

Looking at the strange woman in front of her, Judy stared closely, as if she wanted to imprint this kind of Evelin in her heart forever.

"You still have me here... okay?" Judy held Evelin's cold hands and placed them on her warm heart.

"Do you feel it?" Judy continued, her eyes actively sinking into Evelin's blue lake.

"Feel this beating melody, Xiao Ai, it's playing for you." She whispered.

The bedroom was once again under the control of the quiet night. The two girls were tightly intertwined, and their hearts were close to each other. They resonated with the most real warmth at the same rhythm.

January 19, 2074, 10:00

The movement on the pillow woke Evelin from her sweet dream.

"Good morning, Xiao Ai."

Her closest friend was saying hello to her, and the familiar voice gently soothed her throbbing heart.

"Good morning..." Evelin silently stared at the unfamiliar ceiling.

After a long time, the silent body finally found the consciousness wandering in the horizon.

"Judy?"

She spoke softly, but no one responded.

"Judy!?"

The only response she received was her own hoarse voice and silence.

She tried to sit up, but collapsed on the bed again.

Evelin looked at the ceiling carefully for the second time, her nose suddenly felt a little sore.

"What happened!?"

The reassuring sound of footsteps came from afar.

"What's wrong? Xiao Ai?"

"...It's okay..." Evelin rubbed her eyes and shook her head gently.

"Get up quickly, lie down on the quilt, and I'll apply some medicine to you." Judy shook the black plastic bag in her hand towards Evelin, who was lying on the bed.

"Did you just go downstairs to buy medicine?" Evelin asked, following Judy's instructions and obediently lying on the quilt.

She hid her face under the quilt so that Judy wouldn't notice the slight redness at the corners of her eyes.

"I heard that this medicine is more effective and won't leave scars. It is much more effective than the low-end medicines I had stored at home before. You just didn't get up, so I ran over and bought it for you."

"Oh..." Evelin buried her head in the quilt completely and responded dully.

"Be good, be good." Judy rubbed Evelin's short hair, coaxing her to be fragile like a child.

"Hurry up and apply medicine! It's a bit cold!"

"Okay, okay, here it comes."

Judy nodded helplessly and took out a bottle of simply packaged medicine from the plastic bag.

After opening the useless box, Judy squeezed the medicine into her palms, rubbed her hands together, and gently applied it to Evelin's body.

Evelin turned to look at Judy, who was standing behind her with a focused expression, and couldn't help but smile.

Judy painted every corner carefully, as if a painter was meticulous about his most beloved painting. Every time he stroked, he must use all his mind to paint evenly.

"Thank you...Judy..." Evelin let the warm hands wipe away the pain for herself, lying her head on the quilt, and said softly.

"Why are you thanking me?" Judy pouted, feeling that Evelin was a little fussy.

"Thank you for reminding me... that I am a human being... and not a doll to be manipulated."

"..." Judy sighed silently, and kept moving her hands, applying all the precious ointment over and over again.

"Xiao Ai..." She looked at the hideous scars on Evelin's body and hesitated to speak.

"What's wrong?"

"I will always be with you...until the end."