As the snow started to melt, grass grew, and blossoms bloomed. The sun started replacing the moon, making the days longer as kids took off their jackets and jumped into the lake. Before they knew, the leaves started turning brown, the ground covered in a carpet of earthy colors, and the first snowfall came, burying the town in white.

Abel loves running around on the grass, in snow, at break times, after school. He wasn't the biggest child, but he could run infinitely, and no one could beat him in sprints. When he was offered to deliver newspaper, he was ecstatic. It didn't change much of his running routines, except that now he got the chance of yeeting objects without getting shouted at and received a few cents. He counted it every day, and one day, he ran home, calling for Cain.

"Do you want to get a tattoo with me?"

"A tattoo?"

"Yes, I want one covering my neck and chest!"

"But where can we get the money?"

Abel grinned, pulling out his money. Cain laughed.

Days passed, weeks passed, months passed, years passed. And so did the day when old age and illness finally caught up with Father Sebastian. Not that someone knew how old he exactly was. He'd look a little older than a middle-aged man when he smiles – which he almost always did, but when he rested, he'd looked decades older. It was raining hard that day – but no one really cared. The kids stood still in silence, their black clothes drenched.

Perhaps it was the best for Abel, the kid who on record, never cried. Rain drizzled down his face. He grinned.

"It's a little ironic. Age gives us both hope and anxiousness."

Cain stared at the tombstone.

"Yeah."

At first, it seemed like a blessing in disguise – donations flowed in, and for a while, their orphanage was filled with visitors.

Some just came to talk and help around – others came looking for an adoptee.

There was Rayna, the bright girl who played violin, Jack who was sickly but never missed a game of tag, Faisal who'd read encyclopaedia with Cain, Dominic who'd win any cooking competition with any ingredient, and many others. Every time a kid left, they'd hold a short farewell, waving their hands until they disappeared behind the hills. The following dinner would be slightly more silent – everyone slightly missing the kid's absence yet wishing them the best.

"Missing them?"

Abel nodded.

"Think we'll have someone to call Mom and Dad someday?"

"You could have, you know. The couple yesterday found you charming, but you insisted on being with me."

"They could have!"

"Nuh-uh. They could only afford one child, or maybe two, if both are adorable gremlins good at running."

"Well," Abel winked, "An adorable gremlin would come best with a pretty princess, don't you think?"

"Oh, the pretty princess would be cursed to have a gremlin by her side for the rest of her life."

"Then you are!"

Cain almost slapped him if he didn't duck. He laughed.

"But seriously, do you think you'll be able to call someone Mom and Dad?"

But Abel's question never needed an answer anyway. Soon, there were barely visitors, and the donations stopped. People might have taken a pity on the children, but Father Sebastian was a good talker. Neither of them had the credibility nor reputation too.

Fundraisers barely covered their monthly bills, and when flu season hit, there'd at least be a new tombstone in their backyard. Cain and Abel tried their best to help here and there, sometimes running in the rain to put umbrellas over strangers' head for cents, other times doing chores around the house. But as much as they tried to deny it, they knew.

"Are you sure? We are always glad to have you with us."

"Yes, we're sure. Thank you for your help all this time."

"You're going to regret it. Life outside it very hard-"

"I know! I said we're sure, ok? You think we didn't see the people dying in the winter streets or see the thugs beating the hell out of them?"

Cain covered his mouth, looking at their friends' widened gaze. Abel stood behind him, his eyes slightly widening out of terror, but his mouth clasped shut. Cain sighed.

"I'm sorry. No matter how hard we try, we aren't like Emma, Liam, or some of you who could make a decent contribution. I don't have a proper degree, Abel couldn't get a decent job as a high school graduate, and all of this is driving me crazy. I know you all genuinely cared, but please understand. All we did was put a few cents on the table and ate a portion of the younger kids' food."

Abel grinned.

"Yea, I think we're also old enough, so you don't need to worry! We'll come back and you'll see, we'll be healthier than ever! Thank you for taking care of us!"

The teenagers looked at each other reluctantly and nodded.

"Then we'll hold on to your promise! Good luck out there, see you!"

"Yes, see you later! Don't forget to say hi for us if Rayna, Jack, Faisal, or the other kids came over!"

"Will do!"

And so, the brothers left the orphanage, closing the last chapter of their childhood. As they had planned, they immediately secured a long-term rent in the eastern part of the city – it was close to a ghetto, but it was near the metropolis and remained relatively untouched by the local gangs. Abel had also helped the landlord's child to pass his college entrance exam, and he granted them some flexibility in paying their monthly dues, sometimes even lending them furnitures. Cain had some money saved from his construction jobs to fund half of Abel's first year in an esteemed college, and Abel won a scholarship for the other half.

"Are you not going to college too?"

"How could I when I dropped out of seventh grade? Graduate college for me, and I'll feel like I've earned my diploma too."

Abel's eyes sparkled.

"Will do!"

But Cain knew their money wouldn't be enough. He needs to get a better job. So, when Abel went to school the next day, he jumped onto the bus.

"Cain, a participant of today's entrance test?"

"Yes, Sir."

What else can he do best?

"The first test is marksmanship. You're on the first batch, so take your rifle and join the line there."

The field buzzed with chatters. Several men sat in the shade, talking and laughing.

"Major General Kim, you're here again? The boss loves you so much, huh?"

"Hahahah, why would I enjoy my morning coffee staring at my desk when I can watch a bunch of newbies trying to get into the military, right?"

"You're one arrogant special ops punk, but I really do think the desk is more attractive!"

The men laughed again.

"Participant number 1, Cain, please step into the field."

Cain took a deep breath.

"Take your aim! Ready, fire!"

Gunshots rang through the air. Everyone fell silent. 10 shots under 5 seconds? And they were all... headshots?

Major General Kim dropped his cup.

"Who's that kid?"

"I-I think his name is Cain," the other men muttered, still in disbelieve.

"Bring him to me. He'll join the special forces."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The bell rang. Abel slung his bag across his shoulder.

"Abel, are you going to tonight's game?"

"I'll skip this week's, my brother's visiting!"

He ran to the courtyard. It's been two semesters since they met. He glanced at his phone.

The corridor at the back of the library. That must be here – his eyes widened. Cain leaned against the wall, wearing a full tactical suit and tall black boots. Do special forces always wear that uniform? He looked really cool!

Cain tilted his head, staring at his wide-eyed open-mouthed brother.

"You know you looked like the dumbest person I've ever seen?"

"... you really got in into the special forces...?"

"You thought I was lying? How was university so far?"

"I maintained my 4.0 GPA, is involved in 3 clubs, a president of one, writing four research papers, won five awards, and got into five research lab."

"Good, keep it up."

But it seems like Cain's word went into Abel's left ear and out his right ear, because the next year, Abel dropped out and enlisted for the military.

"Brother, I think your uniform's cool, and I decide to enlist," is all he wrote to Cain. Cain read it during one of his team's jump operations and almost got hit by a grenade. If only Major General Kim had allowed him to take another break, he would have sent Abel to ICU that day.

Actually, maybe, he better did.

Abel was very bright. He's good at running, creative in tactics, never ran out of energy, and would bend backwards to save his friends - even if they were just in a simulation. But maybe that's also the problem – he was too gifted in some aspects that he'd be an idiot in others, and after leading a huge brawl in the compound, Abel could forget about ever getting promoted to Corporal.

"Due to the repeat offense and the severity of the case, the court hereby sentenced Abel to 2 years of prison."

"Can't you sentence me to life in prison instead?"

"No. Court adjourned."

Abel stared at the floor. If he can't reenlist, return to college, or get free accommodation for life in prison, what should he do?

His eyes lit up.

Priesthood!