Noah looked into the Yeti's eyes and smiled gently. "Don't worry, I'll remember your story. Your story will live on forever."
The Yeti narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing those words, taking a deep breath. His chest rose and fell gently. This was the first time he had met a human who truly understood him. Until now, he had lived alone, been born alone, grown up alone, and had resigned himself to a life of solitude. But now, the boy before him was showing him a different reality. Noah's sincere words stirred something strange yet warm in his heart.
Then, Noah realized the sky had darkened.
"NOOO! IT'S ALREADY NIGHT!" he shouted in panic, hastily grabbing his things. "Sorry, buddy, my family is waiting for me! I'm so late, I'm gonna get scolded so bad!"
Noah dashed out of the forest, running all the way home.
The Yeti lowered his head slightly. That word— family— it had been a long time since he had heard it. It left an emptiness inside him. He had never been someone expected to return. No one had ever waited for him.
"Family…" he whispered, but the word felt foreign on his tongue, like something that didn't belong to him.
Days passed in a blur. Noah and the Yeti spent every moment together. The Yeti taught him about nature, revealing the secrets of the wild. For the first time in his life, he felt what it was like to not be alone.
Noah listened attentively, asked questions, made mistakes—but never gave up. And for the first time, the Yeti felt like more than just a creature struggling to survive. Under his guidance, the forest was no longer a place of fear, but a magical world waiting to be explored.
As Noah watched the sunlight dance through the trees, he found himself thinking, Being here is so much better than being in school.
But such freedom could not last forever.
Noah's family had begun to suspect something was wrong. His teachers had sent messages about his absences, confirming their worst fears. One evening, his father confronted him with a stern gaze.
"Noah," his father said, his voice sharper than usual. "You've been skipping school. Where have you been?"
Noah hesitated. He couldn't tell the truth.
"I was just… just walking around, Dad. Sometimes I need to clear my head," he murmured, lowering his gaze.
His father frowned. "You need to clear your head?" He leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh. The shadow in his eyes was not just anger, but disappointment. "Noah, we only want what's best for you. We work for your future, but you… you don't care at all, do you?"
The weight of his father's disappointment cut through Noah like a blade.
He lifted his head, eyes slightly red. "Dad, I just…" His throat tightened. How could he explain? Even if he spoke about the Yeti, would anyone believe him? To them, it would just be a childish fantasy.
He looked down and shook his head.
His father stood up, his towering figure casting a shadow over the room.
"From now on, no more going out! School, home. Home, school. We don't have time for your fantasies, Noah! You're not a child anymore!"
For days, Noah felt trapped, like a prisoner in his own home. He stared out the window, gazing at the forest's edge. His heart ached.
Is Yeti okay? Is he thinking about me, too?
The Yeti felt the same. He was used to being alone. But now, the silence of the cave felt heavier than ever. When Noah was there, it felt warmer, livelier. Now, it was suffocating.
A part of him was afraid—afraid that Noah would never return. He had grown used to his presence, though he couldn't pinpoint when it had started. He remembered Noah's words:
"I'll remember your story. I won't let you be alone again. We're best friends."
As the nights passed, a decision formed in Noah's heart. He had to see the Yeti again.
That night, before sneaking out, he peered through the window. The moonlight bathed the garden in a pale glow. The sky was clear, but inside him, a storm raged.
Slowly, he got up from his bed, carefully stepping to avoid the creaky floorboards. His breathing quickened, heart pounding like a drum. As he reached for the door, he hesitated.
If he got caught… his father might lock him inside for good.
The hinges creaked softly as he pushed the door open. He froze, listening intently. The house was silent. Swallowing his fear, he stepped outside.
A strange feeling washed over him. Was this freedom? Or guilt?
The moonlight covered the garden in a silver sheen. He took a deep breath and ran.
As he raced toward the forest, his excitement grew with every step. Leaves rustled as he passed, a soft wind brushing against his face.
When he finally reached the cave, breathless, he saw him.
The Yeti stood at the entrance, unmoving. He had seen Noah coming, but he couldn't move.
Something stirred inside him—a strange warmth. His eyes locked onto Noah's face.
He didn't forget me? He really came back?
He struggled to process the emotions flooding him. Days ago, he had convinced himself that Noah wouldn't return. That humans, like always, made promises only to break them.
But Noah… hadn't forgotten.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just stared at each other.
Then, Noah—panting, exhausted, but smiling—opened his arms wide.
"I missed you, buddy."
The Yeti hesitated, taking a deep breath. In that moment, he remembered something he had tried to forget—a rare feeling from long ago.
At first, he wavered. But then, slowly, he stepped forward.
"Me too."
And in the stillness of the night, two friends were reunited once more.