Prologue (2)
Within just a few days I insisted to be discharged but the doctors were quite worried so after various tests, they approved. I was reluctant to let go of seeing nurse joy every day but my grand uncle will be worried if I will delay my visit for long so I packed my things for the long vacation ahead.
<>
From the taxi driver, ticket booth lady, passengers in the bullet train, and all the people who saw me have the same expression. Not because of my attractive face and sexy body but they were surprised with my swelling left eye; half-covered with a small bandage I made myself that seemed to be useless and made me look more like a pirate. Also, my face was full of bruises and if not for my long-sleeved clothes more pitiful injuries are exposed.
Feeling the discomfort in my body, I gritted my teeth and sat to finally relax in my seat after the constant stares from people, "Argh, damn it." I could only curse as my body throbbed more from just the contact in the seat.
"Are you alright young man?" The old man who was beside me was worried seeing my expressions that looked to him as 'A boy being circumcised using stone knives without anesthesia' looking face.
"Ahaha...I am fine, just some minor bruises." I forced a smile to convince the old man but it certainly did not make the pain go away. Remembering it all, the injuries I received was somehow insignificant compared to the emotional torture I got during those days.
"Let bygones be bygones." He phrased with a satisfied look in his face. He was after a changed person now. It was his first time to intervene with something like that and even though it almost claimed his life, his soul felt comfortable and light.
The express/bullet train sped on its tracks to the province; Daren slept like a baby but woke up from the trembling train. Murmurs and worry filled the train, "Do trains have turbulence like this?" Remembering his memories, he certainly did not experience something bizarre and he felt the sentiment of other passengers.
[Ding...Attention to all passengers...Please get to your seats and buckle your...] The announcement from the train echoed on the train and out of the blue an explosion erupted and not even a second Daren's vision cut off.
"Ahhhh." He shouted after waking up sweaty even the air condition was on inside the train, and it startled the surrounding passengers. Panting, he stood up and look around but nothing was out of the ordinary aside from the people who noticed the shout and looking at him with concern.
"Young man, are you really fine?" The old man beside him asks again while staring at him baffled. "Can I check your temperature? I am a nurse by profession in the past?" The old man calmly said and was trying to communicate to Daren who seemed to be disconnected.
"Nurse?" I calmed down after hearing the old man's voice and realizing it was just a nightmare, "Mister, thank you. I feel fine now but I would have to burden you to check me." I requested after sitting back with a pained expression. After a brief introduction, John Lemon was a retired army officer and official nurse of the army so he was adept in conversing with people.
"Did you have a nightmare?" While checking my temperature and pulse with his hand, John calmly asked just like a typical nurse would do to check the current mental status of a patient.
I nodded without energy and a bit pale, "They say, that dreams are memories of yourself, 'your other self'." John said with a smile trying to open something, and I was also curious so I listened.
"I have read a biography in the past, and this person said that his dreams were so vivid he knew that it was him in an alternate world. He insisted that his other is showing him some evidence that his other self was true." John said pausing to check on me then continued after he noticed that I was attentive. "But who knows? He could not show his dream after all." John giggled as if mocking the man in his story.
<>
After a brutal half-day of travel, I finally arrived at the front door of my grand uncles humble home in the province. In a distant; column of greenhouses filled the area, attractive pots of herbs and flower also surrounded the house while other plants and fruit-bearing trees started to spring back to life again; the surrounding was refreshing to see.
The wooden small house, has two small bedrooms, a simple backdoor kitchen, and a dining area also as a living room to serve the guests. "Ah, finally." The wooden door was crude but well built, The varnish made the doors and wooden materials old but sturdy and nostalgic.
Breathing the cold breeze; I remembered it was April but the Christmas decor hanging in the door was still not stored, "This is nostalgic." As the door opened his grandpa was a bit surprised but happy to see him.
"Daren, why did you not call. And what happened to you?" Knitting his white brows, the old man Simon worriedly asked. He did not change much since then; the 70 years Simon was still energetic. Though not in his prime, and now a bit slim; his muscles were still visible from the years of labor on the farm.
"I was into a fight, but I finally braved myself to intervene with others." Awkwardly, Daren gave a vague answer to keep his grand-uncle out of worry.
"Fine, let's talk about it inside." It was the same as usual inside the house. The small wooden figurines, made by Simon himself was displayed in the cabinet, and the furniture was still maintained properly.
Daren told his grand-uncle all about what happened as they sip the green tea and comforted themselves in an inclined wooden chair on the balcony.
"I am glad you finally decided to stay here for good, I have told you for so long that the city is lively but difficult compared here. Besides your muscles are build for farming and not in office work. Hahahaha..." Even before, Daren is thinking of living in the province and help his grand-uncle farm but his thinking persuades him to get a college degree and work his ass in the city, but the reality was harsh.
He did not excel in studies, financially unstable, even did not have social connections. With no dream at all and a proper direction he still wanted to prove something and endured everything as a poor excuse to be part of society.
<>
When he was in Simon's custody, he did not participate much in farming but knew a few skill just by observing and helping in small chores. It was hard labor even with the help of modern technology, but the farmers in their area did not complain. And now he realized that it was not that bad after all.
after a few years, Daren adapted immediately living on the farm and became a farmer himself, befriend the community, and even having a girl suitor from the neighborhood.
"Daren, are you free during the weekends?" The girl in her dress was the vegetable merchant's daughter Mimi; live just two houses away from theirs. With her over the knee yellow dress, spaghetti strap, and long black hair, her beauty is unique from the typical city girl but charming. "It's the festival, I would like to invite you if you are free." She was stuttering some words and swaying restless hiding her face with the straw hat she wore.
"No problem, let us go together. I would also like to see the town." Daren said and it made Mimi lift her face but after staring for a while, she averted her gaze and walked out hastily. "I will go now, See you soon." Daren thought she was amusing and felt comfortable with her. She was a constant visitor after all task to negotiate prices with my grand uncle, and even deliver the produce to the market herself.
<>
It was a summer festival, and varieties of parlor games, amusement attractions, and street food vendors were scattered all over the town square. Lamps illuminated the streets, and many children are running in the park. And both of them wanted to test all attractions but it was already late and many are already dispersed to rest for the night.
As Daren drives the old truck Mimi possesses they were put in awkward position again just like on the way to the festival, "Mimi, do you like farming?" It was an awkward question, but Daren had no choice as his mind was blank even though he prepared so many sentences to make their date not boring.
"I love flowers, and planting and farming is our way of living so I guess it is part of me now." Mimi embarrassedly said but she started to get comfortable with Daren.
They started to get comfortable talking to each other and topics flowed out normally without even them trying. They laughed as they traverse the old road in the province. It was peaceful with less traffic but it was also quite dark having few lamps on the road, and even streets having none at all.
Out of nowhere when they approached a curve, a wild sheep appeared in the middle of the road. "Meeehhhh." The sheep's cry echoed in Daren's ear as he instinctively turned the wheel left and avoid the cliff at the right. Tires screeched and the truck skids in the middle of the road. "Come on, is this a video game or something, wild animals appearing out of nowhere?" Daren cursed to himself and sighing.
"Meeeehhhhh." The sheep were unharmed and just strolled casually on the road as if mocking Daren's thoughts. but Daren and Mimi's hearts pounded wildly making them pant from shock.
"Are you alright?" They jinxed the words, and after noticing everything was fine they smiled and grabbed each other hand firmly while staring at each other. And after calming down, Daren started the engine again, but considering it was old and rusty, it failed much time before finally starting.
"Beeeeeep." The abrupt flash of light coming from Daren's side blinded him, even with the sudden brake and effort to swerve the truck; it was too late.
A loud bang was heard as both trucks collided; twisted metal, thrown vehicle parts littered the road, and both trucks were now unrecognizable.
