The Origin
"Tomorrow or the next " he stared at the dark window brightened faintly by the distant window of one of the rooms.
"I'm coming with you " Zi hua said and stood up, Jinn frowned and shook his head. He built up for a polite disapproval.
"you don't have to if you _"
"It concerns me as well, Zhang Kai would be in charge while I'm out" Zi hua pushed his hands into the front pocket of his leather and traipsed to the foyer.
"up for a game? " Fei yelled in his wake and Zi hua waved "want to watch a movie? "
"yup" Zi hua said happily "Richard got a new movie" his voice drifted from the foyer and Fei bai sprang up.
"Oh cool, I'm watching uh just let me get a soda" he hurriedly circled the bar to the kitchen and headed for the fridge door "Jinn you're interested in the movie ? "
"no i'm good " his eyes still fixed on his cell "but could you get me a snack from the pantry"
"sure sure", Fei bai moved to the pantry further down and away from the bars view "we only have cakes...strawberry flavor , vanilla, chocolate, ooh brownie am guessing that's special.i'll have a vanilla "
" get me strawberry!" Zi hua yelled from the foyer "And hurry "
"fine fine, Jinn? "
"two chocolate flavor" this voice didn't belong to Jinn, silvery and soft. Jinn turned towards the stairs where Taeh descended in black jeans distressed ant the knee and a bright yellow sweater, his brown hair tussled and wet from a recent shower. "hey" he smiled at Jinn moving on barefoot towards the bar.
"hey Taeh" Fei bai said as he placed two saucers with chocolate flavored cakes on the bar "how was it? " he asked Taeh.
"was what " Jinn turned to Fei bai who adjusted a bottle of soda under his arm and placed two other cakes on the bar and took a bite from the strawberry.
"He went to a studio with Richard " he leaned casually at the bar and took a bite of the vanilla "Zhang Kai doubted the studio would be into modern music "
"Fei!" the three boys shook in fear as Zi hua stood at the threshold arms folded, Fei took up both saucers and hurried towards him.
"sorry dude" he cowered and moved into the foyer. Taeh muffled a laugh and pulled out a stool by Jinn.
" hey Taeh " Zi hua said giving a smile then staring at Jinn briefly before retreating to meet Fei.
Jinn paused looking towards Zi hua's previous location and thinking on Mau duri's , the shift of a plate made him turn as Taeh took a bite of cake. "where have you been all morning? " he asked absently.
Jinn adjusted himself and faced his phone "I went to visit someone ...she knew my dad"
"what did you find? " Taeh looked at him and then towards the dark kitchen.
"well now i know he lived in the oldest temple of Holy gate "he sighed and kept his phone on the bar "you know I used to think all the stories about immortals were feebles to caution kids and I recently read about Holy gate absurd history but now I don't know this world anymore"
"the world is full of scary things "Taeh said looking distracted, Jinn looked to him intently.
"I also found that a god called Liune is imprisoned here " he watched carefully trying to gauge Taeh reaction. Taeh looked to him for a long moment and then to the plate in front of him.
"hmm, " Taeh mused and tension stiffened his shoulders " really? " he tried to act natural but he didn't get the surprise look the other boys had gotten.
"you're not surprised? " he didn't want to believe Taeh had an idea about this because it would only mean he knew something about this.
"oh ...I am"
"uh-huh" Jinn looked at his plate "I'm going to the temple on Saturday, I need to know how my father died".
. . .
They stood in front of an old temple front, the large massed fence spanning half the entire road. Judging from the falling wall paints and growing greens it could have been last renovated at least about 30 years ago.The open gates at the doorway welcomed visitors and over the entrance was a small walk approaching a mass flight of stairs climbing up to reveal a large Pagoda building, the temple.
The day was busy with work men in suits, students and traditional worshipper ascending and descending in numbers. Jinn had his bag packed and at his side, he left in the afternoon of the Saturday with Zi hua.
Fei bai had told the others only a brief explanation on their sudden trip, It only covered details of his father and nothing more. Fei bai had insisted on tagging along but someone needed to keep Taeh on check, He was his old self again but they still should watch for him because of what Mau duri had said. With one hand in his front pocket he picks up his bag, arm tensed from the weight "ah! " he let out and waved his hand through his bangs to clear his vision.
Looking himself over on a blue fitted shirt and black pants, a pair of white running shoes and then to his watch. Noticeably a bit too casual in comparison to all the visitors, he shrugged dismissively at his appearance 'How long till the visitors leave?' he thought impatiently giving a quick glanced at Zi hua who was in a cream turtleneck sweater and leggings, putting on black boots,a coat in one hand and a bag on the floor. He looked more appropriate, Jinn hadn't thought that far about his appearance until now.
"Should we just go in and find a priest or Ai Lin ...ah I wished I had her number "Jinn remarked in with a frown.
Zi hua blinked at him perspiration over his face and a frustrating wrinkle knitting his brow, The casual was a bit better for the heat."let's get up first, find a priest or something "he grumbled, they've been standing a while after the treck from the bus stop. The Temple did little renovation apart from the road, and the way from the bus stop had been a group walk with other passengers.
"My thoughts are on the damn stairs" Zi hua added then bared his teeth temporarily regretting the not-so-compulsory journey.