Damn!
Knowing his friend's hashish lifestyle, Jevaun stepped back with his eyes loaded with tears.
They locked eyes at each other, and both nodded. Kini was the first to turn, avoiding tearing up in front of his friend, so he left with his eyes as heavy as rainy clouds.
Jevaun repeatedly recounted instances where Kini faced accusations from his cousin, Irie, who held him responsible for their parents' deaths.
These constant blame and curses from Irie might have left Kini feeling like the family's burden and the embodiment of turmoil.
Jevaun shook bitterly.
Jevaun, troubled by what he heard from Karalana, shook his head in disbelief. If he didn't know Irie, he might have dismissed Kini's story as fiction. Now, uncertain of Kini's destination, Jevaun felt the weight of the situation and sought a shoulder to share his own emotional burden.
In the solitude by the stream, Karalana, unable to contain the emotional burden, released his pain. Gripping his wet chest, he poured out his heart, shedding tears and mourning his mother's death. His anguish echoed as he clenched his shirt and hit his fist on the ground, his screams resonating through the green pastures.
Since his mother's death, Kini has carried the weight of bitterness, refraining from blaming the world and never amassing a fortune.
In the embrace of exhaustion, Kini's eyes, vacant and drained, lacked the strength to persist.
As the sun set and darkness claimed the surroundings, night birds sang lullabies amidst a swarm of fireflies. Numb and fatigued, his tear-laden eyelids closed heavily, and he surrendered to unconsciousness.
Enveloped in mist during his unconsciousness, its dampness clung to his skin causing him to wake up, upon awakening at midnight, he acknowledged the darkness.
He stood and when rose he ascended a tree, patiently awaiting the morning sun's arrival.
***
In the quiet of the night, Jevaun sought solace in the company of Khennan, a close friend from the neighborhood. As they shared a moment, Jevaun opened up about Kini's ongoing struggles and uncertainties about his whereabouts.
Khennan, empathetic and emotional, couldn't help but shed tears at the distressing news.
The room echoed with her sobbing voice as she questioned the actions of Irie, unable to comprehend the reasons behind his actions.
Jevaun, taking a deep breath, attempted to comfort Khennan, sensing her deep emotional turmoil. "Hey, don't worry," he whispered reassuringly. "I'll go check up on him at the station tomorrow. We'll make sure he's okay."
At the sound of it.
Khennan's gaze pierced through as she analyzed Jevaun's reassuring words.
"Let's just hope, with all we are, that he is alright, Jevaun. No one deserves that," she expressed with a mix of worry and frustration.
Undeterred, Jevaun crawled near her and firmly stated:.
"He has to be safe."
emphasizing the collective hope for Kini's well-being.
***
Under the morning sun, Karalana awoke on the tree branch, squinting against the brightness.
He sighed, shielding his eyes with his hand. He glanced down.
His heart sank as he noticed his phone submerged in swamp water. In a panicked attempt, he jumped down, realizing it was too late—the waterlogged phone was beyond saving.
His heart swelled up.
Sighing heavily in frustration, Kini shut his eyelids and groaned in anger before throwing the damaged phone away.
"Now what?"
He pondered, resuming his journey. The growl of hunger echoed, prompting him to forage for wild fruits; he collected some for sustenance along his path.
***
Returning from the station, Jevaun faced Khennan's restless inquiry about Kini.
"No, he's not there. No one recognized him from the pictures I showed." Jevaun responded.
A gasp escaped Khennan as she covered her mouth.
"What are you saying, J? Try calling him again; maybe the battery is charged by now."
Jevaun shook his head, embracing her. "It's still turned off, Khen. We'll have to wait, no matter how long it takes."
Confident in Kini's martial arts skills, Jevaun believed that if someone attacked him, Kini would be the one emerging unscathed. He reassured Khennan, holding onto hope during the uncertainty.
***
As Karalana sat in the bus later in the day, the conductor approached, drawing his hand towards him in a universal gesture for fare, a matchstick dangling casually from his mouth.
Kini met his gaze, and the conductor, seemingly annoyed, rolled the matchstick with his tongue while giving him a stern look, as if implying he was wasting time.
"You're not the only one on this bus, Mr.," the conductor remarked with a hint of impatience, his eyes briefly scanning the other passengers who had boarded.
The atmosphere in the bus carried a sense of shared journey, with each passenger holding their own destination and story amidst the collective travel.
Realizing the conductor's expectations, Kini swiftly reached into his pocket, retrieved money, and handed it to the waiting man.
As he did, a memory of Jevaun's actions during their hug flashed in his mind, and he suddenly remembered leaving his savings at home.
"Damn."
He cursed inwardly, widening his eyes in realization.
The conductor, unaware of Kini's forgetfulness, responded abruptly, "Do you think I'm playing, huh?" Annoyed, Kini felt a surge of frustration at the man's behavior, especially as he was clearly showing him the money.
The conductor questioned Kini,
"What's this?" baffled by the situation.
Using his wits, Kini responded, "Sir, drop me where the fare will reach me, please."
Karalana knew nothing about that place.
using his unfamiliarity with the destination as a defense mechanism.
"I'm just desperate as it is," he concluded, acknowledging the unusual nature of his behavior.
This uncharacteristic response from Kini hinted at the profound impact of the recent events, particularly the betrayal by his cousin.
The shock and emotional turmoil had left him in a state where he felt like a stranger to himself, grappling with the raw emotions and challenges that unfolded.
The man's silent departure left Kini in contemplation, wondering about the destination. As his thoughts meandered between anticipation and uncertainty, he closed his eyes, delving into the cherished memories of his mother—both the beautiful and haunting moments.
Throughout the journey, Kini kept his eyes shut tight, immersed in deep introspection, pondering the unknown path that lay ahead.
Questions about the unpredictable twists of life lingered in his mind, and exhaustion took its toll.
He rested for the time he would finally arrive at the unknown destination; the weariness had consumed him, and Karalana, no longer lost in thought, likely succumbed to the soothing embrace of sleep as the car journeyed.
***
As the sun neared its descent, Jevaun's heart weighed heavily with concern for his friend. Kini, his sole confidant, was nowhere to be found. Holding Khennan close in his hands, Jevaun's worry intensified, wondering about Kini's whereabouts as yet another sunset approached.