Till We Meet Again - 2

There are many big trees around, which do provide a depth like I just crossed a damped forest before reaching this area but it's alright since I can see the town from here, just clearly.

The fine particles mixed with the hard rocks are all lying on the surface as the sediments, the waves left behind. There's not much there to see except the scenery. Still, that alone is sufficient.

Walking on the sand, I reach the end of the coast. The cold waves and currents strike my legs frequently while I look at the sky in confusion.

'Why did I even come here?' It's nothing spectacular but a simple coast, but I feel like I am being tempted towards it unconsciously. Not a single ship or even a boat to be seen…so it's no place for the harbor. I don't see many people enjoying the morning sunbath so it's quite lonely here.

!!!!LUB DUB!!!!

'…'

"Aa…Aaarggghhhh!!!" All of a sudden, "My eye…" my left eye starts to burn with immense intensity, "Something's wrong with it," I lose my balance and fall down on my knees, still holding onto my left eye with my palm.

'Uh?'

I can't feel the pain anymore…but wait why? What happened just now? I loosen my legs and sit on the sand base while looking around me. The only few people who were present there, some cutting the trees, some doing some other work but no one relaxing, are now looking at me with big eyes. They are surprised probably.

'But what was it?' I touch my left eye once again and look at the sky above.

"What's with that gloomy look?"

"Huh?" I suddenly hear some voice but there's no one talking to me.

"We will win!!" "Don't worry, I will never leave you…" "You have changed!!" "Why did you do it?" "Will you leave us?" "Good luck!"

Suddenly, innumerable voices start to echo in my head, each shouting into my ears at the same time….and it happens once again.

"Not again….Aaaaaaarrrrggghhhhh!!!" It's much more painful this time. I close both of my eyes and lay down on the ground instantly. I try to control my voice but it is screaming on its own.

"We lost?" "No, no, no, please wake up!!"

"Hey, are you alright?" Huh? Is someone calling me or it's just some other voice?

"You were supposed to be the clover…" "I didn't want to do it but-but…" "Please, I apologize!!"

"Oi, kid, what going on? Calm down a little!!" Hmm, the voices are dissolving and so is the pain…looks like someone's really calling me out.

"We will meet again…till then, rest in peace, Arata…"

'It's silent once again…Should I open my eyes? But what if it starts hurting like that again? No…what should I do?' I am supposed to get up and look alright but the fear is overwhelming my conscience.

"Calm down first, brat." It is the voice of a male. "Control your pulses, they are running wild within your body." Of course, it is. I do feel a little bit secure though.

After a few minutes of lying on the ground like that and listening to the bickering of the man, I open my eyes and look at the big beard…big beard?

"H-Hey, what are you trying to do?" In the trial of standing up, I hit my head to his and we both push back each other.

"Ugh, that hurts you brat!" It's not just you…I got a slap from both sides, you know. I try once again to stand up since he is not obstructing me this time.

Brushing the sand off my pants and the clothes, I look at the man with a blank stare.

"Are you alright, kid?" Rubbing the back of his head, he stands up and asks me with his black sunglasses on.

"Tsk, pervert!!" This guy….I can't be mistaken….this guy is that degenerate vegetable seller who was giving looks to those ladies earlier.

"Oi, oi, this is how you treat your savior, huh?" A straw hat on the head, black round glasses, a big unnatural beard, he is suspicious no matter how you see it.

"Yeah, I am grateful for that but…"

"You should be…who knows what would have happened if I couldn't make it on time." It's not like I was at my last breath. Why is he over-exaggerating it?

"Then how-" I blink my eyes and he is already gone far away.

"Sayonara!! Long live my far met stranger…may we meet again!!" Waving his hands in the sky, he greets me with a laughing face and runs off in the town with his cart.

'Did he park his cart there and then came running here?' It's a weird day today.

"I should move from here before anything else happens…The luck is not on my side today." Touching my left eye frequently, I walk away from the beach while looking at the dumbfounded faces of the few people who were looking at all the drama.

'I did act like an idiot from their perspective.' I sigh while looking at the trees as I move out of the coastal zone and enter the town once again.

*

"Uh-huh, I should have done this from the start," I speak in disappointment as I keep walking forward to reach my destined location with a map in my right hand.

Yeah, while I was roaming around the coastal zone, something struck my mind suddenly. 'Shouldn't I try asking someone for direction?' How can one be so ignorant?

So, after asking at different places, I finally got a hand-made map from a wise old man selling his goods on the streets. I didn't have any money to give to him but…he got my blessings.

Following the directions on the map, I think I am reaching close to my destination since the area feels more and more nostalgic.

"Achoo!! Haa, is someone talking about me?" This sudden sneeze is really common to me although, I am not the talk of the town.

Left and right, right and right, straight left straight, right right right, and somehow changing the directions and lanes, I reach the main attraction of our town, the Red-Blue Fountain Corundum.

'Yes, this is the place, my destination,' Wiping the sweat off my forehead and sidelines, I enter the market, 'How long has it been? Is mom still the same old beautiful lady with a sharp demeanor?'

The scenery in front of me is entirely different from the normal streets. A large area with a fountain in the center, surrounded by the vivid shops with the same medieval style aura. There's a lot of distance between the fountain and the shops, making it easier for more people to visit this area while enjoying the rise of the fountain.

Mom's shop is on the other corner of the landscape so I start moving. I need to reach there before her or else, I can only imagine my upcoming predicament.

The whole area is filled with people gossiping around the fountain, some buying their necessities from the shops and others doing their respective works. I don't know the reason but this feels so rejuvenating and exciting. It's just a market in a normal town but my brain is filling me up with nervousness and positive vibes whenever I am at such a place.

I have a look at the large fountain while I am passing by and…it's really well made. Big boulders cover the external part of the fountain, also acting as the base foundation of the stature. And on the central left part of the build, is the main attraction…the embodiment of some myth. She sits on one of the boulders, with her left leg in the water and the right one folded inside. Two pairs of wings promulgating from her back, her surrounding has been embellished with rock flowers over the boulders.

With one of her hands on her thigh and the other one supporting her head, her face points towards the sky. Her face is almost complete if it was not for her eyes that are not visible in the statue…she does have a halo on her head, like an angel.

'If nothing, this town is full of geniuses well versed with architects.' While admiring the beauty of the statue, I cross the corundum and at last see our shop…I mean emporium.

But not only that, there's the fear instilled in me which has awakened as I look at the staring face of my mom, looking towards me in hopelessness.

"I-Its been a l-long time, Mom…"