(Part 11)

"It isn't flinging bats and throwing balls, its Pakistan's pride." Azazel uttered. "Cricket is Pakistan's pride! It is my pride!!" he retorted unable to take in.

"Azazel…"Hoor grasped his hands anxiously.

Azher glared, "So this is what cricket has turned you into? Impudent and disrespectful!! That you'll talk back to me?!" he growled at the end, "What kind of friends is he hanging out with…?"

Azazel stood wide-eyed over his last sentence.

Haris glanced at the two of them confused while Ahmed stood stern. Gulping and unable to think anymore Azazel thought, "Captain, Brother Heber…"

Releasing his hands from his mother's grasp, he ran out of the room.

"Aza…!" Hoor called halting in middle.

"Just look at him, that rascal!" Azher angered, "What happened…"

"Grandfather…" Ahmed interrupted.

Azher looked up.

"Did you grasp a look at Azazel's hands?" he asked out of the blue.

"What?" Azher asked.

"His hands and arms were bruised and he has many scratches on his face too. Not too visible however, not invisible either." Ahmed told, "By this I meant, maybe when he said it was his pride then he must have been giving his all. Why don't we ask him what he's gone through first without comparing him with ourselves?"

Azher silently pondered while Hoor and Haris smiled at each other relived.

"Moreover, I was the one who supported him choosing this path. He changed from being a delinquent to a cricketer after all,. Isn't that already a huge change?" Ahmed said leaving the room.

_____

Ding Dong~ Ding Dong~ the bell's sound resonated inside a big, bungalow.

Ezekiel stepping back clutched his fingers that trembled, into a tight fist. For a long while, no one answered. "Is there nobody at home?" he thought, "Or did they saw it was me through cameras? Or, did they go to the hospital…?"

After going through many assumptions he gave out a dismayed smile, "So, It's like this once again… well not that it's unexpected. At least, I listened to Captain Helios and Vice-captain Poseidon and came here. Whatever happens from now on I won't regret It." he thought poised.

Picking his gear bag up, he headed towards the main road. After a walk for 5 minutes, he stood before a florist shop. Stepping inside, he traced varieties of flowers dazed.

"Ezekiel…?" called a sweet voice.

Ezekiel realizing the voice turned around to find a young girl wearing an apron with light brown hairs and a beaming smile waving at him.

"Dua." Ezekiel walked over.

"It's been a long while. How have to been?" Dua asked standing behind the receptionist desk.

"Fine." Ezekiel replied, "How about you?"

"I am doing well too." Dua replied. "So, you'll go with the usual today as well?" she asked.

Ezekiel nodded after a short pause, "Yes, please."

A moment later she passed a big flower bouquet to him, "Here you go, your complete special bouquet consisting of Hydrangeas, Asiatic lilies, Chrysanthemums and daffodils with pink wax flowers."

"Thank you." Ezekiel thanked.

Dua cupping her cheeks smiled, "No problem, I just hope that there comes a day when you don't have to buy the same bouquet at all."

Ezekiel nodded smiling, "Yeah… I hope so too."

Leaving the florist shop, he made his way to the hospital. Taking a deep breath he stepped in. Climbing the first floor and the second floor next, he reached the usual room where his thoughts and steps would take him. Memories of the past flooding through his mind, he stood before a window connected to a door, looking up.

Through a dark, cold, and unwelcoming window, the figure of a young boy, resembling Ezekiel in both age and appearance, lay on a chilly bed. Connected to a life-support machine emitting a constant beep, his eyes were closed, and his complexion appeared pallid.

Ezekiel stood in silent contemplation. His expression was devoid of emotion with his eyes lacking their usual vibrancy as he tightly clutched a bouquet in his hands. This distressing sight was one he had encountered repeatedly over the past five years, yet here he was, witnessing it once more.

Unable to step inside the room, guilt, fear, remorse and, sadness arose in his heart by the passing second. Ezekiel clutched his chest tight, sweat dripping his forehead. "I… shouldn't have come here…" he thought, panting.

Backing away, he was about to leave the bouquet on the doorstep as a familiar voice full of scorn, went past his ears, "It's you…!"

Ezekiel gulped turning around in disbelief, panic but most of all… Fear.

____

'To think there would come a point in my life where I would be this confused I hadn't guessed that myself, sigh~ yes, it's me Ines Harut.'

Ines exhaled exhausted.

'Right now I am on my way back home. And, beside me I have my older brother Gabriel Harut, whom I admire deeply. He is cool, strong and serious. To tell you the truth I want to be just like him when I grow up. But, on the exact opposite side, I have my cousin with me, Feng Mir Ozer. From his nature he is way too jubilant and mischievous, the exact opposite of my brother. Not that I dislike his personality or am fed up of it… but I think it's still hard to adapt...'

Ines walking in the center glanced at Feng on his right, who hummed joyfully instantly changing to Gabriel who walked seriously, with both hands resting in his pocket.

'By adapt I meant, that it's hasn't been too long since we discovered Feng was our cousin or more like, it was quiet a huge blow to us as well. If I remember correctly we met him two years ago, when Brother Gabriel was still a freshman in middle high while brother Feng was an elementary grader just like me.'

'You see, Feng is our mother's step sister's son, (when my grandfather married a Chinese woman and had a daughter who later had a son {Feng}) which makes us cousins from a long distance relationship. But in the end we are still blood related. He is an only son of his parents unlike me and Brother Gabriel so he is pampered and loved a lot by everyone (Even our own mother! I don't get it why though, sometimes even I feel jealous.) But leaving all of it aside for now, the thing that troubles me the most is their interaction.'

He glanced at Gabriel and Feng

'Once they talk, they come to each other's throats with knives. (That's the sole reason why I am walking in the middle right now) At one side Brother Gabriel comes to hit him while at the other Feng never stops teasing him. This was a usual spectacle to feast our eyes on back at home before we came to the base, since our mother and her step sister along with their husbands now live together with our grandfather.'

"Right now, I just hope to go back home without any slaughters and bloodshed…" he thought ironically. 

Suddenly Feng interrupted, "Come on~ do you always go back home in such a boring way? You both don't even talk. Since, it's a holiday why don't we go and have some fun before going back home?" he proposed.

"And, here it was… The death flag1." Ines thought speechless, glancing at Gabriel who ignored him.

"Tch." Feng clicked his tongue, "Hey Ines, how about we go?" he asked bending low to Ines's height.

"Huh?" Ines blinked puzzled, "Me…?"

"Yeah, you. Now don't look at Gabriel and decide. He is already an emotionless man who doesn't have a heart. Let's leave him and…" he stopped amid his tracks.

"Now what's wrong with him…?" Ines looked behind to find Feng staring at his right.

"SINDBAD2!!" he pointed at the amusement park before him with a mirthful twinkle in his eyes. "Look! Sindbad came to us before we even had to go somewhere!" he cheered.

Gabriel not listening to his words (What he thought were pure gibberish) walked forward.

"The heck…!" Ines thought looking at the Ferris wheel which spun round and round even at early morning?

'Wow, what a sight! "Come on, let's go Ines!" Feng urged pulling him. 

"What-?!" Ines looked at Gabriel confused.

"It's not that I don't want to go… but Brother Gabriel…" Ines thought as Feng ruffled his hairs smiling, "I already know what to do, just watch. Little one." he assured.

Ines eyed him anxiously.

"Heh~" Feng chanted mischievously, "Ines really think of me as a reliable big brother who would take him anywhere for fun, unlike a certain someone who won't even stop and glance at his lovely~ little brother who is yearning for some fun right?" he glomped Ines peeking at Gabriel.

"What?!" Ines shrieked in his thoughts, "I never said that…!"

Up to his surprise Gabriel flinched halting amid his steps. "Come, Ines. We'll take all those amusing rides and shop in all those wonderful stalls and make sure to eat every delicious thing. Let him go back home~" Feng continued to tease intentionally.

"Forget about jubilant and mischievous!! He is a devil on a whole different level! I can't believe I am doubting my brother's title now (Demon of the 7th hell)!!" Ines gulped, for he knew Gabriel's mood had turned pretty much worse, than it was walking beside him, before.

Feng instantly chuckled, "Pfft! Haha! He is so fun to tease."

Ines looked at him puzzled.

"Come on Gabriel! We are waiting for you here!" Feng waved. Not tracing him approach, Feng went towards him pushing him from his back, "Geez, just throw that ego of yours at a side for now." 

"You!" Gabriel growled.

"Not for anyone but do it for Ines. We'll head home a little late, no one would say anything." Feng added winking his eye, "After all, it's his result day today. Who knows how nervous he might be feeling?" Gabriel grasping at look at Ines who waved excited and anxious at the same time (anxious not because of the result but the two of them mostly...) followed silently while Feng chortled teasing him amused, "You do have a soft side!"

Gabriel glared as Feng still chuckled, "Haha…"

Ines exhaled relieved.

'Like I said before… Brother Feng's jubilance and mischievousness, I don't hate it or am I fed up with it. Though, I am not accustomed to it but, inside my heart somewhere, I am happy we met him. Our mood which had always been strict and silent. And the walks between me and my brother which had always been long and nervous are now filled with amusement every single day.'

Stepping forward Ines grabbed Gabriel's and Feng's hand happily stepping inside the amusement park.

'To just be together is already a blessing.' he gleamed.

"Let's go on the Ferris wheel too!" Feng cheered.