Joy

Tap! Tap! Tap!

"Wake up dude! Why did you suddenly faint?"

I heard a familiar and crisp voice resounding in my ears. To find out the source of the sound, I opened my eyes but my vision was very blurry. I noticed that there were two silhouettes sitting at both of my sides as I was probably lying on the ground.

'Ugh! My mind feels so heavy and clouded! It is getting difficult to process things!'

As my eyes cleared up, I took note of the two figures. They were both men that looked to be in their early twenties. Both of them were carrying large bag packs and were in hiking attires.

One was a six feet tall guy with blonde hair. He had dark black eyes and a nice aquiline nose. He looked as if he was a model or a pop star. He was the most handsome guy among the group of us three men.

The other guy was the shortest amongst the group. He was five feet and nine inches. He had dark black messy hair and glowing blue eyes which further heightened his looks. He had sharp facial features including a sharp jawline. He too looked part of an American boy band.

'Isn't the blonde guy Kale? And is that…Oliver? Did these guys finally resolve their misunderstanding? But, why do they look younger? Like they used to when I was still in college?

'Wait! I remember now! We are on the Great Wall of China! It was a trip I went to with my only two friends, right after graduating college! What is happening? I feel like I'm forgetting something. Ugh! My head feels so heavy!'

Putting an end to my thoughts, Oliver waved his hands infront of me as he said, "Did someone put something in his tea? This guy looks like he is seeing humans for the first time!"

"Yo Deniel, did you have something without even asking us?" Kale said with a mocking smile. "If you think that you could act high just for us to carry you for the ride, then you are wrong buddy. We will just leave you here until some dog picker comes and pick you up! Ha-ha-ha!"

He was laughing so heartily that tears formed in his eyes.

"Kale! Don't insult dogs like that! Ha-ha!" Oliver joined the fun and they both started to laugh together.

As I looked around myself, I noticed that many people were strangely looking at the three of us as they climbed ahead.

As I was contemplating my situation, I looked at the two laughing idiots. It would have been a mistake if I didn't return the favor, wouldn't it?

Therefore, I said as I raised my right palm towards Oliver, "If the dog pickers come, wouldn't they pick you first? I mean, with your height, you look more like a dog than me!"

Clap!

Uff!

As I taunted Oliver, his laughter died down as his right hand grabbed my raised palm and helped me get up. Meanwhile, Kale just started to laugh even more heartily as he held onto his stomach.

Kale then said while gasping for air, "Wait guys…let…Haa!…let me breathe! Haa! Ha-ha…My stomach hurts from all that laughing! Wait! Don't start laughing again! No!"

"Pfft!"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!"

To Kale's horror, both of us started to laugh uncontrollably!

'This right here is the kind of joy I want in life! Let this moment be frozen in time. Let this joy stay forever…'

***

Huff! Huff!

As we moved further onto the hike while mocking each other, both Kale and Oliver gradually started to pant more and more.

Oliver then complained, "Why the heck did we even choose the most difficult section! Are we even going to make it back to the hotel at this rate?"

Huff!

After taking a deep breath, Oliver then looked at me and said, "How the heck does Deniel look to be in so much ease here!"

Listening to Oliver's complaint, Kale also turned to look in my direction. He then said, "Now that you mention it, I notice that he doesn't even have a single drop of sweat on him! Did you finally find yourself a girlfriend or are you doing some stamina workouts or what?"

Without wasting the opportunity, I instantly replied with a smile, "Eat your green vegetables and drink your milk. That way, you too can grow up to be like this dad of yours. Ha-ha!"

Kale then replied while turning away, "Yeah, very funny, you bastard!"

Oliver then asked Kale, "Huff! What about you, did you finally get over your Ex and found yourself a girlfriend?"

Both of us then started to laugh at him again.

Kale then replied, "Not funny guys! I'm already over her! I just want to focus on my career for now!"

The topic then shifted to what we were doing for a living.

Kale then continued as he moved to sit on a bench to take a break, "So Oliver, how is your family business coming up? Is there any progress you made while posting your shop into that online business?"

Oliver was adopted by an old family with a candy shop when he was ten. In our village, it was a pretty famous shop. Since the family couldn't have children, Oliver became their successor. The family was always nice to all three of us whenever Kale and I went to them to play.

"The online extension of the shop is not going so well." Kale said as he took out his bottle that held some warm tea and started to pour some for us. "I was thinking of taking a loan and expand the shop into a nearby city. What about you Kale? How is the modeling going?"

Kale was actually a model. His good looks started to show as he turned twelve. When he was fourteen, he was adopted by a family that used to live in the village but had moved out into the city. They adopted him because they too were unable to have children.

The family helped and supported him when he was scouted by a magazine editor at only the age of sixteen. From there, he worked hard and became a small model, advertising for small brands. People might think that it was not that much of an achievement but it was a big one for him and his family. We were all happy for him.

"Nothing much guys, just that same modeling and stuff." Kale said as he sipped on his tea. "After returning back to the country, I will have to model for this new smartphone advertisement. I also have to audition for a role in a new movie. I really hope I get it!"

"That's really amazing! I wish for your success." I congratulated Kale.

"What about you Deniel? What are you doing these days?" Oliver asked as he passed me the tea.

"There is this small gaming company where I did my internship." I started to share my bits of life too. "The manager said that I could start working there right after getting my degree.

"They say that I'm very talented in the field of computer languages and that they needed someone like me to guide the others and also manage some of the work. Although I honestly think that they are overpraising me, but the salary is too tempting to deny the offer."

"Good for you man!" Oliver congratulated me. "All of us guys are now getting settled. We might not get more time to come on trips like these as we get busier with our works. Let's make this hike memorable. Also, Deniel, you have to later tell us the secret for your sudden stamina boost!"

"Yeah sure, only if you guys survive until then!" I said with a smile as I sipped on the hot black tea.

All three of us then sat there in silence as we sipped onto our cups of teas. All of our eyes were fixed on the beautiful scenery infront of us.

The slightly cool breeze, the green mountains, the clouds, the echoes of the sound of the wind and a warm cup of tea with friends, there was nothing more joyful than that.

***

After a few minutes, I got up as I said, "Alright guys, enough rest for now, let's keep on moving or we won't make it back to Beijing today!"

"Can't we take a few more minutes of rest?" Oliver complained.

"No can do. Come on let's go!"

"Sigh!"

As they got up and started to walk ahead, I noticed that my shoelaces were open. They were already a few steps away from me as I bent down to tie my laces.

Whoosh!

Pooch!

Thud!

Suddenly something brown rolled up to my feet. As it got closer, it stopped at my right foot. When I got a proper look at the object, my heartbeat instantly increased. My throat became dry and my eyes opened wider.

It felt as if my eyes were deceiving me as the thing infront of me was nothing but a freshly cut head. It was the head of Kale!