Neighbor

"Just call uncle, let uncle check. I will get better," said Arghi suddenly startling Galant. Galant's eyes immediately widened, and his throat went dry at Arghi's spontaneous answer.

"Arghi," whispered Galant in a barely audible voice.

Likewise, Arghi, who seemed aware of what he had just said, seemed to be opening old wounds again to be present to interrupt Galant's thoughts and feelings which were getting crushed in mere seconds.

Arghi was about to open his mouth, but Galant couldn't stand being here any longer. Galant rose to his feet, wordlessly leaving Arghi alone.

***

Galant continued to walk briskly through the long corridor as if it had no end. He wanted to stay away from Arghi for a while. He didn't know whether Arghi was aware or not that Galant's father had died. It was indeed very difficult to accept this kind of reality, including for Galant himself.

When Arghi is like that, Galant knows better than his best friend who this time is fragile and needs support around him.

"Gosh," Galant muttered when he was far from Arghi's infirmary. He ruffled his hair tightly and breathing irregularly he leaned against the wall and lightly banged the back of his head against the wall to make himself aware that what Galant did by running away was a mistake.

Galant shouldn't have run away and left Arghi alone there, the room was foreign to Arghi, especially in his condition.

Galant's eyes grew hotter and longer when he recalled how Arghi's expression was when he realized that his father was gone. The life they live does not go the way he and Arghi had planned because the wheel keeps turning into a life that is sometimes below and sometimes above. However, they should not stop and give up.

Galant will always be there for Arghi giving what Arghi wants here. In the past, it was Arghi who always took care of Galant when his father went to work at the hospital from morning to night, so why couldn't Galant do the same?

He had loved Arghi more than himself in the years since they had known each other and had grown up under the same roof. So, why did Galant have to be this childish? Galant and Arghi had been talking normally again and because of Galant's behavior he immediately ran away from the room to avoid the problems that were created, Galant created a long distance between them again.

With a single jolt, Galant straightened himself. Finally, Galant decided to return to Arghi's room and found Arghi still in the same position. Lie down with your eyes on the ceiling. Galant felt like crying right now.

"I want to go home," said Arghi expressionlessly which greatly startled Galant who was still frozen.

However, Galant quickly replied, "No way, Arghi. That's —,"

"I want to go home," Arghi interrupted instantly with the cold tone he used.

Galant exhaled roughly and he was sure to see a single tear falling from Arghi who wiped the origin quickly. Galant has hurt Arghi? To cause him to cry like this?

Arghi is two years older than Galant and Galant knows Arghi always hides her tears in front of anyone. This time Galant saw for the first time that Arghi was crying because of Galant himself.

"Fine. You wait here a moment, I'll let the doctor or nurse first," said Galant in his low and weak voice.

***

Arghi locked himself in his room since coming home from the hospital, to be honest Galant was very worried. He had knocked on the door to deliver the food he had ordered from the internet. But there was no answer and no movement from within. Everything was just silent in there.

"Arghi open, you should at least eat," Galant coaxed patiently. He knew this was all his fault. He will not forgive himself if anything happens to Arghi again.

Galant walked quickly down the stairs then put his food for a moment on the table and ran into his yard he looked up and felt a little relieved to find Arghi standing on the balcony as usual.

"Galant?" Galant turned to hear his neighbor's voice calling from behind a wall that was as high as her stomach.

He forced a slight smile out of courtesy. "Aunt Rina? What are you doing outside?"

The middle-aged woman smiled kindly at Galant. "Auntie is cleaning the page which is a little dirty. See Arghi, huh?"

Galant nodded slightly, he looked back up at the balcony and didn't find Arghi there anymore. Did Arghi hear him?

"Yeah, Arghi locked himself in the room from us coming home from the hospital." Galant is familiar enough with Rina to tell him about Arghi.

"Auntie is sorry for your father and Arghi."

"It's okay, Auntie. But maybe Arghi is still sad about him losing his sight."

Rina looked at Galant gently, Rina then smiled faintly. "Auntie doesn't even feel Arghi like that, try asking Galant himself. Arghi can't drown in his sadness, Auntie has seen between Galant and Arghi all this time. Arghi always puts other people before himself."

Galant listened silently, still not understanding what Rina had said to him.

"Galant, it's natural that you're still sad to lose Dad. It's only been a week. Galant doesn't ever give up, Galant can ask Aunt for help if he needs anything. I don't want something like that night to happen again either."

Galant nodded and was slightly relieved as if a weight had been lifted on his shoulders. "Yes, Auntie. Thank you very much, Auntie, Galant thought, Galant, is alone with Arghi now."

Rina smirked. "Galant doesn't need to be shy, Auntie is there."

Galant rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes, Auntie. Galant comes in first. Thank you."

When he received a small nod from Rina Galant turned politely and walked over.

"Galant?"

"Yes, Auntie?" Galant raised his eyebrows questioningly.

A motherly smile appeared on Rina's face. If only Mother was like this, Galant thought to himself. "When you are well again, take Arghi for a walk outside. I'm sure Arghi will be happy."

Galant was probably too busy with his grief to make Arghi not want to talk to him and prefer to lock himself in his room. As long as Galant and Arghi live together, Arghi is never angry in this way, no matter how much he is angry, Arghi still doesn't silence Galant for a long time.

Galant then said, "Thank you, Auntie. You can come to the house anytime if you want."

Rina had a bright face with curved lips with a chuckle tucked into her next word. "You're welcome."

Continued.