Legionaries

Epilogues

Bonn, Germany, May 28, 2020

At 13:32

Cloudy CLOUDS were strewn across the sky of the dimly lit Hardthoe district. A new influenza outbreak that has hit parts of Germany in recent months has left the district at the western end of Bonn beset by mass silence. Strong winds and cold that could potentially carry a deadly virus seemed to have transformed into a ghost that feared the residents of the district. The absence of human activity in the streets and alleys that snaked along the region has conjured it up to resemble a dead city.

In the midst of the silence, precisely along the street passage hidden in one corner of the city, a figure of a man was passing in a hurry. The velvety coat he wore, plus the mask covering his face, was unable to spare his body from the attack of the cold that enveloped the entire city. But, even with the body shivering cold, the man who was below the average height of the natives, was not necessarily daunted.

Entering half of the street, the man's steps stopped in front of a two-story house building. In a hurry, he reached into the pocket of his coat and took out a set of keys which he then sorted out one by one. After finding the right key, he rushed it into the keyhole on the door of the building.

Accompanied by the ringing of the door hinges, the man rushed into the two-story house. After closing the door, he removed the mask and velvet coat, and placed it on the hook next to the door.

"How was the exam, Rama?" The man looked half-surging after hearing a voice that shocked him. "Are you sure you can pass the University of Bonn entrance exam this year?"

As far as the man's eyes could see, it appeared that a middle-aged man was engrossed in immersing his body in a recliner next to the fireplace. Once surprised, finally the man called by the name of Rama was smiling towards someone who greeted him.

"Hopefully, yes, Mr. Nakano. At the very least, I've made far more careful preparations than last year."

"No need to bother, Mr. Nakano. You and your family have given me a lot of ease to live in this house. I was still in arrears for a few months. I'd feel bad to have to trouble you and your wife."

"I told you. You don't have to think about it. Besides, you've helped us enough by taking care of Thomas, our son, when Sophie was too busy with the kitchen." Rama looked down with a red face. "Go to your room to change your clothes. I'm waiting at the dinner table."

Mr. Nakano rushed up from his lazy chair and immediately directed his steps towards the dining room that was next to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Rama sighed for a moment before finally continuing his steps towards the room on the second floor that he had occupied since a year ago.

Rama looked surprised to find the condition of his room was clean and neat. Mr's Wife. Nakano must've cleaned up all the mess that's been going on in this room since he left this morning. The Nakano family has been so kind to him. After starting his adventure in Germany with difficult times, Rama was lucky enough to meet with Mr. Nakano, the owner of his homestay room who has Japanese ancestry. Lucky too, Mr. Nakano is typical of Asians who still adhere to the strong principle of regionalism.

"All Asians must work together to survive in their country." Rama could still clearly remember the sympathetic words that came out of the mouth of the owner of the room on one occasion.

Instead of immediately changing his clothes, Rama actually stepped closer to the window glass at the end of the attic. Faintly, his ears heard the speck of rain that fell this afternoon. Slowly the weather became somber. Even so, a ray of sunlight was still trying to peer behind the dark clouds that were twitching.

The man didn't think he was far away. If the country that became his birthplace is not being mired in conflict, maybe he does not need to buy deep longing in his homeland. Sometimes the love for the nation and the country will be even more so when we are far away in the land of people.

My homeland. In time, I'll go back to your lap. (*)