Second Road

Episode 16: Hang out

Now that it was about ten in the morning, I crossed the zebracross after getting off the city bus. I held onto my sling bag strap, afraid that it would come off. Today the streets are quite crowded, considering that today is Sunday. People in nice, colorful clothes filled every corner of the city.

Many people want to spend a day off that can only be earned after six days of work or school. They usually go out with family or friends. Shopping centers, cafes or swimming pools are some of the commonly visited destinations of choice.

Last night, I tried to die trying to persuade grandfather. Various sentences that seemed to convince me to throw at him so that I was allowed to go 'hang out' with Arya. And when I said I was leaving with Arya, she gave me permission.

"Haru, don't go too far huh. Remember to stay in the ten kilometer area. You don't want them to find you, do you?"

At that time, we were at the dinner table. I said I'd be fine, my weekly cycle of fever and pain should be the day after tomorrow. So I'm not going to get sick there.

That's all I've done to keep my promise with Arya. He took me out yesterday and it means a lot. He was my first friend for fourteen years I felt alive. Seriously, that's what happened.

If I told you about my childhood without a friend to you, you probably wouldn't believe me. Even if you believe it, it will take a lot of time to say it now. So, maybe I'll tell you later.

So, now here I am. Looking left and right like a chick losing its mother. I'm looking for Arya, I called her yesterday on the house phone. We promised to meet right in front of the fountain in the city park.

I've been here before with Grandpa. We sat down and ate some really nice crepes after coming home from the shopping mall.

And this is where we should meet. We were supposed to meet here at ten in the morning. Oh, forget. It's ten o'clock past fifteen minutes.

It's funny that he's late, considering he's almost perfect in every aspect. And this started to make me realize that in this world there is no such thing as perfect. Everyone has advantages and disadvantages. The word perfect does not deserve to be compared with humans.

I finally decided to sit in front of the koi pond. His fountain gushed out, making the water around him ripple never calm down. The park is crowded, there are more food trucks than I last remembered.

Young children play in the playground, while there are many adults who sit on the park bench. Some even bring their own mats and roll them out in the shade of a large tree, like a picnic. Some teenagers of my age were also seen walking leisurely.

"Have you waited so long?"

Someone patted my back from behind. He finally came. Come on, it's been almost half an hour I've been waiting for him. I just stared at him expressionlessly, then he sat down next to me.

He was wearing a long-sleeved brown shirt and ash on the bottom. He looks a little different compared to his performance at school. While I wear a plain black sweater, complete with trousers.

"Sorry, I'm a little late. Haru, you know, the streets are a little crowded today."

He immediately leaned on the back of the chair. Some girls started to look at us. No, I mean glanced at Arya. He has always been popular everywhere. The girls only glanced a few times, then whispered to each other and laughed gigglingly.

"It looks like they want to talk to you."

I nudged his shoulder, giving a code that the girls were watching him. Being around him feels strange.

"Or maybe you want to meet." Arya.

"Where is it possible." I did not care much, more fun to look at the pond filled with koi fish that were swimming agilely.

"Why not? You have a sweet face, and you look cute too." Arya nudged my shoulder.

"I'm not cute, just a little short. Just wait, in a few years I'll be taller than you."

I grabbed him a little harder. He just laughed. After sitting for a few minutes, we finally decided to leave.

Regarding the destination of the 'hang out' event this time, we have determined a suitable destination. Do you want to know what place it is? Do you think that it's a mall? A cafe? Arcade games? A swimming-pool?

Sorry, all these guesses are wrong. The place we will be visiting is the city library. It might sound boring, but I love books and Arya doesn't mind that at all.

We also have some tasks to complete. So that's why, the library is the right place to hang out while doing tasks. After this we were able to go to the gaming arcade and also have lunch at a nearby restaurant.

This library is large, larger than I imagined. tens or even hundreds of thousands of book titles are neatly stored on each shelf that is about two meters high. Everything is organized according to its category. The walls of the room are predominantly white and the marble floor also looks shiny.

We sat at a long table on one side of the room. It feels good to be surrounded by books like this. My eyes were still not even satisfied to sweep every side and corner of the room.

For two hours, we focused on the tasks that had to be done. And after that, going around and seeing is our choice.

"Let's take a picture." Arya pulled my hand. He showed me his smartphone.

"A. I don't have to, you just." I hurriedly refused. Grandfather had also photographed me with his smartphone camera before, but it felt really embarrassing.

"Don't do that, we've been friends for a week, right? Come on, we don't have any pictures of the two of us. It won't take long, you just shut up and smile at the camera."

Arya still won't let me go. I finally gave up. I stood by him and did as he asked.

"Don't be so stiff, now let's smile." He's embracing me. We took a picture so close that it looked like a brother who got along.

"Look! nice photo, right? Let's take a few more pictures." He looks so happy, and I don't want to ruin his fun.

"After this, let's go to the arcade game.close, really." Arya bribed her food. Being in that library for a few hours left us hungry and our energy had to be replenished immediately. I just nodded.

We left after the food we had finished. The game arcades are our next destination. Arya was right, the arcade game was located not too far from the fast food restaurant where we ate earlier. Only about a hundred meters from there. But I feel a little bad, I hope nothing bad will happen.

We finally got there. There were many people there, ranging from the young to the adults. They look engrossed with the various game machines that are there.

"Come on!" Arya pulled me back to go inside.

"Haru, have you played this before?"

He took me to one of the game machines. I just shook my head. This is even my first time coming here. Then, he taught me how to play this game. I just need to aim at the target with a gun connected to an electronic device, this is not too difficult.

We were both washed away in the fun, but suddenly I realized something. I'm sure someone's watching us. I hurriedly put the gun to aim it to its original place and pulled Arya near one of the larger game machines so that our bodies were perfectly covered.

"What's up, Haru? Is there anything you want to try?" Arya looked at me confused.

"Ti. no, but please stay here for a minute."

I went back to seeing the surroundings. As expected, there is someone I seem to know. A woman in a white suit complete with glasses. The woman looked left and right, like she was looking for something and I knew what she was looking for.

He was one of the research officers in my old place. Precisely in chincilla, a large research center that can barely be penetrated by just anyone. I remember her face, that woman who used to always deliver food for me.

After a while, the woman left. I exhaled a sigh of relief. My feeling became a little calm, if only that woman really found me earlier, then it would all be over. My life is free, my family, school and friends. Everything will run aground.

"Haru, are you.. trying to avoid someone?" Arya finally came back to talk after seeing me breathe a sigh of relief. I just kept quiet, how should I explain everything now?

We finally got out of that gaming arcade, and sat down in the available chairs by the side of the road.

"More..."

Arya stuck one of the cold drink cans she bought in the vending machine right on my cheek. I hurriedly snatched it, the can of the drink was cold. I opened it, then gulped it down until the contents were halved.

"So..what did you avoid earlier?" Arya again picked up the topic of the previous conversation. I thought for a moment. What am I supposed to tell him?

"Didn't you trust me? Aren't we friends?" He drank the canned drink he was holding, still waiting for my answer.

"That's.I trust you. All I avoided was my elementary school friend. I don't want to see them." I hurriedly answered.

"Lied..."

"Haru, you're lying. You're not used to lying and you're doing it. The way you lie is so bad. Anyway I'm sure that you, Haru Miguel never went to school before." Arya smiled sinisterly, one corner of her lips lifted up.

Stupid me, why did I choose that phrase to hide the truth? Now he's gonna start to suspect me.

"alright. But first please believe me that I'm not a bad person." I bowed my head a little. Arya just nodded.

"I believe it. So then?"

"So, what I'm avoiding is someone who tried to kidnap me."

I'm actually lying. There was no way I could tell him that what I was avoiding was a woman who used to be one of the research assistants in charge of watching me at all times.

And it seems Arya believes my words. He did not ask further. I am truly a despicable person. He believed me, and I lied to him. I seem to be the hypocrite.

"I see, you must feel traumatized every time you see it. Why not call the police?" Arya played the can of drink she was holding.

"No need, his abduction failed anyway. I don't know why he would do that, what he expects of me anyway." I just answered.

"Maybe he'll sell you to a pedophile om who likes teenagers who look like children like you. You have a sweet face and a cute appearance. He can make millions, and I'm thinking of selling you."

I pinched his arm, it's good that he said that. Arya laughed, it's not funny to me at all. He just turned a lot of things into jokes.

"Stop saying that or I'll sell you to a handsome young man like you." I replied to him while mimicking his style, all that tension felt evaporating just like that.

"That means you admit that I'm handsome, right?"

"Arya, you're a bitch." I looked at her with a pretended expression of annoyance, then I returned with a small laugh.

The rest of the day we spent chatting and joking. I don't think time goes on fast. It was four o'clock in the afternoon, we finally came home. I took the city bus to get home.