The Journalist

Part 46: Go for Back

We are not the same in principle, ideology, culture or belief. I realized that! We are so different in everything except feelings. Mina-chan, may I think our feelings are always the same?

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After meeting Ameena, I was called by Mr. Ali to meet her. Ahmed also took me to meet the man who was the older brother of Ameena's late husband. I gasped because I saw the blue-eyed woman already there.

For a few seconds, Ameena and I stared at each other in silence. I remember being together a few tens of minutes ago.

Mr. Ali handed him a small box with carved accents on each side of the corner. Inside the box were two bars of pure gold.

"This is a gift for you. Accept it as my thanks for saving my daughter."

I'm slack. My hand spontaneously showed rejection.

"Ac, eng ... You don't have to be like this!"

"Receive it! This gift is nothing short of Khalila's life."

"Saving human lives is not a reward-worthy achievement, but a necessity as a fellow human being. I can't accept this. Please forgive me!" I bowed many times.

Mr. Ali paused for a moment, then commented with a smile as he asked, "Is there anything you want? Just say! I will try to fulfill it for you!"

"Nothing, Sir!" reply spontaneous.

"Don't be too hasty. Think about it before you go home" replied Mr. Ali with a smile.

Mr. Ali took me around his farm before I returned to Damascus. We walked on a patch of green grass filled with groups of little sheep. On this acre-wide land, Mr. Ali showed me his various livestock while being accompanied by Ameena, Ahmed and several other administrators.

Along the way, Mr. Ali kept me chatting. This was beneficial to me because it made me freely look at Ameena who was standing behind the man's shoulders.

"Ah, how old are you? You still look so young."

"A few more months will be twenty-six years."

Mr. Ali turned to Ameena and said, "It turns out you're the same age!"

"It looks like Khalila is also very close to him, sir. Just like she likes sister Ameena." A middle-aged woman connected our conversation.

Mr. Ali laughed crisply. "I envy you both. You can take my daughter's heart quickly. When his mother died, he wouldn't even hug me."

Me and Ameena looked at each other again.

In addition to being a landlord, it turns out that the man is also a successful businessman in the field of animal husbandry. The sale of sheep penetrated the export market to the United Arab Emirates. His horses were often hired for horse racing shows. In addition, he also produces milk every day from hundreds of dairy cows. The milk is then distributed freely to the refugee camps every day.

"Do you want to try blushing it?" Mr. Ali offered me to try milking straight away.

I crouched down and started milking according to the instructions the workers taught me. This was my first experience. It feels pretty fun.

"Do you have any pets?" ask sir Ali.

"No."

"Oh, don't you like animals?"

"Like."

"There's allergies?"

"I don't think so."

"Then? Likes animals and is not allergic, but is reluctant to keep animals. Wouldn't a person who claims to be an animal lover have at least one pet?"

I smiled faintly, then replied, "For me .. The best way to love animals is to keep them in their habitat. I'm busy working, I won't have time to take care of them. In the end I'll just look like I'm torturing an animal."

"God willing! Looks like you're a thinker who always makes a thoughtful decision."

"You're too complimentary, sir!" I bow my head in honor.

"Ah, wait, you're not a vegan, are you? I'm not very familiar with the culture and religion in Japan, but I'm just worried that the food we served last night might not be in line with your religion."

"No. Don't worry, for now .. I don't adhere to any particular religion."

Instantly, everyone looked at me with surprised expressions.

"Are you an atheist?" ask someone.

"No. I still believe God exists. I'm more of an agnostic. Still have faith in God, but not in any religion" I explained.

They look at each other. Maybe they think I'm weird. The Middle East is the birthplace of three of the world's largest religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In addition, there are many other religious teachings. No wonder they were shocked to hear I didn't embrace any religion.

"In my opinion, being a follower of a religion is a bit of a hassle. Every day we must be busy counting the merits and sins, or imagining the beauty of heaven and the horror of hell. I want to do a good without hoping for a reward, such as helping fellow humans, not damaging plants that live in the wild, or as simple as pouring sugar in a corner of the room for ants to eat. I believe all living beings in this world deserve to be helped, loved and respected by their existence. I tried to avoid bad and vile acts because I realized it was inappropriate to do, not because it was feared by some kind of sin and hell."

"God willing! It is rare to find a sincere person who does not expect rewards from God or fellow human beings. No wonder you could save Khalila. I'm sorry if I ask you this, you look like a religious man. If one day you enter a certain religion, surely you will become a devout believer. The concepts of heaven and hell are complex to explain, as complex as we explain God and destiny to atheists. Religion just requires you to believe it all and live life according to the scriptures," explained Mr. Ali.

Instead of arguing, Mr. Ali seems to respect the principles I put forward. He was very different from some of the religious believers I met where they would easily judge one's life choices or perhaps attempt to doctrine my thoughts. From this, I admired the figure of Mr. Ali who was very calm, wise and respected the opinions of others.

Someone came and informed me that the car that was going to take me home was ready.

"Alhamdulillah! Brother Kei, you can already go home. But sorry, they can only take you to Aleppo. The security on the Damascus border is very strict."

At this moment, my gaze immediately fell on Ameena. I could see his eyes dim as our beads met. We're used to it like this. Speak without words, without sound, because all languages are only channeled through our own eye contact.

Ahmed approached and said, "Brother Kei, get ready to pack your things!"

I gave a small nod with a gaze that was still fixed on Ameena. For some reason, my legs were heavy enough to step past him who was still fixated.

While walking towards the room, I gasped to see Khalila sitting curled up at the door of my room. I approached her, her eyes looking as if she was crying.

"Sister, what's wrong with you?" my many.

Khalila hugged me. "Are you going now?"

"Yes" I replied weakly.

"Can we meet again?"

"certainly could. The proof is that your mother and I can meet again thanks to you" I said, rubbing her head."

"Aren't you sad about going back to parting ways with my mom?"

I'm stunned. My eyeballs moved upwards, staring at the ceiling of the room.

I went into my room to pack things. For some reason, suddenly he was struck by a crazy idea to be able to return to this place. I opened the hat that was attached to the head and put it in the nightstand drawer. Ah, no! Looks like the hat is too cheap to be used as an excuse to take the items left behind.

I took the hat back and replaced it with my glasses. Ah, no! It's also still not enough reason for me to come all the way to take it. I opened the bag to look for something I could leave in this room, but what? Where might be my personal phone!

My eyes were fixed on the one most expensive thing I was carrying right now. The camera! Yeah, camera! Maybe this is the only thing I'm fit to make excuses for. I also deliberately left the camera that supported my work into the drawer. I used this cliche trick to find a reason to return to this place. For the sake of meeting Ameena, I risked my expensive camera in this place.

I turned towards Khalila who was sitting at the side of the bed while looking lara at me.

"Sister, I put my camera here. Please take care of my camera! Don't lose it, will you?"

"If Blonde Sister is afraid of missing, why did you put the camera there? Why don't you just take it?" tanyanya's confused.

I hurriedly squatted in front of him. "I purposely put it here so I can come back here again."

Khalila's eyes grew. "Are you really going to be here again?"

"Sstt .. don't tell anyone. It's both of us's secrets." I thrust my pinky.

He nodded obediently while also frowning his little finger. I cradled my backpack and then got out of that place. In the courtyard of the parlour, Mr. Ali and several administrators gathered to escort me away. However, I didn't see Ameena there.

"Hows it? Have you thought about your request."

I shook my head slowly. "I don't think there is, sir. I'm glad to see you all. Thank you for accepting me warmly here."

"Please don't write anything weird about this place! This village is the only safe place that can not be touched by outside groups, lucky that you can enter and exit this place safely!" said the old fathers who had been cynical to me at that time.

"Don't worry, sir. As I said before, I don't carry any missions in this place."

"Come, we're going! The car is waiting for us outside" asked Ahmed who was assigned to accompany me.

I circulated a momentary glance to look for Ameena's whereabouts. There ain't! I even tried to look inside the house.

"Brother Kei, what's wrong? Is there something left?" ahmed looked at me in wonder.

I shook my head stiffly, then turned slowly and walked step by step leaving this place. Until my foot came out of the gate, Ameena was still invisible.

"They! Khai!"

I closed my eyes deeply with my hands clenched upwards as Ameena called out to me in a hasty tone. Sighing for a moment, I then turned towards him. I saw his hand holding something reflex hiding behind his body.

Doubtfully, he raised his hand and then waved at me.

"Jaa ne!" (See you)"

Instantly, my eyes seemed to radiate a radiance of warmth. A smile was on my lips.

"Jaa ne eye!"

Mina-chan, wait a minute! I'll be back to see you tomorrow!