The Journalist

Part 68: Mixed Feelings

That time ....

If I had chosen to return to Japan, I might not have felt this pain ... this pain ... and suffered like this.

However, if I do not choose the path to pursue Ameena .. I will not feel happiness, valuable experiences, and unforgettable good memories that imprint on my memory until at any time.

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Stuffy. My body feels like it's got something hot. I coughed in the middle of my consciousness that was not yet full. I opened my eyes slowly. Whatisthis? There was a cloth covering my face. I removed that piece of cloth. Wait, I'm buried in a heap of hot sand. I lifted my body while looking around the place. No, I've moved. There's nobody around me right now. No extremist group is chasing me. Not even Ameena!

I turned to the cloth that had covered my entire face. It was Ameena's hijab. While squeezing the hijab, I rushed to my feet with a feeling of panic that surrounded me. My eyes still shimmered in all directions with my body turning here and there.

"Mina-chan," I hissed in a hoarse voice.

I then walked around the place while looking for the whereabouts of Ameena. I shouted his name repeatedly. It only sounds like my voice.

"Mina-chan! Mina-chan!" I shouted that name again as I continued to look for it.

I crouched down, scratching at the gripping sand. I dug the sand deep. Maybe Ameena was buried there. Failing to find it in one place, I dug it in another. So next.

No way! Don't tell me we're apart again! Don't tell me he was caught by an extremist group or didn't survive a fresh sandstorm. My brain is paralyzed to have any presumption. The only thing I can think of right now is looking for Ameena.

I ran over a stretch of fine sand that drowned my feet many times. Although many times tripped, slipped, fell on my knees, until rolled a few meters, I tried to keep this body awake and continue to look for it. No matter the scorching rays that were so suffocating.

I don't know how many hours it has been, I still continue to drag the pace nonstop. My path began to train. My body is bending. Unable to just stand. I am sure not because this self is getting weaker, but because I have lost half of my soul. Many times I pulled my own hair. Proof that how frustrating I am right now.

Not far ahead there, seen a camel sitting resting. My path stumbles. My legs are no longer strong. I drooped helplessly right next to the camel. I felt my body falling to pieces. Unknowingly, a clear melt flowed in the corner of my eye. I was on the edge of despair.

Nah! I can't give up! I leaned my back on one side of the camel's body. I catch my bad breath. Just for a moment, I decided to get back up. I don't feel at home for long. I need to get back to Ameena.

Just as I was about to stand up, my gaze immediately shone on the person lying on the left side of the camel. Suddenly, my pupils dilated instantly.

"Mina-chan!"

I then approached Ameena who was unconscious. I put him in my lap while rubbing the sand on his face.

"Mina-chan! My mother!" I patted her cheek gently.

His eyes refused to open. I shook her body hard. No response at all. Kuraba's wrist. Turns out his pulse is weakening.

"Mina-chan, wake up!" I shouted on the sidelines of my efforts to make him aware.

I also did not hesitate to immerse my lips into his lips to channel my breath into his mouth. Like I did when we got lost in a different desert a year ago. He still doesn't respond. My lips pressed back against his lips while pushing my breath into his lungs. Still not responding!

I kept giving him artificial breath. On the next breath, he coughed. His eyelids opened a little.

"Mina-chan, are you okay?" ask me with pleasure.

He's still coughing. Quickly, I helped him sit down. He opened his eyes many times.

"Khi, it seems like my eyes are full of dust. I couldn't see clearly" he explained as he continued to rub his eyes.

I shifted my seat little by little to get closer to her. We are now facing each other in a sitting position that is equally rested.

"Mina-chan, get rid of your hands!" my door.

Ameena kept her hands away from her eyes. I put my face closer to his face slowly. It was getting closer until our breath hit each other. At this time ..our eyes, nose and lips are aligned. I lifted my chin, then I blew his eyes that were glimmers of sand. I alternated in both eyes very slowly and gently.

"Is it enough?" my many.

He still rolled his eyes repeatedly. I blew his eyes back. My lips are closer to his eyes. At the same time Ameena also raised her head. Unexpected things inevitably happen. My lips stuck right on his forehead.

Just for a moment, Ameena immediately pulled away and twisted her body. Either he's angry or blushing. I don't know. Clearly, that second also my lips unruffled developing a smile. I felt my heart so crazy.

I looked at his back. At this point, I realized he wasn't wearing a head covering. Yes, this is the first time I've seen her long, straight hair thick. Maybe Ameena didn't notice.

I took the hijab, then knelt behind his back. I put the long-sided cloth on his head from behind. She flinched and immediately grabbed the tip of her hijab.

"I'm sorry .. I'm sorry," I said slowly.

Am I presumptuous? I didn't mean to kiss her on the forehead, but it all happened out of my control. I never intended to know what it looked like without a head covering, but it was plastered directly in front of me. My only indecision was to perform CPR when he was unconscious.

***

The orange light began to pick up the night. We decided to find a resting place. Since Ameena's body was still too weak, I let her ride a camel. While I walked along with the camel. Along the way, Ameena continued to cough. It seems he inhaled a lot of sand powder. I myself was saved by her hijab that wrapped my face as the sandstorm hit.

After a long walk, we finally found a cave that can be used as our shelter tonight. Me and Ameena then went into the cave. This cave is very small and narrow. However, it was quite fit for both of us. At least we can take shelter from the sandstorms that might come back. While the camel with us was resting in front of the mouth of the cave.

In the cave, I made a small bonfire to warm our bodies. I turned towards Ameena who was silent while hugging her knees. Just looking at it, it was able to lift my fatigue, remove my fear and as if it had gained a new power connection.

Ever since I knew Ameena, I've been experiencing time repetition. Many moments have repeated. Like escaping to the desert, doing artificial breath when he was unconscious, to spend the night in the desert in a state of hunger and thirst.

The mood of my heart today is like the one I felt a year ago when we were stuck in the desert. The fear of losing it, the tiredness and despair of looking for it, the great affection and care, the palpitations of the heartless, and also the gratitude. Even though the taste was mixed, I knew .. I was happy to be back with him.

"Sandstorms may still be occurring in some populated areas. Hopefully this can stop the ongoing war" Ameena said, hugging her knees.

I looked at him with a pus. "Mina-chan, let's go to Damascus! Then, come to Japan with me!" I said with serious eyes.

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Four chapters to the ending of the past story bang khai yaa...

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