By the River
The riverside is Kian’s favorite hangout. After checking the sun setting at about 4:30 pm, he already proceeds to that place, there he would lie down for hours. It was barely his place for enormous ideas and soaring thoughts. At times he fantasizes of his school as an academy where people with special abilities study and train their skills, he would dream of controlling wind as his power. In serious instances, he simply thinks of his future plans, he hopes to be successful in his high school studies and he also wants to travel around the world after graduating in college. Yet most of Kian’s moments there have been shared with his one true friend, Iris.
Looking at the wide expanse of the sky, the two talk and laugh as the trees around them sway calmly. The river has always been their companion, listening to their childish but transparent conversations all the time. “I think the weather’s a bit bad today”, Kian breaking the silence between them. Iris quickly got up and said, “Yeah, you’re right. I should really be going home now”. “Let’s just ride a tricycle, it would be faster”, Kian suggested. “Okay Kian”, agreed Iris.
After locking the front door of his small house beside the river, Kian quickly accompanied Iris to the road. “Can you see any vehicle to carry me home?”, Iris asked looking alternately to her left and her right. “There are no tricycles passing by today, how strange”, Kian exclaimed. Iris added, “there’s not even a thing going to the direction of our house”. The two waited for minutes but there was none to ride on. “Is it okay for you if we will just walk?”, questioned Kian. “It would be fine if you’ll never leave me along the way”, Iris said jokingly. “Of course I’ll never do that! I’ll always be here for you Iris. Always”, Kian reacted. Iris quickly replied, “I’m just joking my very serious friend”. “Let’s just start walking before it starts raining”. The two held hands as they march forward blissfully. Their smiles were full of magic. Their care and comfort to each other unfold whenever they’re together.
They arrived at Iris’ house after a quite long walk. They approached the gate and stood in front of it for a moment. Oddly staring at each other, Kian gladly thanked Iris for her time and company, Iris in return held his hands tight and curtly kissed him on his left cheek. Iris ran inside afterwards.
Kian began to walk back home, he’s somewhat stun of what has happened to him a while ago but his heart and mind seem calm and contented for the day. He felt that everything appears to be in the right place. Smiling, he unexpectedly talked to himself and whispered, “I love you Iris”. Upon saying those words, he shook his head. “I can’t fall for her! She’s special to me but there’s nothing more on what she is to me”, he insisted these things to himself repeatedly as he walked faster.
Diverting his thoughts to other things, Kian suddenly remembered his relationship with Nadia, his girlfriend. She was his classmate in 2nd year high school where they started their story. They were happy together before but everything changed hastily last vacation. Because Kian had to move to another place at that time as advised by his parents, some factors that weakened their relationship were triggered. After Kian’s transfer, their communication became little and news about each other slowly vanished. Since then, their relationship went on a downhill. This thing has given Kian a lot of dilemma and misery, understanding him when he’s subjected to obstacles is hard but Iris manages to comprehend with his circumstances. As Kian would say, “Iris is the only one who can give me a full dose of tranquilizer without hurting me physically and emotionally, her concerned gazes stop me from getting crazy and calm me quickly as she puts my head on her shoulder”. Those moments with Iris were greatly treasured by Kian, however, Nadia still bothers him regarding their continuing yet poignant relationship. Kian’s still not free.
The temperature surrounding Kian abruptly dropped, he noticed it but he continued walking fast so that he could arrive home earlier. Before Kian can see his house in a closer distance, his cellular phone rang and he quickly answered the call for it may be an important one. “Hello? Who’s this?”. “It’s me, Nadia”. Kian stopped walking after he heard Nadia’s voice, he stroll to a waiting shed by him and decide to sit there because he figured out that it could be a long discussion.
“Still there?”, Nadia confirmed. “I’m here, what’s up? How are you?”, answered Kian. Nadia replied, “I’m fine. I just called because I miss you so much. Anyway, how are you there? You don’t text or call me anymore, is there any problem?”. Baffled of what to say, Kian continued talking unconsciously, “My situation is as same as yours, there’s no problem here. I like living in this place”. “Oh, if that’s the case, it really means that you don’t miss me even a bit. Fine for me”, Nadia uttered in a strange tone. Kian added, “By the way, I think your new friends are really good buddies. Even though I rarely spot you at our big university, I am reminded that you’re certainly contented with your friends because whenever I see you, you laugh so loud and you seem not to care about anything. With them, you appear to be really relaxed than being with me before”. “Do you mean anything from that statement?!”, Nadia lividly asked. Kian finally responded after a few seconds of pausing, “Well, what do you think?”. “I don’t know! You’re asking me for my opinion when you’re the one who has a problem”. “Since I am really the only one having problems, then I keep these things myself”. “Kian! What’s happening to you?! You’re starting to act the way you were before, didn’t we talk about keeping problems ourselves?! Please, what’s my fault this time, tell me”.
Kian sensed that it was the right moment to tell Nadia what he really feels, he started explicating, “I really don’t understand you Nadia. Considering the times that we have spent with each other before, I should know you in all aspects by now, however I feel that I don’t whenever we become distant to each other. In addition, because we have been apart for a long time now, I think that I don’t know you anymore. I don’t know your activities, your whereabouts, your real actions and behavior in school; most definitely, your factual feelings for me. All these things I don’t know.” Nadia was dazed of what she heard from his boyfriend, she can’t talk to him any longer. For Nadia to understand better, Kian elucidated further, “What I truly feel is perplexity. You always say you love me and that you actually want to make me feel that love, however it’s still not felt. I remember the times that you have done so many things to prove your love for me, you’ve seen me happy not because of those manifestations but because you were with me. Your incomplete presence has made me complete even for short instances. It was incomplete since the love wasn’t there. Still not there. Your love has been lost and missing from the start of this relationship, it was hardly hidden by my happiness of having you. That happiness blinded me”. Nadia was still silent from the other line. “You’re not really aware of what you feel for me Nadia, it’s not true love, it’s mainly likeness of having someone caring so much for you”, Kian finally finished speaking. Nadia then said, “I guess you’re right. Maybe all the things that you’ve said are true. Love’s really tricky, isn’t it Kian?!”. “I just hope you’re okay by now”, Kian replied. “I’m fine. I think we don’t have much things left to talk about, you’ve already recited a novel and that’s enough for me today. I’ll be going now Kian, maybe I won’t be calling you anymore after this one. Thanks for everything”, Nadia ended her call.
Kian sat still at the waiting shed for a few minutes before deciding to continue his walk home, he never thought that explaining those things to Nadia would make her choose to end their relationship so fast. To clear his mind about what has happened, he just concluded that Nadia never really loved him truly for she seems to view love differently and separately from its true essence. Kian stood up and took a deep breath, then he closed his eyes to relax himself before walking again.
Opening his eyes, a gray van stopped right in front of him; he then waited for someone to get out because he was eager to know what was its intention in stopping at his very face. After a split second, the door at the side of the van slid open and two men came in front of Kian. He in that case stared at them anxiously. Before Kian can ask a question, one of them positioned a gun at the center of his forehead. Sweat rolled from his temple down to the side of his neck as he looked at the finger touching the gun’s trigger. The other guy finally put in plain words what was the situation really about, “To avoid anything bad happening, just give us your cellphone and wallet. Quickly!”. Kian inserted his hands in his two pockets; after finding what he’s looking for, he hurriedly gave the two guys his valuables. Unfortunately, the men were still not satisfied having his cellphone and wallet; for the second time, they asked for another thing which was more significant to him than what he has already given them. The man holding the gun looked at the bracelet which he was wearing, he grinned for he was assured that it was made of pure gold and his companion instantly snatched it. Kian stared at the men fumingly, he quickly got hold of the gun and kicked one of the man’s vital points. The other guy tried to stop him but he failed since Kian was now the one pointing the gun at him. “Give me back my bracelet. I can give you all my treasures without complaining excluding that. You took away a part of me!”, he declared with a heated and loud voice.
As the situation intensifies, Kian made himself ready to pull the trigger anytime for his bracelet is more important for him than these men’s lives. He gave his final warning, “Give me my bracelet….or else”. As a final point, the man decided to return the bracelet back because he knew that the boy who they were facing already evolved into a demon with eyes sharp and blazing. Kian received it with a contented and secured look. He then said, “Just take my cellphone and wallet, they’re yours”. He turned back at them and took the gun with him so that he can dispose it into the river after he arrived home.
Walking like nothing happened, Kian heard the van running towards his track; nonetheless, he didn’t mind the vehicle for he concluded that the robbers were already satisfied of what they got and that he already proved them that he and his bracelet can never be taken apart. When the van passed by him, Kian only looked straight to the direction he was going. Few seconds went by, he finally glanced at the back of the moving vehicle, however, he was distracted by another man riding in it and holding something pointed at him. Instantly, he heard an alarming blast and he realized that that thing was a gun. Kian fell on his back with blood interspersing everywhere. He lay numb on the road. He can’t move his right arm for his right shoulder was the one hit. The gun that he was holding before with his right hand is nowhere to be found. He can’t fight back for he’s helpless and there’s no one left to clash with. Kian can’t anymore think of anything sensible to do. He held the bracelet tight with his left hand and put it on top of his chest. As air becomes shorter and shorter, he whispered to himself, “I will die holding you firm and close to my heart Iris”. Kian closed his eyes and let God decide his fate.
After two days of being in a critical state, Kian was taken out of the hospital. Iris prepared his things and accompanied him home. She incredibly managed the stressful situation she’d gone through from the day her bestfriend was shot. She will just have to wait for him to wake up in a few hours as expected.
Slowly opening his eyes, Kian saw the river moving swift. The wind was gentle and cool while the sun’s radiance added more beauty to the surroundings. Seeing all these familiar sights, he already became aware that he’s lying outside his own house. He then asked himself of the things left bothering his mind, “What really happened to me after that shot? Did someone take care of me? How many days did I recuperate? Who brought me here?”. Getting up to answer all of these questions, Kian felt the pain beneath the bandages and plaster covering the whole of his right arm. He lay down again. By this time, he realizes that his condition is still bad and he really needs someone to assist him in simply getting up.
The solution to Kian’s need instantly appears in front of him. Her eyes are teary while she stares at him blissfully. She was waiting for this very moment. She was praying for him to get well fast. She was giving her best care to him the last two days. Finally, her face looks relaxed and unworried. Iris’ heart is now full of gaiety seeing Kian awake. She helps him get up. She sits beside him. The two hug each other and feel complete. Their love better felt by the river.
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