The Journey Of Forgiveness

Accepting in hindsight was easy. Tracking and trapping Ibo and Iromi was not. They made the best effort to avoid him. If he were by the Mandala garden, they wouldn't step a foot; if he waited in the mess hall, they would skip lunch; even in the Sanctorum, they would choose a seat away from him.

"How am I supposed to apologise if they keep avoiding me, Atla!" Korou was beyond irritated. He sat with his head leaning on her shoulder as she slurped the stew.

"Leave it to me." Atla placed the cup over the floor and got up. "Make sure you are at the Sanctorum after the afternoon chime."

As instructed, he hid behind the final shelf, his head peeking over the passage to the restricted section. He kept glancing every few seconds, making sure they were there. After reciting the genealogy of Ukiyan Emperors and the Lamphi Martial arts stances, he heard footsteps; reluctant and paced.

"Are you sure this was the place?" It was Iromi; her voice was sharp as ever. Korou only realised then how much he had missed her company.

"Atla Che was very particular about the location." Ibo yawned; he was being as listless as usual. "So I am sure we are at the right place."

They stopped, only a few steps from where Korou hid.

"Are you sure this isn't Atla che trying to prank us?" Ibo queried, glancing all over.

"I don't know about her." Korou walked from behind them, his arms crossed. "But I believe yours have been dragged on for far too long."

"Korou!" Iromi shrieked.

"Holy Pakhangba!" Ibo exclaimed wide-eyed. "Are you trying to kill us?! You can't kill us! I will use camouflage stance, the art of death." He then collapsed on the floor, his eyes shut closed as he played dead.

"Is that how you- No, that's not it." Korou stopped his quick remark. He wasn't here to be witty; he was here to apologise and mend his friendship.

"Korou?" Iromi perceptively raised her brows. While Ibo, not playing dead anymore, tilted his head.

"You see..." Korou started; his lips quivered. He was repulsed, not by the apology but by his audacity to indulge in this charade. He had done nothing wrong; his delusion drummed against the fabric of reality that Atla had woven. He wasn't in the wrong. He didn't do wrong. He was hurt. He was abandoned.

So let me help you, dumb brat. Atla's word echoed, filling him with tranquil breath. She was his anchor.

"I am sorry!" Korou blurted out. His limbs quaked as he held onto the shelf for support. The floor seemed shaky. But he couldn't care less. This was it, his moment of clarity. "I was selfish and mean and any other bad word your vocabulary allows. Despite the predicaments, I ignored your feelings and forcefully dragged you two to the restricted zone. It was all just a game to me; I never thought that for someone, it might be their only choice. And that's why I am sorry, Iromi, Ibo. I really am."

Korou was crying now. The guilt that had hung over him since that day in Naobi's chamber finally dissipated; his shoulders felt lighter as two arms jumped onto him, pushing him down.

His body fell with a thump. The shelf close to him shuddered, and for a moment, Korou even wondered if the books would fall over them. But soon forgot, as Iromi, who was sobbing as well, punched his chest with Ibo, gazing at his arms as if trying to decide what to do.

"You big idiot!" Iromi blurted, her curt tone replaced with the childish rawness. "Idiot! Idiot! You could have said so months ago!"

"Exactly what big sister said." Ibo chimed, still confused about what to do. "Can I punch you, too?"

"Ibo," Iromi spoke from in between her sobs. "Shut up!"

"Much obliged."

"I am sorry." Korou stifled his sobs.

"Idiot! I know!" Iromi clutched onto the fabric of his chuba, her tears trickling over him. She was hurting as much as he did. "I know, I know."

Ibo too shredded a tear. They all cried. No one explained. Neither did they try to justify. As innocent as their joy, so was their pain. It only needed a word to connect. One as simple as an apology.

"I am sorry as well," Iromi said as the three walked down the monastery. Her eyes were red, so were Ibo and Korou's. They all had cried their heart out. None spoke. They just remain entangled in each other's embrace.

"What for?" Korou asked as he jumped off the last flight. "You did nothing wrong."

"But I didn't explain either," Iromi interjected, her face simmering under the Cyan trails. It was ethereal.

"I should have understood it..." Korou averted his gaze.

"She is right, Korou," Ibo added, taking measured steps. "Neither of us was right, nor wrong. It would be easier if we all had talked."

"But we didn't..." Korou wanted to laugh. It was such a simple notion. Just talk. In his previous life, a lot of pain could have been averted by adopting this method. But for that, it was too late. And for the present, it felt too early. Yet this was the way forward.

"Yeah." Iromi nodded. "For that, I apologise, Korou."

"Me too," Ibo added.

"Guys..." He turned around, his arms open just like last time. He no longer wanted to spend time in isolation. They all had apologised, they had understood each other. Even if only by a minute margin. "Can I get that hug now?"

Ibo's lip broke into a laugh, as Iromi, no longer in a downcast, rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"I am still waiting."

"Whatever!" Iromi leapt from over the steps with Ibo in tow. Their arms latched onto his collarbone as the force sent him tumbling back. For the second time that day, he fell with a thump. Except this time, he was laughing.

Three friends rejoiced in their bond as the winter cloud sang its ode. A lot had happened; they had hurt each other, but as the petals from above rested over them. An oath was sworn.

"If after today, any one of us hurts the other, intentional or not," Korou announced, as he sat crossed leg over the snow. He was trembling but didn't care. "It's the sole duty of the other to call it out."

"Agreed." Iromi nodded.

"But how are we supposed to know if it was hurtful?" Ibo queried.

Iromi sighed in exasperation as Korou broke into a giggle.

"What? It's serious, okay. I don't know about you all, but I care about this friendship."

"You would know." Korou shot him a beaming smile.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know you, Ibo, you will know and if you don't...just remember, when you feel like punching me, that is when I have crossed the line."

"I feel like punching you right now. Does that count?" Ibo asked, preparing his knuckles.

"I second that, back in Sanctorum, I was too emotional to notice my pent-up anger." Iromi chimed in.

"Can we maybe call it a day?" Korou raised his arms in an attempt at self-defence. But it was for nought. The two of them unleashed a fury of punches.

That night, the three of them had to be escorted by Atla as they had forgotten the passage of time