Mountain Night

As the chirping of the cicadas died down to give way to the crickets as the sun finally set in the horizon; bringing in the night. Now illuminated by the lights of various streetlamps, Jonathan and Lewis’s bikes can be spotted standing next to each other in a small parking lot up on top of the forested mountain. Further up the mountain from the parking lot is a small building that acts as both a souvenir shop and tourist pit stop for the many coming to view past the mountain’s peak.

“Sorry for taking a while, the lines were surprisingly long up there.” Jonathan says as he catches up to Lewis standing at the edge of the parking lot. Next to him is a dirt road leading into a clearing into the forest. Lewis puts away a phone in his pocket as Jonathan arrives.

“Don’t worry, you didn’t take long.”

“Here you go.” Jonathan says as he gives Lewis a small can of tomato juice.

Now walking together, they go up the path into a narrow clearing in the forested ascent.

“I had to take a call anyway. My dad finally came back home.” Lewis says.

“I really don’t get how you can like that stuff.”

“What, tomato juice? You’ll be surprised how good it tastes. Especially since it's so salty.” Lewis says as he opens the can.

“You want some?” he says, holding out the can to Jonathan.

“No, I'm good.”

“Suit yourself.” Lewis says. He then chugs down the entire can in one go.

“So your dad, he’s back from his fishing trip right?”

“Ahh that hit the spot,” Lewis says holding up the can.

“And yeah, he was gone for about a month fishing down south. He just called me right now to tell me about his trip. Mentioning how he visited a desert while docked for a resupply one time.” Lewis says.

As they walked, they came to a stop in front of a barrier with a sign – Danger do not go any further! Steep cliff ahead! – paying no attention to the warnings, Lewis pushed aside the barrier and they continued as usual.

“I’m sure it was nice to see the desert.” Lewis says.

Moving aside foliage, Lewis avoided stepping on stray rocks as he climbed up an almost vertical slope in the dirt path. Standing at the top of the slope, Lewis then helps Jonathan get up the ledge.

“But you find fishing boring. Right?”

Lewis sighs.

“Yep. And what's worse is that my old man is telling me that I need to start getting ready to take it up too once I’m done with school.”

Jonathan pushes aside several branches covering the dirt path to reveal a clearing in the forest. Before Jonathan spanned a craggy cliff dropping precariously to the forested residential area below. From this cliff Jonathan couldn’t help but notice the rolling clouds approaching the island from the sea. Despite covering the moon’s glow with its thickness, the clouds occasionally bloom with hidden thunder to reveal the sea and the distant city on the opposite coast.

“Wow, if it wasn’t for lights from the city you wouldn’t have been able to see it through the fog.” Lewis says, walking ahead of Jonathan. He takes a seat next to the ledge of the cliff on a protruding boulder.

“So, what are you going to do then?”

“About being a fisher? I think it's time for me to tell my dad that it's just not in the cards for me.”

“Then what is in the cards for you?”

Bending over, Lewis picks up a loose pebble from the ground and plays around with it as he ponders.

“This might sound a little far-fetched but I always wanted to be a traveler.

“A traveler?” Jonathan says as he takes a seat on the boulder next to Lewis.

“Yeah, someone who goes around the world writes down their experiences.” Lewis says as he tosses the pebble down the cliff. Thunder flashes in the sky and after a few moments a faint boom sounds in the distance.

“Really that's what you want to do with your life? Why haven’t you ever told me about this?”

“You never really asked about the future to be honest.”

“Huh, I guess you’re right. Then, why do you want to be a traveler in the first place?”

“Well when I was little, there was one day my father took the family out on a trip by sea.”

Lewis leans back on the rock, reminiscing with a slight smile forming on his face.

“We went from coastal city to coastal city for about two weeks. I remember clearly just how each place was slightly different from the last culturally and ethnically until suddenly I realized just how different the first city was from the last.”

He picks up another pebble and tosses it.

“Just seeing that difference really blew my mind. The world really is vast, you know?”

“I think I get it.” Jonathan says as he picks up a pebble and tosses it as well.

“I felt the same way about being a mechanic with Mr. Greene.”

“Really? I didn’t expect that to be honest.”

“Yeah, I really do. Drawing all the diagrams of each and every vehicle that came during the past six months really made me realize just how similar yet different everything could be in a car.”

Lewis turns to Jonathan with a faint smile on his face.

“To be honest, I felt scared to tell my family that I want to pursue being a traveler, but you feeling a similar way with mechanics gave me some confidence. I don’t want to let this dream die.”

“Then don’t.”

Jonathan then reaches inside his pockets and pulls out two empty glass bottles. They are tiny in Jonathan’s hands and the cork plugging the bottles has metal chains running through it.

“Here, take one. It's a keychain that I bought at the gift shop.”

Taking a keychain from Jonathan’s hand, Lewis holds it up in the sky inspecting it.

“In the past, soldiers here used to fill these bottles with dirt from this mountain.”

“They would find their way back just from the direction the dirt would fly towards when they let it go in the wind. It's what the gift shop says.”

“Well how about we make our own legend.”

Jonathan then stands up.

“Legend has it that on the day the world changed, two boys gathered on this mountain to make a promise.”

Jonathan reaches out his hand with his bottle to the distant clouds.

“That they would always remember their dreams for the future.” Lewis says.

“And if they even get lost, they’ll empty their bottles and follow their way back.”

As if the clouds themselves were captured, the bottle in Jonathan’s hand shined as thunder flashed and boomed in the far distance.

Lewis then bursts into laughter.

“Sorry, you really caught me off guard with your seriousness. But thanks Jonathan, you really helped me set myself in.”

“Thanks to you too. You helped me realize that I really do want to become a mechanic. After seeing Dream, hearing the Takamura brothers and especially Mr. Greene’s help and lessons I feel like I finally have a vision for the future. Now more than ever.”

“Well then I’ll hold you to it. You’ll be the first one I’ll come to if I ever need my future motorcycle fixed.”

“Motorcycle?”
“What? Seeing you ride around freely all the time with the wind seems kind of cool. I’m definitely going to get one when I start traveling.”

Jonathan smirks.

“Okay. Then I’ll be the first to read your book whenever you’re finished with it.”

“Then I better get started on it today.”

Lightning strikes again in the distance, now closer than the last time, Jonathan looks back to the sky after the flash and boom.

“I think the storm is getting closer. We should probably get going.” Jonathan says.

“Yeah, I don’t want to get caught out in the storm.”

Turning around, the two of them leave the ledge, returning back to the forested dirt path.

With the thunder now sounding closer and closer with each strike, they run as they make it back to the warning sign that had initially blocked off the dirt path. Walking past, Lewis puts the blockade in its original position before they continue on towards the parking lot.

“...I’m kind of excited, I think I’ll get started on writing about today when I get home.” Lewis says.

“Well if you want I can always read it for you. You know, to make sure it's accurate and all.” Jonathan says.

“I would appreciate that.” Lewis says.

As they walked and talked, they arrived back at the parking lot. Casually walking towards their parked bikes they are surprised to find Sumi. Standing next to their bikes, waiting, she is dressed in a simple gray dress.

“You both sure took a while.” Sumi says.

“Oh hey there Sumi. I thought that you couldn’t make it. Why are you here now?” Jonathan says as they approach her; Lewis also greets her.

“Well I just finished covering for my folk’s shop so I figured that you two might still be here.”

Sumi turns and points towards their bikes.

“And I was right, so I’ve been waiting here for about ten minutes.”

Sumi turns back to face them.

“So, you both went up the side path I’m guessing?”

“Ding, ding. You guessed right.” Lewis says.

Sumi sighs.

“I wish I would’ve finished earlier so that I could’ve come to sit at the cliff with you both. The view is way better there compared to up there.” Sumi says, pointing towards the gift shop building.
“Don’t worry there will always be a next time. Especially if Lewis feels like he needs a break every other day.”

Sumi and Jonathan laugh as Lewis eyes Jonathan.

“Come on, it's not every other day.” Lewis says, annoyed.

“Sorry I had to.” Jonathan says.

“So are you both done here?” Sumi asks.

“Yeah sadly, the storm looked like it had reached the island.” Jonathan says, pointing towards the dark cloudy sky over the distance where the gift shop is at. At that moment the cloud bubbled with lightning.

“Aww, I thought we could’ve at least gone up to the peak together.”

“Sorry. But if this makes you feel better I did get you this.” Jonathan says.

Jonathan reaches into his pocket and searches for a while before pulling out another bottle keychain; he gives it to Sumi.

“Hey you didn’t tell me you got one for her as well.” Lewis says.

“Well I was feeling extra generous today.” Jonathan says, jokingly.

“Thank you then, money man.” Sumi says, Sarcastically.

Just then thunder flashes.

“Okay, we should probably get going.” Lewis says.

Lewis starts to approach his bike to unchain it, but stops and turns around. He’s squinting his eyes at Sumi in confusion.

“Wait. I never asked, but how did you get here, Sumi?” Lewis asks.

“I walked here, it took me about 30 minutes.” Sumi replies.

“You walked?” Jonathan interjects.

“Yeah, I have to get in my daily steps to keep fit.” Sumi says.

“True, but with how the sky is looking I don’t think you have 30 minutes to walk back.” Lewis says.

“Yeah… you’re right. I don’t know what to do to be honest.” Sumi says after looking at the sky to see the storm cloud growing in size by the second.

“I could give you a ride if you want.” Jonathan says.

“I-It's okay, I’ll manage.” Sumi says, hand waving off Jonathan’s offer.

“Are you nervous about getting on his bike?” Lewis says.

“N-no.”

“No way, I can’t believe Sumi, who I’ve never seen get scared once in my life, is now scared of getting on a motorcycle right in front of me.” Lewis says.

“No I’m not! Either way there is nothing wrong with being scared of something anyways.” She says, crossing her arms as she starts to pout.

Looking at the motorcycle, Sumi swallows and takes a deep, steady breath in and out.

“Alright, I guess I’ll just take your offer and get a ride back home since you insist so much.” She says, sighing.

“Now that's the Sumi I know.” Lewis says, laughing.

Lewis goes and unchains his bicycle. While he is doing this, Jonathan gets his white open face helmet from the storage compartment of his motorcycle and gives it to Sumi. She takes it from him apprehensively.

“Alright, just sit behind me.” Jonathan tells Sumi.

Shaking slightly, Sumi gets on the motorcycle behind Jonathan.

“Good, now I’m going to start it up so make sure to hold on.”

“O-okay.” She says nervously as grabs onto Jonathan lightly.

Jonathan then starts the engine. The kick of the engine startles Sumi, making her hold him tighter.

“Don’t sweat it too much, there's nothing to be scared of, and either way the drive from here to your house is quick.”

Sumi just shakes her head in understandance as she continues to hold on tightly to Jonathan with her eyes snapped shut. Finally finishing unlocking his bicycle, Lewis stands up to see Sumi tensely grabbing on and could not help but snicker a little.

“Don’t worry, Jonathan is a great driver. He basically built that thing after all.” he says seriously after regaining control over his laughter.

Jonathan takes a glance behind him to see Sumi frozen on him.

“Oh, you should probably lower the visor so the wind doesn’t get in your eyes. Here.” Jonathan says as he reaches and lowers the helmet visor for her.

“Thanks.” she says quietly.

“Let's get going then.” Lewis says as he gets on his bicycle.

Agreeing, Jonathan begins to release the brakes, lurching the motorcycle forward.

“W-w-we’re moving!” Sumi says, still with her eyes closed.

Gently, Jonathan rides along with Lewis as the three of them take their leave from the parking lot. Exiting the lot and entering the mountain top’s road, they begin their descent back down to town with the guidance of the streetlights illuminating their way. As they rode along at a pace slightly faster than running, little droplets of rain began to tap against Jonathan’s skin.

“Go on ahead, I wouldn’t want you two to get soaked because of me.” Lewis says as he also starts to sense the rain on his skin.

“Thanks Lewis. See you tomorrow then.” Jonathan says.

“Mhm.” Sumi adds.

“Bye!” Lewis says, waving with one arm while trying to keep control of the handle of his bicycle with the other.

“I’m going to go a little faster, is that okay?” Jonathan asks sumi.

“Mhm.” She says in agreement.

Jonathan accelerates a little; picking up more speed. Now feeling the wind tussle his hair he takes a deep breath feeling the coolness of it in his lungs. As they continued on the wind and rain picked up, whipping against Jonathan lightly, setting in chills. Although the weather worsened, Jonathan sensed that Sumi became less tense, releasing slightly her iron grip on his abdomen.

“This isn’t as bad as I imagined it to be!” Sumi shouts over the sounds of the engine, wind and rain.

“That's good. What did you think it would be like!?” Jonathan says, also shouting.

“I don’t really know, I guess really fast and dangerous, but it's actually a little fun!”

Jonathan chuckles.

“I thought you’d be more worried with how the weather is, but glad to hear you’re happy!” Jonathan says.

The motorcycle begins to slow down.

“Hold on to me here, the corners are a bit sharp here!”

“Okay!” Sumi says as she holds on tighter again.

Driving along, Jonathan begins to slow the motorcycle as they pull up on the side of the road under a roofed bus stop near a two storied restaurant.

“Here we are.” Jonathan says as he comes to a stop and turns off the motorcycle.

Now that both the engine and wind have stopped their roars, only the rain and its patter on the metallic overhead fill the ears of both Jonathan and Sumi.

“Thank you very much Jonathan, I really appreciated it.” Sumi says as she gets off the motorcycle.

She takes off the helmet and gives it to Jonathan.

“Anytime.” Jonathan says as he puts on the helmet.

She then looks to the second floor of the restaurant; the lights are on.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Jonathan says.

“One last thing.”

Without giving him a chance to react, Sumi hugs him quickly then runs off in the rain towards the restaurant. Comprehending what had just happened to him a little too late, Jonathan looks on as Sumi stops in her jog and turns around.

“For the gift!” Sumi shouts, waving with a smile on her face.

Jonathan starts to smile as well as he waves to Sumi.

“No problem. Good night!” he shouts as she enters the building.

For a moment Jonathan just sits there and welcomes the sound of the dripping rain and the coldness of the night; he starts his bike.