On the way

“She did visit me, yes.” A mild deep tone from a man was met with my ear.

“Really!? Has she been living with you for a year and a half?”

“No, but she stayed for about a year working at my restaurant and living there.”

“And you let her without telling anyone, for that long?”

“Don’t put the blame on me now Stan. She was incredibly incessant about hiding her whereabouts, I can’t just betray her. I was going to tell you by the way, however, Kiri wasn’t fine with it.”

She isn't fine with me meeting her? Well, I guess it's not surprising. Finding that there's more inquiries to satisfy, I continued.

“How about when after she left, do you know if she’s fine?”

“Of course, If she wasn’t I would have told the authorities without a moment’s waste, but she still visits me sometimes and it looked like she was doing fine.”

“Looked like?”

Upon hearing my doubt, he made a grumble like sound which caught me off guard.

“She was doing fine, okay? I’ve been to her apartment, she has a roof over her head and daily necessities. She’s doing fine, trust me.”

“So, is she living near you or is she in the city?”

“Near me, she’s in the outskirts, it’s basically a town area. Not many tall buildings but there are convenient stores and such.”

So not far from Uncle, all right, I can still go see her.

“Is that so, can you message me the exact address? I have to check it out myself.”

“You’re going to travel all the way to the outskirts? After more than a whole year? What are you thinking, Stan?”

“I have to make sure she’s fine. I owe her a lot. And, I want to see my friend.”

There was a pause between our conversation. Until an overlong sigh could be heard from the other side of my phone.

“Look, Stan, there’s a reason why Kiri doesn’t want to see you. So, if you really want to see her again, I think it’s perhaps wise to not go into her life all of a sudden.”

“But I can’t just leave her like this, she still has a future and I don’t think dropping out of school is a nice idea uncle.”

Another sigh.

“You never trusted me ever when you were a kid, I guess you never changed.” He chuckled. “I’m not saying that you shouldn’t meet her, just be cautious about what she’s going to think of you, and act accordingly. It’s her life, she gets to choose where and what she wants to do. Not like education matters that much anyway, I’m a chef for god’s sake. E-hem, what I want to say is respect her choices. That’s my advice.”

“Uncle Rob… Since when did you sound so sagacious.”

“Oh, fuck off Stan. Just remember that the last time you met her was a long time ago, she might be different now. That’s all I’m saying, remember that and I’ll send her address.”

“Yes, uncle Rob, I understand that this matter is about Kiri, not me. Thanks, for the information, and also the advice. Now could you send it?”

“You got it, Stan, anything for my nephew.”

Hearing beeps, I dropped the phone on my bed. It was my Uncle Rob, the owner of the restaurant me and Kiri went to years back. I called him figuring I should find out information prior to my visit, little did I know I’d got much more than I had expected. I thought trying to find Kiri’s whereabouts would be a game of cat and mouse but the states of matter proved to be completely otherwise. I mean, it was only my first lead. I shouldn’t say I was disappointed since I found her so easily, but how the actual hell was she missing for more than a whole year long.?

“She’s independent and can take care of herself so you don’t have to worry.”

A sudden quote came to mind. Considering Kiri’s family thinks of her situation that way, guess it’s not too peculiar. With my doubts cleared, I focused my mind on a more prominent matter. Am I ready for the trip?

On my bed laid three pair of clothes, one pair of wind pods, a backpack, thirty dollars, and a water can. Felt like it was missing something, but oh well, I can survive only with a phone really. Content with my inventory, I put everything in my backpack and exited my room. However, I decided to look back.

A blank room, surrounded by white walls with few blemishes and specks, and nothing noticeable to comment about. No posters, no painting, just no personality. On the corner, a Dell office computer, and a bed beside that have no decorations whatsoever. A bookshelf in the opposite corner that’s filled with unorganized genres. Sci-fi, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Psychology, Mythology, Comedy. I wonder if anyone can tell what kind of person I am by looking at those.

Was I always this boring?

I mean I loathe those anime weebs but, to be honest, at least their figurines and anime posters say something about them, even if it brings disgust.

At this point, I’m really an empty husk of mobile flesh huh? I mean hobbies and personality are what bring attractive scores to a person, and I have none. Would Kiri care about that, I wonder.

Not trying to self-predicate further, I left my room for real this time and approached the family table. There, I put a letter on top, its content includes telling my parents I’ll be out for a period of time and that I’m visiting my uncle. If they ask why, I’ve already blocked them on VisageNote so they won’t be able to bother me.

Then, with nothing else to obstruct my journey, I took my motorcycle key and rushed out of the house.

“So, packing for the trip already?”

“What the hell?”

I heard a familiar voice behind me, and promptly I turned my back.

“Why are you outside my house? What are you doing here?”

“Don’t mind the details, the only reason why I’m here is you. It looks like your life is moving really fast, and as your ‘free therapist’, I’m here to talk about it with you.”

If you haven’t guessed yet, she’s the mysterious Jesus/Superman/therapist girl.

“How can I overlook a stranger finding me at my own safe and lovely home, and are you stalking me?”

“Like I said, the details don’t matter. You did tell me your address once, right?”

I did not recall any moment of me telling her, but that’s beside the point.

“Whatever, why are you even here? Kae?”

“To talk, like I said. Is something on your mind right now?”

I felt like I forgot some important details, but decided to let it slide. For some strange reason, a familiar tick made me want to indulge her. I guess I do need someone to vent to right now.

“Yes actually, I’m going to meet the childhood friend that I broke up with. Oh, and she also ran away from home a year and a half ago. Almost forgot, she probably resents and has a deep hatred for me for rejecting her in her time of need as well. Not sure if that’s the main reason why she ran away though, her family had a divorce. Not to mention her complicated affairs at school.”

“Is that so, sounds rough.”

“Guess so. The bad thing is, I don’t really remember why I rejected her. I know it’s not justifiable in any way but I don’t want to know it regardless. Like I’m too afraid If the reason is bad and I turn out to be the bad guy.”

I had thought the girl would need time to digest my messy predicament, yet she answered swiftly, or more like asked. She really did stalk me, huh?

“Nevertheless, can you recall it? Or are you deliberately keeping it away.?”

Being aware that the conversation was moving too fast, I thought to slow down.

“I don’t know and don’t want to talk about it.”

“That’s fine. It’s a long trip anyway, about two to three hours I believe? Think about it then.”

My skin crawled.

“How did you… You really are stalking me huh?”

“Yeah, but not this time. I’m going with you.”

We then had another argument, stuff happened, and now I’m driving and there’s a girl sitting behind me.

Even though I had been aware, Kae was out of my control.

“I’m meeting a girl whom I’m trying to reconcile after rejecting her… while there’s another girl behind me.”

“Trust me, she won’t know I’m here. Just be natural.”

“Sure.”

It was the early morning when we had left, and the sun was just above the horizon. As numerous rays of light continuously shined on the asphalt we were passing, a mix of excitement and fret troubled me.

Does Kiri hate me?

She most likely does have some resentment toward me, and the reason why I rejected her might interpret her hatred in some way. No, that doesn’t matter. Regardless of why, I still hold a responsibility to help her, that’s why I’m meeting her right now. I don’t know much about her situation, and I don’t even know if she would even want me in her sight. Despite all of that, I at least have to know that she’s okay mentally, she’d been through a lot, and I’m partly responsible for it.

Yes, I am here for her.

After all, I did make a promise to myself and Alice. As I assured my resolve, my worry started to diminish somewhat, leaving my thoughts with reference to what I’d say when I see Kiri.

“Did you think of anything to say when you meet her yet?”

Is this girl a mind reader or something?

“No, what do you think, my dear therapist.”

“Well, maybe start off apologetically. Then ask her how she is, don’t ask too personal questions, and don’t be incessant on details. What she says and how she says it is enough for you to pick off what her situation is like.”

“Hm, good advice. Though I was thinking of ways to persuade her to go back.”

“Impatient and optimistic, I like it. In outcome one, where you guys are intimate again. Mention her friends, especially put an emphasis on her closest ones, and talk about their memories. Assuming that you are in contact with them?”

“Yes.”, I assured.

“Okay, after that’s done, talk about the future with her, put yourself on the main stage. Convince the girl that everyone misses her and that her problems can be ignored as long as everyone and you are beside her. Now, sound genuine, and don’t mind if you’re deceiving her or anything like that, It doesn’t matter at this stage.”

“That sounds pretty malicious.”

“As I said, don’t mind it. It’s all worth it as long as she’s back. Now, in outcome two, you guys fell out. And she doesn’t want to see you again. Precisely track her daily life, and her activities, deduce her personality and weakness through the decisions she makes-”

“You mean stalk her? I’m sorry but I’m not like you. Talking about stalking, why are you even riding with a stranger to the outskirts right now? Don’t you have a life?”

“Well you see-“

The phone in my pocket suddenly rang, signifying me that there had been a message sent.

My motor decelerated, and it went to a halt. I took out my message and saw that it was from my uncle.

I called her in advance and it looked like she’s fine with you visiting her.

Oh right, now that I realized, was I going to come knocking on her door without telling her beforehand? I mean we haven’t met in a year and a half. Was I that inconsiderate?

“How inconsiderate of you, and here I thought you cared about the girl.”

“Just shut up, I was going to see her regardless. Even if she didn’t want me in her life, I was going to find out her state of affairs regardless, notwithstanding it’s not to her awareness.”

“And you told me that you weren’t going to stalk her. Hypocrite much?”

“Oh, F off.”

The rest of our ride was quiet, which left me quite an amount of time to contemplate what I was going to say. In spite of that, I still couldn’t solidify my notion and left my intuition to guard itself.

As I get closer to my destination, the more I decelerate. Perhaps still worried about what I was going to say. Nonetheless, my reaching there was inevitable.

But before I could continue, the girl behind me spoke one last advice.

"Your main goal here is to find out the why. Just don't stray from that path and you'll be fine."

And so, stood before me was a small apartment. Whether it’d be the most awkward or the most wholesome, this encounter will undoubtedly change my life. And Kiri’s too, of course.