sole wish

I saw Radia sitting on a swing, silently staring at the cloudy dark sky as the wind sighed and hinted that it might rain soon. She was lost in thought and I could tell that something was bothering her.

"Radia?" I asked, walking over to where she was sitting. "Are you okay? Is something bothering you?"

Radia shook her head and looked up at me with a thoughtful expression. "I'm just thinking," she said, "about what happened earlier. It's just a lot to process, and I'm not sure how I feel about it all."

I saw Radia look up at me, and I immediately noticed that she was in a mood. "Hey, Errol, don't just sit there...say something interesting," she said, seemingly not in the mood for conversation.

I knew Radia well enough by now that when she wasn't in the mood, she wanted someone to challenge her intellectually. So I took a chance and tried to spark up a conversation with her. "Well, what topic would you like to talk about?" I asked, trying to gauge what Radia might want to chat about.

"I can't go back..." I said, frustrated as I stared at the ground. "There's no way for me to go back...my home...my school...even Daida."

Just then, Daida stood up from the swing and unchained a bike. "Shall we go then?" she asked. "Over there," she added, pointing to a mountain in the distance.

I stared at the bike carefully and recognized it as mine.

"Isn't that...my bike?" I asked in surprise. Radia nodded her head. "Remember when you ran away like a shitty rat after being caught by the police? You left it back there," she said.

"This is nothing but a paper town..." Radia said as she sat down on the back seat of the bike. "Do you still have a reason to stay in it?" she asked.

Her words made me think. Did I still have a reason to stay in this paper town? I wasn't sure.

"You're coming along with me, Radia?" I asked, confused.

"You're the one who's going to be following *me**, you... shitty Errol." Radia answered in a sassy demeanour.

"Whatever," I muttered, rolling my eyes at her but secretly feeling kind of happy that she was sticking by my side. We were two misfits, outsiders in this paper town, and we had a lot to think about. Together, we decided to head off to find some answers and try to figure out a way out.

I started to drive towards the direction of the mountain, and as I did, Radia pointed it out.

"What do you think is on the other side of the mountain?" she asked. "I've always thought about it...what if there's nothing on the other side?"

Radia's words took me aback for a moment. I had never considered that possibility before. I had always assumed that there was something on the other side of the mountain, something amazing or mysterious. But now that Radia had asked that question, I was starting to wonder.

"It's fine if you just come along with your bike anywhere and forever," Radia said, and I was touched by her words. She had left everything the moment she saved me from the police, and now she was trying to save me for the second time around. I realized that her kindness and loyalty were truly something special, and I was grateful for her friendship.

Even though Daida had turned her back on me, Radia was still there, offering to help me once more. I no longer wanted to take her for granted, and I was ready to make things right.

The road uphill was getting dark and the streetlights didn't provide enough light. "Radia!" I called out. "Let's get a shelter over there," I said, and we immediately took shelter in a waiting shed.

"Do you...have a cash left, Errol?" Radia asked. "Uh, no," I shyly replied. She sighed. "You really are useless," she said. I protested, saying that it couldn't be helped since we had just taken off like that.

The road uphill was getting dark and it was hard to see. Radia! I called out, and we immediately took shelter in a waiting shed.

"Do you...have any cash left, Errol?" Radia asked. "Uh...no," I sighed, feeling guilty. "You're really useless," Radia said, sighing. "It can't be helped, we just took off like that," I protested. But deep down, I knew that she was right. I had been irresponsible and had left everything behind without a plan.

As we gained an overview of the city, it was filled with lively city lights, despite the heavy rain around us. It was a beautiful sight, but it also seemed so far away. Radia stared blankly out at the lights, as if lost in thought.

"Tomorrow...they'll continue with their lives like they always do," Radia said, almost as if she was talking to herself. I pondered her words for a moment.

"I wonder why...we're here," I replied. "That's obvious!" Radia replied cheerfully. "It's because we're both deviants."

I smiled, feeling a sense of comfort in her words. "In that case, being a deviant isn't so bad," I replied and stared blankly into the air. "Thank you, Radia, for bringing me along with you." I said, as the rain continued to fall heavily. Radia looked at me for a moment and then lay down.

Radia looked at me for a moment, and then lay down. "The rain isn't stopping...shall we sleep here?" she asked.

Just then, we heard a someone approaching the b shed. "Huh? Is someone there?" I whispered to Radia.

Daida had come up to us, soaking wet. "I'm sorry...I was the one who chased you away, right?" she asked, catching her breath as she took off something from her jacket and opened the wooden box. To our surprise, the music box produced a sweet sound, despite the heavy rain."Can you please tell me why you gave this expensive music box to me?" she asked frantically, her eyes filled with emotion. "Don't run away!" she pleaded. "Why do you have to go with Radia, Errol?" she asked. Daida seemed very concerned with my intentions and my relationship with Radia.

Radia smiled smugly at Daina. "I'm going over the other side," she said confidently, "and Errol is coming along for that," she added.

"Other side? What do you mean, other side?" Daina asked curiously. "Can you tell me where you're going?" 

But Radia was not willing to give up an ounce of information, and she remained silent, her eyes twinkling mischievously. She seemed to enjoy leaving Daina confused and anxious about her plans.

"Kennedy...say something!" Daida said, becoming more frustrated.

"Daida...how much do you really hate me?" I asked calmly, wanting to know the truth.

"Remember that time I said, 'I love you'? I really do, Kennedy," Daina finally said, without an ounce of hesitation or awkwardness. "It doesn't matter if you set those bullies on me, what you did saving me was genuine," I continued. "And thank you so much for everything you did for me back then. It means the world to me."

"I'm sorry Daida," I said, and she pulled me away from Radia."lets go home kennedy"

"It's over" Radia turned and walked toward her bike, and I suddenly felt a surge of emotion within me. I knew I needed to stop her.

Before I knew it, my body moved on its own. Without thinking, I ran after Radia, desperately trying to stop her.