Suvro and Ashraf walking in the festival.
"The food is delicious here. I wonder if Noor will like this," Suvro said.
"Man, forget about the food. I heard there are some new books in the stalls at cheap price."
"Nah man, I ain't a study freak like you—oh wait, is that Noor? Oi, Noor," Suvro called.
Noor was walking in the crowd silently, fixing his shirt collar so the finger marks on his neck stayed hidden.
They came running.
"Hey bro, I was calling you but you gave no response. Are you feeling alright?"
Noor stayed silent.
"Do you have a fever or bad digestion or something? Is anything wrong?" Ashraf asked.
"I told you to wait for me."
"What?" Suvro was confused.
"You guys call yourself friends but couldn't wait a little longer for me."
"What are you talking about—"
"I SAID YOU GUYS DON'T DESERVE TO BE MY FRIENDS!" Noor snapped.
Everyone beside them was shocked.
Ashraf and Suvro stood in disbelief.
"DON'T TALK TO ME FROM NOW ON."
Noor walked away.
Ria was watching from a distance. She looked at Noor with remorse but couldn't say anything.
That's right, I have to be a self-righteous piece of trash—enough to make them hate me. All I do is bring pain to everyone around me. I wish I could disappear, Noor thought.
"That's right… I should stay away from them," he murmured.
Later That Night
Noor was lying in his bed. His mind burdened with the incident that happened before with his father. He couldn't think about anything else. He tried to close his eyes.
Some time passed.
Whoosh
Thud
A stone wrapped in paper hit the wardrobe in his room.
Noor got up and picked it up.
Brother, we really need to talk, it said.
Sigh… they don't give up, do they? How am I supposed to get out—it's past 1 a.m. Oh, the keycard.
Noor sneaked out from the mansion.
Under the full bright moon and clear sky with shiny stars, three of them sat silently at the riverbank.
A cold breeze of wind hit them.
"You could have told us directly. You really didn't need to act like that," Ashraf said, breaking the silence.
"How did you find out?" Noor asked, looking down.
"Breaking news," Suvro muttered.
Oh, so Jamil eavesdropped on our conversation… I wonder how much he listened, Noor thought.
"Jamil heard when he was crossing the hallway—about your father having power to kick us out of the school, and you begging your father not to do that and saying you'll do anything he says," Ashraf said, crossing his legs.
"Seriously, what is the problem with that guy? Treating his own child like this, calling him useless, trying to manipulate him… Parents like this shouldn't exist anymore. Noor, if you're mad, you can punch me, but I'm not taking my words back," Suvro yelled.
"If you had said this yesterday, I would've been mad at you… but after today's incident, I don't know how to react anymore." Noor still looked down.
His inside felt hollow. Empty.
"But did you really think by behaving like that we wouldn't talk to you anymore? Also, it isn't that easy to kick anyone out of the school. Your father doesn't own the school. At least you could've told us," Ashraf said.
Noor silently looked down. He didn't tear up or break down like other times. Something about him had changed.
"Don't worry, Noor. Nothing will happen. We are friends and we will stay till the end. Your father doesn't scare us and he can't do anything," Suvro said, scratching his head.
"Maybe he can't… but I don't care if any problem comes or goes. I am so done with everything. At this young age, I'm forced to think like an adult. I lost my childhood long ago."
Noor punched the ground.
Suvro and Ashraf looked at him with pity.
"I don't know how to comfort him in this state…" Ashraf whispered.
Suvro sat beside Noor.
"Anyway, if anything happens, just tell us about it. Don't jump to conclusions by yourself. Always remember—we are with you and we're not going to leave you alone for something like that."
Noor put up a weak smile, looking at the sky. The ripples from the river rang in his ears.
"Most of the time we hang out here—cutting classes, chatting about random things… but today I'm curious about the river. Do you guys know anything?"
"Woah—what are you talk—" Suvro started, but Ashraf elbowed him.
"Well, people have different names and superstitions about this river. Some call it the River of Misfortune, some say it's haunted by evil spirits, and some say the river itself has life," Ashraf said, fixing his glasses.
"Hmph." Noor mildly laughed.
"I really want to give it a name."
"What is it?" Suvro and Ashraf asked, curious.
"THE HOLLOW RIVER."
"But it's filled with water," Suvro said, confused.
Noor took a deep breath.
"Outside it might look like it's filled with water… but if it truly had life, it might also feel empty and sad. People blame and curse it for no reason. It feels hollow and empty from the inside—like me."
Ashraf and Suvro didn't say anything.
They stared at the reflection of the clear sky with shining stars on the river water.
Some Days Passed
Noor fell ill with high fever.
Rosy was taking care of him.
"Sir Noor, you should sleep now. Mr. Rahim already talked with the teacher about your illness, so it won't be a problem."
She shut the door.
Noor lay silently in his bed. His inside had hardened. Nothing scared him anymore. His desperation for love from his parents was gone.
"Huh… the fever is burning me up, but at the same time I don't feel anything. The incident with Ria—her attacking me… I wonder why she is really that strong, and her transforming into something else. Nothing surprises me anymore."
"But I know she is a good person. She tried to apologize to me… but I was broken by my own pain."
"Maybe I should listen to her next time."
"The window is open. I should close it… cold air is entering inside."
Noor tried to get up from the bed.
"Ouch… my body feels so heavy…"
Suddenly, he saw a shadow at the window.
Noor froze.
Dun dun.
It was Ria.
She was sitting on the window frame like a stray cat.
Both stared at each other awkwardly.
"What in the world…"