Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 17: Kaelan (4)
[You're the weird person who met me in the restroom back then, right?]
"Hmm... Your memory is good." Blank furrowed his brow. "I'm not joking. Who are you?"
Then, a card was slipped through the gap under the restroom partition. Blank picked it up and read its contents.
[Tomorrow Night. 22:00. Limtown Bar]
Blank shifted his eyes. "Hey, what does this mean?"
"Come. I'm rarely here." Blank chuckled softly. "I can't even see your face here. What are you hoping for?"
The man clicked his tongue. "Turns out you really do resemble Leonardo, huh." Blank's breath stopped momentarily, and he narrowed his eyes. (Huh? He knows?)
"I don't understand what you mean." The man tapped his own cheek. "Ah, maybe I have the wrong person?"
(Tch. What's with this guy?) His teeth were visible. "Yes. You have the wrong person."
The man leaned back and folded his arms. "Hm... Then just this name."
"Arion Kaelan Da—"
Bang!
Blank kicked the wall to his right. "Hey, old man, what do you want?" With a sharp gaze, Blank then opened his door.
Creak Creak.
(The door is locked? What's going on?) The man then opened his own door and walked away. "Hey! What are you doing!"
Then, a mop handle came sliding in from under the front partition. (Huh!?)
"I've left the key to your right. Good luck." Blank gritted his teeth. "Hey, you bastard!"
Casually walking away, the man waved his hand without looking at the restroom. "See you tomorrow, Kaelan."
Thump!
Blank punched the metal door in front of him. Now he couldn't go anywhere, and there was only a mop handle below him. "You've got to be kidding me."
Reluctantly, he took it and tried to reach for the mentioned key. "Can't see it. Disgusting, my face has to press against the floor."
With his left eye, he tried to reach the silver object that was hard to grab with the mop handle. (Damn, I still have work at 12 noon.)
"I'm going to be late now."
After several minutes of hard work, finally, a silver object got hooked. "Ah, that's the key?" Blank immediately pulled it, but...
"This..." Blank saw it clearly, his teeth showing. "This is wire... How do I use this, you bastard!"
Blank shouted for help for dozens of minutes. His situation was very difficult because Rohan was undergoing surgery, and he had work at the event organizer soon, until...
The time showed 12:10 PM in the staff room of a rented ballroom for a wedding event.
"Hey, where's Kaelan? He's already 10 minutes late."
Several event organizer colleagues were already waiting for him in the staff room. Then, a moment later, the door opened.
"Sorry I'm late... Had a bit of a hiccup on the way."
Blank's face was sweaty, his clothes messy, and he was panting heavily.
One of the staff laughed. "Hey, you said you were just going to be the event marathon photographer. Did you join the race too?"
Blank scratched his head where it didn't itch. "Well, it's hard to explain." Then a young man in neat clothes walked over to them.
"Alright, alright. We have 5 minutes left. Kaelan, your clothes are in locker number 11."
That voice was from the event organizer founder, Ruin. He was someone introduced to Blank by Rohan.
Blank nodded his head. "Yes. Ruin, after this is over, there's something I want to tell you." Ruin was curious. "Oh, really?"
After finishing talking with Ruin, Blank went to the locker and opened it. He put on the neat, complete suit.
The mirror reflected his body. A tie was tightened by both hands. He closed his eyes briefly.
"A heavy day, but must keep going."
Blank returned to the staff area to join the briefing and pray together before starting the event.
"Hi, senior brother." Two young men who were actually the same age as Blank greeted him. "Stop that; we're the same age." They were Alga and Reva.
Reva bit his tongue. "But you're the most skilled, bro El." Alga patted Reva's back. "Reva said earlier that bro El looked super handsome in a suit."
"Who said that!"
"You did, earlier in the back."
Blank held his neck. (Oh dear, these guys.)
Reva asked Blank, "How tall are you, bro El?" Instantly, his eyes looked to the sky. "Hmm... Maybe 176cm." Reva covered his face with blushing cheeks.
Alga chuckled softly. "That's tall. Still 18, might reach 180cm later."
Blank scratched his hair, his teeth showing. "Hehe..."
Clap Clap.
Ruin clapped his hands as a signal. "Alright, everyone, gather up." Everyone began forming a circle. They prayed and prepared themselves together.
Their right hands were extended. "Okay, everyone, make today a success!"
"YES!" They shouted in unison.
Everyone now prepared for their respective places. Blank held the camera, looking calm, but his thoughts were chaotic. (I hope Rohan's surgery is successful.)
His head ached. He felt guilty, but nothing would change. (Let me finish this first.)
His legs felt weak but were forced to walk. Blank approached Alga and Reva. "Alga, you handle the right. Reva, handle the left. I'll handle the center and front."
Alga and Reva saluted. "Yes, Captain!" Although their antics made him chuckle a little, the anxiety still lingered in his mind.
Blank thought about the incident before he came to the event organizer; the bad experience haunted his thoughts.
[Before Going to the Event Organizer]
Blank ran through the hospital corridor. Cold. Alone. Only his footsteps and ragged breath. (Damn, I have very little time.)
When Blank reached the waiting room, Natalia and Kenzo were sitting outside. Blank approached them. "Natalia, Kenzo. How's the surgery?"
Kenzo glanced. His hand clenched and opened alternately. "It's finished, but Rohan is still in critical condition."
Blank held his forehead and rubbed it. "Phew... I hope he wakes up soon."
Natalia could only stay silent. Kenzo's knees trembled. "Hey, Kaelan, why was there suddenly a car from over there?"
Blank ruffled his hair and then showed his phone screen to Kenzo. "This morning, there was news of a thief using a box truck, but I didn't expect them to escape through there."
Kenzo's eyes widened. But...
"WHAT!"
Everyone looked at the source of the voice. It was a shout from the mother. Rohan's mother approached Blank, gritting her teeth hard. "You knew that, so why is my child seriously injured!?"
Blank froze. He tried to calm the mother. "I'm sorry, it was sudden—"
Rohan's mother grabbed Blank's collar tightly. "You should have warned him! Why did you stay silent!?"
Cold sweat began to appear on Blank. (Ah, this isn't right.)
The mother clenched her fist. Even though her eyes were red, a light reflection could be seen. Rohan's mother's eyes welled up. "Why! Why did you stay silent, huh!?"
Kenzo tried to stop Rohan's mother. "Mom, it's not like that—"
"You're also a bastard! Why did you stay silent too!?" Rohan's mother's yelling grew louder. Natalia lowered her head, and Kenzo also fell silent.
Rohan's mother stared at Blank with a trembling hand. "This is also because of you, you bastard! You all are safe, so why isn't my child!"
Blank froze with the grip on his collar. "I hope your life is difficult too!" Blank's eyes widened, and his hands clenched. But at the same time...
"Hey, what's all the shouting?" The father came out of the room and saw his wife pulling Blank's collar. Rohan's father immediately separated them. "Hey, stop. This isn't their fault."
The strong grip released Blank. His collar was loose, and some stitches were torn. His hands clenched and loosened.
Rohan's father took his wife back inside the waiting room. The mother's eyes still stared at Blank.
Everything calmed down again. Kenzo tried to calm Blank. "Kaelan, about earlier, don't think—"
"Sorry."
One word was heard from his mouth. With eyes looking at the floor and trembling fingers. "I apologize. That was truly my fault."
Kenzo extended his hand. "Ah, don't be like that. None of us knew an accident would happen today."
Blank then bowed his head slightly to his two friends. "Sorry, I also have work after this. I'll catch up later."
Blank turned his body. Kenzo shouted, "Take care, Kaelan." Without an answer, Blank kept walking.
That's what Blank remembered. Guilt now began to envelop him. Fear of loss, wrapped in annoyance at himself, began to spread.
"Hey, Kaelan."
(Huh!?)
[Back to the Present]
Ruin patted Blank's shoulder. "Why are you spacing out?" Blank slapped both his cheeks. "Sorry, Ruin. I'm just a bit tired."
"Then let's finish this work first. You said you wanted to tell me something." Blank nodded slightly. "Yes."
Blank and his friends now continued their work for over 2 hours. Even though tired, Blank could still give his best, even getting tips. So did Reva and Alga, who followed Blank's working style.
Time passed. Now almost all agency members had returned to the staff room to rest.
Some staff joked with each other. "You know Ellie? She almost dropped the steak earlier, haha!"
"I saw. Luckily, Ruin helped."
"Thank goodness; otherwise, she'd definitely be fired."
"Stop it. I'm still trembling here," self-defense by the girl named Ellie.
Everyone laughed among themselves. However, on the other side, Blank was talking with Ruin outside the room. Blank told the whole story about Rohan.
Ruin hit his forehead softly. "Oh dear, why did that happen?"
Blank sighed. "That's how it is." But Ruin patted Blank's shoulder. "I'll go there tonight. Don't worry, Kaelan."
Blank bit his lip. "Well, I hope he's awake by now."
"Alright, let's go back to the staff room. They're waiting."
Blank and Ruin returned to the room. Many people were seen laughing happily here. Then Alga shouted as the two of them entered.
"Hey, bro Kaelan. Bro Ruin. Let's take a photo first."
Ruin clicked his tongue. "You all are very happy, huh." Alga shouted, "I got a $20 tip thanks to bro Kaelan who taught me how."
Blank rubbed his neck. "Haha, good work, Alga. Alright, let me set up the camera first."
The atmosphere here was warm, and finally, before they went home, there was a group photo session as a keepsake.
Blank adjusted the camera on its tripod. The camera was ready; the countdown began. Blank joined the line.
"Okay, on the count of 3 seconds, say 'cheese', okay?" said Ruin.
"Okay!" answered the agency members.
"Three... two... one..."
"CHEESE!!!"
That was how the moment of togetherness passed. After the photo session ended, everyone finally packed up to go home.
On the way home, Blank stopped by a flower shop decorated with many available flower varieties.
The shopkeeper welcomed Blank warmly. "Hello, welcome. How can we help you?"
Blank smiled. "I'm looking for flowers. What flowers are suitable for visiting a sick person and wishing for their health?"
The shopkeeper took Blank to the stacked shelves on the left. "For that, you could use sunflowers, lilies, or roses."
Blank held his chin. "I'll choose sunflowers."
A bouquet of sunflowers was taken and then paid for by Blank. But as Blank turned to leave the store... "Wait a moment, sir."
Blank turned his face back. "Yes?" The shopkeeper gave Blank a paper and pointed to a board filled with many small pasted papers on the wall; some had been there for 5 years. "This is our tradition. You can write a wish and stick it up."
Blank raised the corners of his lips. "Wow, that's interesting." A pen was taken, and a wish was written.
[From Kaelan]
[Rohan. I hope you can wake up and recover. You are my first friend in this city, and I will be very grateful when we can work and play together again.]
"Done. I'm going home now. Thank you." Blank waved his hand to the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper smiled warmly at him.
But Blank didn't see all the messages available on the board. If he had read a little to the lower left, it might have been a clue for him.
[From Kaeri]
[These lilies are so beautiful, white like hope. I want to take Mom, Maya, and Kaelan to a garden full of flowers. Haha, isn't that a wonderful dream too? I'll wait for that time to come.]
20 minutes of walking. Blank arrived at the hospital carrying a bouquet of sunflowers.
After entering the room, slowly, the floral scent mixed with the antiseptic smell and the cold atmosphere.
Step by step, he kept walking. Hundreds of steps had been taken, and now he faced the door to the inner waiting room. He opened the door slowly with the flowers he brought.
Natalia saw Blank. She immediately ran and hugged Blank tightly, making Blank jolt instantly. The girl pressed her face against Blank's clothes, her shoulders trembling.
Blank looked around. Rohan's father was calming his wife. Kenzo was staring blankly at the floor, making Blank's heart beat fast. His eyes widened completely when Natalia said:
[Brother Rohan... he... passed away]