The rain had cleared and the sun was peeking out from behind the clouds. Some faint rays were hitting on their faces.
Sam and Rita were sitting next to each other on the park bench. Lesser people were around, probably because they had gone home after the heavy shower.
Heavy silence loomed between them.
"Are you really going to leave?" Rita was the one who broke the silence with her question.
"Uh-um." Sam nodded his head in reply.
"But do you really believe that, what your dad said is true?"
"I don't know."
"So then wh-"
"That's why I have to go." Sam cut her midway.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked since she really didn't know what he meant by that.
"See. I don't really believe what my old man said. He is always spouting nonsense. At first, I also didn't believe him. So, I searched my mom's room with hope that I might find some clue. Then I found her records from her schooling days. I found that she had studied in Kathe town and also did internship at Kath Town Royal Hospital for about two years. My old man had said the same to me."
He took a deep sigh and then continued.
"Listen. I still fully don't believe this shit about me being adopted. But after what I found, I can say that his words at least have some credibility."
"That may be right." Rita had no way of denying this.
"I will go to Kath town and meet this Dr. Hermann Kacee and ask him if his knows something about my mom. Hopefully, I might be able to ascertain the truth after hearing him out."
"And if you find nothing about this adopting incident, what will you do?"
"I will return to Alauna. But before coming I will make sure to visit Kath town thoroughly."
Sam let a childish laugh at his last statement.
Rita also let out sigh and returned his smile.
"So when are you leaving?"
"Probably day after tomorrow. I will have to do some packing tomorrow."
"Where are going to stay?"
"Probably in a hotel or an inn."
(Whack.)
He received another blow to his head.
"Why the hell did you just hit me?!" Sam raised his voice because her blow this time had more force than the usual ones.
"Are you an idiot?!" Rita sounded somewhat angry.
Sam was about to say something in return but she beat him to the punch.
"You know how costly the inns and hotels at Kath town are, huh?! Even if you take all your savings you won't be able to get by for more than a week. Did you know that?!"
He didn't know about that. Or rather he hadn't even tried to know. He was going to Kath town two days from now but he had done no research on where to stay. He just said hotels or inns because he had learned in school that those were the places where people stayed when they went to some new places.
But after hearing Rita who was quite familiar with Kath town, he realized that he had made no plans regarding his visit. It was not quite that. He had decided to travel to Kath town just this morning. Soon after he got involved in a fight at the garage. These events were happening so fast that he had no time were sorting out his plans.
"You really are the same old Sam." said Rita and had a teasing smile on her face.
"You little…." That was the only retort he could come up with at that moment.
"Guess as always I have to help you out."
She then faced him and started saying. "Listen. You know that I used to go to Kath Town every year?"
"Yeah. I know."
"I have relatives at Kath town. They are an old couple. They run a restaurant there at Kath town and it's running pretty good. Although I said, 'they' run the place it's only uncle that handles all the work. They have some staffs as well. "
"Why does your aunt help out? Is she the boss like character who orders her workers while she herself sits idly and gains all the profit?"
Whack.
Another hit to his head. Just when he was about to retort on that Rita spoke, "She is disabled."
"Huh."
That statement made it clear why he had received a whack this time around.
Rita continued, " Actually, their son died right after his birth. She was deeply traumatized. So when she was wandering aimlessly around the town probably because of the shock of her son's death she got involved in an accident. Miraculously she survived, but now she is in a state of paralysis. She can't move on her own so uncle has to take extensive care of her and move her around in her wheelchair."
"Sorry."
Sam immediately apologized to her.
"It's okay. You didn't know about that. But more importantly, the reason why I told you all this is.."
"Is?"
"You'll be staying at their place at Kath town."
"Huh?"
Is this girl crazy? There's no way her uncle would allow someone he didn't know stay at their place. Thinking this he spoke.
"But will they really allow someone who they don't know to live at their place that easily?"
He was slightly worried that this will not happen.
He had not enough money to get by in Kath town for a month or more given how expensive Rita said it was. And the idea which she just said didn't sound convincing to him. If so then he would have to postpone his plans. Thinking all this he sighed.
Sensing his doubts Rita tapped his shoulder twice.
"Don't worry. I will make it work somehow."
And then she showed a smile brimming with confidence.
He then smiled in return.
He thought. No, he knew that Rita will make it work somehow. It was her character to acheive what she set out for. Since her childhood she used to say 'Man doesn't take his words back'. But she was a girl though.
He slowly stood up patting his back.
"Okay. I leave it to you, Rita."
She gave a thumbs up in reply. She also then rose to her feet. With a desolate look in her eyes she gazed at the sun which was about to set.
"I am going to miss you."
"Hmm? Did you say anything?"
"No. Nothing. Anyway let's go back before it gets dark. We also have to close the garage."
She then started walking quickly. The tip of her ears slightly red.
"Hey. Wait."
Sam then started running towards her and eventually caught up.
"Hey, Rita."
"Hmm?"
"Let's buy some doughy pretzels for Roger and the others on the way."
"Why don't you say straight that you want to eat them, huh?"
"Hehe."
The both of them decided not to tell about he visiting Kath Town to the others.
And then they continued their idle talks until they reached the garage.