We were looking at the blue sky and the icy wind keep on touching us.
"Isn't crazy if I envy a dead person?"
"Yes. Why?" He looks at me but I'm still looking at the sky.
"Maybe because they can't feel anything, anymore. I want to be like them. To rest in peace. But because of my mother, I'm still fighting. I want to rebel, to get waisted, to beat people's asses. To live like I have nothing to think. But I can't." Teardrops. "Did you ever think that way?"
"No. I never wish that. I still want to see every day's sunset and sunrise. I do believe that life is unfair but I never wish myself dead. Even my life loses its worth or meaning I won't wish that. Maybe you are just insecure. Try not to compare too much. Life in comparison is a failure. Remember that."
"Oh, I forgot you're one of the angel." I chuckled.
"I'm just saying don't be too harsh to yourself. You are still young and maybe one day, in one blink your life will turn better. More beautiful. More meaning full. There's still a lot of doors that is close because they are waiting for the right time to finally open."
"Whatever."
________________
"Why did you bring me here?" I asked him.
"Isn't it beautiful here? The air is fresh. You can see the houses like an ant and the light that twinkle in the dark."
I laugh.
"You know what's funny?" I asked him.
"What?"
"It's the way to our house."
"But I've been here too many times. No one walk here."
"Yeah, since they constructed a shortcut no one passed here. Because everyone loves easy way. It's a waste of time if people will still use this road."
I look around and walk toward the bus stop bench. The bench is now covered with rust and plants chilled on its surface.
"When I was younger I stayed here every time my mom is angry with me." I sit on the bench.
"What is the reason why she's angry with you?" He sits beside me.
"You know the new road they've constructed? Before it was full of trees and I love playing there. I climb the tree and pick some fruit. No one owns those trees. So the fruit I've just collected, I will sell it door to door. And after selling everything, I'll buy me and my mom some bread."
"I don't see anything wrong about that."
"Yes, she appreciates that... But I'm the type of person who always falls while doing something. A little bit clumsy So every time I go home I have a ton of bruises and wounds. She always says that she doesn't want me to be in an accident. Because she doesn't have money for the treatment."
"Ahh, now I see. At least you have a story to tell. But that is actually sweet."
"Why? You didn't do silly things when you were younger?"
"Nope. When I was younger I'm always inside the room with nannies or tutors. Doing some painting. Reading some books. Playing instruments and following their command. I never really had a chance to do what I want."
"Why? What do you want to do?"
"I want to do sport but every time they see me playing they get mad at me. they burn all the things I love or throw them away. One time I try out in basketball but when they found it out they punish me."
"What? That's horrible. Why?"
"My dad is a great basketball player. His team always wins because of him. One day his team betrayed him and kick him out. Spread some fake news about him to destroy his reputation. He got depressed. And maybe that is the reason why he doesn't want me to get involved in sports. And as his child I understand it."
"You never get angry with them?"
"I get mad but not angry."
"What? Really? When I was young, I say swore words inside my head when I get angry with my mom even it's just a little argument of ours. And sometimes I wish her to be dead. That was before I don't wish that anymore. You never did that?" I said with amusement.
"Nope."
"My god. I feel so bad right now." I said but he just laugh.
He grabbed something inside his pocket. A pen. He grabbed my hand and started to write something.
"What is this?" I ask, looking at some random numbers.
"It's my number if you need something, just call that number and a hero will come to save your day."
"Corny," I said and he laugh.
I love it when he loses his eyes everytime he smile and his cat dimples are so cute.
"But, no kidding, I'm serious."
"Okay, I'll save it."
"Thanks."
"Can I borrow your pen?" Questions are visible on his face but he says nothing and handed me his pen. I grab his hand and write my number and name.
"It's my number save." He smiles.
"Rose. So your name is Rose?" I nodded.
"It's beautiful."
"Do you want to see our house?" I asked him.
"Is that okay with you? Like, I'm still a stranger."
"Are you going to do something bad to me?" I asked him and he shake his head.
"Let's go then," I said and we walk.
"Thank you." He said while we're walking.
"For what."
"For this kind of little things, It means so much for me to."
When we finally arrived I saw my mom, feeding the stray cat again.
"My Rose." She said. "Oh, who is this man." She asks pointing at Ben.
"He's Ben...My friend."
"That man?" She asks if he is the man I'm talking about. I just nodded.
"What's your name, young man?" My mom asked.
"Ben, Madam." He politely replieses.
"Okay, You want to eat with us?" She asked.
"Can I?"
"Of course, but we can't offer you those fancy food. We only have cheap here in our tiny house." She said jokingly
"No, it doesn't matter. I'm glad that you ask me." He said thankfully.
"If that so. Come on in."
My mom served white rice tofu and boiled egg with soy sauce.
"This is all we can offer." She said.
"It looks tasty." He said.
We ate together and I saw him enjoy dishes my mom prepare for us.
"Thank you, madam. I enjoy it."He said with a smile.
"Okay, get home safe."
"Thank you." He said goodbye.
__________________
Day after day. We became closer together. It became a hobby of him to Fetch me after my work, do a little talk and go to my house. I became comfortable being with him and his company.
He fetch me, stops his car in our little place. We sit on the bench and just talk.
I don't know but I love it this way.
"How are you?" He asks and rest his head on my shoulder.
"I'm good. How about you."
"Good, coz your on my side."
"It's corny but I'll accept it," I said with a smile that made him chuckle.
"I'm curious. What do you want to do in the future."
"I don't know. Even I dream It will never happen."
"Hey! that's mean."
"What about you?" I ask.
"Sport. And you?"
"I want to be a writer. I want to publish stories of mine."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Sometimes I daydream about it. Like I'm one of the most loved writers or there's a crowd loving my work. There's a line of people waiting to meet me and get some sign of mine. Hay! It feels good to dream."
"Yeah."
"But sometimes I get tired."
"Maybe one day. Our dreams will come true."
"Hope so."
After some talk, we headed to my house. And there's my mom.
"It's you again Ben. You enjoy our house. Don't you?"
"Yeah. It feels home." He said with a smile. "I bought fried chicken for us."
"You don't have to."
"It's like a pay, because you always treat me a tasty lunch."
"Really? Then I'll accept it. Thank you."
We spend a lot of days just doing the same thing we love. We got to know each other more. Collecting information from those little talks. And every night I recall it in my sleep.