A week had passed since Kenny had experienced those devastating moments. He had spent some time in Pupu's healing liquid and had returned to his regular life until a note of action from the organization. Although he had not recovered fully, and had sustained fatal wounds on his body, he felt alright now.
He still had dressing around his body up till his neck, which was noticeable under his regular black t-shirt. He went to the graves of the old men with flowers.
"You are such a good lad, Kenny. Your parents must be proud of you."
"You should drink plenty of water. It keeps your stomach working like a lubricated engine."
He remembered the cherished moments they had spent with each other.
The organization had buried their bodies in the graveyard near the Kanugo slum area, so that it would be easier for Kenny to visit them.
Kenny rested near their stone graves, established side by side. He placed the flowers on both their graves.
"You finally met your beloved ones. Good for you," he said. "Rest well and leave the rest to me."
There was only one thing on his mind. It was to avenge the old men and slay their murderer, and to ultimately end the tyrannical system.
***
EARLIER
When Kenny was leaving the island in the rescue boats of the organization, he believed Symon to be responsible for the deaths of the old men.
"They told me there were executives monitoring me," he said, staring into the water in violence. "There was nobody on the island. Why?"
"They were expected to report your performance to the executives after everything was over," Symon told him. "Maybe they lied to you so that you would display your maximum potential to demonstrate your value."
"Why did you not arrive earlier?" demanded Kenny.
"Nobody foresaw the incidents and nobody could," answered the boss. "Apparently, there was a leak from within." He frowned and released an apocalyptic aura, which shook Kenny's very soul. "Do not worry, I will make them pay for each and every one of us."
"Tch." Kenny clicked his tongue. On the inside, he knew the type of work the old men chose was meant to lead them to this fate sooner or later. In his heart, he was furious, but not furious at Symon or the organization, but at the whole reality. This painstaking reality irked him more than anything.
"Kenny," said Symon, "I know you are angry, but your anger is exploding in the wrong place." He presented his hand. "Lend me your furor. Your hate." He signaled around him towards the men belonging to the organization surrounding them in several boats. Kenny followed his signals. "Everybody around us is angry. They have all lost something precious to them from the hands of power."
Kenny glanced into their eyes, and felt reflections of grief and resentment, exactly what Symon uttered. He remained contemplative for a few seconds and extended his hand to the boss.
Symon smirked. "Correct decision indeed."
Kenny, at the moment, felt dizzy and weak, and passed out after falling near Symon's feet. Pupu, who was seated on another boat near them, said, "He is hurt and needs medical attention. I will have to put him in the healing coffin."
***
PRESENT
While returning from the graveyard and on the route to his home, Kenny passed by the street corner where the old men polished boots. He could spot old man Sine from afar, but he had no intention of going to him. Just when he was about to walk away, his feet halted when he heard a voice.
"Kenny, is that you?" It was Marya who had returned from her everyday labor.
He turned and looked at her. "Yeah. It is me." She was in her regular dull-looking patched dress.
The girl saw his bandages and dressings, and her face swelled with distress. "You… do not look well." Her eyes turning away from him.
"I am alive. That is what matters," answered Kenny, concealing his emotions under a mask of plain face. "How are you?"
"I am good," she replied.
Kenny stepped to get away. "Glad to know. See ya." His feet again halted when she asked something.
"Wait! There was something that has been bothering me for a few days."
"What is it?" He turned and asked.
"It is about uncle Cosant and uncle Tangent," she revealed with a worried look. She noticed his fist clenching when she said it, but his face had no noticeable expression changes. "It has been a week and they are nowhere to be found. My father is worried about them and fears if something bad happened to them." She could see a glint of anger on his face. "You were also not coming since the day they went missing. So, I thought maybe you would…"
"I know nothing," Kenny said, interrupting her utterance. "I was just occupied dealing with some of my personal issues."
"I see." Her eyes went downcast with a sad face. "Sorry for bothering you."
"It is alright." Kenny turned again to leave when she again said something.
"I was worried about you."
He wanted to stop. He wanted to share his sorrow. He wanted to feel embraced and have a moment of peace. But he had to leave. His new life demanded sacrifices.
He hurried away before his mind changed.
Marya stared at his back, distancing from her. "Kenny, what have you gotten yourself into?" She muttered with a worried face. She could remember spotting him carried by old men Cosant and Tangent in their scrap house, and could vividly remember that he was wounded. It was after that day they all went missing.
Kenny hurried away towards his matchbox. When he landed outside his house, he discovered someone familiar waiting for him.
"Is that you, Kenny? Where the hell were you?!" The person saw his bandages. "Oh my God!" they reacted in shock. "What did just happen to you? Did you involve yourself in some accident? Is that why you were not coming to the restaurant?"
The person was Kenny's good friend and co-worker 'Jimmy Hooligan'. He had short brown messy hair trimmed from the sides, white skin, black eyes, a prominent nose, and a round face. He wore a collared maroon t-shirt, gray pants and black shoes.
"Jimmy?" Kenny appeared surprised at his presence outside his house. "What are you doing here?"
"I was worried about you, man. You disappeared without a trace. And what about those bandages? Care to explain me?"
Kenny scratched his cheek with an awkward smile. "I met with an accident. I was in the hospital for the past few days."
Jimmy sighed. "The boss was angry at you for ditching your work without prior notice. I had already visited your house three times in the past four days, but always found it locked. I was worried if something happened to you."
"Did the boss fire me?"
Jimmy shook his head. "I lied to him that you have a medical emergency and could not get the time to inform him, but it seems my lie turned out to be surprisingly true. But I wonder how long he would be willing to tolerate your absence."
Kenny sighed. "You are a lifesaver. Come." He gestured for Jimmy to accompany him inside. "Let us have some soft drinks."
"Sure."
They stepped inside the rented matchbox. Jimmy sat down on the floor while Kenny took out a bottle of cola and two glasses from inside the small cupboard beside his mattress.
"Man, your space is small compared to mine," Jimmy commented, looking around.
"I could afford this much only with the pay I get," replied Kenny, pouring the cola into Jimmy's glass. "You live with your family. That is why you live in a decent place."
"That is true. If I were to survive alone, I would have been living in a similar place," Jimmy rubbed the back of his head embarrassingly, "It is not like I live in a big place. It is compact compared to even the barest minimum of living standards." He gulped the cola.
"At least you have a family," Kenny muttered in an inaudible tone, his face going sad for a moment.
"Did you say something?"
"Ah, no. How are your mom and dad?"
"They are doing fine. Just busy in everyday toil," Jimmy answered casually and sighed. He gazed outside the window and noticed something.
"Good for you," Kenny replied and drank his cola.
Jimmy suddenly tapped Kenny's shoulder and signaled outside the window. "Who is that creepy guy hanging outside your window?"
Kenny looked outside and was surprised to see Orange dangling outside his window glass with a wide grin on his face. "Orange? What are you…"
"It is cold outside. Let me in."