They arrived and got off the bus. Kenji looked around, not feeling very hopeful. "Well done, Max. Old man, where are we?" he asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Mount Siya," Max replied confidently.
Kenji sighed saying yeah I know where you said we were going but look he gestured towards the distant silhouette of the mountain. "Dude, the mountain is that way. Are we meant to walk?"
Everyone looked at each other in silence, the sound of crickets filling the air.
Max rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. "Don't get mad, but I didn't exactly plan for us to be dropped off here. Last time I remembered, the bus stop was in a small village, not in the middle of nowhere."
"Wait," Zoe and Kenji said in unison, "You're telling us that you didn't account for the fact that these stops can change?"
Kenji sighed deeply. "Oh lord, this is gonna be a long day."
A couple of hours later, the scorching heat was taking its toll on them as they finally stumbled into the village. Sweat dripped from their brows, and their clothes clung to their bodies. The villagers, with arms crossed and eyebrows raised, stared at the trio as if they were a traveling circus act gone wrong.
Kenji, panting heavily, muttered, "I feel like a roast chicken."
Zoe fanned herself dramatically. "A roast chicken? More like a walking puddle."
Max tried to maintain his composure, but even he couldn't ignore the curious and judgmental stares. "Just keep moving," he whispered, attempting to muster some dignity.
An old woman shook her head, muttering something about "city folks" under her breath, while a group of children pointed and giggled. One of them mimicked their exhausted walk, causing his friends to burst into laughter.
Kenji sighed, "Oh great, now we're the village entertainment. This day just keeps getting better."
Zoe smirked. "Hey, at least we're making an impression."
An elder man in his fifties, with a kind face and a weathered look that spoke of years under the sun, called out to them from the shade of a nearby tree. "Hey, are you guys in need of assistance?" he asked, his voice carrying a tone of genuine concern.
His clothes were simple but neat, and he leaned slightly on a wooden cane. The village around him seemed to respect his presence, the judgmental stares of the other villagers softening as he approached the trio.
Kenji, Zoe, and Max paused, turning towards the man. Kenji wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed with relief. "You have no idea," he replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion and gratitude.
Zoe nodded, adding, "We could use all the help we can get right now."
The man smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Come, follow me. Let's get you out of this heat and sorted out." He gestured for them to follow, leading them through the village with a steady pace.
The elder man led them through the village, his steady pace contrasting with their weary trudging. The curious stares of the villagers followed them, but under the man's guidance, they felt a bit more at ease. Finally, they arrived at a small, rustic restaurant with a wooden sign swinging gently in the breeze.
Pushing open the door, the man gestured for them to enter. Inside, the air was cool and filled with the mouthwatering aroma of home-cooked food. The restaurant was cozy, with wooden tables and chairs, and walls adorned with local artwork and photographs.
"Take a seat," the man said kindly, pointing to a table near the window. Kenji, Zoe, and Max gratefully collapsed into the chairs, their exhaustion evident.
Kenji let out a long breath, leaning back and closing his eyes for a moment. "This feels like heaven," he muttered.
Zoe, wiping sweat from her forehead, nodded. "I didn't think I could walk another step."
Max, trying to maintain a semblance of dignity despite his fatigue, gave the man a grateful nod. "Thank you, sir. We really appreciate this the elder man smiled warmly, gesturing towards a waiter nearby. "He'll take care of your meals. It's on me. Have a nice day," he said, then left the restaurant with a kind nod.
The waiter approached their table promptly. "What can I get for you?" he asked politely.
"Water, please," Kenji requested wearily.
"And something hearty to eat," Zoe added with a tired smile.
Max nodded gratefully, thankful for the unexpected kindness.
As the waiter went to fulfill their orders, they sank into their chairs, relieved to finally rest in the cool, inviting atmosphere of the restaurant.
Kenji, looking around the restaurant, finally asked, "Hey, old man, where are we supposed to stay?"
Max grinned confidently and replied, "Oh well, I've prepared accommodation. There's a house on that hill just 15 minutes from the village. I chose it for its privacy."
Zoe interjected, "That's nice and all, but I just remembered, where is Jackson and the other boy you were talking about.
Max nodded, "Oh yes, they're already here. Jackson picked up Kenny." Zoe raised an eyebrow, "Hmm, so his name's Kenny. What's the guy like?"
Max replied cautiously, "Well, he can be a bit of a difficult character," trying not to reveal too much.
"Hey, old man," Zoe said sharply, "I have a feeling you're trying to hide something from us. You better spill the beans before I crack your skull."
"Okay, okay," Max conceded, "He's difficult to be around. He has a bit too much pride and tends to think others are below him."
Kenji sighed, "Oh great, you're telling me we've got a certified asshole now," groaning audibly "it was already bad enough I have to deal with you and Zoe," Kenji said, poking Zoe's head with a finger. Zoe responded sharply, "Hey, smart guy, stop that before I bite your finger off."
Max hesitated before continuing, "But the good thing is that Jackson isn't like that. He's got his own issues though." His voice carried a hint of concern as he spoke, his brow furrowing slightly as he chose his words carefully.
Kenji leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "What kind of issues?" he asked, his curiosity piqued despite his weariness.
Zoe interjected sharply, "Let's just say the guy's a know-it-all. He follows every rule to the letter and comes off as stuck-up and good for everything." Her words sliced through the air, adding to Max's earlier description of Jackson's personality.
Kenji interrupted, correcting Zoe, "Wait, isn't it supposed to be 'good for nothing'? You just changed the meaning of the phrase."
Zoe took a breath and countered, "No, the guy is literally good for everything. He's pretty strong, knowledgeable, there's little he can't do."
"Oh, I'm regretting my decision," Kenji muttered sarcastically. "I'm stuck with a crazy midget chick, an old man who doesn't know social boundaries, a prideful buffoon, and a stuck-up good-for-everything know-it-all—" Before Kenji could continue, Zoe and Max interrupted in unison, "Stop, please. Don't keep on going we get it.
"Anyway, let's focus on other matters," Max began, but as he was about to continue, the food arrived—steaming bowls of ramen. His eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of the food. "The discussion can wait," he declared, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
Zoe and Kenji exchanged amused glances. "Oh, thank you for that suggestion, Max," Zoe remarked with a hint of sarcasm, her expression not betraying her amusement.
Max glanced at them with a not-amused look on his face, knowing full well they were teasing him. But he couldn't hide his anticipation as he picked up his chopsticks, ready to dive into the delicious ramen before him.