Joshua put on his jacket, get into his flip flops, open the apartment's door and greeted by Elena with a smirk on her face. He walked alongside Elena, his mind still clouded with the weight of the past week. The buzz of the city provided a strange contrast to his own unease. Street vendors shouted about fresh fruit and cheap electronics, children raced by on bicycles, and cars zoomed past with the usual Yangon's morning chaos. Yangon's vibrant energy was something Joshua normally found comforting, but today it felt distant. He had just spent a week locked in a filthy cell, unsure if he'd see the outside again.
Elena remained quiet as they walked, her sunglasses hiding the intensity behind her eyes. She had always been hard to read, even more so now. Whatever game she was playing, it was bigger than anything Joshua had imagined.
"Elena," he finally said, his voice low, "what the hell have you gotten me into?"
She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "It's complicated," she replied after a pause. "You were never supposed to be part of this. I told you to stay away, didn't I?"
Joshua clenched his fists, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "You think I wanted this? I didn't ask for any of it. One day, I'm just trying to get by, work a normal job—and then suddenly, I'm being beaten and dragged into some prison cell because of you!"
Elena sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's not because of me, Joshua. Not really. It's because of where we are. People like you and me… we're caught between the cracks, no matter what we do."
Joshua looked at her sharply. "People like us?"
"Yeah," she said, her voice softening. "You're Karen. I'm Chinese. We're always seen as outsiders. We might live here, work here, but we don't truly belong. Not in the eyes of the military, the government, the fucking CIA, the Traids, whatever… anyone. That's why they came after you. Not because you did something, but because they could."
Joshua's jaw tightened. As much as he wanted to push back and talk shit back to her, her words hit home. Being an ethnic minority in myanmar is abit too annoying and he knew it, the fact that he's trying not stand out too much. His ethnic identity, a part of who he was, made him a target in ways he couldn't control with the state supported racism in Myanmar.
"Is that how you justify everything you're doing?" he asked bitterly. "You're just playing the game because you know you're a target?"
Elena slowed her pace, stopping to lean against a crumbling brick wall. She removed her sunglasses, revealing tired, bloodshot eyes. "I don't justify anything for fuck sake, Joshua. I just survive. Every day, it's about staying one fucking step ahead. I'm not proud of it, but it's the only way I know how to live."
Joshua leaned against the wall beside her, letting her words sink in. He thought about his own life, the simple little bubble he used to rely on to keep his head down. Waking up early, walking through the streets of Yangon, greeting neighbors, going to work, spending time with his boys in the Tea-house. But none of that going to get him out from the mess he was now tangled in.
"Do you ever miss it?" Joshua asked after a long silence. "Just… doing normal stuffs?"
Elena looked at him, surprised by the question. "Normal stuffs?"
"You know," he continued, his voice softer now, "waking up without fear. Drinking tea in the morning, walking through the market without looking over your shoulder. Just… being a person. Not part of all this bs."
Elena stared at him for a moment, her eyes flickering with something that looked like regret. "I don't think I've had that kind of life since I was a kid," she admitted. "Maybe that's why I don't even know what it feels like anymore."
Joshua nodded, understanding her more than he wanted to. The simple days of innocence were long behind both of them. But somehow, he still craved that peace. That sense of belonging, of being rooted in something real and honest.
"I don't know if I can," Elena added quietly. "But if I want to stay alive, I have to keep moving forward."
Joshua fell silent. He thought about his family back in the Karen state, the small village where life was tough but predictable, etheral. He had left it behind in search of opportunities in Yangon, only to find himself lost in a city where being true to himself is both a blessing and a curse.
Elena's gaze turned to him.."What do you want me to do?"
he pushed off the wall, his resolve returning. "trust me on this."
Joshua felt his stomach twist. But what choice did he have? He was already neck-deep in whatever mess Elena had started.
Elena smirked, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Maybe I do trust you already.."
Joshua and Elena continued their walk down the narrow, Hledan street, the weight of their conversation still lingering between them. But as they passed a tea shop, a loud clatter of metal cups from inside snapped Joshua out of his thoughts.
His stomach grumbled loudly, betraying him. Elena raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "When was the last time you ate?" Joshua scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I don't know, like… before the whole 'military- police beat the shit out of me incident?"
"That's at least a week ago, you idiot." Elena shook her head. "How are you still standing?" Joshua shot her a look. "I got the heart, Elena. Maybe you've heard of it. Also, I'm Karen. We're made of tougher stuff than you think." She chuckled, though the sound was dry and tired.
"Right. The same 'tough stuff' that got you tossed into a prison cell because you got tangled up with the wrong crowd?" Joshua feigned a hurt expression. "Wow, low blow." Elena shrugged, her smirk widening. "Look, if I'm dragging you into this mess, the least I can do is feed you. Come on." They ducked into a small, bustling food stall tucked away in an alley. The smells of grilled meat, garlic, and chili filled the air, making Joshua's stomach growl even louder.
He didn't even care that he was probably going to make a fool of himself in front of Elena. They sat down at one of the rickety plastic tables, the kind that wobbled if you so much as breathed too hard. The vendor, a short, wiry man with an enormous smile, came over with a menu in hand. "What'll it be today, eh?" the vendor asked, clearly delighted to have customers. Before Joshua could say anything, Elena leaned in. "We'll take two bowls of Rakhine mohinga and some tea. Extra fish cake in his."
Joshua blinked. "Are you ordering for me now?" Elena smirked. "I know what you like, Joshua."
"Okay, sure." Joshua admitted. "But don't act like you know everything about me." Elena raised her eyebrows. "You've lived here long enough. It's not that hard to figure out. You're an open book." "Excuse me?" Joshua gave a mock-offended look.
"I am very mysterious." Elena rolled her eyes as the vendor scurried off to prepare their food. "Right. you probably screamed 'I'm an innocent man!' the moment they put the cuffs on you." "Hey, I was improvising,ya dipshit." Joshua shot back, folding his arms defensively. "Besides, I am innocent. You know, apart from getting wrapped up in your nonsense.
" Elena grinned. "Oh, please. You were practically begging for adventure. Look at you now—chased by military police, dodging shady fucks, living on the edge. You're basically a walking action movie." Joshua chuckled, shaking his head. "I'd rather be a walking nap right about now." The vendor returned, placing two steaming bowls of mohinga in front of them. Joshua's mouth watered instantly as he picked up his spoon, eager to dig in. "Careful, it's hot,"
Elena warned with a mischievous glint in her eye. Joshua waved her off. "I can handle it, I'm—" He took a big spoonful of the soup and instantly winced as the scalding liquid hit his tongue. "Holy crap, it's like liquid fire!" Elena snickered, sipping her tea calmly. "Told you." Joshua, blowing on the soup to cool it down, gave her a playful glare. "You're supposed to be the one who got me out of a life-threatening situation. Not throw me into a bowl-threatening one. Anyway you been here for about a few months and you already know how to order food??"
"You'll live," Elena said with a grin, dipping her own spoon into the soup, while dodging his question. "Maybe." As they ate in relative silence, the intensity of their earlier conversation began to fade into the background. It was strange how quickly they slipped back into a more casual rhythm, as if the weight of the world wasn't pressing down on them.
"So, what's your next move?" Joshua asked between bites, his mouth half full. Elena set down her spoon, thinking for a moment. "I need to meet a contact. He might have a way to clear us both from this mess. But it's tricky. He's… not exactly a nice guy."
"Oh, great. More shady people," Joshua muttered. "Why do I get the feeling this is just going to keep spiraling into more and more trouble?" Elena laughed softly. "Welcome to my life, Joshua. Besides, you've already survived the military police. What's a few more shady characters?" Joshua shot her a look.
"I'm not sure if you're trying to reassure me or scare me."
"Maybe a little bit of both," Elena said with a wink.
They finished their meal, and Joshua leaned back in his chair, feeling slightly more human after eating. "Okay, so… we meet this contact, and then what?" Elena stood up, stretching
. "Then, we see where the chips fall. Hopefully, somewhere far away from a prison cell." Joshua groaned, pushing himself up from the table. "I really hope this is the last time I get dragged into your drama."
Elena flashed him a teasing smile as they stepped back onto the street. "Joshua, if it weren't for me, you'd be bored out of your mind right now. Admit it—you're having a little bit of fun." Joshua snorted. "Yeah, fun. That's exactly what I call getting my face smashed in by a bunch of angry soldiers."
Elena clapped him on the back, her laughter ringing out as they started walking again."See? You are tougher than you look." "Don't make me regret this, Elena," Joshua muttered, but there was a hint of a smile on his face as he followed her through the crowded streets. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right—his life was never boring.