Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 10: Blank's Childhood (9)
[Br-brother]
Blank tried to crawl, even though his energy was mostly drained and he felt weak. He touched his brother's cheek. "Br-brother..."
His eyes welled up, and his heart cracked. His emotions were returning, but this wasn't what he wanted. A sense of loss enveloped him again, and fear filled his mind.
"Brother... Not you too..." The boy's hands began to tremble, and his tears started flowing again as he closed his eyes. "Please..."
"You're noisy~"
Blank opened his eyes again. He saw Kaeri opening one eye a little and his mouth, even though his voice was barely audible.
"Use your energy to shout~"
Kaeri began to close his eyes again. Blank, hearing those words, immediately shouted as instructed. "HELP!"
"HELP US!"
Kaeri smiled. Even though his vision was already blurry, he pulled his lips up to encourage the child and give him hope. (That's right, Kaelan... This time, you have to save me.)
"HELP!"
Blank took a deep breath. He prepared for the last voice he could give right now. He absorbed all the fresh air in the hills and began to shout loudly.
"ANYONE, PLEASE HELP US!"
The child's energy was spent. His voice could no longer be produced, and that sentence was all he could utter at the end. His head began to lower again.
In the first few minutes, no one came to them. Blank's face began to weaken, and his gaze became empty again.
Even though almost fainting, he tried to keep his head up. He tried to balance his head again even though it felt very painful on his forehead.
Then...
He bowed down. His body wouldn't follow what his heart wanted. (Once more.)
And at the same moment, his body fell to the ground, and his face faced his brother, who had closed his eyes. He knew exactly what to do, but he was no longer capable. Without a final expression, his heart spoke to his brother. (Brother... I'm sorry... I failed...)
Blank fainted again. No one saw them now. Silent... Lonely... Only the wind enveloped them at this moment...
And simultaneously, a 15-year-old boy carrying a large rattan basket filled with leaves and wood on his back was there; he often went there because it was close to his house.
"Oh dear, there are people down there." He then ran behind and looked for adults to help the two of them. And that was where hope finally arrived, even though their eyes couldn't see each other.
---
That night, in the same house as before. A boy was seen with a bandage on his head, and a young man with a cast on his left arm and the same bandage on his head. Both sat on living room chairs, but no words were spoken between them.
Blank was sitting on the sofa. His fingers played with each other. (I survived... How could I suddenly be at the cliff?)
Kaeri leaned back on a red sofa not far from the boy, his gaze facing the ceiling. (I almost died... Luckily, my arm can be healed, but it'll take 4 months.)
The boy looked at his brother, who was contemplating while looking up. (What should I do? Is brother angry? His injuries are severe.) Blank's heart spoke.
On the other side, Kaeri's thoughts. (Kaelan is injured. This is my fault. Oh dear, what should I do now? He's still silent.)
They both sighed simultaneously, even though they couldn't hear each other.
Blank remained silent. But what was certain now was his unfilled stomach. It had been two days since he struggled to eat. (Brother is injured. I'll make food by myself.)
Blank got off the chair. Since about 30% of his face was bandaged, Kaeri could hardly see his expression now. (Oh dear, where is Kaelan going? Is he still not in a good mood?)
When Blank went to the kitchen, he only saw vegetables and raw meat. The soup had spoiled because he hadn't eaten it for over a day. He was confused and started looking for something. Then he remembered. (Ah, right. Grandpa said tea is good when you're sick. I'll buy tea and make some for brother too.)
Blank left the kitchen just as Kaeri tried to approach him. He kept walking and then left the house with money in his pocket to buy tea bags at the nearest store.
(Oh dear, Kaelan. Where are you going now?) Kaeri tried to reach for him but stopped his hand. He remembered something in his mind and lowered his hand again. (Ah, right... He probably needs some time alone...)
Kaeri stayed silent as the boy walked out. Then he looked towards the kitchen. (I haven't cooked... Better cook something delicious for him.)
Outside the house, Blank was seen looking for the nearest shop. But since he didn't know the way, he asked a mustached man in his yard. "Sir, where's the nearest convenience store?" The mustached man stood up and approached him.
On the other side, Kaeri was seen cutting tomatoes and carrots. He was going to cook soup for tonight for Blank, then glanced at the chicken. (I should add chicken too to make it tasty.)
Meanwhile, Blank ended up at a dead-end and only saw dense bamboo trees. (Huh? I must have taken the wrong road.) Then the wind blew the bamboo trees, making them sway, which made the little boy's hair stand on end in the dark night. He ran like a cheetah. (Wahh, scary.)
At the same time, Kaeri had boiled all the raw ingredients in a small pot just for dinner. So the dish could be finished in 15 minutes and ready to serve.
After finishing, unexpectedly, his stomach felt a bit upset. So he quickly poured it into a bowl and accidentally splashed some hot water. (Ugh, damn... Hot.) Then he placed it under a large cover on the table to keep flies away from the food. He hurried to the toilet.
On the other side, Blank finally found the store mentioned by the mustached man earlier. (Ah, there it is.)
Meanwhile, Kaeri opened his backyard door; the toilet was separate from the house, and the backyard was only filled with trees. (Huh...) He took a knife and then started walking. (So dark... If there are ghosts, I'll stab them...) While pointing the knife into the empty air, even though his destination was the toilet.
Blank arrived home, but the place was so quiet. He didn't see his brother at all and furrowed his brow. (Huh... Where's brother?) He walked to the kitchen and didn't find anyone. He thought his brother was also getting fresh air now, and he started boiling water to make tea.
After finishing, he placed it in a small cover right next to the large cover, but he didn't open it at all and didn't know there was food there. He then started looking for his brother around the house.
Simultaneously, Kaeri entered the house through the back door and went to the kitchen. He didn't see Blank. Then he went to the front door and looked around. His face paled, and his body froze. Instantly, he ran with his gaze moving rapidly left and right. (He's not here! Dangerous.) He left the house.
Blank searched until the backyard, but...
"Brother's not here..." He entered the house with a gloomy face and slow steps. His lips began to droop, and his eyes weakened.
At the same time, Kaeri approached the mustached man in front of his yard. "Sir, did you see a child about this tall passing by?" The mustached man approached him.
Simultaneously, Blank felt frustrated because his brother wasn't home. Even though he searched around the house, he still couldn't find his brother. He then looked at the sky outside his house. (Did brother really leave me now?)
At the same time, Kaeri got lost at a dead-end and faced many bamboo trees. The wind then came and made the bamboo trees sway in the dark night. Kaeri's eyes twitched. (That man gave the wrong address...)
Blank, who was searching for Kaeri until he left the house, met the mustached man sitting in his front yard again. "Sir, did you see a brother about this tall?" The little boy tiptoed and pointed vertically upwards with his innocent face under the bandage. The mustached man approached him.
At the same time, Kaeri found the store he was looking for. Then he asked the shopkeeper lady, looking for a child. The lady pointed her hand in the direction leading to Kaeri's house but via a different road than before. He walked. (Ah, did he just ask...) He turned around. "Two breads, Ma'am."
During the walk, Blank almost saw Kaeri walking home with a plastic bag containing bread. But because his gaze was on the ground and then he mistakenly focused on the left after hearing. "Meow..." He glanced. (Ah, it's a kitten... So cute~) He approached and patted its head. Then he went to the store.
Kaeri walked and was surprised. "Huh... This is the way home, right?" He entered his house and searched around.
At the same time, Blank was seen carrying a kitten in his hands and going home. "I'm Kaelan, your brother Kaeri, you..." He lifted the kitten with sparkling eyes, "...Kaema!"
Kaeri, who searched for Blank in every corner of the room, still didn't find him. (Oh dear, where did this child go? They said he went this way.) Kaeri scratched his forehead hard, his thoughts clashing, and he left the house. His hair was messy, and his face began to pale.
(If he's lost, I'm in big trouble.)
(...)
Blank and Kaeri met outside the house. They fell silent. Not a single sound. Both simultaneously lowered their heads, and their shoulders began to tremble. In unison, they shouted together.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" They shouted together.
"I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU!" said Blank.
"I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU TOO!" answered Kaeri.
Blank scrunched his face even though both his hands were holding the kitten. "I MADE YOU TEA!"
With a clenched fist, Kaeri answered. "I MADE DINNER!"
Simultaneously, they both said.
"I... Eh..."
[WHAT!]
The quiet village night became noisy because of a pair of siblings shouting at each other. It was a long misunderstanding that was finally resolved.
Although, 10 minutes later...
Kaeri watched Blank eating heartily. His swallowing intervals were short. "Eat a lot. You look really hungry."
Blank swallowed a gulp of plain water. "Alright-alright, drink the tea too. I made it."
Kaeri sighed. "Why bring a cat?"
Blank furrowed his brow. "Let it be. Besides, it's alone. Have some pity."
The young man scratched his neck to the back of his hair. He was a bit nervous to say it but tried. "Hey, Kaelan."
Blank, who was eating, was startled. "Hmm?"
Kaeri lowered his head and bit the inside of his mouth. Actually, he was hesitant to say it, but he hoped for forgiveness from the little boy. "I'm sorry."
The boy fell silent and looked at the soup he was eating.
(...)
Blank sighed, and his eyes trembled slightly, but he hid it by looking down. He still held doubts about his brother. But if not resolved, nothing would change. He needed to know something. "Yeah, Kaelan is sorry too."
Kaeri was startled. He didn't expect it to be that quick. Spontaneously, he said, "Really—"
Blank pointed the spoon at him with a different gaze. This time, his gaze was sharp and more serious. "About earlier."
His tone was polished to be slow but firm. "I want to know why Grandpa's house burned down."
Kaeri nodded. (At least I can rebuild his trust this time.) He began to open his mouth. "Alright... I'll tell you."
Blank watched seriously, squinting his eyes a little and keeping his mouth shut.
That night, Kaeri could repair his relationship with Blank. Even though he told the story in a different way, it was necessary for him to protect the boy for these 7 years.
---
As calm began to envelop the small house in that village, in the shadows of the city, a machine of revenge, older and more cruel, had just been found alive again.
In a city far from the village. A dark basement with a mix of yellow lights and still-installed red bricks, many sheets of paper were displayed with human faces and the word 'WANTED'.
A place called Underring. A place that was an illegal business ecosystem providing human fighting bets, drug transactions, prostitution spots, and organized business meetings.
A person was seen entering the higher-up's room.
The man who arrived greeted the man sitting behind a teak wood desk adorned with several handguns like. "Hello, Branch Chief 4."
The man referred to as Branch Chief 4 smiled. "Aren't you handling the two people killed in the village house arson incident, Branch Chief 5?"
Branch Chief 5 chuckled softly. He gave a photo and threw it to the man there. Then he reacted with widened eyes and gritted his teeth hard. "This...!"
Branch Chief 5 grinned. "Someone who destroyed Underring Branch 4 two years ago. This looks like him. I suspect it's him because he managed to kill two of my subordinates."
Branch Chief 4 showed a face full of anger, and his clenched teeth met harder. His eyes reddened, and his body heated up looking at the photo of a black-haired young man with a center-part hairstyle wearing a black hoodie and carrying a large suitcase.
"How is it possible... Has he been hiding in the village all this time..." He fumed, clenching his fist until veins were visible on his arm.
"According to the report, 70% shows he was investigating the previous boss's target house. But he crossed paths with my men who were about to act."
The sitting man stared sharply. "And the other 30%?"
"They said he brought his younger brother."
The veins on his neck tensed and became visible. "Oh, he has a younger brother?"
"Maybe." While shrugging once.
But Branch Chief 4, sitting in his chair, was utterly destroyed. He couldn't stand and just sat there. The pen he had been using to write was now completely broken, and ink spilled everywhere. His ears grew hotter, and he raised his nose while looking at the photo.
Branch Chief 5 stepped forward and uttered a hard sentence in a heavy tone. "Someone who destroyed your right leg and your business, and worst of all... He killed your older brother."
[Kaeri]