Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 14: Kaelan (1)
[September 22, 2025]
Blank was seen preparing his suitcase and sitting on the sofa in his living room. He looked at his phone screen with a small laugh visible on his lips. Then a furry creature approached.
"Meow."
Blank was startled. He then lifted his cat onto his lap and stroked its soft fur. "Kaema... I'll be taking the bus to the city tonight. You guard the house, okay?" A smile flashed across his face.
He looked back at his screen. "This is the phone Brother Kaeri left. He also left the camera and suitcase." He looked at his cat. "Maybe brother wanted me to pick him up." The corners of his lips raised as he closed his eyes toward his cat.
Blank had prepared before departure and was looking at a young man's social media. "Hmm... Why are the comments like this?"
[Post: Reynald's 25th Birthday]
[Comments]
Click.
[You're just pretending to be rich!]
[Your money comes from illegal business!]
[I hate rich people!]
Blank held his right cheek and grimaced. "These people. They're mad at a successful young man. Why do you think that is, Kaema?"
"Meow."
"Well, your answer is definitely still 'meow'." He then leaned back on the sofa and used both hands as a cushion. "I'm curious. How did Brother Reynald get that much money."
The teenager then closed his eyes until the afternoon passed and now it was evening.
Now Blank was carrying his suitcase on his right side and a large bag on his back. "I'm carrying a lot of stuff." He glanced at his cat standing in front of the door. "Hey, Kaema, I'm leaving now. When I meet Brother Kaeri, I'll come back."
The cat sat upright with its tail moving. "Meow." Blank smiled, and this time his steps began to move away from his house. Even though it was hard for him, he had to do it now. "I'm off. See you again, Kaema." While waving his hand.
A taxi came to pick him up, and finally he left for the terminal, then approached the officer on duty. "Sir, where is the bus to Chean Town B?" The officer pointed his index finger to the left. Blank bowed his head slightly with a smile. "Thank you, sir."
Blank placed his bag in the luggage compartment and entered the bus. The teenager was quite awkward, and his steps were heavy, but he still headed to his seat. (Phew... I'm really going now.) Blank leaned back. (Wait for me... Brother...)
After waiting 15 minutes, the bus finally started moving again, and he enjoyed his long journey. (The travel time is 8 hours. This will be long.)
After 4 hours passed, Blank was seen having closed his eyes, but he was startled when...
Thud.
"Huh!?" He immediately looked at the seat beside him and saw a young man sitting next to him. "Ah, sorry-sorry, did I startle you?"
Blank rubbed his neck. "No, I'm just used to waking up at the slightest sound." The young man chuckled softly after hearing his words, then extended his hand. "Haha, alright. I'm Rohan, nice to meet you."
Then Blank responded by shaking his hand too. "I'm Kaelan, nice to meet you too." The young man answered with a smile. "Rohan, are you going to Chean Town B?"
Rohan nodded. "Yes, I work there as a photographer." Blank was startled and smiled. "Rohan, I can also use a camera. Small or big ones, I can handle."
Rohan scratched his forehead. "Haha, really?" Answered with a nod. "Yes, I've been learning with my brother for 2 years, even went to a studio for direct practice."
Rohan widened his eyes and opened his mouth. "Ah, that's great. Let's work together sometime." Blank answered with his friendly smile.
The night journey continued until morning arrived. Blank was seen waking up from his sleep, retrieving his belongings, and then hailing a taxi. Blank looked at the screen on his phone. (I've already booked a rental room, so just need to go there.)
However, from a tall building around the 28th floor, a man wearing a slightly open white shirt with black pants watched him from above and chuckled softly. "Haha... Oh my, that kid really came to the city." He returned to his room.
After Blank successfully found his taxi, he continued his journey to his rental room. Upon arrival, he could clearly see the shape of his rental.
Blank sighed. "Oh my, it's only 6x6. Well, since I'm alone, it's not a problem." He opened the door and entered his current residence. Cream-colored paint mixed with white and white ceramic tiles gave a warming impression. "Hey, this isn't bad."
Blank walked around briefly. There was one bathroom and one bedroom containing a bed and a closet; the kitchen area only had a table added. Then he scratched his head. "Wow, need to buy a lot of stuff later." But he sighed. "Huh... Need to earn money."
Beep.
His phone beeped, and then Blank looked at the message. "Huh? From Rohan?"
[Hey Kaelan, in 3 weeks there's a videography competition for a 3-star restaurant's 10th-anniversary ad called 'Hybrida'. First prize is $1,000. If interested, click the link and location I sent.]
[Https//:hybridaaniv10.com]
His hand trembled, and his heart beat fast. His eyes widened, and he bit his lip. Then he raised his hand and jumped. "Let's go!"
In one day, he used his time to tidy up his rental and rest.
The next day arrived, and morning began to shine into his room. The teenager finally woke up and rubbed his eyes. "Ah, it's morning."
He got up and then hurried to clean himself so his mission to find his brother could start today. Blank was so enthusiastic that he was ready in 10 minutes, then left his residence and locked the door. Blank walked, wearing his hat with a backpack on his back. "Let's get started."
Using public transportation, he managed to reach the city center. He began asking strangers passing by by showing a photo of his brother.
He approached one by one the people in the city center. "Excuse me, sir. Have you ever seen this brother?" A mustached man shook his head.
Then. "Excuse me, ma'am. Have you heard the name Kaeri? He looks like this." But the answer remained the same.
Within an hour, he had asked about 149 times but still found no answers. He sat on a public bench with hard iron cushions, then bowed forward. "Oh dear... Why are there no clues..."
He closed his eyes and clenched his hands. (Brother, where are you really...)
Grrr...
(Ah, I haven't had breakfast.) Then he saw a small shop by the roadside selling porridge. Blank remembered a moment with his brother.
Flashback of little Blank with Kaeri having porridge for breakfast...
"Wow! What dish is this, bro? How do you know so much about village food?" Kaeri smiled warmly. "This is called mung bean porridge. Try it; it's good for breakfast."
Blank took a spoon and ate it. His eyes sparkled, and his cheeks puffed. "Wow, this is delicious!" Kaeri chuckled softly.
That's what he remembered when his brother was still with him back then. Without further thought, he approached the shopkeeper. "Sir, how much for one portion of porridge?"
The shopkeeper wiped his hands with a clean cloth and answered his question, "$3."
Blank's eyes widened, and his mouth opened. "That's expensive!" The shopkeeper sighed. "That's already the cheapest, son."
Blank scratched his head where it didn't itch and took out his wallet. Reluctantly, he pulled out a bill and handed it over. "Phew... Alright, one portion, please."
Then he received a container and immediately went to the public bench he had occupied earlier.
With his lower lip pouted and twitching eyes, his heart said, (Damn!)
His hands trembled, and he closed his eyes. (This portion is like for a cat.)
Even though annoyed, he still needed breakfast and finally ate the porridge, even though he wasn't full in the end. He then leaned back. His eyes looked at the sun, which was now high. "It's past 9 AM, but still no information about brother."
He closed his eyes, but...
"It's so ugly!" He woke up and looked toward the source of the voice. A couple wanting to do a pre-wedding photoshoot was seen, but the woman was scolding a lone photographer.
"This is so ugly! Get out of here! We even paid you." The woman's face was red not from shame but anger. "Sorry-sorry." The photographer could only apologize.
Blank watched the commotion, but his stomach growled again. "Ah... I'm still hungry." He then paid attention to his backpack, and a light bulb lit up in his mind. "I know... I have an idea."
"Go now!" the woman shouted. "Ah, yes-yes." The photographer packed his things and finally left the place. The groom sighed. "Huh... We haven't gotten photos."
The two of them then thought about it while watching the photographer leave, and the bride held her flowers.
Click.
Both were startled; someone had taken their photo without permission. "Hey, what are you—"
"Miss, look at this photo." The teenager showed the shot he took. It was a pose when they were looking at each other, so the pose looked natural, especially the slightly low-angle shot making their bodies look slim and tall, plus lowered exposure in the morning with a small dewy effect.
"WAAH!" The woman held both her cheeks, and her eyes widened. "Honey, look at this." The groom then also looked at the photo result. "Wow, this is good. Are you a photographer too?"
The teenager was Blank. He nodded his head. "Yes, I've been at it for 2 years and am used to using cameras, and you two look amazing," he said.
"Ah, is that so? But we already paid the earlier photographer." Even though the answer was brief, the man's expression looked like he was thinking while looking at that photo result.
Blank smiled. (Good, he's interested.) He continued, "I happen to still be of student age, so my rates aren't high. Can I help with that?"
The couple was startled. "Really?" Blank answered with a sincere smile and closed eyes. (Well, at least this can be for food.)
After shooting for 1 hour...
(Ah, tired.) Blank complained, but the two of them were so enthusiastic when the results matched their expectations, so Blank also felt happy. (Thank you, Brother Kaeri, for teaching me how to use the camera.)
And what Blank produced was...
"Here's the money, please take it. Oh, and I'd like your number." Blank received the money with sparkling eyes. "This is $25?" The couple smiled. "Yes, that's a small tip from us. Now, your number." Blank smiled with trembling hands. "Ah... Yes, here's my number."
And that was how Blank's life could continue in a city very foreign to him. His life kept going day after day, working while searching for information about his brother. Until...
[3 Weeks Later]
Blank was seen walking while carrying a camera at 6:00 PM. He wore a black shirt with black pants. But his face was lowered toward the ground, and he bit his lip. (No information about brother... What does this mean?)
Even though his heart wasn't in a good place, he decided to go to the Hybrida restaurant to get footage. But his eyes widened when he arrived at the entrance, which only used transparent glass. "Crazy, is this a restaurant or what?"
He looked at the information board. "First floor restaurant, second floor VIP room. This restaurant is integrated with the mall—" he pulled the right corner of his lips. "No wonder..."
Blank entered the restaurant. White as snow, adorned with gold color wrapped around the ceiling edges. He widened his eyes. (Oh my, what kind of restaurant is this? Feels like 3-star.) He looked around the vast place, currently still quiet with a green tea scent. (Seems like it was recently renovated.)
The teenager finally began walking toward the left side of the restaurant. (The gathering is in the room over here, right?)
Before he went far, there was a person entering the same restaurant and approaching the receptionist. Blank heard his footsteps even though he hadn't turned around. (Oh, there's a companion. I'll greet him first.) As he turned his face, his eyes widened, and his mouth opened slightly. (That's...)
A girl with long brown hair, bangs, and the scent of Guerlain Rose—a luxurious perfume fragrance—could be smelled politely through the nose. (That's...)
(Viera?)
His body paused for a moment upon seeing her. She looked so familiar that Blank was transfixed and looked at her. (Why is she here?)
When the girl finished speaking with the receptionist, she walked quickly to a room, passing by Blank. (Ah, she's walking this way.)
But without turning her face, Viera just walked straight and passed Blank, who stood frozen like a statue now. The teenager watched her as she walked away from his position. (Ah, she probably doesn't recognize me anyway.)
Blank then returned to the competition meeting room for today. Lowering his head with both hands in his pockets, he walked slowly again.
But as he walked, suddenly someone else entered the restaurant again. Blank was startled and then turned his face, which made his eyes widen again.
His body froze with a rapidly beating heart after seeing the young man with round glasses who was extremely familiar to him.
The young man approached the receptionist. "Hey, has Viera arrived yet?" The female receptionist bowed her head slightly as a greeting. "Yes, Sir Reynald."
But Reynald scratched his head and furrowed his brow. "Oh dear, this is a problem." He then stepped slightly away from the receptionist and held his phone. "Who would have thought the cameraman for today got into an accident on the road."
Blank listened to this with great shock. His body trembled, and his heart beat fast with a smile on his lips. (Wait... He said cameraman...)
Reynald ruffled his hair, then looked at his golden watch. "Oh dear, it's already this late. Why so sudden... Now who should I call?"
"Brother Reynald."
Quickly, Reynald looked at the teenager calling him and stared at him. It was Blank. Even though his steps were heavy and his voice seemed suppressed, he still mustered the courage to speak, because he remembered this was the young man who gave him the book.
With the same eyes as 7 years ago, he looked at him again. His mouth opened.
[I have a solution for the cameraman Brother Reynald needs]