Title: In the Verge of Darkness
Characters: Alfred, Arthur, Gilbert, Ivan
Rating: T
Summary: Alfred a former Fine Arts student and an out-of-school youth goes to hang out with himself every weekend at the park before going to church. There, he met Arthur, a writer. A guy who seems to know a lot about Alfred (which Alfred doesn't noticed to know in their first meeting)
A vibration in my left pocket caught my attention. Oh isn't it me cellular phone? What is it now? I hope it is not my father.
You got 1 new message from Ore-Sama
Whoa, Gilbert texting me? I thought he doesn't have a load to text me. Whatever, this might be important.
Message:
Dude! It is cold in this island! The awesome can't believe this is happening! Like, isn't it summer? It is supposed to be hot, not rainy rainy!
- did he just forget that summer is out and rainy season is in?
Bah! Oh, I collected the stuff you want me to get for you. What are you gonna do with this stuff again? Coz I don't have an idea. Really, dried leaves and flowers? I'll be back next week. Share the word to me after your service.
-awesome me.
After reading his text message, I quickly replied him, 'Sure, dude. Btw, preserve those stuffs, I need those for my next project,' and clicked send button. I put my cellular phone back in my left pocket.
I continued my walk through the lines of acacia trees. And there, sitting on the metal bench, Arthur. He seems out of himself, well I mean, he looks like sleeping while his eyes open. Probably day dreaming.
"Hey there! What's up? Day dreaming already? You look like you just woken up." I said, poking his left cheek, just like what Gilbert did to me all the time I doze off while he was talking.
"I had a nightmare." He mumbled.
"Oh, so, you're having a day-mare just now?" I joked.
He scowled. "I haven't got any sleep after that."
"Aww… do you need coffee?" I asked.
"No." he said immediately."
"Okey." I shrugged.
We stayed silent for minutes. When I was about to break the silence, he suddenly looked up at the sky above us, which is slightly being blocked by some leaves and branches of some acacia trees.
"Humans really are fool, no?" he stated. It is more of a statement than a question.
"I think so? But you do realized that you're a human too, right?" he rested his chin over his palm and stared at me.
"They make things complicated." He continued, not minding what I have said earlier.
"Like when someone show you a simple thing you'll get confused. But when a complicated things pop up, you think you understand it." He said completely ignoring me.
"Hm, like when someone says "I Love You" and you get confused as to what they are talking about, thinking that they meant something else, probably this, probably that, maybe this, maybe that, but in reality it is just simple. Love." I just stared at him while he is talking.
"Actually, it is the greatest word of all." I said.
"All in one if I may say so. I care for you, I like you, I'll protect you, I'll stay with you, I'll be with you forever, I'll help you, I'll save you, all those things and promises in just saying 'I Love You'. That very phrase. I nodded.
"Haha, they'll even ask you in what level do you love them. The heck is that! They keep labeling things!" I said.
"They're still drinking milk, instead of eating meat." He said.
"Huh"? I mumbled confusedly.
"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." He said.
"Ah, Hebrews 5:13,14?" he whispered something but I didn't get what he had just whispered.
"I wonder how God could put up on us. He's really that awesome, no doubt. He has children who rebels, the one who causes him to hurt so much. His other children ask sometimes if Jesus' sacrifice deserved those people. Do they deserved Jesus?" I asked. Oh my. What am I talking about anyway? Why are we talking about this anyway? But I know everyone deserves Jesus. "But God love His children, all of us. I hope that they realized it already. I as well have many things to know and to do." Really, why are we talking about this? What's up with Arthur?
"Heart is deceitful. As well as our mind and sinful thoughts." He said. He seems so distant.
"Yeah." I agreed.
"In the beginning, there is no sorrow, sadness, guilt, envy, madness and all those negative emotions in this world. But because we disobey, we lead our path in sin which causes problem. People don't even think why God even made rules for us. Because He knows what we are capable of doing, to ourselves, to others and to God. We act on our own pleasure that leads to many things that could affect others. We thought it is natural, yes, God knows it very well. He knows us very much, and yet still loving us. But even if it is in our nature to be a sinner, we shouldn't act on to it, we have self control, why ill and choices that could affect on us and to others. And woe to the people who denies and say that they are not sinners. Hypocrites!" he shouted the last word and I jumped out of surprise. "Easy there, man. Cool up before you say those things. It is not in our place to judge. But sometimes I do that too, I didn't meant to and I don't notice it until I realized what I did." I sighed. Ugh, really, why this topic? It is early in the morning for me to hear such things. But I'm glad he is open to me to say these things. But I'm not saying that I don't like this topic, just a bit curious. What happened to this guy anyway? He seems so off today. Is he dreaming while his eyes open? I doubted he is awake.
I snapped my fingers in front of him and he jumped. Doing so, I think he is awake now.
"Oh! Hey there, good morning." He said, looking confused as how and when did I get beside him.
"Really, dude. Are you okey?" I asked.
"I am alright." He scowled.
"I don't think so. You seem off. You are sleep talking while you asleep (or should I say awake)! You are freaking me out of the topic too!" I frowned worriedly.
He scoffed. " I do not know what you are talking about."
"Did you even have a sleep last night? the bags under your eyes are as dark a charcoal."
He massages his temple, his eyebrows furrowing.
I frowned. "Will you be okey? I have to go to church now."
He stared at me and smirked. "Heh! I am alright! You worry-wart! You should go now." He made a shooing sound. He slumped himself on the bench and started to doze off.
I give him a disbelieving look.
"Ugh! Really, sleeping in the park? That's dangerous!" I nudged him until he stirred and wake up.
"Argh…go away…I want to have a sleep."
"I'm okey with that, but not here! Why are you here anyway? You're not feeling well!"
"It's nice in here…" he mumbled.
"You should go home now." I suggested.
"I don't want to. I'm lonely there." He said grinning. I raised an eyebrow, now that I noticed, I could smell alcohol. Oh shoot! I am talking to a drunken person? Geez…coming here even though he's drunk and not feeling well. It is not like I'll be worried if he hadn't showed up for just one Sunday. Ah, I think I will, since I don't have his number, I'll be worried.
"Look, I'll walk you home, and won't leave you until you sober." I said.
"How about your service?" he asked.
"I'll just attend the last service and text my fellowship group. God will be displeased if I just leave you here." I said.
"Alright…" he slumped himself to my side, dozing off."Hey hey, don't sleep yet. You have to show me the way to your apartment."
"Don't leave me…Al. I don't want to be alone again." He murmured.
I just smiled.