On the mountain road. Tim, Ha Men, and De Ra Goe were walking. De Ra Goe was carrying Ha Men on his arm. Ha Men's legs were swinging in front of him. De Ra Goe held them tightly. Ha Men looked like he was enjoying the ride; he even shook his legs without holding onto anything. His fingers just rested on De Ra Goe's arm.
De Ra Goe looked at Ha Men: "I would appreciate it if you held onto something. Even if it's my head."
De Ra Goe watched Ha Men try to catch a butterfly in mid-air. He tightened his grip to make sure the smaller boy didn't fall.
De Ra Goe: "If you are listening my advice, I'd feel more comfortable knowing you won't fall. I don't like to worry."
Ha Men's rise his hands in the air.
"Ah, no…. It's more fun like this."
Tim looked at De Ra Goe.
"Seriously? Why do you even let him be carried by you?"
De Ra Goe: "Well, because someone is really scared of the mountain. Or perhaps... heights."
Ha Men stopped catching the butterfly and shouted.
"Hey! Don't say it like that!"
He poked De Ra Goe's cheek.
"And besides, you are tall enough to carry me anyway."
De Ra Goe raised an eyebrow.
"You know what? It feels uncomfortable when you poke my cheek like that."
Ha Men just clueless.
"What?"
Tim looks at De Ra Goe. "Of course, it does. If a girl pokes your cheek, it's fascinating."
He closes his eye and rise his arm.
"But when it's a boy... ugh. It feels like someone is clawing my back."
Ha Men looked at Tim.
"Did you even get poked by a girl before?"
Tim: "I don't need to. Everyone knows that's just wrong."
Ha Men looked confused.
"I really don't know how to respond to that. One-sided acceptance?"
De Ra Goe: "I vote for Tim."
Ha Men look at him.
"Of course, you do."
He raised half a hand.
"Maybe you can lie to other people, but hey! Turns out you're just a simp for someone with big parts—"
De Ra Goe suddenly released one hand. Ha Men shocked and tried to grab something, but De Ra Goe moved out of reach. Ha Men was left swinging in the air.
"What the fuck, De Ra Goe!"
De Ra Goe didn't care.
"Think of this as punishment for blaming my height. Your blame is just an excuse to cover for the fact that you're a scary Ce."
Ha Men grabbed De Ra Goe's legs tightly. He could see the ground far below the mountain right in front of his face.
"Dude! Pull me back! I'm nearly falling off the mountain!"
De Ra Goe pulled him back into his arms. Ha Men immediately grabbed De Ra Goe's head tightly, his body shaking.
"Why did you do that!?"
De Ra Goe smirked.
"What? Want another round?"
Ha Men shake De Ra Goe's head hard right to left again and again with his hands. Tim laughed softly.
"Geez, Ha Men. You really need to grow up."
Ha Men (still shaking).
"If you mean my family festival, I'm not taking it."
Tim stopped laughing.
"Nah... I just want you to be less childish."
Ha Men: "Childish? Dude, we are only 14 years old. We are still kids."
Tim stopped walking in front of a big building. It was built on the mountain using blank white wood, with a very tall brown door. The rooftops were long and sharp, pointing toward the sky. It had a church-like vibe, but a different design. The sky here was full of white clouds that looked like a river. Tim stared at the building.
Tim: "Well, your brother already became a soldier when he was 11."
Ha Men crossed his arms and closed his eyes, looking proud.
"Well, because he's my brother."
De Ra Goe stopped behind Tim and released Ha Men. Ha Men stood carefully on the ground, stabilizing himself. De Ra Goe watching Ha Men and when he was steady, they moved to Tim's side.
Tim looks at Ha Men.
"Now happy?"
Ha Men looks at Tim.
"Happy for what?"
Tim pointed at the ground.
"That we arrived somewhere you can't fall from a height."
Ha Men looked annoyed.
"Seriously, dude?"
De Ra Goe punched Ha Men's arm—not hard enough to hurt.
"Want to learn how not to die in the worst way when you fall?"
De Ra Goe and Tim laughed, but not too loudly. Ha Men snapped his head left ("Ha") and right ("Ha") then looked at them.
Ha Men: "Very funny."
Tim pushed Ha Men's shoulder gently and entered the building. De Ra Goe followed.
De Ra Goe even looks at him and teasing him before he moves on.
"I'll talk to my sister about this. Maybe she can teach you."
Ha Men watched them go in and shake his head.
"You two are the ones being childish now."
He followed them. A blue bird was singing on a flat, round stone nearby. The word "T" Place was written clearly on the wall of the stone, the white letters standing out against the grey surface. Then, the bird flew away.
Inside the building. Ha Men was checking the surroundings.
"Woah... too big!"
He observed everything like a monkey in the room. Tim watched Ha Men. The place was full of brown seats and big glass windows. The cushions were not moving. Tim looks at the seat. The seat that was slightly higher than the others. He staring it and come closer. He touched it gently.
De Ra Goe came to Tim's side: "Hey. T Place is not for playing."
Ha Men was holding a piece of glass, watching it carefully: "Just for a while... okay."
De Ra Goe sighed and looked at Tim. Tim was still staring at the seat. De Ra Goe come closer to Tim and noticed a star mark on the arm of the chair. It looked like someone had scratched it there with a rock or glass. Tim was staring so hard he looked like he'd forgotten to breathe.
De Ra Goe touched Tim's shoulder gently.
"Hey... you good?"
Tim snapped back to reality and slowly pulled his hand away from the star mark. He turned to De Ra Goe.
Tim. "Yeah... I'm fine."
De Ra Goe stared at him gently, then patted Tim's back. Tim nodded twice. De Ra Goe hit his back gently two more times.
Ha Men called out.
"Hey you two! Over here!"
They looked at Ha Men. He was standing beside a big golden bell.
Ha Men: "Since when was this thing in the T?"
Tim: "Two weeks ago."
Ha Men: "That's sick... I want to touch it."
De Ra Goe wagged his finger.
"Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn't do that if I were you. Mr. Ray won't like it."
De Ra Goe walked toward Ha Men. Tim took one last look at the seat and followed De Ra Goe. The clock on the wall now read 3:50.
They passed a pale-colored table. The look at the A glass shell on the table near the wall.
Ha Men: "This shell is for the book, right?"
De Ra Goe entered a code into the golden circular keyboard beside the shell. It opened slowly. De Ra Goe rubbed the back of his neck.
De Ra Goe: "Well... not for an ordinary book."
Ha Men: "You mean the Novel Book?"
Tim agreed: "Yes. It's for the Novel Book."
Tim placed the book inside the shell. It hissed shut. Tim sighed.
Tim: "That should do it."
Ha Men stepped back which make him accidentally pressed a button on the floor. Suddenly, the building began to sink and shake. They struggled to stay upright. Tim grabbed the table. De Ra Goe grabbed a seat and held onto Ha Men.
Finally, the shaking stopped. The floor of this building is now lower than grass. They didn't move for a long moment. Then, Tim and De Ra Goe both shouted at Ha Men.
"Ha Men!"
Ha Men look at them.
"What?"
Then, they heard footsteps from outside. Ha Men tried to run, but De Ra Goe pulled him back immediately. Tim placed a finger over his lips.
Tim: "Shhh."
They listened quietly.