The old man, which seemed to be around his 60s–70s, had almost a completely bald head, only little bits of hair on his sides and back remained. He had a thin mustache and beard, all of which, along with his hair, were of white color. The white did not look weak or dull—it looked settled, like time itself had decided to stay on him.
He is shorter than me, only reaching around my shoulder height. Wrinkles can be seen all over his face and body, deep and layered, which is proof of enduring the passage of time. Not just age… but something else too. Something about those wrinkles felt… heavier than just years.
He grabbed me by my upper arm and helped me stand up. His grip was firm. Surprisingly firm. Before I could say anything, he spoke first.
"Can I give you a lift?" He repeated my words and continued, "Do you think I am doing charity, boy?"
"Uh——" I froze up, didn't know what to say. Before I could say anything, I saw him making a face that looked like it would burst from holding air, like he was forcing himself not to laugh.
"Bah! Hahahahaha!" He burst out laughing loudly. "You should have looked at your face, boy! It looked similar to a surprised lemur. I saw one at a zoo. It looked just like yours. And of course I can give you a ride. Now close that mouth of yours otherwise it will fall."
I noticed that my mouth really was opened a little.
This old man has an interesting personality.
No… not just interesting.
It felt like he changed mood too quickly. Like he was joking… but also watching me carefully at the same time.
"Come on, be quick, boy. The weather is getting worse. Look at those clouds."
Clouds?
I just came to my senses, and it looks like I still have not completely recovered. I am still having a hard time sensing things around me. My thoughts felt slightly delayed, like they were coming after everything already happened.
I looked up.
And then I actually looked properly.
I saw giant thunder clouds making a huge vortex inside. Lightning is pouring out like water. Not striking randomly—but almost continuously, like something inside those clouds is overflowing. I could also see a hint of yellow color in those clouds, not natural yellow… something faint, something mixed in, as they are violently moving around in circles.
Not just clouds.
They looked like they were… reacting.
This didn't happen when I was talking to.....Priest.
Or did I just not notice?
"Uncle, when you saw me, was I already down?" I enquired, wanting to know how much time had passed.
The old man said while opening his car door,
"No, you fell in front of me. I was passing by and saw you walking, and the very next second you fell on your knees. What happened back there?"
The way he said it… casual.
Too casual.
Like he didn't find it strange at all.
He opened the car door of the front seat for me. I sat down, took off my backpack, and put it in front of me.
"I was coming back from giving an exam for my college admissions. Uncle… were there a priest beside me?"
He helped me wear the seatbelt. His hands paused for a very small moment when I said "priest." Very small. Almost unnoticeable.
Then he started the car.
It started in one go.
The road was going from south to north. A bit farther and the road towards my home will be seen. The car was quite old and the seatbelt was not pulling properly. It's a 7-seater. Despite the outside appearance of an old car, inside it's quite clean. I think it's Renault. I don't know much about cars.
"No. When I saw you fall, you were alone, not a single person in sight. Thank God I saw you and you were not far from me. And you were coming back from an exam? I know exams for colleges are going. My grandson is also preparing for one. From east… the old school?"
He thought for a second and then continued,
"That's not far away. Barely 6 miles. Sigh… young people nowadays. You're tired from walking 6 miles? Back in the day I used to jog to my school. It was 15 miles both back and forth. If not for my age I would still go running."
Hearing his words, a smile formed on my face.
He is a little bit like my father.
Only less serious.
Maybe my father is the same. He is only serious with us, his kids, and jokes around a lot with my mom and his family. Or maybe… I just never saw that side properly.
While driving, he asked me where I was going. I told him where I live.
"That's not far away. Only a little bit more. Maybe 5 more miles."
As he said that, he again drifted into his talking. He told me a little about his life. And I also introduced myself. Apparently, he is a farmer. Then he talked about his kids and grandkids. I kept listening.
He got a funny way to talk about things.
He also drives quite slow.
Not once did he cross the mark of 45 miles/hr.
Not even when the road was completely empty.
Not even when the storm behind us looked like it was getting worse.
Before I realized, I almost reached my home. Only 2 more mile to go. We stopped for a bit to fill the car fuel.
I noticed something.
He only keeps his fuel at half.
Even after refueling, he stopped at half mark.
Not more.
Not less.
Exactly half.
I didn't think much of it.
But at the same time… I did.
The old man started driving again. In just a few moments, we reached my village. It's just an old small village.
I told him to drop me off at the entrance of Village.
"Are you sure? You will be fine here?" he asked.
I stepped outside the car. Gently closed the door.
"It's fine, uncle. If you go inside, you will have a hard time navigating around. My house is only a few meters away anyway."
He looked around, watching the Village.
For a moment… he didn't say anything.
Then—
"Hey, I think I have been here before. Anyway, take care, kid. And try to move around a lot and drink lots of water. It's good for you. If you do, you will not pass out next time."
I snickered a little at his words.
He is an amusing old man.
"Okay, I will do as you said. Thanks for the ride, uncle."
He brought his hand forward.
I think he wants to handshake.
I also did mine.
While we handshaked—
I felt a warm feeling.
Not normal warmth.
Not just body heat.
It felt… steady.
Like something passed through my hand for a brief second and then disappeared.
"You can call me grandpa if we ever meet next time. And remember, kid."
He paused.
Not like he forgot.
Like he was deciding something.
"And remember… don't look back. And don't look at their face."
Huh?
What?
Did he just—
"What!? Uncle! WAIT!! Who are yo—!?"
Before I could even finish my sentence, he already quickly drove off.
This is the fastest I have seen him drive.
He?
Does he know the priest?
I tried to remember him.
But I failed to do so.
"I can't remember his face…"
His hair are brown colored. His eyes light brown.
I tried to remember.
But only his silhouette came into mind.
His voice is also slowly fading.
Not fading like forgetting.
Fading like it is being… taken away.
I quickly took out a paper in which I wrote his name.
I looked at it.
[WILFRED]
A little pain appeared in the back of my head.
But this time, it was nowhere near as harsh.
Even his silhouette, which was disappearing earlier, stopped disappearing.
All these events happening… it's definitely not natural.
I never believed in gods.
But maybe—
Ah damn.
Did the restaurant food was really laced in something?
Thinking about everything that happened, I turned and started walking toward my Village.
The sun had already set.
Now the sky belonged to the moon.
Its light made the air feel colder.
My Village is small.
Peaceful.
It rests in a deep green valley, surrounded by tall mountains. A river flows quietly through the middle, dividing the land as it moves forward without sound.
Wide farms stretch around it, filled with fresh greenery.
The houses are simple, scattered, with white and black roofs that stand out against the green land.
Everything looks calm.
Natural.
Like the Village belongs to the land itself.
There are only around a thirty or so houses.
Most people are farmers.
Food and water are never a problem here.
But other necessities… things you can't find in a small store… those have to come from the main city.
My house is slightly farther than the others.
Even more isolated.
As I walked, neighbors greeted me.
I greeted them back.
They asked about my health, about my day.
Most of them are good people.
Friendly.
Probably because we all grew up watching each other.
I could see the small river from here.
There are no proper roads.
Only stone pavements near houses.
I reached my house.
Suddenly—
I felt tired.
Very tired.
Hungry too.
It was already 7:30 pm.
I knocked.
My little brother opened the door.
I slapped his back lightly.
He tried to fight back.
Failed.
"You took your sweet time. I wanted to go outside and play but couldn't because no one was here. How was your exam?"
He's turning 13 next month.
Skinny kid.
But his cheeks are still plump.
I pulled them.
"It was okay."
"Eeeeehhh—leave it! Don't be jealous of my beautiful face. You won't get it."
I hugged him.
"Is there food left?"
He didn't resist.
"Yeah, it's in the fridge. But something happened? I guess your exam was bad. I told you to study but all you did was mess around."
I flinched slightly.
Because… he wasn't wrong.
"Then what about you? You almost failed your first year. That's rare."
"Shut up! I tried really hard! I'm just not as smart as you!"
He pushed me and ran off.
"The food is in the fridge! I'm on the PC! Don't disturb me!"
I smiled slightly.
Arthur.
My little brother.
He loves me a lot.
Just… never says it.
I took the food from the fridge. Same as last night.
Put it in the microwave.
Waited.
He used to follow me everywhere when he was little.
Everywhere.
I think he has an inferiority complex.
He always underestimates himself.
Maybe because our parents praised me too much.
I tried to help him gain confidence.
It was working.
But this year…
He got bullied.
By his own "friends."
They made fun of his face.
His clothes.
Everything.
I remember the day I saw him crying in his room.
That… broke my heart.
He told me everything.
Teachers did nothing.
Or barely anything.
I told him to leave them.
He did.
But went back again when they apologized.
This happened more than once.
He's too innocent.
I confronted them once.
Almost hit one of them.
But I think…
It only made things worse.