“I thought you’re gonna miss this one” he signed me to sit beside him. “How would I? I’m obsessed” he knew I didn’t only mean the sunsets. He smiled revealing his crooked teeth. “Haa! Isn’t it beautiful? Just like you and I?” his eyes glistened orange. “I know a lot would say orange is an ugly colour” he gazed at me, surprised. “They complain the colour won’t suit them. Anything that’s orange, is ugly. Blah! Bleh! Blah! wonder what would they say now?” I said while my eyes fixed at his. “Well, you answered the question yourself” he sniggered. “Huh” it’s been a week and I still can’t understand this man. “It’s ugly cuz it’s on them not the sky” he said lounging on the sand. “You’re gonna miss it!” I pointed to the sun innocently.
“Join me” he said. “It won’t go anywhere, let’s count the stars together” he said with a serious face. “Sounds like someone skipped their science classes” he looked at me flabbergasted by my words. “The stars won’t appear until the sun goes dow..” he grabbed my cheeks and tilted my head up towards the moon. The moon and his cute little buddy were glowing and mocking me. “Hora! that’s Mars. The glowy red one. You can see it till the sunrise” he said, looking at me obliquely. “And it’ll disappear, just like you” tears flooded my eyes.
“You know what they say about wanderers? Don’t fall for them” he chuckled. “Why is that?” I asked. “They don’t share a future with anyone. Reckless, inexorable creatures!” he said in a stern tone. “What if I did?” I asked naively. “Ahh haa!” he sounded dismayed. “Where are you going next?” I asked. “To the west” he pointed. “Pakistan? You’re not planning to go home?” I asked. “Home? I am home. The world is my home. Right now, this is home!” he rested his eyes. “So, when you finish your journey to the west would you meet me when you get back to this home? Should I wait?” I asked longingly. He laughed again. “What is even your destiny?” I asked irritably.
“I’m gonna travel till I meet me” he said. “You?” I asked in disbelief. “Mm hmm” he nodded. “Where will you find him?” I played along. “I already did” he replied with a subtle smile. “Where?” I asked. “Here” he mimicked.
“You told me you’re gonna meet God, didn’t you? So, you’re God?” I asked with a mocking tone. “Mm hmm” he nodded again.
“We should worship you then” I taunted.
“We are all equal, daarin” he said as he slightly lazed over my side.
“Are we all God?” I asked looking straight into his eyes. It made me realize, I was completely bewitched by his charms.
“You will understand me when you obey the love inside you! That’ll make you find you, meet you. You may get a glimpse of me there if you’re lucky” he snapped me back to reality.
“Whe…” He cut me and said. “Mmm… Hold on! Keep this arm band with you. When I was at Palawan, I stayed with the batak tribe. They gave me one. Philippines is such a spectacular country. Lovely people. You should visit them too.”
“Sure sir!” how could they not love him. “Anyways, enjoy your spiritual journey” I said.
“Spiritual Journey? You could say that” he smiled and pointed to the sun drowning in the ocean. “Ahh! We got so distracted. Why is it red now?”. “Rayleigh Scattering” I stated.
“Chill, know-it-all!” he teased. “You know what, Sunset appears bluish in Mars. Blue planet Red sunset, Red planet Blue sunset. Universe is enigmatic!” I said as I almost winded. “Indeed” he muttered.
“Just like you” I made him look at me ambiguously.
“Waahh! I gotta go. I told you that I don’t want a sad farewell. I don’t want to visualize a cry baby face of yours whenever I think about y…” he stunned as I screamed “SAYONARA, WATASHI NO AI”.
“Where did you learn that?” he asked while laughing hysterically. “The whole world owns a phone except you” I pouted.
“You don’t need one to speak to the world” he said graciously.
“Okay sir, did I say that right?” I asked.
“Of course, Koibito. Sayonara” he said as he stood up and patted the sand off his trousers. He grabbed his bag and gazed at me one last time as he’s trying to draw me on his mind.
My mouth quivered. I looked up and blinked rapidly controlling the shining tears of my eyes to fall on my cheeks. The wind brought back his ‘I don’t want a sad farewell’ words. I saw him walking, fixed his eyes on the crepusculed sun. My face brightened as I remembered to ask him that question.
“Wait, Your name?”
“Nichibotsu” he shouted.
“Huh?” I frowned.
“Ni” “Chi” “Bot” “Su” he elucidated.
“Nichibotsu” I whispered under my breath while watching him disappear in the dark from the moonlight. I lounged back and sulked at the helpless moon.
Winter 