9

I spend my entire morning mourning over a bottle of booze I can't drink while lazing around the bar, looking thoughtlessly to the drinkers. But Makiko offers me juice and food that she thinks will make it up for it.

"Alcohol is not good for kids," the person next to me says. Ms. Makiko cleans the tables beside the door when a bunch of middle-aged men leaves the bar.

Chief Tangen is slumped on his table, dozing from drunkenness. Although Ms. Makiko seems worried with the state of the Chief, she doesn't do anything otherwise.

I look at the person beside me. He looks like the usual traveler guys. Golden hair, blue eyes, and a pleasing smile that makes his left dimple conspicuous. He reminds me of someone I met. I shake the thought and turn to face the counter.

"Alcohol is not good in health," I say. He really reminds me of someone.

"Good judgement." He clicks his tongue, looking at me in interest. I huff loudly, bored out of my wits.

"Say, what is your dream?" says the golden person.

I shrug and slouch my head on the wooden bar counter. "I don't know you but I want to write the greatest book."

He gives a hearty laugh. "My bad for not introducing myself earlier." He faces towards me, leaning his right arm on the counter while his other hand is holding the bottle. "My name is Hellion. And what do you write in your greatest book?"

I sit upright, now completely interested to the conversation. I face him. "I'm Ali and I'm going to sail to the four oceans and find the lost country and write my greatest adventure in my book!"

He looks taken aback by my sudden outburst but when thinking about my dreams I can't care about any other. Then, his face brightens and grins at me. "The lost country, huh? Well, I, myself heard tales about the country that's been sought for."

"Really?!"

He looks thoughtful. "It isn't really helpful but I heard that you will only find the lost country after conquering the great four seas," he says.

"I'll just have to conquer the world and find the lost country, then," I say.

"It is easy said than done." Hellion stands up. He drops the bottle on the counter and takes his white ten-gallon hat. "But let's hope we find each other to the ends of the world. Nice to meet you, Ali." He gives me a little regard and make his way out of the bar.

My smile can't falter even after Ms. Makiko walks back behind the counter and gives me a question look.

"Ms. Makiko, I don't care if I didn't drink a bottle of that booze because I'm going to sail to the sea!" I pump my fists to the air and stretch my face wide with my unwavering smile. "Hellion is a good guy," I say before the door slams open and the buzz promptly dies down.

A lean man stride towards the counter with a lame sense of intimidation. He looks roughly unkempt. His dirty black hair sprawls on top of his head. His boots resounds with every step he takes.

He sits on the stool Mr. Hellion took and slams his fist to the counter. "What're ya waiting for lady?! Gimme a bottle of liquor!" Ms. Makiko doesn't seem fazed by the bluntness of the ragged lean man. I gaze at her awesomeness.

The bar is still in complete silence while Ms. Makiko gives the man his order. I cross my arms on the counter and slumps my head on top of it. The ragged man guzzles the booze while I gawk at him. He demands another bottle until he slugs down the third.

His left eye moves towards me. I smile up at him. "Why are you so dirty?" I ask. The whole bar gasps but I don't think I say the wrong thing since I'm only stating the indisputable facts.

"Eh?!" he grumbles.

"I say why are you dirty?" I repeats.

The ragged man set the bottle down violently. "D'ya know who I am, kid?! I killed at least fifty people in the past and the WAF's probably aiming for me head right now!" he says vehement.

"You're a bad guy after all," I say.

"Yea!" he exclaims. He stands up and grabs the third bottle. "And if an'one dares, ya might lose yer head." He looks at me when he says the last words.

"And I'm not gonna pay for this bloody liquor!" He starts walking towards the door when Ms. Makiko clicks her tongue in disapproval. It happens so fast my eyes can't follow Ms. Makiko's movements when she flips from behind the counter and lands behind me. After that, when I sit up and turns towards the scene, Ms. Makiko shove her right leg to the drinking ragged man's face, causing the bottle to explode from the force and knock him out cold. So cool!

"You're underestimating the bar owner," she says before huffing a big smoke from her cigarette.

The bar uproars in fascination. It becomes lively again, drinking from their bottles and cheering Ms. Makiko.

I sit stuns from Ms. Makiko's awesomeness. I want to become like that! With one single move where I can knock out the enemy. So cool!