CHAPTER - 8

The next morning was bright, too bright to be not true. Oliver woke up from the bed. The housemaid lay all the breakfast in the dining table.

Alice : (Sitting at the dining table, calling out) Hey, babe. The breakfast is ready. Why don't you join me.

Aunt : (Coming toward there) Good morning, Alice. Where is Oliver.

Alice : He is not yet awake. May be I should go and wake him up.

Aunt : You don't need to do that. He'll be up eventually.

Alice : You look gorgeous today, Aunt. Uncle would be surprise to your beauty.

Aunt : Ow.. thank you. We just finish talking on the skype. He said I was as lovely as always. (Shaking her hand in the mid air) He was shock to see my glowing skin.

Alice : (Whispering to herself) What a nightmare. (Replying her) That's awesome.

Oliver : (Coming toward them) Good morning everyone.

Aunt : Good morning.

Alice : Babe, When are we going to Israel?

Aunt : I'll miss you a lot, Oliver. Please do make sure you came back to visit me.

Oliver : To be more precise, I cancel the plan of going to Israel.

Alice : But why?

Oliver : My father would never talk to a person like you about the files. Infact, he know that you and I are not together anymore back then, before I came here.

Aunt : What do you mean? (Acting innocent)

Oliver : My point is … Alice is hiding something.

Alice : Trust me. I'm not hiding anything. Babe, you father is in trouble, you have to believe me and only the files can save him.

Oliver : It's seems you never gonna tell the truth.

Aunt : What are you talking about, Oliver?

Alice : Aunt, the thing is …. Oliver think I was about to steal the files and run away.

Oliver : That's what I was talking about.

Aunt : Why would you do that, Alice?

Alice : I would never do that. I love Oliver more than anything in the world. That's all.

Oliver : That's all?

Aunt : Oliver, enough. Do you have proof.

Alice : Babe, don't have the wrong idea.

Oliver : I'm not your babe. (Looking at his Aunt) I don't have proof, Aunt. So, I want her to leave this place.

Alice : Is that what you want? Okay, fine. I'll leave you alone. Go and save your father alone. (Storming toward her luggage, hoisted on her backs and away she went)

Oliver : One last thing, I'm already in love with Jeremy. Don't mind bothering me again. And Good bye.

Alice : Good bye, Oliver. Hope we meet again. (She leave the house)

Aunt : What happen, Oliver?

Oliver : She was after my files. Last night, around midnight, I heard her talking to someone about the files.

Aunt : What are we gonna do next, to save your father.

Oliver : What about my Uncle?

Aunt : It's not a very good idea to involve him. He is working very well in Russia.

Oliver : Well, I think I should go alone.

Aunt : Are you insane. They will be looking for you. All the CIA, Secret agent and more importantly, the secret shooter, they will shoot you from somewhere.

Oliver : But, Alice found me out already. It's not safe here anymore. Going there would be the best option.

Aunt : What about your Jeremy?

Oliver : I'll tell him everything. Literally everything.

Aunt : Will he understand.

Oliver : He has to understand. There are no other option.

Aunt : Maybe you should tell him today. We have to hurry, the clock is ticking.

Oliver : I'll deal with Jeremy at the school.

Aunt : Don't be late.

Oliver : Will my parents be okay, Aunt. I'm a little bit scare.

Aunt : You don't have to worry about them. Atleast, they will not die until you reach there.

Oliver : They better not kill them.

Aunt : What's in the files?

Oliver : I have to go to school.

AT THE SCHOOL SCENE

Oliver : (With a bemoan face, entering the classroom. He whispered to himself) Where could this Jeremy be. I have to talk to him. (He then saw Mark entering the classroom alone) Well, that's odd. They've been together yesterday night, how could he be alone this morning.

Mark : (On seeing Oliver ) Good morning, Oliver.

Oliver : (Without more ado) Where is Jeremy?

Mark : (Being shocked) You don't know?

Oliver : What should I know.

Mark : Oh! Jeremy went to his village.

Oliver : When?

Mark : This morning.

Oliver : But why?

Mark : He said he wants to take a break from you. He'll be back by next year, probably. Or maybe not. (With a frown face)

Oliver : Can you take me there. I mean can you take me to his village.

Mark : Hey, I have school to attend. And moreover, I approve his words and need not to go after him.

Oliver : What about you tell me the way. I'll go all alone.

Mark : Oliver, the thing is…. Jeremy is not in a good mood, right now. And you following him would cause him more.

Oliver : I've to settle something. And I need to do it fast, time is running out. Can you please tell me the way.

Mark : Okay, alright. I'll tell you after the school is over.

Oliver : That would be too long by then. Can you take me to the bus stop, now.

Mark : Why are you in such a haste?

Oliver : I've got my own problems. Please.

Mark : What about the class?

Oliver : Let's skip it, for the sake of your friends.

Mark : Are you sure about doing this. I mean, running after Jeremy.

Oliver : If I don't, I'll start regret from this moment of my life.

Mark : Grab your bag.

Oliver : Okay. (He grabbed his bag)

Mark : (Pointing with his index finger) I'm doing this only because of Jeremy. Don't you ever think we are okay.

Oliver : Whatever. Let's go.

They went to the bus stop.

Mark : (Standing at the waiting shed) Let's wait for the bus.

Oliver : So, where should I stop the bus on the way.

Mark : You don't need to worry about that.

Oliver : (Shocked) Why?

Mark : Cause I'm coming with you, dude. I don't trust you.

Oliver : But I thought you don't wanna come at all.

Mark : (Waving his hand) Oh! Your thought are powerful. (Staring straight at him) Don't you ever stop thinking that I miss Jeremy more than you.

Oliver : I understand you, buddy.

A bus came toward them.

Oliver : Is that the bus. (Pointing at the bus)

Mark : Yes. Let me tell you something, the road is bumpy, and the dust will cover your head.

Oliver : You must be joking right.

Mark : Wait and watch.

The bus stop. They hopped on to it. The road was indeed, very bumpy. They were shaking inside the bus.

Oliver : (Shouting) I thought you were joking.

Mark : More to come.

Oliver : Are we going to a war or something. (People start staring at him)

Mark : Well, looks like we are. (Smiling)

Oliver : When are we going to get of the bus.

Mark : At the next stop. Don't worry, it won't take long.

Oliver : I hope you are telling me the truth.

Mark : Look, there is it. We are getting off the bus.

Oliver : Finally. We are done. I hope I don't sit here again.

They get off the bus.

Oliver : So, where do we go from here.

Mark : (Pointing toward the mountain) That way.

Oliver : Are we already in the country?

Mark : Does any village appears in city.

Oliver : Very funny.

Mark : Don't you worry, we will get their village soon. It's not that far from here..

Oliver : Have you been there before?

Mark : Of course. It was very calm. Jere gran-gran wants to see me, so I had to go there with Lily. That was back when those trees were small. (Pointing the uphill trees)

Oliver : What about those hills?

Mark : You should probably ask Jeremy.

Oliver : Speaking of Jeremy, from whence you know him. By the way.

Mark : Since elementary. I know the time when his parents pass away. We were at the school, out of sudden, Jeremy got sick. I was devastated at that day.

Oliver : Did he cry?

Mark : (Staring hysterically) Of course, he is. But….

Oliver : (Interrupting) But what?

Mark : But he try to stay as strong as possible.

Oliver : What do you mean?

Mark : We all know that he was crying, of course he was crying (Waving his hand). But he act as nothing had happen.

Oliver : Does that hurts you?

Mark : Of course. He is my friends, no best-friends, of-course. A simple change in his acting hurts me to the core. I might act differently at a time, but I get hurt the most..

Oliver : Does Jeremy have a good heart?

Mark : The truth is …. He has a very good heart. He taught me a lot, like helping a bullshit stranger like you.

Oliver : Hey, we ain't stranger anymore.

Mark : In the first place.

Oliver : Oh-- I see. You used to hate me a lot.

Mark : I wonder you forget such a thing.

Then they reached the village gate.

Mark : Here we are. Their village.

Oliver : It's quite clean. Where is Jeremy house, by the way.

Mark : At the corner of their village, toward the east.

Oliver : We should hurry.

Mark : Calm down. He will let you spend the night or else, he get furious.

Oliver : I don't care. I just wanna see him right now.

Mark : Stop going so fast.

Upon reaching Jeremy house, in the courtyard they stand.

Oliver : Jeremy (Shouting). Are you in there?

Mark : (Looking at the mini garden in the courtyard) The veggies grows very well, I see.

Oliver : Jeremy (This time, yelling)

Jere : (From inside the house) Who the fuck. (Talking to himself) He sounds familiar.

Oliver : Come out (Shouting back).

Jere : (Coming out) What do you want. (And was shocked to see Oliver and Mark) You two, how come.

Oliver : (Running toward him and hugged) I miss you.

Jere : I miss you too, buddy.

Mark : What a romantic scene.

Jere : (Remembering all the incident, he pushed him out) What are you doing here, Oliver?

Oliver : I came to see you.

Jere : What do you want from me? Are you not hurting me enough!

Mark : Oliver said he got something important to say to you, so we came.

Jere : What about your class, Mark ?

Mark : He was pleading, so I couldn't resist.

Oliver : Look I've got to tell you something.

Jere : Why don't you spend the night here.

Oliver : I don't have time.

Jere : Then you can leave now without telling me anything.

Mark : Why don't we spent the night here, Oliver. It's gonna be fun.

Oliver : But…

Jere : No but… Let me hear you in the night. Tomorrow we can all go back.

Oliver : You sure about this.

Jere : Sure. I'll go back with you.

Oliver : Okay, I'll spent the night here. I'll tell my aunt later on.

Mark : Hey Jere, where is gran-gran?

Jere : In the field.

Mark : I'll be back with her. (Sprinting towards the field)

Jere : Mark, stay away from the dirt.

Mark : (Waving his hand) Sure.

Oliver : Does he know the way?

Jere : Sure. And my gran-gran loves him a lot.

Oliver : Are we gonna stand here forever.

Jere : Oh, why don't you come in.

Oliver : It would be an honour if you lead the way.

Jere : (Taking Oliver's bag and going inside the house) So, where is Alice?

Oliver : She left.

Jere : Why?

Oliver : I confront her. She dumped me before, you know. Back when I was in Israel.

Jere : Why do you come here?

Oliver : I couldn't help living without you.

Jere : What a fool.

NIGHT SCENE

After they had dinner, gran-gran wished to had a chat with Mark.

Jere : Hey, Oliver. Why don't we go for a walk and talk.

Oliver : Sure. I would love too. Aren't you coming, Mark.

Mark : Nah, I'll stay with gran-gran.

The moon was shining, and the cold wind blew around them.

Oliver : It is lovely. (Holding Jere hand)

Jere : So, what is the thing that you wanna tell me about.

Oliver : Oh! About that. I'll be leaving for Israel soon.

Jere : How soon.

Oliver : As soon as possible.

Jere : Do you wanna tell me the reason or do you wait for me to ask.

Oliver : It's quite complicated. You better don't know it.

Then, Oliver saw a flickering light. It was a sign.

Oliver : (Pulling Jere hand and run) They follow me.

Jere : What do you mean.

Oliver : (Hiding beneath a tree) Alice put a tracker on me, I don't know where but she put it. Now they are following me.

Jere : What is going on?

Oliver : I'm CIA.

END OF CHAPTER - 8