Friend.
It burns. My nostrils are penetrated by thick black smoke burning my lungs, my breath is heavy, and my mind is running rampant with the worst scenarios.
'How did I end up here?' I asked myself as I ran through a burning building.
"KLONO!" I shouted with all my heart calling for him.
Visible smoke rises alongside me as I run up the stairs. The fire grows ever stronger, and my desperate self only grows more desperate.
"KLONO! ANSWER ME!" I shout, desperation taking over me.
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"Good morning!" Klono greeted me with a smile as usual, and as usual, I gave him a half-hearted reply.
…
"And so, that's why I hoped I could be on better terms with them, I believe we could be good friends, having interests does tend to that after all, no?" I ramble about myself to the smiling Klono.
Though his smile... Looked sad.
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I run, each step growing my body weaker, 'what even was my plan running into here?!' I ask myself as I reach the first floor.
"DAMN IT! KLONOO!!!" I shouted hoping for some kind of reply.
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"Having friends would be nice don't you think? People you can trust, people you can talk to, people you enjoy spending time with." I spoke to klono who had something to say
"But aren't we friends?"
"Yeah..." I just couldn't believe he took our relationship so seriously.
To me, it felt like nothing, but two losers licking each other's wounds.
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The smoke is making it harder to breathe. I had seen it somewhere in a movie where they cover their mouth and nose with cloth in such a scenario, I didn't understand why they did that, but it's all I could rely on now.
"KLONO!" I shouted as I ran for the stairs to the next floor, it was a short 3-story building with a countable number of apartments, I hoped that he could hear me if I would scream in the hallway, I couldn't run the risk of searching every apartment of this rundown burning building after all.
Suddenly, running up the staircase, I hear the call of a woman, "Help!" she screamed. It wasn't Klono, but with the hope that she had known where he was at least I rushed towards the only sound other than the crackling fire.
It was coming from the third floor, a woman desperately screaming, as if she was awakened by my calling.
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"So, you know, I was thinking. What do you think of me and the new girl? Could we possibly hit it?" I asked without really caring for his answer, merely to let out my thoughts.
"Yeah! After all, she was in our grade school class, you know? If anyone's got a chance, it's gotta be you!"
"Really? I don't remember that..." I don't remember anyone from my Grade school or rather anyone before my middle school days, I was so into myself I couldn't make time for others.
But with everything, there was an exception, this time it being klono. His existence to me was so vulgar I couldn't ignore it. And when I found out he would be spending the next three years alongside me as well, I was disgusted.
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Rushing towards the third floor I find that I am questioning myself. 'What have I been doing?'
I had always looked down on those around me, thinking of myself as someone greater, as someone who would truly change the world while they spent their time playing around. I locked myself away in my room telling myself that I didn't need others.
It was only when it had become too late that I realized it, and even then... Even when He was there for me, I still ignored him, treating him as they had treated me.
I snicker at myself as I desperately run up the concrete stairs.
"Please... Help..." the woman's voice had gone desperate as her sobbing had intruded on it.
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One day, arriving at class I had seen 2 classmates of mine talking to Klono whom I was forced to sit next to, he had looked quite down, so I thought it was the usual case of bullying. After all, Klono looked like a dog crawling out of the dumpster.
His clothes were always wrinkly, and never clean, and his shoes were torn from the heel. It was a detestable sight to me.
…
That day he didn't greet me, and it left a terrible taste.
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"Where are you at?!" I scream as I reach the third floor.
The woman's cries immediately get energetic, "Here! I'm right here!" she screams.
With my sleeve covering my mouth, I bend down towards the woman in the smoking building. Apologizing to Klono consciously, I raised the woman's arm. Only to then get pushed away.
"F-forget about me, Inside, please... My son... Get him... He's unconscious... please... save my son..." she spoke, her voice growing ever so weaker, as she barely points with what little strength she had.
Turning my head towards the direction of her index finger, an open wooden door stands, smoke leaving the top of it like the entire building.
With a nod to the brave women, I stand up and rush towards the room.
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Klono back in grade school once said, trying to open up to me.
"...I like my mom, she's always nice to me... or when she's herself at least, but my dad is different, he isn't my real dad even. He spends his time drinking that mind-numbing thing, then shouting." I didn't understand what he meant back then, but I really didn't want to do with anyone, so I completely forgot about it.
"Leave me alone." I coldly said to the kid.
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Hell...
...Is how I would describe the scene in front of me. Not just the flames, but the whole thing. The walls were rundown and filled with rodents and insects, the wooden floor was filled with gaps and holes all over the place, and the room was filled with enough garbage to fuel the fire for days.
It was as if the apartment was rotting even before the flames.
As I step in, with my body as low as possible, I hear the noise of glass cracking beneath me. alcohol bottles had covered the entire room, from empty ones that were breaking from the heat to ones that were already broken, the entire room was a trap.
I thanked my shoes as I walked the path.
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"That's why I believe we should be doing that instead Like the teacher's decision just simply makes no sense." I asked the dumbfounded Klono.
"R-right... Sorry, I'm not as smart as you, so I can't really keep up with all that..." Klono spoke scratching his head.
I heave a sigh 'Just what was I expecting from a low scorer...' I thought to myself.
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"Hello!" I spoke loudly as I had lost the ability to shout, my breath was growing short, and my sweat had become quite annoying.
"Anyone!" I wasn't thinking straight, despite the woman's clear words I still called for the unconscious body.
With the sound of fire crackling above, the sirens outside, and the glass breaking beneath, I finally found the body leaning its back against the wall.
And it was no one other than...
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One day, I was walking through the marketplace, pitying myself, looking at all those around me with friends or lovers. Cursing all those who enjoyed life, I randomly found a person I couldn't miss for anyone else, his attire just made him look too out of place, as usual. The trash-crawler-looking person walked with his head down and a plastic bag in hand.
I followed him from a distance. Eventually reaching his destination, a run-down 3 story house complex that looked as if it was going to get demolished any day now. As I saw that scene, a thought ran through my head 'How fitting.' I thought as I walked the other way.
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"KLONO!"
I scream in disbelief, adrenaline rushing through my body, I forget all about the situation I'm in.
I quickly bend my knees and lower myself towards him. Placing my hand on his shoulder I shake him despite fully knowing he's out of it.
Running my hand behind his head, I can sense a warm liquid, pulling my hand out. On the tip of my finger is, "damn it...". His head was bleeding.
Behind his head, there was blood splattered on the wall, all I could do was hope it wasn't fatal.
I quickly wake from my daze as the loud sound of a thud is heard, 'The building is already falling apart.', I think as I quickly lift Klono behind my back. Turning around I get to see what's inside the kitchen.
"Just what the hell happened here..."
A burnt corpse that seems like the source of all of it lies on the bottom of the ceramic kitchen floor.
If it wasn't for my brain running low on oxygen, I might have been more surprised, but now I just couldn't think straight.
Raising my sleeve once again against my mouth and nose, I try to walk the path back.
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"Sorry for never inviting you over despite being friends for so long... I really wish I could but..." Klono for whatever reason felt like making excuses
I spoke truthfully "do not mind it, I don't want to visit anyway." 'I would rather be found dead than spend my free time with such a kid.' is what I thought to myself.
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My legs hurt, my lungs burn, my muscles ache, my self is destroyed, 'I don't want any of this anymore, I just want to go back home.', I think to myself as I carry the human on my back out of a burning building. Gladly Klono had always been scrawny so that surely came with a silver lining.
Passing by the woman, I turn my head away and step carefully to not fall down the stairs.
'At least this time I'm walking against the flow of the smoke.' I try to positively talk to myself.
Slowly walking down, a loud thud can suddenly be heard. The building, already in a vulnerable state, shakes, And, with my unsteady footing, I fell down the stairs with Klono on my back.
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I never had friends, I never needed them... Or so I told myself. I always was bad with people, and because of that, I wasn't able to make friends. To cope with it, I convinced myself that I was more important, that they simply didn't understand me. Because of that, I ended up locking myself away my entire childhood, growing up envious of the kids who would spend their days playing outside.
So, my grade school days went by without me even knowing any of my classmates. Except for him, the one kid who too was a loner. As if making fun of myself, I looked at the kid scornfully. I hated how he reminded me of that part of myself.
He looked repulsive, 'I would never go out if I looked like that', I thought to myself looking at the kid.
But at some point, it had all caught up to me. I couldn't lie to myself, I couldn't care what others thought about me anymore, I simply wanted a friend. Someone to talk to, someone to listen to, someone to go to.
I had made a complete fool of myself as I desperately tried, and that had only made them look pitiful of me. I didn't want anyone's sympathy, I wanted equality, someone whom I was able to level with.
And while being stuck searching for the perfect person, for the perfect existence for me. I ignored what I had; I took it for granted. Klono would greet me. Would happily talk to me. Would willingly listen to me, yet I ignored him because he reminded me of myself. I detested him.
All I wish for is to fix my mistakes, to correct my wrong. Klono is more than I could ever want.
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"KID! WHERE DID YOU GO!"
A loud voice wakes me up.
Alongside the loud voice of a man, a weak dying voice can be heard next to me, just like a broken record, the voice repeated a single phrase "I'm sorry.".
Pushing my body to its absolute limit I try to get up one last time, "just... what are YOU sorry about..." I barely let the words out my mouth as I gasp for air.
Klono's eyes beam with life as he sees me stand up for a moment before losing their strength once more. At some point, while I was unconscious, he had woken himself up. "Leave... please. "This is my fault... you should run..." Klono spoke muttering his words.
Ignoring his words, I tried to take a step forward only to barely catch myself from falling, one of my ankles was dislocated.
'Can't I catch a single break?'
I try to fight the pain, but I instantly regret it.
"Just lean on the wal--" As always, I cut Klono off, this time promising myself it will be the last.
Speaking with grunts I barely let out, "Shut it, I don't... need to hear it...". I bent over and barely lifted Klono.
"KID! ARE YOU UPSTAIRS?!" The voice continued to shout, I felt as if it was mocking me, but it was my last resort, even if it means I must rely on another, this would be the time.
With all the air left in my lungs, I shout, "HELP! MY FRIEND IS INJURED, PLEASE HELP!" Through the burning building, my voice quickly disappears.
All I can do is hope the man had heard it.
Dragging my foot with the scrawny, barely alive, kid on my back. I thank myself for working out as much as I did in my lonely breaks, all the time in self-pity truly didn't end in vain.
"Hey... Do you think this might be hell?" Klono spoke weakly on my back.
"Hell... maybe," I answered barely having the energy to.
Dragging my foot, as I limb towards the final flight of stairs. In reality, it was merely 4 steps away, but to me now, it couldn't be any further.
"Then why are you here...? Isn't hell where bad people go...?" The voice spoke as if mocking me.
"I could ask you the same question."
"... What happened with the girl...?" Once again, I felt nothing but mocked by it.
"I chose my friend over her, that's all."
"Friend... Thank you..." It was a first, the words 'Thank you.' from Klono. It was the first time I had experienced them, and they couldn't have felt any better.
Another loud thud could be heard from somewhere in the building, I tried to hurry up but quickly regretted it as I agonized over the excruciating pain.
"KID!" A reassuring voice came at me from right around the stairway.
A man who looked in his late twenties and a group of firemen behind him came to sight meeting us at the head of the 2nd-floor stairway, all wearing gas masks.
They quickly placed oxygen masks over my and klono's face.
"It was you... Thank you..." I quickly thanked the man as all sounds around me disappeared, and my vision went hazy. I slowly lost consciousness.
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The day started normally, except I was excited, I would get to go out with the girl I like today. We had a date planned for today around the marketplace. Excited I immediately started planning ever since we had planned it a week ago, I was pathetic. Around that time, Klono suddenly left school. I remember he had told me something about it, but I had ignored him, but now, after he was gone, deep down, I regretted how I treated him.
As I walked by the marketplace, I saw a group of onlookers gathering around something, as I got closer to them, I thought, "That rundown building is familiar." I asked one of the onlookers what was happening, and he said that a fire was starting.
Ended a thick dark cloud was raising from the third floor of the 3 Storey building, that's when I realized it."Klono!" I suddenly found myself saying. 'How fitting.' the words I had once said looking at the same very building.
I quickly looked at the onlookers, some were whispering to each other, others were filming it, while others merely watched in awe. 'What?' I thought to myself as I looked at them, 'Is no one going to help? What if someone's still in there, what if--' my train of thought was cut by what seemed like a woman who was a resident running out of the building.
"They are still inside, there is still a family inside!" She shouted as she looked completely petrified, "P-please, get them. They have a child!" The woman ran to a man who couldn't look any more dependable.
But despite his looks the man had turned her down, he said that the fire department was already called and that they were on their way.
"But with this kind of support..." a doubtful voice could be heard from the crowd.
As I heard that. In a mere nanosecond, I debated with myself.
Losing Klono... Was unacceptable. At that moment, I didn't know what came over me, I wasn't myself, suddenly being thrown into such a situation I felt fear, the fear of losing the only person who spoke with me truthfully, the only person who opened up to me, and I wasn't ready to regret it all later, I didn't want to live the rest of my life regretting this very moment.
Even a middle schooler could understand that much.
With a single name in mind, I found myself running into a burning building.
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…
I find myself curled up in the corner of a room hugging my knees.
Silence is disturbed by the sound of a pulse, proving life is still there.
The thick smell of antiseptic penetrating my nostrils, and the cold breeze generated by the working A/Cs, rooms white as snow, and the sun lighting it up making it shine bright enough to blind anyone.
I lift my head.
My eyes feel heavy, despite having nothing on. I look to my right and above me is a window showing a bright blue sky. Turning to my left I see a hospital bed with my friend on it, his pulse indicating he still lives.
I sigh in relief.
'That man got us out of there...'
I thank him with all that I can.
Without realizing it tears ran down my face.
I'm relieved, too relieved.
"I-I... I was going to die... I-I'm so glad... I'm so glad I didn't die..." sniffling my words barely come out.
Responding to my sobbing a voice speaks "Me too. I'm happy you saved me... after all, I heard you call me 'friend'." Klono spoke as he lay down on his bed.
"You're awake..."
"Yeah... hard to sleep with this beeping noise"
"Well, I'm glad it's there."
"Hah, that so?"
"..."
The room goes silent once again, the pulse taking over.
"About what happened..."
"You don't have to, I get it... I will hear the full story from you later, if the police ask me anything I will say I was confused and shut up. After all my brain was short on oxygen, wasn't it?"
"..." I waited for Klono's response "Thank you... Truly..."
"I should be the one thanking you..."
"All this time, how I've treated you, how I've acted as a person. It was all wrong... if it wasn't for you if it wasn't for this... I wouldn't have realized it... Thank you, Klono."
Silence falls once again, but this time it was disturbed by our laughter.