Shadow

Carrying the two suitcases to both of his hands, Elijah leads the way and Grayson is following him. They sit down on an airport chair waiting for their departure. Only twenty minutes before the speaker announce their ticket number and ask them to ascend on an airplane.

While waiting, Grayson stares at the air and speaks, "What Pinyin province do look like?" Does it have high grass? Or a quiet place where you can lie down and sleep?"

"Who knows?" Elijah crouched his back to the chair.

"I desire a river to a quiet place surrounded by threes and only birds twittering can be heard while I lie on the grass," Grayson yawns after he daydreams.

Elijah raised his wrist and check the time, "We still have 15 minutes" he pats his shoulder and continues, "Lean here."

Grayson just stares at it so Elijah smirked and mockingly stated, "Don't worry it's not dirty."

Grayson eyed him blankly and breathed, "It's not that. Is it alright?"

"I won't volunteer if it isn't."

Grayson did not respond and lean on Elijah's shoulder. Only ambient noise can hear, luggage wheels, murmur, and babble of people who are talking in person and with their Automatic light. Elijah patiently waiting for time, when Grayson's head slowly falling. He touches his cheek planning to fix his posture. Unaware, his eyes went to Grayson's hair. He touched it and was surprised by how smooth his hair was. He glanced at Grayson's whole face like memorizing it. From his white and flawless skin to his long eyelashes when sleeping. They are already long but when his eyes are close, they are more eye-catching. To his pointed nose and pink lips. When his attention veers to Grayson's lips he immediately withdraws his eyes.

Grayson is tall but Elijah is taller. Grayson is 174 cm while Elijah is 190 cm. Elijah has a tattoo on his right arm, broad chest, and brown skin. Anyone would think that he works out but his body is just enough. His eyes are pure black, so you will be impressed by how perfect they are if he stares at you darkly.

Elijah has a tattoo on his shoulder, the image of it is; a struggling crane while the serpent's body is wrapped to its neck.

After he recovers from gawking at Grayson, the announcer started to speak, "Good afternoon passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 1001B to Pinyin. We are now inviting those regular passengers. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. We will board after 10 minutes after everyone is ready. Thank you."

Elijah pats Grayson's cheek, "Hey, it's already time." He whispered enough for Grayson to hear.

Grayson rubbed his eyes and yawn. He raised his arm and stretches. When he is fully awake, he stands up and declared, "Let's go."

As soon as they begin to walk, a man comes running to them and whacks Elijah's back. What's more, the unknown man spilled coffee to the side of his clothes! When Elijah time to turn his head, there is an arm lay on his shoulder. Three guards running towards them, as soon the security stop in front of them. The man speaks, "They are my companions."

Elijah makes a poker face, slightly annoyed, speculating that this man would bring them a problem. He utters, "What is the matter, sir?" facing the guard in the middle.

"Sir, any liquid is prohibited when entering the plane. You can ask the stewards after you enter the plane to give you some. As to your friend's case, he tried to run away when we stopped him." he explained.

"We apologize for the way our colleague acted. We won't let this happen again," Grayson cut them and bow.

"We will let go of it and would not add it to our records but become more aware next time, sir," the guard salute and left.

Grayson and Elijah nod, when they move again the man stops them and starts showing his gratitude, because of irritation Elijah stops walking and blurted, "It's fine, just don't do it again, next time. The time is running we will board soon, so if you will excuse us."

In distressed face, Grayson mumbled, "When we are on the seat let's ask the stewards where is the bathroom, so you can change."

Elijah agreed, "Okay."

They entered the plane and read their seat number, Grayson is beside the window. Elijah gesture that he will go to the bathroom. He didn't leave his luggage and brings it with him to change with clean clothes. He came back after a few minutes and sit beside Grayson.

The speaker announced what required to be reminded, and asked them to fasten their seatbelts. The airplane is now on the move when Grayson voiced, "I will sleep, what about you?" The plane fly when the sky began to dark.

"I'm good. I will wake you up when something came up," Elijah notify.

After an hour, Elijah fell asleep too and was awakened by the stewards, offering them snacks and drinks. Elijah said he wants two coffee and some bread, when the food arrived; someone called him. That's the man that spilled coffee to him.

Apart from man being noisy, other passengers have been disturbed. The stewards move forward and forbid him from shouting. The person points to him, the steward said something that makes him shut. Grayson woke up exactly when the man stops yelling, so he did not see the man. After they eat and rest, the light came up and the speaker announces that they reached the destination.

They land safely and are ready to take off when the man entrapped them, "What it is this time?" Elijah surrendering to the man who has a tough head.

"Where is your destination? I am from here I can guide you for the compensation of what I did," A man fused his two-hand, like praying.

Elijah realized that he doesn't know the location of Pinyin, even he saw the article about the province, they did not upload any pictures of it, or how to exactly go there, so he inquired, "Did you know where the Pinyin is? We're heading there but I don't know where the exact location of the big bookshelves."

The man opens his mouth and immediately covers it with widened eyes, "What a coincidence! I am from there! Before I take you there, I would like to introduce myself. I am Austen Davis. What about you two?"

They introduce themselves while walking, "Are you a tourist? For vacation? Pinyin has many tourist spots. I will guide you through your staying if you want. Don't worry about the fee, I won't ask you for that. I just love visiting different places," Austen said.

"Yes! We are tourists and someone told us that Pinyin is the best place for a relaxing vacation!" Grayson exclaimed.

"Great! I will join you! You can ask me anything. I love visiting different places, even I already visited all the sites of Pinyin, I can't help but go back," Austen trilled.

They reached the exit of the airport when Grayson's stomach grumble.

"I-I haven't eaten yet since dinner! I only ate bread and coffee," he reasoned and flushed.

"HAHAHA!" Austen blurted a strong laugh. He got the attention of people, so Grayson slaps his arm.

The man tried to stop his laugh and was chasing his breath. He wipes the little tears on the edge of his eyes when he finally lulls.

"Don't worry, Pinyin is near from here. We will arrive after 30 minutes but before that, remind you two. Pinyin is a secluded place, you need cash to last longer because Automatic light isn't working there, " Austen advised.

Grayson gulped and talk with tearable eyes, "But I haven't withdrawn money yet."

"I withdraw some, it can cover our expenses for our stay," Elijah said without looking.

"Shall we proceed now? So, Grayson can start eating?" Austen teasingly said and step.

Elijah starts following him, Grayson glared at his back and starts walking too.

They stopped at the taxi's lane. Austen raised his hand and swing it, gesturing that he will ride. The vehicle halt in front of them. Austen sits in the rear seat, Grayson assists Elijah in putting the luggage on the trunk and entered together at the back seats.

Austen keeps blubbering to the driver, Elijah is just listening to them, and Grayson is watching the way they pass through.

After 10 minutes, the taxi cease and informed them, "I can only take you up here. "

"No problem! No problem! I can take the lead here. Thank you so much, brother," Austen formally said.

Grayson runs his eyes on the silent road. The surroundings are just big trees and green grass. You could no longer see the city. Chippering of birds is all you can hear.

"A paradise," Grayson amuse.

"Where we are going next?" Elijah inquired.

Austen point to the white gazebo with a brown roof. It's located in the middle of green grass. Surrounded by colorful things. While approaching, the things are gradually visible. It's a garden hug by different flowers, Hyacinth, Anemone, forget-me-not, Orchid, and Mimosa. Combined with the purple, yellow, pink, and blue color it became exquisite.

"This place is a paradise!" Grayson can not help himself but be astonished. "What are we going to do here?"

"The space that you saw there, is where the carriage is passing. We will wait here until one comes," Austen answered.

"Do you still feel hungry?" Elijah asked and leaned his neck to see Grayson.

Grayson lifts his head to answer when surprisingly they bumped their nose.

They instantly averted their heads, but it's already late because Austen saw them. He annoyed them, Grayson's face and ears are now red, while Elijah ignores his mimicked.

"Kidding aside," his face became serious, "are you in a relationship?"

When they thought this man stopped, he added it.

Elijah opened his mouth, ready to answer when they heard a noise.

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Climb-clomp! Neigh!" A man stops the carriage and prevents the horse from running. He holds the leash and asked, "Young men, where is your destination?"

"We are going to Nana Sena, the house before the river," Austen instructed.

"Get in."

Elijah and Grayson are inside, Austen is sitting beside the coachman. They are talking about how long Austen was gone. This time, the road is uneven, so Grayson kept bumping with Elijah. He almost stumbles to his seat, fortunately, Elijah caught him.

"We are here!" Austen cheered. You can see the enthusiasm that he is finally home.

A woman and man are running towards us, followed by two children. It's his parents, and maybe his siblings. The container and shovel that his parents carrying have been thrown. The elder hugs their son. You can see the longing for him. To not interrupt their reunion, he grabbed Elijah's hand and pulled him.

"We might interrupt them. Let's go to the river we saw," he invited.

"Aren't you hungry? We should've stayed, and ask where to find a place to sleep," Elijah suggested.

They already sight the river, Grayson half run, and shout, "Let's hunt fish," then point at the forest "and find fruits."

"Grayson, the forest is vast, we may encounter a wild animal."

He still insisted, "Just a short peek and see what forest does look inside."

Elijah released a deep sigh, an indication of defeat.

They enter the forest and only their steps and rustle of dry leaves are heard.

"Wow! It does look like from the movie and pictures I have seen! The trees are huge! The moss is glued to them," he said while caressing the trunk of them.

Elijah is just watching him, "Let's go back, aren't you hungry? Hmm."

He pulled Elijah's wrist and run to the more hidden part, "We can find edible fruits here."

"We are getting farther to Austen's house. We need to go back, he will worry if we don't go back," Elijah explained.

Grayson saw a small oblong that has a violet color and small size thing. He takes it and opens his mouth, as soon he is ready to eat it, Elijah grab his hand and threw the thing.

"This place is dangerous, you can't just eat the things that attract your eyes."

Only their echoed voice is heard. After Elijah scolds Grayson, he became quiet. When they heard the crumby leaves and rustle. They wander their eyes but did not see anyone. They exchange gaze but shrugged it off and think it was just wind.

"It's getting chilly," Grayson tugged Elijah's shirt and ask him to return.

When they saw the entrance, Grayson looks back and glimpse a shadow. He just sneaks to Elijah's face who is seriously walking. He focused his attention on the uneven road and ignored what he saw.