My goal is to find those people who are kind. You may think, how foolish my dream is.I am finding them, those who are kind. Yes, you can call my dream foolish. It does not bother me. Not at all.
There is a saying that says become kind enough to make people happy so that they believe in God. But unfortunately I never became one like that. That is why this is one of the reasons I am finding the kindest people on earth.
My name is Arin. I am in my youth and I want to devote my whole life to find them. That is why I am on the street. I am 15 years old. Not too old. Not too young.
Are you thinking about my parents. Do not worry. I told them. Such good parents.
It is November. The end month of the year. It is snowing. No one is here. Not that it matters.
It is cold here and I need to find a place to stay for tonight. I only have seven days to do something. To find something. After that I will go to my new life in the city. The city and a new school. I have already been selected there. Not that it matters though.
It is freezing now. My hands are all numb. My hair is covered with snow. There is a house in front of me. I should go and ask them if I can stay a night with them. My belly hurts. It feels like I am about to collapse.
Then I knock at the door. No one comes to open it. I think they all are sleeping. He he hee. I stand there for a while. Snow keeps falling. My legs feel weak. Maybe this is how foolish people end their nights. Still I knock again. Softly. Because even now I want to believe someone kind is inside.
Arin smiled and looked at the sky. Snow was falling all over the place. It was cold, but his heart felt a little warm. He whispered softly, "Humans and animals are not the same. They have their own worlds, different verses, but still in one universe."
They live together. Sometimes they get along. Sometimes they don't. That doesn't really make him happy or sad. He just thinks about it. If humans were animals, and animals were humans, would they still be killed by the same animal called human? Humans kill in human form. That thought stays in his head longer than he wants.
Killing animals feels wrong. It is wrong. But at the same time, it is not so simple. The food chain exists. Survival exists. Humans need to kill to live, and yet humans are called ruthless. Maybe they are. Maybe they are not. Arin doesn't know the answer.
But then he exhales slowly.
This is not about humans and animals at all.
It is about something else.
Something closer to his heart.
Suddenly, someone was coming toward Arin.
"Arin… is that you, Arin?"
Arin looked carefully. At first, the face felt strange to him. His body was shaking because of the cold.
"Yurin. I am Yurin," she said. "Don't you remember me, Arin?"
"Yes… it's me, Arin," he replied. "What are you doing at this hour?" Arin asked.
Yurin smiled. "Nothing special. Just checking the weather itself."
"Then check it," Arin said, "and don't talk to me while I am doing something important."
"Huh? You never changed," Yurin said. "Cold as ever."
The truth is, Arin had liked this girl a lot since those days. Even now, he still liked her. But he never told her. Not yet. He only kept it inside, mumbling to himself.
"Arin, there is something," Yurin said softly.
"Okay," Arin replied. "Tell me. What is it?"
"I want to tell you… if I may?"
"The thing is…" she hesitated. "Um… the thing I want to tell you is… I love you, Arin."
Arin was shocked. His mouth stayed wide open. His hands stopped shaking. His whole body stopped moving.
"H… u… h…?"
"I love you too," Arin said quietly. "Can I hug you?"
Yurin's face turned red. She felt shy, but she asked politely.
Arin's answer was obvious, clear like pure water.
Then Yurin hugged Arin.
They both held hands.
Yurin asked Arin if he wanted to stay here for the night.
Arin answered, "Yes."
After that, she smiled.
"See you," Yurin said. "At school."
Then she went back to her house.
She was gone.
Arin stayed there for a while.
He was happy.
His face was red.
He was blushing.
It was too late at night.
Arin could not sleep.
He kept thinking about her.
Somehow, slowly,
he finally fell asleep.
It was a new morning for Arin.
After a long time, he felt happy.
Now he wanted to go back home and get ready for his new high school life.
He walked toward his home.
His father and mother were not there.
It was an empty apartment where he lived with an older woman.
Her name was Nyra.
She had been living here for quite some time.
I moved here just a day ago, Arin thought.
I don't really know her yet.
But since I am staying here, I will get to know her better.
Arin rang the bell.
Someone opened the door.
It was Nyra.
She looked angry.
Her eyes were red.
"Boy, where were you last night?" Nyra said.
"You didn't even tell me where you were."
Arin stayed quiet.
"That foolish dream of yours," she continued.
"Is that why you always stay out at night?"
"That woman told you about it, didn't she?"
Arin looked at her.
"Why did you listen to her?" he asked harshly.
Nyra shouted at him.
She told him to respect her.
She reminded him that she was responsible for him now.
Arin's eyes filled with tears.
He said nothing.
Without a single word, he walked to his room, closed the door, and locked it.
"That boy will give me a heart attack," Nyra said softly.
Disappointment was clear on her face.
Inside his room, Arin jumped onto his bed.
His face was wet.
He was crying.
"Why does she hate me for nothing?" he thought.
"Who are they to call my dreams foolish?"
After some time passed, it was already noon.
The sun stood high in the sky.
It was hot. I think I should take a bath and then Arin go to the bathroom to take a bath.
Before opening the door, he stopped.
I should say sorry to Nyra, he thought.
She must have been worried since I didn't come home.
He opened the door.
Nyra was there.
She was surprised.
Both of them froze.
"Hey!" Nyra shouted. "Knock before coming in!"
"S-sorry… sorry," Arin said quickly.
"I didn't know you were here. I didn't look."
He closed the door immediately and went back to his room.
Inside, Arin sat down and covered his face.
"What am I thinking…" he mumbled.
"She is very… scary."