Lost in the Dream

That Friend I Met in An Unexpected Time

Martell

We are brothers.

It doesn't matter that we aren't blood-related.

°°°

When I was younger, I don't know what I want to be or what my purpose in life is.

All I did is to follow what others tell me to do.

I do everything they say, no questions asked.

Everything has changed when I met him, though.

It was raining nonstop and I just finished running errands for Dad. Since I'm an only son, I need to assist him in managing his small school of martial arts.

My father is a retired fencing player and decided to run a school that offers different martial arts classes.

Dad asked me to buy us both dinners since he's too tired to leave his office.

A Group of men runs after a boy probably my age passed me by.

"Gangs these days don't really pick who they bully." The old lady who sells pork belly soup hissed. "Here's your order. Be careful, son, bad people are everywhere these days."

I thanked the old lady before I leave. I was on my way back to the school when I heard someone cursing in a dark alley.

"Where did that little s**t go?"

A shadow at my left caught my eye but I decided to ignore him. It's not my business after all.

"There you are, you rascal!"

I heard him curse again and when I look back, I saw the boy they're running after being dragged somewhere. I heave a sigh and put down my pork belly on the table and cover it with my umbrella to make sure it won't get soak. If it did, Dad will kill me.

"Excuse me, Mister," I said calmly.

The man who's wearing a black suit stopped upon hearing me.

"What do you need? Go home, boy, if you don't want to get involved," he shouted at me.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, sir."

"What the f**k are you talking about? Are you with this rat?" he tightened his grasp on the boy, making him cry in pain.

Without further ado, I gave him a dropkick which made him let reluctantly let go. They both fell on the ground and I pulled the boy immediately before the man can even stand.

"What do you think you're doing?!" the man exclaimed in anger.

"Come on! We need to go!" The boy said.

I was about to run with him when the man managed to pull my collar, forcing me to fall on my butt.

"Where do you think you're going you piece of—" he cried in pain when I twisted his arm.

I kicked him in the groin when I managed to stand. I pulled the boy away before he can even recover.

"My pork belly!" I exclaimed as I hurriedly collect the plastic bags and my umbrella. "Come on! Can't you run faster?!"

I made sure to lock the front gate of the building when we reached the school. We're both soaked in rain and breathing hard.

"What on earth happened to you?"

I almost shout when Dad appeared in front of us. He took the plastic bags from me and look between me and the boy.

"Who are you?" Dad asked him.

The boy beside me looks pale. It seems like he might run away again any moment so I walk towards Dad.

"He's my friend, Dad. We met in the store and while we're on our way, some drunken men chase after us." I said in between hard breathing.

"Where are they? Did they hurt you? Do you know their faces? I'm going to kill them!"

I stop Dad before he can do unnecessary stuff. It took him a lot of convincing before he let go of the issue.

"What's your name?" I asked when we got into the locker room.

I used to bring clothes here since I always stay here whenever I have free time. He's almost as tall as me so I guess my clothes will fit him.

"Malkiel. You didn't have to do it," he said.

I stare at him. He doesn't look like a bad guy to me. "I'm Martell. Come here often, I'll teach you self-defense. When you can defend yourself already, you're free to leave."

I never know my purpose until I met Malkiel. He's like the brother I always wish I had.

I met my best friend that unexpected night. Because of him I finally had my sense of direction.

For the first time in my life, I realized what I want to do.

I want to protect him at all costs.

He's not just a friend. He's a family.

But we can't expect life to be perfect. Unfortunately, Malkiel is affiliated with people he's not supposed to be connected to.

If only I met him before them, maybe, just maybe, I can change his destiny.