Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 7: Blank's Childhood (6)
[Burn that old man's house down.]
Joe was curious. "Well, that's not a bad idea, isn't it a bit far from the city? When will this be carried out?"
"Tonight."
The man was shocked. "Are you sure?"
"Of course, I'll order a small branch near there. Anyway, there's no one left in that house."
Joe nodded his head. "Yeah, that's true. Alright then, I'll head to Underring."
The old man replied. "Yeah, go ahead. We need a lot of money."
---
Elsewhere, Blank was seen sitting at the dining table while his brother cooked again.
"Hey bro, what are you cooking tonight?"
"I'm cooking grilled carp. It's good, right?"
The little boy held his chin. "Yeah, it's good... but isn't that expensive?"
"Haha, we can have this for tomorrow too, you know, we'll eat it with rice."
"That's true."
His brother finished cooking and served the food to Blank on the table.
"Wow, it smells so good." The little boy's eyes sparkled.
"Who do you think is cooking? Here, this will make it even better." His brother gave him a small bowl containing a dark brownish-black liquid.
"What is this?"
"That's soy sauce, but I added chili, garlic, onion... basically, it's delicious."
"How do you eat it?"
Kaeri took a piece of the carp and poured the sauce over it.
"Once it's like this, just eat. Be careful of the bones, or you might choke."
"Ooh, okay."
Munch munch.
Blank's eyes widened, his heart pounding.
"Whoooa, this is delicious!"
Kaeri smiled. "Eat a lot."
Blank kept eating heartily. The little boy focused only on the rice and side dishes without looking at his brother.
"Ugh.. bro.. my throat.." Blank choked on a bone.
His brother sighed. "Swallow some rice at least once or twice, then drink."
Blank obeyed, doing as his brother instructed.
He was surprised. "How do you know so much, bro?"
His brother grinned. "I'm an adult."
That was their togetherness before finally lying down on the living room carpet.
"Hey, this is hard. Am I still not allowed in the room?"
Blank shook his head. "Not yet."
His brother sighed. "Then just sleep. It's already 9 PM."
The little boy prepared himself for sleep, arranging the blanket and hugging a pillow next to his brother.
At that moment, Kaeri thought. (This isn't good. If this child can't be moved naturally, then I'll have to do it.)
Within minutes, Blank fell asleep. Kaeri, seeing this, got up and went to the backyard. He picked up his phone.
"Hello, it's me. Is the house secure?"
(...)
"Hmm... okay. I'll definitely come tomorrow."
Kaeri returned to the house. (Sorry, Kaelan. I have to give you real safety, even if it hurts you.)
When he returned to the living room, Blank was asleep, but...
"Grandpa, don't go... Dad... Mom..."
Kaeri looked at him. (This child is talking in his sleep? Well, that can happen after his incident.)
"I... will protect this house..."
Kaeri sighed. (Haha... you're clever at giving me more headaches, huh.)
The young man then lay down. Even though the carpet was as thin as a book, he could fall asleep quickly.
---
The next morning arrived. This time, Kaeri was accompanying his little brother who was about to go to work.
"You're working?"
Blank answered with a smile and a nod.
(I'm curious how this little kid works. Well, I also have experience in the village.)
After walking for a while, Blank pointed to a garden with carrots and tomatoes.
"I'm going to work there," he said while pointing.
Kaeri smiled. "In that case, be careful. I'll wait for you around here."
The boy returned the smile and hurried off to approach a middle-aged grandmother.
"Grandma, I'll help today."
The grandmother smiled warmly. "Haha, it's like I have a grandchild again. Let's harvest first."
"Let's go!"
From afar, Kaeri watched the two of them. (From the story, he works a lot with people aged 45 and above.)
The young man smiled, leaning his back against a tree. (I think these are just lonely elderly people who want company. Poor child, the one accompanying them also has a lonely life.)
Wind blew toward Kaeri, his hair fluttering under the morning sunlight, leaves swaying rhythmically.
(Huh... honestly, the village is more calming than the city, especially its dark side.)
He saw small evidence from a distance. (Huh... I need to pee first.)
(There's no such thing as public restrooms in the village. Just find a tree and turn around.)
He did it.
(I hope no one sees.)
Suddenly, from a distance, a young girl was seen carrying a rattan bag in her hand.
Kaeri was shocked. (What the fuck!) He turned his body around.
He felt embarrassed. (I hope she didn't see.) But he was surprised when a man with tattoos approached the girl. Kaeri's hearing was very good; he could hear their voices.
"Hey, miss, what did you bring for us?"
The girl sighed. "I can only give you the fruits of my harvest."
The man laughed. "Haha... just fruits? How about your fruit too?"
"No."
"Come on, don't be like that. I'm only 10 years older. You're so cute even though you're already 17."
Kaeri watched them talking while walking, but his gaze was diverted.
(Hah, forget it. My mission is just to protect Kaelan. It could be dangerous if I step out of the mission even for a moment.)
But Kaeri looked back at the two of them with sharp eyes.
After walking together, the girl approached a man with tattoos on his arm.
The girl spoke. "This is from my family for one month."
The man asked. "What did you bring?"
The girl lowered her head, her legs slightly weak. "The harvest wasn't good. I brought apples, bananas, and—"
The man then stood up and looked at the girl. "Hey, what do you mean by that? Just that much for a month?"
The girl closed her eyes, her gaze directed at the ground.
Kaeri, hiding behind the tree. (So that's how it is.)
The man who had walked with the girl earlier spoke. "See, boss, that's way too little. How about using this girl instead? She's already grown up," he said while putting his arm around the girl.
The girl's body trembled, her legs grew weak, and her eyes, which were initially just closed, now scrunched tightly.
"Huh... I thought you'd bring at least $50 to pay your family's debt. You only brought harvest fruits."
The man approached the terrified girl, his steps so slow that each beat accelerated the rhythm of her heartbeat.
Kaeri watched them from afar. (I guess it's pointless. If I intervene, it could cause problems. But...)
The young man looked at the girl being embraced with a trembling body. Then the man holding her let go of his hand and was about to reach down to grab...
(You bastards.) Kaeri was annoyed.
Ring... Ring...
Everything stopped. The tattooed man's phone was ringing. He immediately answered it, his face instantly pretending to be cheerful.
"Oh, hello, boss! What's up, calling so early in the morning?"
(...)
(The voice isn't audible.) Kaeri thought.
"Huh? Burn the house down?"
"Number? Number 20?"
Kaeri stared sharply, grinding his jaw, veins visible from his clenched fist.
(Bastards! That's Kaelan's house.)
"Ah, I'll call a few others. Maybe 10 people total to make it faster. We'll pour gasoline first."
Kaeri grew even more furious. (I'll kill him now.)
"Okay, tonight then. We'll probably do it around 11 PM. That's the quietest hour."
(I didn't bring a knife. At least punches can kill too.)
However...
"My child!"
An elderly woman arrived with her husband, accompanied by several villagers, including the local neighborhood head.
(Damn, there are locals.) Kaeri fumed.
The elderly woman hugged her daughter, shouting. "HEY, YOU GROWN-UPS, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO MY CHILD?"
"Eh... eh..." The man could only stand still.
"Child... are you okay... why didn't you tell your mother you were coming here and picking fruits alone?"
The girl then looked at her mother. Slowly, tears began to fall, and she closed her eyes. Her body trembled, and then her mother hugged her tightly. The girl said:
"Sorry... Mom... I just didn't want Mom to be bothered all the time... I wanted... to help Mom..."
It turned out the girl went on her own volition. She just wanted to help her mother, who was trapped in debt to the man there.
But Kaeri was seen clenching his fist tightly and gritting his teeth.
(This is a problem. Should I kill them all now?)
"Hey, you all, at least be proper adults. What are you doing? Just extorting people." The neighborhood head started shouting and making his point.
But suddenly, two motorcycles resembling old CBs approached them all. The tattooed man grabbed the other man's shoulder.
"Let's go. There's something more important."
The two of them left on those motorcycles. But on the other side...
(Bastards!) Kaeri stared at the two men who had left. (You're asking for trouble.) He said with eyes full of restrained anger.
Kaeri returned to where Kaelan was working, but as he got closer...
"HAAA!"
(That's Kaelan's scream... wait! What!?)
In Blank's current view:
"Hey, snake, go away. Oh my God, it's so big. This is a field snake, right? Its face is scary."
The grandmother with Blank was also scared. "Oh dear... snakes rarely come here."
"Shoo, shoo, go away... I want to pick tomatoes."
Kaeri was seen moving quickly towards them from across the way.
Crunch.
"Huh..." Blank was shocked.
Kaeri stomped on the snake's head very hard using just one leap of his foot.
He lifted his foot, which was only wearing a black shoe.
(Oh my God, I took out my anger on the snake. Now its skull is cracked.)
Kaeri picked up the snake's body, which had no more strength. Although it was still moving, the snake's head was unrecognizable.
Whoosh.
Kaeri threw it into the river not far from them.
"I thought something happened when you screamed, Kaelan. You scared me."
Kaeri looked at Blank's shocked and silent face. (Ah, damn, did I look too cruel now?)
Kaeri gave him a smile. He laughed and comforted the little boy. "Hahaha, sorry, your brother worries too easily. Come on, let's pick vegetables again. I'll help."
Even so, Blank's face remained shocked, but he answered his brother's words. "Ah... okay."
(This is bad. I have to stabilize his emotions now.)
"Haha, come on, Grandma, I'll help. Don't worry, I just intend to work with my little brother," he said with a warm smile.
The grandmother returned his smile. "Haha, alright, alright. Let's continue then. That was something else."
Then Blank and his brother helped the grandmother. Kaeri walked and was still thinking.
(Hmm... what should I do now?)
His gaze stopped when he saw a large, hairless caterpillar on one of the plants.
(Ah... let me try...)
Flick.
The caterpillar was thrown to another side of the plant, not easily visible thanks to its green color. Kaeri's throw landed under a ripe red tomato.
"Kaelan, I'll handle over there because it looks like a lot. You stay here; it's easier."
Blank nodded. "Ah... okay..."
Then they separated. Kaeri took the rattan bag and started picking the tomatoes.
Fast movements.
The grandmother was surprised. "Oh my, that young man is so fast... huh... reminds me of my youth."
Within one minute, he finished a long row and gathered about 34 ripe, fresh tomatoes without damaging the plants.
(This is easy... I'm getting nostalgic.)
Kaeri looked at Blank's row. (Now just to pick his heart again.)
Blank started picking the tomatoes. His gaze focused on one large, red, ripe tomato.
"Ah, that's a fresh tomato. I'll take it."
But as he picked the tomato, he saw a large caterpillar right under the leaf.
Peek.
"HAA!" He was shocked, his body thrown backward, but what he remembered was:
(Oh no, don't fall. It'll get damaged.)
He closed his eyes and...
Catch.
Kaeri caught him quickly. He grabbed Blank's body and said, "Whoa... what happened, bro?"
"Eh... bro..." The young man sighed. "Be careful next time." With a worried face, he looked at Blank's clothes and checked them. "You're not hurt, Kaelan?"
In that situation, Blank saw the worried look on his brother's face. He knew Kaeri was checking if he was okay or not.
Blank smiled at that touch. He said to his brother, "No, bro... I'm fine." Kaeri also returned his smile. "Thank goodness."
"Alright then, let's continue. Don't keep making me worry, okay?" Little Blank smiled and nodded.
The two of them continued their work until it was finished.
(Thank goodness the child trusts me again.)
When everything was done, Blank was seen sitting in the hut, approached by the middle-aged grandmother.
"This is for you, child." The boy's face was shocked. "$5, Grandma!?" The grandmother smiled. "I felt helped, but I also felt accompanied."
The grandmother lived alone. Her husband had long passed, and her children went to the city but very rarely visited her, maybe because they were focused on their own families.
"Haha, thank you, child." Blank smiled happily, which also made the grandmother feel warmth here.
Then Kaeri approached them. The grandmother immediately reached into her pocket and took out some money, but...
"No need, Grandma. I just wanted to work with my little brother." He said with a warm smile and a hand gesture refusing the money meant for him.
The grandmother smiled. It was as if she saw her grandchild and child here. She then took a food container.
"Ah, right, it's already noon. I brought this on purpose for lunch. But since his brother is here too, let's eat together." The grandmother offered.
Little Blank smiled. He said, "Thank you, Grandma."
But Kaeri said, "Ah, sorry, Grandma... we don't mean to refuse... but we still have leftover food at home. It was cooked last night; I'm afraid it might spoil."
The grandmother listened. Although her heart was a bit hurt, she still smiled. Then she offered:
"How about you take the side dishes home? I'll prepare them."
The young man smiled and asked, "Isn't it troublesome, Grandma?"
The grandmother waved her hand. "No... I'll prepare them quickly."
After finishing preparing, Blank received the package with a smile on his face, squinting his eyes, as did the young man beside him.
"Alright then, Grandma, we'll take our leave now," said Blank.
"Yes, child, be careful."
The two of them walked away, leaving the grandmother alone in the old hut with old palm leaves on its roof. The grandmother watched the harmonious brother and sister walking together with joyful faces. She lowered her head slightly.
(Once... I also had an older sister...) She looked up at the clear blue sky. (Sis... those were happy times, weren't they.)
The grandmother's eyes welled up, then she looked at the two of them, smiled, and shouted.
"Hey! Kaelan!"
Blank was startled. He looked at the middle-aged grandmother sitting alone there.
"Tomorrow we harvest spinach! Come again, okay!"
Blank smiled and shouted. "Yes, Grandma, I'll come tomorrow!" He waved his hand and jumped.
Finally, the two siblings went home together. Kaeri looked at the boy.
(Child... I feel sad for you now...)
After the journey, they finally arrived home.
Creak.
"We're home."
Although both of them said the same thing and no one answered at home, Blank's situation this time was so different because he now had someone he considered like an older brother.
"Kaelan, let's eat first. I'll prepare it quickly; you can take a bath." Blank nodded.
As Blank started cleaning himself, Kaeri took something from his bag.
Kaeri opened a white powder. No smell. No taste. Dissolved perfectly in liquid.
(Tonight, before bed... I'll make him drink warm milk... I can't just put it in during the day.)
Blank liked milk before bed. Grandpa used to make it when there was extra money.
(3 hours from drinking = 11 PM he'll be fast asleep. Exactly when they burn the house.)
(8-hour effect = until morning. Enough time to reach the city.)
His hand trembled slightly.
[Sorry, Kaelan. This is the only way.]