Today there are not many people, is it because it is the rainy season?

They say the sea is not beautiful these days. I don't understand if the sea is beautiful or not. For me, the sea is the same every day. As for the sky... it's not the same every day, but it's still... fascinating every day.

The sky started to turn brick red. The sun was about to set. I lifted the camera around my neck to take another picture. I couldn't remember how many pictures

I had taken here today. I probably wouldn't be here for long. I'll take a picture to keep as a souvenir. The wind from the sea was blowing. I didn't know where it brought this loneliness from. It made me feel so lost. I looked out to the edge of the sea as far as the eye could see.

The image in front of me made me ask myself a question. It was a question that I myself had never been able to answer.

Are we looking at the same sky? But if not, that's okay. At the time... I was only ten years old, I guess. In the old storage room of a fisherman who had given up using it, there was no more suitable place to be our "secret base" than here. We would sneak things from home to decorate together here until it became our secret place and we promised not to tell anyone about it.

I sat with my back leaning against the wall before turning to look up at the dark sky, letting the drops of rain drizzle dark, letting the raindrops fall continuously. My drenched body I could only hug myself to ease the cold.

I bit my lips hard to hold back the sobs. I could not hold them back for long before I had to let myself cry again, burying my face in my arms and letting the tears flow unchecked. This is the only place I want to be when I feel like I have nowhere to go.Because I don't want to go home.

BAM!

I jumped when I heard the sound of thunder.

No!

I don't like thunder! I heard the sound of a door opening and immediately looked up. I saw a boy the same age as me. He was a little taller and had fair skin. Although he had an umbrella in his hand, his body was soaked. He looked like he had run in the rain. He looked anxious and worried.

He was the only person I expected to find me. And he always found me.

"It's dangerous to come here at dusk and in this rain."

I quickly got up and ran to hug him.

"Are you surprised by the thunder?"

"Yes, Phi."

"It's all right. I'm here now."

The person in front of me hugged me and gently rubbed my head. Phi Tonfah was one of the people who knew what I was afraid of or not afraid of, and one thing I am afraid of... is lightning.

Although my name was Typhoon.

"Yes," I replied.

"Why are you here, don't you want to go home?"

"Hmm."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid."

"Scared of Auntie?"

"Yes, mom is scary."

"Why is your mom scary?"

"Mom will be mad at me," I said quietly as I continued in Phi Fah's embrace, until he slowly let go of me. I lowered my head because I didn't dare to look him in hiseyes.

"Mom is scary."

"Look up, look at me."

I looked up, and noticed the gentle smile that always came to me.

"Okay, let's go together."

"No, Phi Fah has to go back anyway."

"We'll go back together. Okay?"

"But..."

"Let's go back together."

"No, Mom will hit me. It will hurt." I pressed my lips together tightly. The image in my memory was terrifying. I didn't want to be hit again. I still remember that pain.

"I was a bad boy today. Mommy doesn't like it."

"How come you're a bad boy?"

"I failed the math test."

"Failing the test means you're a bad boy?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm a bad boy too."

"Why, did you fail the test too?"

"No," said Phi Fah, shaking his head slightly. "But today, I also left the house secretly. That's right. My parents forbade me to go out of the house when it rains, but I snuck out to look for you."

"No, Phi Fah, you go back home. You're going to get beaten. It hurts." I said frantically and I pushed the other person hurriedly out the door.

No, I can't let Phi Fah get hit, I know very well how much it hurts. But Phi Fah grabbed my wrist first.

"Aren't you coming back with me?"

"I don't want mom to hit me."

"Then I won't come back either and I will be beaten too."

"No." Still, he didn't want to go.

"Torfan must be worried," Phi Fah said with a more serious face and tone.

"She won't eat dinner if you don't come back, aren't you worried about her?"

"Yes."

"Have you seen Fan cry?"

"Yes."

"But you don't want her to cry."

"No..."

"Then come back to me now."

"...Yes."

"Very well."

I reached out to take the hand that was already outstretched and waiting for me. We walked into the same shaded area, slowly following the person who was holding my hand. I kept secretly looking at Phi Fah all the way home.

It's okay.

As long as Phi Fah is here... it won't be a problem. But then... What happened?

I walked to the end of the road and found ruins in a familiar place. Our secret but Phi probably doesn't know about it, right? I heard that soon this place will be renovated and become a new storage building. There will be no more evidence of our memories. I raised my camera to take a picture. I don't know why I took it....

Ah... yes. That day, when I came home, Fan cried a lot. She came and hugged me right away immediately and asked me where I had been and if I was hurt. Fan is my older sister, but we are only a year apart, she is the same age as Phi Fah, that's why I prefer to just call her Fan and not Phi.

At that time, it didn't hurt me in any way. Since I didn't want to get hit, I cried. But my mother didn't ask me if it hurt. She asked me... What was my score on the test?

Why does she love Torfan more than Phoon?

I've wondered and asked myself that question many times, but now I don't think about asking that question anymore because the answer is too painful. t The wind does not bring loneliness, but it is I who have always been alone.

Torfan... No, Fan loves Phi Fah. Just by looking at her you realize it, I know it because I'm the same... I've been in love... for a long time.

My parents respect Phi Fah's parents because they are benefactors. My house and Phi Fah's house are next to each other, so the three of us always play together.

As a kid, I always kept an eye on both of them. Fan and Phi Fah are my whole world.

Torfan and Phi Fah are smart kids, good at studying, good at everything, unlike me, who fails at everything in my parents' eyes.

Why can't I do the same as Phi Tonfah? Why can't I get good grades like Torfan?

Why is my grade so low? Why don't I read books Why do I only do useless things? Why did I fail the exam again? Why? Why? Why?

That's right... Why is that?

Why don't you hug Phoon? But it doesn't matter, having you two is enough. At least I used to think that way but not now. Children need acceptance, they need love... but nobody loves me...

The day came when Phi Fah had to move to continue high school in another school, a place that was too far away for me to ever see him again.

"Torfan will study hard. I will pass the medical exam and become a doctor with Fah."

"Um, I'm serious about it too. Let's be doctors together."

I stood and watched the two of them say goodbye. They both had a dream of becoming doctors. Fan gave Phi Fah a gift, but I didn't have one, because I didn't know what to give him. What was more important at that moment was regret and disappointment. Why did you have to throw me in the garbage?

"Phoon."

"..." I looked up at the sound of his voice.

"Take care of yourself."

"Yeah."

"You look like you're going to cry again." Phi Fah said as he reached out his hand to gently stroke my head when he saw that I was pouting as if I was going to cry.

I was going to cry.

"Will we meet again?"

"Yes."

"Phoon, don't cry." Fan, who was standing next to me, comforted me and reached up to gently squeeze my shoulder.

"We will definitely meet again someday. Let's get back together."

"Hmm."

We'll be together again...

"Good luck."

Those were my last words before we parted ways. On second thought, I should have had better words for Phi Fah then....

Suddenly, my phone rang. I was walking, lost in my thoughts, and I was a bit surprised. I quickly picked it up to look at it. When I saw who was calling, I couldn't help but sigh.

"Yes." I said to the person on the other end of the line.

[It's almost time.]

"Yes."

[Don't miss your flight. Can you go to the airport alone?]

"Yes."

[I've already arranged everything for you, including your student uniform. Did you get the room key?]

"Yes."

[Hmm, should I ask someone to pick you up? Where are you right now?]

"No problem, I'll go by myself."

[Are you sure?]

"Yes, there's a place I want to go to first."

[Hmm, hurry up.]

I stopped to buy a few things and headed to a place I always go to, whether I'm happy or sad. Once I'm there, I probably won't go back. Even though I've prepared, I still feel a little sad. I won't be here much longer today, so I just intended to stop by and say goodbye.

I stopped at the same spot, knelt down slowly and looked at the familiar photograph of a woman. Her sweet face was decorated with a warm smile that I had missed so much.

I missed so much.

I placed the flower in front of her photograph....

"Fan..."

"Phoon will go to see Phi Fah."

______

P.S.: Hello everyone! This is Ashtreya_05. I'm not sure if my readers from that account will find me here, but I hope so, as my account was abruptly shut down after being reported, and I can't recover it. I'm uncertain whether I'll continue posting and updating here, but I'll definitely create a Telegram channel for future translations. I've learned my lesson from what happened to my other account. You can contact me on Facebook at Zahara Ashtrielle Archoious, but please be aware that this isn't my real name. Thank you