The beginning

"Am I far enough..."

I was breathing heavily.

I could hear my heartbeat, every beat was frightening me.

I sat down, put my bag on the ground, and took a long breath.

I was hungry, I was thirsty. I wanted to check the bag but I knew it would be useless.

Well despite that feeling I checked my bag.

"Are you kidding me?"

I was surprised, the bag was full of packets of noodles and about 3 bottles of water. I meant why didn't he gave me then despite he had it.

Did he knew, did he foresee?

I was just thinking about him.

"I wonder why he did it? I wonder why he let me run? I wonder why he saved me?"

"Am I worth it, even greater than his life?

I wanted to see him again. I wanted to know his name."

I gazed up into the sky, it was twinkling with full of stars. The breeze was frigid, I could feel through my every cell.

I took out a packet of noodles and opened it. It scented really well. As I was about to take a tidbit, I saw a girl trembling with tears and cold. She looked terrible.

("How can I be cruel to someone who was depicting my fearful and pathetic past?")

Since I had so many, I took out a packet and gave it to her and even gave her a bottle of water. She looked thankful but she didn't say it. Maybe she was frightened.

Somewhere within my cold heart, I felt warm.

But suddenly she took out something from her torn pocket.

"A golden ring....?...!!!!"I was loud.

"Are you kidding me where did you get that?"

Well, I was not surprised that I found her because in this area you could easily found one. The surprising thing was that I found a girl with a golden ring.

"Keep it, I don't want to be in debt to ward someone unknown."

Ohh..., I didn't expect that. For her age, wasn't she talking big? However, I am not the one to judge her. I was about her age too.

"I didn't give you any loan, it's just food, I couldn't take it sorry."

I am a man, right? I couldn't take that at any cost.

"Your name?" She gazed at me.

"According to me, Kahuna..hmm hmm..!"

I said it proudly but she looked expecting more.

"Well about my surname I am still choosing it yet..." I looked so bizarre, maybe.

"According to you...?!...you said. I am Karin, Karin Inagusa. Wanna come with me?"

"Haah sorry...?" even though I heard it properly.

"I don't know where you got that bag but from your look, I can clearly say that you don't know where to dwell, do you?"

She was amazing for her age. Is she God?

"No, ...but...!"

She grabbed my hand and started running.

Seriously, I am running again in the same way.

This time the only difference was that the surrounding was so lively, people were laughing and bargaining.

"Come on, old man, look at me, aren't I looking hot, of course, I can get it for a 50% discount, right?"

"Of course mam, of course, take as much as you want."

Hey, what? That was rather a lewd way but seems to be effective in this town.

"Where are we going, Karin?" I was tired.

"Shut your mouth and follow me!" she silently squeezed my hand.

That was painful though.

(Am I born to be ordered? I was pathetic even when alive.)

I kept following her and observing the surrounding. I felt really excited and joyful.

Shortly, we went to a small tunnel. From the outer appearance, it looked really horrible.

I kept walking and went inward.

Wow...It was amazing. Not like that comfy bed but for her to maintainer this level, my mind was blown away.

"Are we staying here? Are you alone?"

"Somewhere you thought that can this pathetic girl could maintain up to this level, didn't you?" She looked dictatorial.

"It's not like that but you were trembling then..!"I lowered my head.

"Oh about that,...That has a different story."

She turned her head. She was embarrassed and blushed.

"You could take that corner and there are some blankets and bedsheets, you can use that."

"Are you sure?" I was relieved though.

"Ah of course, now we are even." She was really getting into my nerves.

"Well thank you... but don't think my help as a loan ok?"

She ignored me.

I made my bed and slowly descended unleashing all my tiredness.

"Oe that golden ring where did you get that from?" I asked from nowhere.

"None of your business.....Good night!"

It's not like I didn't expect that. But my mouth didn't listen to me.

"Do you think I can become a millionaire?

She suddenly gazed at me for a moment and then she slept.

"I said good night, didn't I?" she sounded scary.

"Oh sorry..!"

("What a weird girl?")

I turned around and slept.

"Oe oe oeeeeee..."

I slowly opened my eyes it was ridiculously bright.

(Wait what.. she was using her legs to wake me!)

"Hey get off your leg..?" I expressed anger, a little maybe.

The night felt so short though.

"I am hungry."

She was kinda childish but she was looking cute.

"Ohh you may be In debt again, don't you thought that... haah!" I used my opportunity.

"I will give you this ring instead."

"Karin, do you really don't know the actual value of that wrong?"

"What do you meant?"

"I too don't know the real value but I know that gold yields much more money. Well from what I have listened to." I tried to explain to her as much I could have done.

"I don't care, you can have that?" She was reckless.

I tossed a packet to her. Of course, I wouldn't accept that but I asked her again.

"Instead of that, can you tell me where did you get that from?"

She ignored me again. Moreover, she added a question to me.

"Don't you think this ring would help you to be a millionaire?"

She heard that. It surprised me but she had a point. I can pave my dream at least, not for me but for that fellow, who gave me a second chance, gave me a second life.

"You may be right but I can't take it. I just....can't take it." I resisted.

For me, humanity can never be compared with money, never ever.

"How about we pave your dream together?"

(Was my face an open book, she could clearly read it, 'pave your dream', what was that?)

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean, you helped me so I can help you too.

Even..." She was bright.

"It's my dream, I wouldn't accept your help."

I tried to ignore her.

"I was shocked at first but I was delighted too. Your dream was the same as mine so let's do it together. What do you say?"

"Umm...First thing you dreamed as mine, I didn't dream like you and the second thing.... let's try it!"

"What...Are you dumb, isn't that the same thing?"

"Nope, of course not!"I said to her with proudness.

"Hey,...do you have the bill for that gold, it is necessary if we want to sell it officially."

"Bill?.....what is that?"

"What exactly do you know then?"

"Everything except the bill?"

Oh, that was easy. I didn't think it would be worth arguing with her. So I started to think of something that would make us easy to sell that gold ring.

It's not like no jewelry shop would not accept that but they may be spoiled by big people too. They may overturn us into a thief and snatched that gold since we didn't have the bill.

Only if we have someone who would be capable of that.

But first I need to confirm the actual value of that gold ring.

"Is there any jewelry shop?" I asked Karin.

"Umm... yes there is one but the owner is pretty old, I doubt he can't even see!"

"Perfect... let's go then?"

We walked through the crowd. I was afraid too. I may not know when I would be kidnapped again by that despicable big man in case if he is alive.

"There it is.." she pointed openly.

"Hey come on, lower your hand we may be suspected." I silently whispered and forced her hand down.

We hid and waited by the shop. I tried to peek. I saw that old man.

Seriously, that man was old as hell, he was fluttering. It wasn't even worth hiding. I got in the shop, there were some words written on the wall.

"Hey, Karin can you read?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Come here read this."

She was good at reading.

"Umm let me see...

1 tola = Rs 95,000

Also,

1 tola = 11.66 grams

...that much."

"Let's get out for now..."

We left the shop since our objective was completed.

Even though I was not educated, I knew some of the words and their meaning and even I could count the money. But since my birth, I have only counted coins not more than 10.

But I was envious because for her this was like easy-pesy.

"You didn't tell me, you were educated!" I concerned.

"You never asked me, did you?"

She was really getting into my nerves.

"Can you teach me?" I favored with my head turned sidewise.

"Beg for it..."

"Seriously, oe ... Karin. Come on..." I insisted.

"Just kidding... there are some books in our tunnel if I am true but its condition maybe nasty."

"Ahh... it will be fine if we can discern the words." I hoped.

Luckily, there were some books and some pencils as well. Some of them were fresh and new so it became easy for me to learn.

I was excited to write my first letter.

A month passed, I somehow managed to read the paragraph now. My first letter was 'Money'.

In between, I also checked the jewelry shop regularly. I got some good news too. Our rings weigh about 5.3 grams.

It was not that much but I don't think it is less for a single ring.

Karin somehow managed to weigh the ring in a grocery shop. Well, she was uncautious like hell. I doubted if she really tried to understand the situation of the circumstances, she was weird.

The only thing left was to sell it now. I couldn't waste even a single opportunity. I Have to make a perfect plan to sell it. Of course, we would sell it unofficially since we don't have its bill.

You may wonder how do I know about bills. Don't be so mean, I was not lying on that rotten soil for the whole 9 years.

About Karin, she was a free-spirited girl. She was scary sometimes. Even if not on her face and attitude, she understood the surroundings well and was really helpful for me.

I was curious about the past life of Karin and in the same way, she might be too. But I don't think not knowing each other past will deter our dream. It doesn't also mean that we wouldn't ask for it. So let's think about it overdue.

"Oe I am hungry." the only things for which I am grateful to.

"Can you hand me that ring once, I just want a touch?" I favored.

"That ring....umm..."

She was checking her pocket but suddenly she rushed and started to look here and there.

"Do you have it or..?"

"No no, I swear I have it here."

She looked really afraid and nervous. And the same goes for me too.

"Are you kidding me, Karin?" I was stunned.

"Ta...tada..here it is."

"Seriously, Karin, you were acting?"

She was really good at pretending. I was terrified. I mean after all this, I would have been broken.

"Well, I have a really weird companion!"

"Hehe..." Her smirk was ridiculous.

That was the very moment I stepped ahead to make my dream a reality, but from now on, this didn't only include me, I somehow managed to get a friend with the same dream but a totally weird one.

I knew it has already been a month and a half. I knew she looked innocent. But I can't ignore my experience as well.

"Hey Karin, can I trust you?" I doubted.

"Ahh no no, I am planning to flee tomorrow."

"What ...?"This time I have expected it.

This is what Karin said that evening.