Friend
It started in a town where two young men
named Ren and Ika are close friends since they are young. Both knew each other
during the days of elementary school where they attended the same school
together. Throughout the years,
friendship between them grew stronger as they shared a same passion, interest
and hobbies. Years of friendship had built a deep trust within Ren and Ika.
Ren
went for university after high school ended while Ika is taking a break from
the society and is unemployed. Despite the difference in each other’s path, Ren
and Ika’s friendship remains strong. Although not seeing each other as commonly
as before during school days, Ren and Ika communicates with each other daily
through the internet. Occasionally like once a week, both of them will meet up
and hang out together.
As
with every relationship, conflicts and minor arguments do happen from time to
time. Ren is a more of a talkative and expressive person while Ika is quiet and
reserved. Sometimes, the contrast between Ren and Ika’s personality are the
cause of these minor conflicts. Even then, conflicts between them are resolved
quickly without hassle as both are very tolerant and understanding of each
other. They continued to go through various moments together, be it happy, sad,
excitement or frustration.
One
day, an argument happened between them. As the more immature one among the duo,
Ren had upset Ika in a conversation. Ren’s immaturity and talkative nature did
not help the situation as he is always unaware of the mistakes that he had
made. Usually in previous arguments, Ren tends to apologize for his mistakes
and Ika readily accepts the apology. But this time, Ren’s anger and emotions
got to the better of him. In anger, he told Ika,
“You’re so RUDE to me! Why does it
always have to me ME?! I wish I had NEVER GOT TO KNOW YOU AT ALL!”
It
was way past midnight during that argument and it ended right after Ren lashed
out at Ika. Anger, sadness and disappointment filled both of them. Thinking
that it will eventually work out the next day, both of them went to sleep.
The
next day, Ren woke up from sleep. He felt slightly upset but he didn’t know
why. Same goes for Ika when he woke up. Feelings of sadness and disappointment surrounds
him but he is unsure of the causes behind it. Little did they know, their
memories of each other is actually lost. Virtually every connection between Ren
and Ika disappeared overnight including messages, contact information and even
photos that they took together. Ren’s ill wish from yesterday came true.
Although
their memories are altered, certain feelings still lingered within Ren and Ika
unconsciously. Both of them had this feeling like there is someone that they once
know well, is missing. They couldn’t figure out who the other person is and
this unsettling feeling continues to linger inside them. There are times when
Ren saw the things that he once collected together with Ika, he instinctively took
out his mobile phone to make a phone call but he didn’t know who to call. The
same goes for Ika when he saw things that Ren is very interested in. Ika felt that
these things reminded him of someone.
Time
continues to go by and ten years had passed. Ren had graduated from university
and is currently working. Ika had also found a job several years ago. Although
still living in the same town, the two of them never once encountered with each
other at all since the argument. The unsettling feelings that they both had is
almost completely gone though they still had a small feeling remaining.
One
day after work, Ren decides to stop by at a shopping mall to have a walk. As he
was going through the aisles, something caught his attention. It was a rack filled
with Hot Wheels scale model cars. Hot Wheels is one of the things that both Ren
and Ika collected together before the argument happened. Ren had long stopped
this hobby many years ago. As Ren reached out his hands to take one of the
carded Hot Wheels, another person had also reached out for the same card. Ren
looked beside him to see who it was. It was no other than Ika himself. They
looked at each other and had eye contact for the first time in a decade.
Ren said, “You collect Hot Wheels too?”
“I once did, it was many years ago”,
says Ika.
“Me too, I guess we had gone through a
similar experience once. Thinking of starting again?”
“Yeah, why not? We can even be friends
with this.”
