Chapter 17: What happened before
Five years ago,
when Ray had first come to the capital city in the country he didn't know anyone nor did he have any place to stay.
Being a runaway sure had its own problems but he was happy to have his freedom. He just wanted to find 'something' but he didn't know what that 'something' was.
With the little money remaining in his pockets he first entered a restaurant to fill his belly. He felt thankful towards his lucky stars because the language barrier in this new foreign country didn't pose a big challenge to him.
It was because from a pretty young age he was trained in various foreign languages as a part of his grooming.
After ordering the food he was waiting in line when someone slammed into him. The momentum of the person made them both tumble down to the floor. Ray didn't even get the time to steady himself, in no time he was greeted with the hard cold tile hitting his delicate nose.
The pain which came after was so intense that he almost passed out. He tried to roll over when he noticed that something or someone was lying on his back.
He groaned in pain and tears almost spilt out from his eyes.
The person who had fallen above him finally got up and Ray rolled over holding his red nose.
??: (concerned) Are you hurt somewhere?
He saw that it was a guy who was similar in age i.e., nineteen. He was much thinner that him and was dressed in a simple red striped tee and black jeans. His hairs were spiked and looked pointy like a cactus.
Ray wished so much that he could beat up the guy for slamming into him so hard that he almost broke his nose but the pain didn't allow him to even say anything much less do something.
The guy frowned when he didn't get any reply and he quickly moved forward to help Ray to an empty seat in the restaurant.
After making sure that he was comfortably seated the guy went over to the counter to ask for an ice pack. After some hassle, he managed to get some crushed ice in some old piece of cloth and handed it over to our injured guy.
Ray wrinkled his brows seeing the washed down state of cloth and hesitantly put it on his nose where it was hurting.
?? : (bowing politely) I am sorry! I knocked into you carelessly.
Ray: (nodding) it's alright. Luckily my nose isn't that badly hurt.
He tried to smile but he flinched because his nose hurt. The cactus haired guy noticed his flinch and felt a little guilty for causing someone discomfort. To smooth things over he decided to offer to take him to the nearest hospital.
?? : (embarrassed) I am really sorry that you got hurt because of my carelessness. My name is Kim Kai, let me please escort you to the nearest doctor. It'll make me feel less guilty!
Ray: (shaking his head) no need, no need. I am fine. You don't have to worry much about this little thing.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Sanchi94
Sanchi94 Oops!
I forgot to upload the story yesterday!
As a punishment there'll be bonus chapters today :)
Chapter 18: Poster
Kai (the cactus haired guy) wasn't convinced by Ray's reasoning. He had personally witnessed him flinch and cringe in pain. Getting your nose hurt was something he had experienced before so witnessing Ray's false confidence he didn't feel very settled.
Ray too noticed the conflicting emotions passing on the other guy's face and he was at a loss on how he should get rid off him.
Ray: (trying again) it's alright, I am fine. You seemed to be in a hurry before you ran into me. Don't you have any urgent job to attend to?
Kai: (startled) Oh yes! you are right! I almost forgot! but I can't just leave you here just like that too!
Kai started to wave his arms frantically due to panic caused by his dilemma. One was an urgent job he had to attend to and the other was a moral obligation, which he couldn't just shy away from.
Ray: (sighing) how about this? Buy me breakfast and we'll be even.
Kai: (pausing mid-way) -oh! will it be okay?
Ray: (nodding) yes it definitely will be.
Ray just wanted to eat his first breakfast after gaining some freedom in peace. He didn't want anyone to disturb him and his solution effectively offered a solution to both Kai's dilemma and Ray's wish.
Getting the much-needed confirmation, Kai enthusiastically paid for the breakfast ordered by Ray and bid him adieu to attend to his urgent work. Ray finally got the peace he wished for and he too dug into the food in front of him happily.
After finishing his breakfast, Ray decided to stroll around in the streets of the capital city to just take in the view. He wasn't in any rush to find a place for himself to stay at. He was finally free so he wasn't going to stick to his old habits of pre-planning and analysing every minute detail of each and everything. He was going to face things and his needs whenever he was faced with them and not a second before.
While roaming around the streets he came across an audition poster. It was a bright and colourful poster with aesthetic images of people enjoying themselves on the stage and there was confetti scattered around it. He felt as if the poster was prepared by someone amateur and not a professional. He stood in front of the poster for a beat more to memorise the details of the audition which was to take place in two days. He didn't know what the future held for him but he was eager to try out new things. Mostly the things which he couldn't try before (even in his dreams).
Strolling around next Ray came across a park which was currently deserted. It was expected as it was a weekday and most people would not have any time to waste at parks. Ray felt a little tired after his previous night without sleep and adding up all the aimless roaming- he was more than a little tired.
He found a huge tree inside the deserted park and laid down in its shade to get some much-needed rest.
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