章 218: Ringing Advice in His Mind
Notice of Apology
mrs.mooncat:
Heyy readers,
I finally have a little breathing ground to work on recovering my old email that's connected to this account (it was such a hassle i even have the thoughts of abandoning this inkstone account but was prevented by mr.mooncat). I've noticed you guys are wayyyy left out for nearly 5 months (including nov 2024) which equates to 10 chapters. Truly sorry for the super long waittt. Hence, I've decided to release 10 chapters this month to tally the storyline to the one posted on other platform. Expect a release of 1 chapter for every 3 days or so to encourage new readers. I'll try to arrange for that, but no promises.
Additionally, the Ptreon platform recently introduced per-chapter purchases, so I will activate that within this month during my next free time. If you want to see more, you can definitely go there too (plus giving support to me ahaha).
What's the difference, you asked?
I inserted images in random chapters (usually one or two per month) to better portray the items/ingredients/characters within.
The storyline so far is about 10 chapters ahead of the current release.
You can also subscribe to be able to access all of the above (shrug)
Don't forget to leave a little comment/stones etc after you read to show me you're still there. Life's pretty hard, and these little things keep me going (because I know someone is still reading this out there).
p/s: my kid, who i kept on writing her conversations in this story (Aira, 5yo, Hana & Arash's 1st daughter), had grown so much and had turned 11 (ohh, she's still so cheeky, but better at hiding it)...such a longgggg journey ahaha..so nostalgic
Sorry for the long rant. Enjoy the upcoming releases!
mrs.mooncat/yue/nadia ong
8/11/2024
...
Chapter 218: Ringing Advice in His Mind
Ed woke up as the first ray of sunlight hit his face. It was a cold night, but he persisted again and survived in this rotten world. He was in the back alley behind a shop lot, just beside the dumpster. The dumpster helped hold off the chilly winds. What was a little smell when one's survival was at stake?
He sat in between the flattened cardboard boxes he laid down last night while looking at the red plastic bag in his hands. There was exactly RM625 inside, he reminded himself. For once, the impulse to reach out to the dealer didn't surface today.
How strange.
He replayed again the memory from last night in his mind.
He couldn't remember what the other person with the magnetic voice looked like as his sight was having trouble focusing. His temples were beating so badly that his body couldn't control the subtle shivering.
Ed hadn't eaten anything for the past two days as he had used up all of the cash he had to buy his happy pills. He wasn't sure it was due to lack of food, or lack of pills, or both. He had gone so low that he had to dilute the pills and just intravenously feed the liquid into his body to stretch it out a little bit these past few days.
What is that guy saying? I just need to beat him to a pulp to snatch his dough to stop this pounding!!!
Ed remembered that he tried to hold on to the piece of broken chair leg to threaten the owner of the magnetic voice and shook his head while sighing.
"...come out of the darkness so that we can get to know each other."
Once he managed to make out some bits and pieces of what the mysterious person said, the pounding on his temples went away instantly like magic. He felt peace for the first time in a long while. He tried to focus his gaze, still, to no avail.
Ed recalled his body took a weak step outside of the safety of darkness automatically.
In between his parched lips which hadn't tasted a single drop of water for the day, he finally managed to croak hoarsely to introduce himself, a feat he never did to anyone for many years. "Hello, I'm Ed. I was planning to take some cash from you and beat you up with this stick if you decline."
Ed was extremely rude and was a trash of a person, even in the back alleyed circle, but felt compelled to be honest with this unknown man. He owed this person that much since he planned to hurt him later. It was nothing personal.
He added, "...and once you give me the dough, I will still beat you up to close your mouth."
That was the most sound thing to do to protect himself from a sudden counter.
Ed chuckled as he recalled how readily he agreed to the man's piteous begging not to hit him or anyone else. He still wondered how could he be so kind.
The best thing was, being kind to this man was rewarded with money without extra effort. His pupils shook as he saw the man easily take out a thick amount of teal-colored money which could only mean a bunch of RM50 notes, with added red and dark blue in between without counting.
"Take this money. Sober up and overcome your addiction to whatever you're taking. Find the first opportunity to eat and drink properly."
He remembered every single word very clearly as if the words were branded into his mind with a hot glowing coal.
He didn't dislike it.
The subsequent advice was many, but they were etched deep within his consciousness.
He stood up with shaky legs and somehow reached the nearest stall. It was bustling with customers early in the morning. Their judgemental gazes followed him as he looked through the selection of dishes meekly, not knowing what to do. An old aunty, the owner of the stall probably, watched the crumpled red note(1) in his grasp and sighed.
"What would you like, Son?"
"Lots of rice, and anything amount to RM10... Please?" He added. Once he tried to be polite, the next polite word rolled easily. It wasn't so hard actually.
The old aunty pulled out a plate covered with brown oil paper and started adding double the portion of nasi lemak for this sorry young man. She picked a fried chicken with the most meat, a fried egg, lots of cucumbers, and fried peanuts. She contemplated and added the stall's signature dish, her squid sambal. She went above and beyond to prepare a big mug of teh tarik and a cup of plain water. This gaunt-looking young man looked like he hadn't eaten in a while. All the food and drinks she provided easily amounted to RM20, but she would treat it as sedekah(2) from the stall to people in need.
Ed's eyes misted as he looked at the delicious-looking nasi lemak gratefully. While eating, he cried silently.
What has he been doing all this time?
One big mistake, and finally his life spiraled down to this point, for what?
Sober up, overcome your addiction, eat and drink properly.
The instruction repeated itself in his mind again and again as long as he didn't perform the task, bugging him nonstop.
Once his tummy was filled up with all the delicious food and drinks, the words spoken by the mysterious benefactor slowly faded to mere whispers at the back of his mind.
His steps became firmer as he was filled with energy. He handed the red note in his grasp and said his thanks with genuine gratitude to the old aunty.
She smiled as she nodded happily, feeling that her deeds had been appreciated.
"Good Son, you need to move forward in life no matter what okay? Take this and eat when you're hungry. Please come again."
The old aunty handed him a plastic bag. He opened it to see a translucent plastic pack filled with fried meehoon(3), a mineral water bottle, and a plastic fork.
Looking at Ed's questioning look, the old aunty added, "It's on the house. We're planning to clear the tray out soon anyway. Rather than throw the leftovers away, I just pack it for you. No need to pay. Eat before evening okay. It will get spoiled if too long. We cooked the meehoon very early in the morning."
Ed was silent for a moment before he nodded. His eyes turned slightly red.
He walked, and walked, and walked without a specific direction until he found a tiny barbershop. The anneh(4) asked Ed's preference, and he just said to make him look clean and presentable. He could see the anneh cringed his nose as he worked away cutting off the messy unkempt hair and didn't say anything.
After accepting payment, the anneh patted his shoulder and hesitantly added, "You can do this, Bro. Come over for the next haircut, it will be 50% off."
Ed blinked a few times as he raised his hand to send his nonverbal thanks.
Next door, he entered a minimarket and walked off with the cheapest toothbrush with a mini toothpaste set, four small Good Morning towels, a lemony-scented soap bar, a cheap deodorant, and a packet of ziplock bags. As his possessions increased, he found it hard to hold them all inside plastic bags, hence after contemplating, he got himself a small backpack to fill all of the daily necessities.
There were only two pockets on his pants, and he kept the money-filled plastic bag inside his clothes, tucked over his pants, for obvious safety reasons. The smartphone in his possession was of the cheapest kind with a cracked screen; he maintained it minimally just to be able to contact the dealer. Now, he was grateful for his persistence for other reasons altogether.
The cashier looked scared as she passed the change to Ed and tried her best not to make eye contact.
Ed was used to this kind of treatment. These people were scared of him just by feeling his vicious vibe. They would visibly flinched when they unintentionally made eye contact with him.
...
..
.
Ed resumed his endless walk, trying to find a public toilet. He usually relieved himself at the side of the road before, but something compelled him to keep on looking to get a proper bath. The ringing advice kept on occupying his mind. It was persistent, but in a good way. He hadn't been so focused on a single task for ages.
He worked up his courage to ask a few passersby. Most ran away from him or totally ignored him. But finally, an innocent high school student pointed him in the right direction.
"Abang(5), there's a nice public toilet beside a playground in Mesra Park, you just need to take that corner over there. Then, you have to walk a bit, until you see Mael Discount Sundry Shop, then turn right. After that just keep on going straight until you see the park. You have to pay to use the toilet and the shower, though."
The boy smiled and waved him goodbye as his friends pulled him away hurriedly.
Ed continued to walk, this time, with a destination in mind.
...
The shower was a blessing.
Ed scrubbed himself by using one of the Good Morning towels and the lemon-scented soap for a good thirty minutes; the longest time he ever had in his life. It had been so long, and it really made a difference. He observed himself in the mirror with his fresh look and a clean haircut, wondering who was this person in the mirror. He looked very different, just like one of the many law-abiding citizens, now so prim and proper. He felt good about himself and weakly smiled over the mirror.
He ate the fried meehoon gratefully and washed it off with the mineral water on a secluded bench at the park. He promised himself that he would definitely return the favor to the old nasi lemak aunty.
The shade from the tree and the faint sound of chiming bells tied up to the branches accompanying the soft caress of the gentle wind soothed Ed's heart deeply. He embraced the moment of zen he never knew he needed.
So peaceful.
Why hasn't he felt this way before? It was still the same world he lived in. One was filled with rage, treachery, lust, and sin. While the other was filled with kindness, peace, and calmness.
What was different this time?
Ed contemplated.
The ringing advice in his mind. The advice from the magnetic voice.
"Next, find work." Ed slapped himself with both hands to give himself energy. He walked with purpose to the nearest grocery store from before.
...
..
.
"No, we don't need extra workers at the moment, Dik(5)."
"We don't need any more waiters."
"Sorry? Work? No, no. No vacancy. Try to go to the petrol station six blocks away, I heard they are looking for a pump attendant."
"Sorry, the vacancy has been filled. I can help you to apply in our Putra Park branch as long as you have transportation.."
"Cleaner? We already got two, Dik. Why don't you try somewhere else?"
Ed pulled a plastic chair and sat down tiredly as he tried to return the smile of the apologetic restaurant owner. He had been walking around in circles for the past six hours and needed a moment's reprieve.
Ed wasn't going to back down from his objective of the day. Something inside him prevented him from giving up.
"Excuse me, Son. Are you looking for a job?" The owner of a gentle voice placed a dried gnarly hand on Ed's shoulder.
...
mrs.mooncat:
1) red note = RM10
2) sedekah = donation
3) fried meehoon = fried vermicelli, usually orangy brownish, a little spicy. A standard morning breakfast besides nasi lemak.
4)anneh = brother (of Indian descent)
5) Abang = elder brother (generic)
4) Dik = short form of 'Adik', meaning 'little brother'. It means that the person talking to Ed is older.
Post note: Anneh, abang/bang, big/elder brother/bro all have the same meaning in different languages and are used interchangeably. All locals of different races knew the meaning and use it among each other especially when they didn't know the other person's name.
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