My Heart Was Wounded Deep
Chapter 12's

"I love the bracelet Mom gave me" Jason said.

"I can see." Rey replied with a smile. "Are you going to invite him to your game?"

"Why not? Anyone can come to my school." Jason hesitated as he asked, "why would you allow it, right?"

Despite being eager to resist, to make their lives simpler and move on with the same goal, Rey has no idea how she can continue to impose her will. "If you really want him to attend."

"I don't think it's going to bother anyone" he said.

Rey hopes it's true.

*****

Kikan leaned his body wearily as soon as he got home, he looked at his two abrasive legs. Why don't I be more practical with the small amount of money I have. Her thought. He can buy running shoes, which are not too expensive. He tried those shoes. But what he thought about trying the sandal he wore this morning was his first meeting with Jason. He wants to show his best performance.

He was grateful that someone would give a ride while walking earlier, but when the vehicle approached and slowed down. And the driver was a black-haired man he could see through the rearview mirror... Lean sideways and open the passenger door. "You're going up?" yells.

At first he refused, but his legs were very sore and blisters plus very hot weather. Grateful for not having to continue the painful journey of the legs, Kikan hobbled closer to the pickup. "thank you. It's so hot today. And these sandals...."

Instantly Kikan recognized who the man was and immediately swallowed his words. This is Devan, one of Rey's friends back at school.

Kikan did not want Rey to know and from the beginning he tried to stay away from the man's life, except about children. Makes him disengage with intention. "Actually, it doesn't. I just realized we can't go to the same place. But thank you."

Kikan slammed the door, praying that Devan would leave soon. But the man did not go either. He reached out and opened the door again.

"You may not have realized it yet, but your body is sunburned" he said. "And at least, we seem to be heading in the same direction. I don't mind straying the road a little."

If he knew who he was, Devan wouldn't insist. But Devan will know who he is if Kikan asks Devan to drop him off near his mother's house. And approaching her mother's house means taking a ride from her." I'm fine. Really, not far away."

"really. The reason why you have to keep running your car." After closing the door, Kikan forced himself to walk without focusing on one leg. But Devan lowers the windshield and continues to drive to Kikan.

"I know where you live. Let me take you."

"I can still walk a few kilometers" Kikan said.

"You seemed to be trudging as I drove behind you earlier."

Devan sees? From that distance? "Because these slippers are new, that's all. I'll take it off."

"So you don't need a ride."

"No thanks."

"Come on!" argue Devan. "I can't leave a woman limping by the side of the road."

"According to most people here I'm not an ordinary woman."

"I'm a killer, remember? Of course you can leave me" as soon as he realized his words were too harsh, Kikan regretted it and looked at Devan while trying to smile. "I don't mean to be rude. I'd just rather not make things difficult for you."

"But it's not hard!"

Refusing means making this little problem bigger than it is. Kikan couldn't bear the pain anyway.

When Kikan stopped walking, Devan stopped the car. "Alright, it looks like I'm going to hitch a ride," he said, then boarded Devan's car.