They waited at the central station Gare du Nord for their next journey to Amsterdam of Netherlands. The two were still warm from the warming liquor down their throats and their stomach after coming out from one of the pubs, it was a necessary precaution against the chilly midnight.
Their bus would be arriving late, according to the text message sent by the Flixbus announcer via phone messaging, Cay could feel the unnatural heat induced by the two shots of rum slowly slipping away from his body. Feeling his hands had begun turning cold, he folded them together and blew moist, warm air into the cupped hands. The two stood outside of the station for fear the bus might arrive around the corner anytime soon. Judas had just come back from the station with two cups of hot coffee in paper cups before a young man by the name Ben stepped towards the two.
The two could immediately identified him as young as a first-year undergraduate student with his youthful look and skinny frame, the latter further convincing that he could be younger than eighteen years’ old. He greeted with a simple “Hi” as he got close enough to them, Judas could not sense any suspicious attempts from Ben as he replied with the same tone as usual. Ben offered cigarettes to the two, seeing as an obligation, the two took each and lighted theirs’ immediately. It was very cold outside, having as much company and materials to warm up felt like a necessary chore rather than a natural process.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS6BRoXLx8
Ben was a cheery boy in the midst of the cold, the way he spoke to the two gave the impression of a man with no hidden thoughts nor secrets. An innocent soul with little to give but it’s proportion of giving amounted to a high value of importance, a spark of friendship.
“So, where are you guys heading to?”, Ben spoke while he kept his hands tucked in deeply into his pockets.
“We’re heading off to Amsterdam. What about you?”, Cay asked.
“I’m heading back to England because I need to renew my passport.”
“And I think I’m settling down for now because I feel like I should be studying at uni.”, he added
“How long have you been traveling for?”
“for nearly 7 months.”
“7 months? That sounds amazing.”, Cay felt jealous of the period of Ben’s time of traveling but could not withhold his admiration for a long-term traveler.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jx7GuYJZX
Ben further the conversation by explaining his liking for music, particularly through the usage of electronic appliances and sound software. He longed to be back with friends who had already started their courses in universities in England, some of them urging him to return and hopefully spend some lost time together.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9wVg1NLhL
The boy bid his farewell as they exchanged their Instagram contacts and he left for his bus, which just arrived and parked at one of the designated lots. With his overstuffed backpacked slung on his right shoulder, he hurried to the bus a distant away. The two gave a wave worthy for a person not unfamiliar to them. They felt relieved and happy when theirs’ arrived soon after.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofNqKvbuZG
Moments that were precious to Cay tend to fade away like when dawn meet starlight, it had shone the brightest during the darkest hours but would fade away when daylight came. There was always an equivalent, if not better, of moments or individuals in life that would take over the other.
*
Benjamin Foster was born in Woodley, just east of Reading and along the train track from Bristol to London. A convenient boy he was, his mother said, just like the train passing through near their neighborhood on Butts Hill Road. 587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DdcPGuMQp
At an early age, he used to enjoy the simplest joy and heavy tasks. His father would take him to the family’s small farm at Crowley every Saturday morning when the sun just rose. With a hoe in hand, he would attend to the plantation that his father was cultivating at that time and groom the horses while they were still inside of the stable. The father and son would eventually sit on their wooden chairs just outside of the shack to enjoy freshly-squeezed lemonade, the condensation forming into warm droplets and slid down their glasses until stopped by their gripping hands. The duo could just sit there the entire afternoon if the weather allowed them to or until his mother drove all the way from home just to set up a picnic at the farm.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGaWVGsPRS
After his A-levels, he had an idea of traveling across Europe, which sounded like a wonderful way to wait until his academic result was announced. His mother was reluctant at first until his father convinced him.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68WjZMQcUf
“I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s nearly our man now, not a boy.”, that loosened his mother a little, but tense she had been when Ben first mentioned the idea.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXn69EGO9v
In a few months’ time, he bought all the necessary equipment from his savings and from a generous amount given by his parents, bought a flight ticket, and boarded a train to Heathrow Airport.
While waiting for his flight, he felt nervous but tried to quell his paranoia by preoccupying reading the free a magazine left by its’ previous owner on one of the seats. It was his first time traveling abroad and the thought of walking on unfamiliar grounds for possibly months almost scared him. The tension was diffused when he met a couple of travelers with backpacks that must had weighted at least twenty kilograms. The couple shared their stories of journeying through the Sahara dessert on camel backs, embraced the hatched cold half way up the Himalayan range, and swatting flies of their hands in the humid Sumatran forest. It was the least they could do as they sensed an uneasiness from the boy.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUIiNiaqfw
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One of the couples introduced him self as Mark, their journey that time was to offer volunteering help in the West of Myanmar, where the refugees camp was situated.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt73qpVGQgk
“We were contacted by Mya, the camp’s supervisor, to bring along some books with us. I can imagine a makeshift classroom still needs proper textbooks and you’ll probably need some books to avoid the stress and boredom while working there.”,
Mark let out a loud and hearty laugh. Ben felt the welcoming aura clinging onto him, the man looked in his forties, but his words and laughter made him looked younger than he was. It was by that time his flight number was called to the boarding lounge.587Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3si0RxSNBt
“Maybe we’ll meet there.”, Ben said with a relaxed smile as he waved the couple goodbye, their features blurred as he walked away, but their enthusiasm radiated ever so bright even when he had his back facing them from afar.
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