TRANSFER [MAXTUL]

File 03

"So, about Max ..." Tay opens their discussion the night after their meeting with Max. They promised to meet at the bar. Tay, Tul, Foei, New, and White. They have to talk about the new guy sooner or later, moreover remembering how Max's expression changed several times this morning.

"Foei, any information about the new guy?" Tul asks. 

Foei drinks his beer before he speaks, "aside from he's a stupid guy, Nah"

Tul chuckles at Foei's answer, suddenly recall his memory back then.

"Phi!" The kid cries. He shows his wrinkled book to the boy in the uniform, Tul. "I can't do this! My brain can't handle math from 5 + 5 above! Can you give me a much easier question!"

They were in the park, just after school. This kid, Tul doesn't know his name. He too never mentioned his name to Tul and Tul also doesn't know if the kid knows his name or not. He just talks with him and calls him Nong.

He started talking with this kid a week ago when he saw bruises on the kid's face. It looks hurt, he thought. And the next time he knows, he already brings a box of first aid kit with him. The kid immediately shows him all his scares as soon as Tul called him. He smiles at Tul, and he would never forget that smile, ever. Tul has never seen the kid smile before, which is why he was surprised to see him smile. 

The kid's smile was pure happiness. His gums show as his white teeth shine under the sun. Tul sometimes thinks the kid fits to endorse a toothpaste brand. Because even with his scattered clothes and muddy face, his teeth are as clean as a canvas.

Everyone knows this kid, he always comes to the park in the afternoon. Whether it's to play or just looking at the clear sky. Some people think he was homeless, but he told Tul that he lives in a house just at the corner of their village. Tul never visited tho, he's too shy to ask the kid and the kid never asked him to.

Sometimes, he came holding bread or an old book. Often times, he comes with bruises. When Tul asked him where did he got those, he said it was from his fight with the kids from the neighboring village. He told Tul they always talk bad about him, that he didn't like being people's victim. He smugly said he gave the kids a good punch and told them to tell on their parents if they want to.

Tul once told him to stop fighting. He did, but after a week clean from bruises, he came to the park again with much more scars than before. He told Tul it was because the previous kids brought their friends to corner him and he can't do anything but fight back.

He never cried tho, not even when he had his arm dislocated when he accidentally falls from the jigsaw. He even said 'ah, again?' in an unamused tone. As if he's used to it. Tul admires the kid for that tho, he loves it when he saw someone did something he couldn't do. Tul always cries when he's hurt. He asks the kid why didn't he cry and how to not cry, he said 'it's just a common thing, phi. Being hurt, I mean. It will fade away. Just think of the time when the feeling disappears, and you won't feel the pain. Oh! and practice makes perfect! '

Tul hits the kid's head playfully, "that's not how it works!" But the kid just smiles. Tul loves to see him smile, and he smiles the most when Tul said he'll play with him again the next day. So they always meet, every after school. Tul is finally able to stop the kid from fighting when he said he'll teach him lessons from school free. The boy was so excited when he said so and promised immediately he won't fight anymore.

Tul smiles remembering his memories, not knowing all eyes are on him.

"Why are you smiling? Does your brain finally damaged from studying too much?" Tay asks, earning laughs from New, White, and Foei.