Side Effects Include

Part 5.

July wasn't just as cold as the north pole this year, but extremely rainy as well. It was mid afternoon now but the sky was dark and grey, and mild rain was falling continuously from the sky, occasionally being blown onto people's faces by the cruel wind.

Among the few people caught up in the untimely weather was Bekho, who had just finished delivering a package as requested by a client. Today it had been an envelope which was easy to handle. He knew nothing about what was inside which was something he always battled with ever since he started this job, but deep down he was aware that even knowing would cost him a lot.

"Oh babe....it's so cold." The whining voice of a woman found his ears when he stopped at a crossing. He glanced reflexively to find a young couple being lovey-dovey besides him, with the girl scooting as close to the man as though she might as well perforate through him, while he wrapped his arms around her and adoringly watched her, like the sun shining down on a flower on a beautiful morning, then again, given the bunny eyes she gave him, that's what it probably felt like for her.

He thought of Wema just then, but his breath hitched when a memory he never knew he still held dear came forth in his brain. Of him when he was just eighteen on his way home from school, standing at a pavement just like this, thinking about nothing as he waited for the pedestrian signal to turn green when a girl with an orange scarf wrapped around her neck came from across. It was drizzling, she was holding hands with another girl and they were giggling at their reckless actions, having not waited till it was safe to cross.

It was Wema, running towards his direction in colourful cheer. Well not exactly towards him__

It was shortly after he had started falling for her truly, during the first term of their senior year, although he still hadn't deciphered what it is he felt. He had stood there, dazed for at least ten seconds even when people started to move after she was gone.

Even now as he stood there reminiscing, the light had turned green and everyone was moving, yet he stood transfixed on the spot, like a lost country boy who had accidentally teleported himself to the city. He was just about to cross when he came to his senses, but someone had wrapped their arm around him and pressed their body closer to him from behind.

Before he could act on it, a cold object pressed deep against his side. The person, grinned brightly at him when he turned to face them.

"You come this way with me..." said the man who appeared to be in his twenties, "or I'll kill you in the middle of the street you punk." The way he spoke, someone watching from afar would think they were acquainted, and he was promising him sweets and biscuits on Christmas morning.

Bekho looked around him for a while as he weighing his options. None of the strangers walking up and about would care about anything that was happening around them, or see it if he was stabbed as they were bent away from the rain.

The man led him up a couple of blocks then through several alleys, before punching him out of nowhere. Bekho crashed against the wall, coughing when a sharp pain pierced across his backbone like a knife.

He sighed in relief however, having thought previously that the man was taking him somewhere way worse he couldn't handle on his own.

"You bastard, where is he?" The man asked. "Where is that filthy man."

Bekho was clueless as to what was happening, but it wasn't the first time people had randomly attacked him. He had never wanted to be involved in it all or hear them out, so he always just fought his way through it and walked away.

"I just get paid, I'm sorry but you have the wrong person." He said, prepping his sleeves in case of a fight. It was prone to happen anyway. He knew.

Sure enough, the man tried to jump him again, but Bekho made sure to have the upper hand this time. He grabbed him by the arm, spun it behind him before kicking his knee rather untenderly. The man fell, then Bekho kicked him once more on the chest with immense force, ramming him onto the wall.

"It's your business with him, stop involving me." He yelled in build up frustration.

The man however got even angrier, picking up the knife that had slid off earlier and got back up. He looked so mad now as he ruthlessly aimed the knife at Bekho, determined to slash him, who still remained as calm as still waters even at the sight of the glistening metal. His childhood had been hell for a situation like this to scare him in the least.

They exchanged a couple of moves before Bekho could pin his down again, although he didn't escape unscathed either. He had been gashed thrice on his arms and one on his chin too, still compared to the bloody mess that was the man's face, he was more than alright.

The man's painful coughs transitioned into maniac laughter, as though Bekho's presence was but a joke in itself.

"You poor thing..." he droned while staring him down, "just tell me where he is, " he yelled, "What did he give you that you're willing to die for that..."

Money. He had the answer in his mind but remained silent as he stood there, pointing the knife at the stranger.

His ever impassive face was ragged now, the eyes that scrunched when he smiled were but empty hollows with no soul, and the blood trickling down his arm didn't seem to shake him at all.

"If you follow me again I'll kill you." He threatened, trying his best to calm himself down.

Encounters like this made dark memories of when he had loitered around homeless resurface. Bitter, painfilled, bloodcurdling memories that swallowed him up and made him relieve them all over again. In that moment, he would do anything to crawl out of them, a drowning man clutching on a straw to keep afloat, so he spared none of those who put him in that place.

"Just tell me where that fucker is you little...aaah." Bekho had driven the knife through his thigh.

"I said.." he stated through gritted teeth, squatting before him to level with him. "I don't want to know your business, I just get paid."

The Bekho he had seen while stalking him was long gone in those dark eyes that were staring back at him. He had no option but to tuck his tail between his legs and turn away, humbling himself even though he still despised him. He was angry still, but he realised it wouldn't help to be mad and act irrationally.

"In my pocket, there's a photo..." the man started. Bekho didn't wait for him to finish however, he stood up and started walking away, pulling his sleeves back in place to cover his bleeding arms.

"Aaargh, I'll kill you..." the man yelled, getting up again even though his leg was paralysed at this point. Bekho turned ready to defend himself, but the man suddenly went still, stared wide-eyed at him, before falling on the ground unconscious.

Behind the man, heavily breathing, paled to petrified was Wema, with a boulder in her hand. She had hit him.

His world stood still, the rains stopped as well.
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