Diero Flores is a high school student who finds joy in basketball and the company of his friends. Despite a strained relationship with his father due to past infidelity, Diero seeks peace in simple pleasures.
Diero wheeled his heavy metal mountain bike into the local bike shop, its front tire torn up and useless. The mechanic, a burly man with grease-stained hands, took one look and nodded. "Give me about thirty minutes, and I'll have it fixed for you."
Diero thanked him and wandered around the shop, his mind drifting back to thoughts of his grandfather. He hadn't told his grandfather he was leaving the house, and he knew there would be consequences for that. When the tire was finally fixed, Diero paid and headed home, bracing himself for the confrontation.
As soon as he walked through the front door, his grandfather's voice boomed through the house. "Diero! Where have you been?"
Diero sighed. "Sorry gramp, that i didn't tell you anything i just went outside to get fresh air, Grandpa."
His grandfather's face was a mask of anger. "You left without saying anything and you have a bruise on your face, what's that!!! ! You know the rules. If you can't follow them, then you can't stay here."
"But Grandpa—"
"No buts. Pack your things and leave. Maybe then you'll learn to respect the rules."
Diero, hurt and frustrated, packed a small bag and left the house. With nowhere else to go, he headed to his friend John's house. John welcomed him with open arms, and for the next few days, they played video games and tried to forget their troubles.
One evening, as they were deep into a game, Diero's phone buzzed. It was a message from an unknown number: "Hello. I want to meet you at the playground."
Curiosity piqued, Diero showed the message to John. "Who do you think it could be?"
John shrugged. "No idea. But if you're going, be careful." John saying in worrying voice
Diero nodded and made his way to the playground. Under the dim light of a streetlamp, he saw a man in a mask, the same man who had saved him when he was beaten up.
"Hey," Diero called out. "Who are you? You're the guy who helped me before, aren't you?"
The man slowly took off his mask, revealing a familiar face. Diero's eyes widened in shock. "Kaizuku? Is that you?"
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Kaizuku, his childhood friend from Japan, smiled. "Yes, it's me. Long time no see, Diero."
"But how? Why are you here?" Diero stammered, still trying to process the revelation.
"I moved here recently," Kaizuku explained. "I recognized you when I saw you getting beaten up. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."
Diero felt a rush of emotions. "I can't believe it. After all these years..."
Kaizuku laughed. "Yeah, it's been a while. But I still remember our childhood days, playing in the streets, talking about our dreams."
Diero nodded, a smile forming on his lips. "We had some good times."
"And we can have more," Kaizuku said. "I'm here now, and we can catch up on everything we've missed."
They talked for hours, reminiscing about their childhood and sharing stories about what they had been through since they last saw each other. For the first time in days, Diero felt a sense of hope and belonging
"Thanks for finding me, Kaizuku," Diero said as they parted ways. "It means a lot."
Kaizuku patted him on the back. "No problem, Diero. Friends are there for each other. Always."
As Diero headed back to John's house, he felt a newfound strength. With his friend by his side and the promise of better days ahead, he knew he could face whatever challenges came his way.
The next morning, Diero decided to confront his fears. He returned home, determined to make things right with his grandfather. Knocking on the door, he waited anxiously. When his grandfather opened the door, his stern expression softened slightly.
"Grandpa, I'm sorry," Diero began. "I should have told you where I was going. I know I broke the rules, but I needed to prove something to myself."
His grandfather studied him for a moment before sighing. "I was worried about you, Diero. You need to understand that."
"I do, Grandpa. And I promise to be more responsible from now on," Diero said earnestly.
His grandfather nodded slowly. "Alright. Come inside. Let's talk about how we can move forward together."
As Diero stepped into the house, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. With Kaizuku back in his life and a renewed bond with his grandfather, he knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, he wouldn't face them alone.
