I Called You Friend
Chapter 4
Written by Michael Mark Maquilan

Menkyu stretched his arms as far as they could stretch, and yawned. He turned over. Then he turned over again.

He stared at the ceiling.

"Man, not another day..!"

He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He ruffled the brown hair on his head (as if it isn't already a mess) with both his hands.

He stood up very slowly and shambled like walking dead towards the mirror on the wall. He stared at his own reflection. First right-side up, then sideways.

"Nothing's changed. I'm still handsome."

He turned on the faucet right below and splashed his face with water. Then he looked at the reflection again. Aside from a few droplets on the glass, "Nothing's changed."

He grinned and snickered. And then he stuck the toothbrush in his mouth and brushed his teeth.

Afterwards, Menkyu got himself dressed quickly and broke for the door.

That's when he heard a familiar voice: "Menkyu, turn off the faucet! You're not paying for the water..."

Menkyu stopped in his tracks and slapped his forehead. "Nothing's changed."

***

"Menkyu, I got quite a few new jobs to do in the workshop. As usual, I can't enjoy the free day, so you'd better not have too much fun today."

"I won't-don't you worry, Poch. Don't you worry."

And so Poch walked back into his house, while Menkyu trotted off in the opposite direction.

Menkyu found himself a place to sit under the tree near the river.

"What a bore. I wish any school would be on soon." he told himself, kicking a pebble into the waters. "During free days I do nothing but sit here in the morning, have lunch, then go to the video arcade in the afternoon."

"There must be something new to do."

Out of boredom, Menkyu glanced at the flowers growing in the meadow. He turned to the cows grazing on the field, then the forest just past the bushes and brambles at the edge, and then to the clouds floating lazily on the soft breeze.

Then he spied just by the edge of his right eye two familiar figures walking down the riverbank. Cecily, a lamb-spirit, and Benjamin, a horse-spirit.

Menkyu stayed inconspicuous and tiptoed his way behind the pair.

The 'Rangers were brought together more out of chance and necessity than will or want. But by the end of the journey, relationships like Ben and Cess developed. Since that day when Ben made fun of chopsticks, Cess grew fond of him and treated him like an elder brother. After all, Benjamin was about thirteen years older than the girl, or so Menkyu thought.

Cecily looked at Benjamin. "Ben, what must I do?" she asked.

Ben shook his head. "I'm sorry, I can't advise you, Cecily. Perhaps you should follow your heart and choose whom you think is right for you."

The girl looked downwards. "But I don't know, Ben. You see, John is a sweet boy, but he lives in a Novel World. Ramses is quite a jerk, but he's so cute..! And the other one..."

"The other one?"

"Er, he's a bit too old for me." Cecily said.

At this point Menkyu placed both his hands over his mouth to stifle his chuckles.

Ben laughed. "I believe many a girl your age feels the same way. Don't worry about it, Cecily. Just hold your feelings inside of you, until you are able to choose between them. Or maybe you should wait until you're older..."

"That's what everyone says!" Cecily interrupted, feeling affronted. "Who says I'm too young to feel love?"

"Oh and well, if you are not too young to feel love, why are you confused?"

Cecily gave a sigh. "Maybe... maybe you're right..."

Then silence fell between the two. Menkyu was about to leave the pair when Benjamin spoke again. "Is that... everything you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh, yes." Cecily said. "I-I didn't interrupt your work, didn't I?"

"Of course not. You know, if I could, I'd always set aside my work to speak with you, or any friend of mine."

"Thanks, Ben. I... I am honored to be your friend. I guess I'll be seeing you..."

"Farewell, Cecily..."

"I'll be seeing you."

Cecily continued down the river. Ben turned right and went through the meadows. And Menkyu turned his back and returned upstream.

Menkyu's eyes were wide and his teeth were clenched tightly as he made his way to the tree where he started. And then, with one hand clutched his midsection and with the other he leant on the tree trunk, as he finally opened his mouth and broke into a hearty peal of laughter.

"Ha-ha-ha! Cecily... ha-ha-ha! Benjamin... ha-ha-ha! I can't believe it! Ha-ha-ha!"

"Hey, Menkyu, are you all right?"

"Ha-ha-huh?" Menkyu held himself and looked over his shoulder. He saw Valerie, still in a similar red coat and brown pants--like yesterday's.

"Huh? What do you mean by 'am I all right?' " Menkyu sneered.

Valerie crossed her arms. "Whatever. Hey, would you mind showing me around Murgen today?"

Menkyu was flabbergasted. "Me? Why me?"

"Well, I can't force you." Valerie sneered. "Lord Pakaracchi told me you might be a good person to ask, but he warned me anyway about your attitude."

"All right, all right!" Menkyu batted back, "I'll show you around."

***

It had been sunny all morning, but by noon, the white clouds obscured the sun right above the Aura City limits, ensuring at least that the day will not be bathed in searing heat.

Menkyu and Valerie strolled down the sidewalk of a long bridge connecting the city to the wilderness, passing other pedestrians, ignorant of the hovering, water-powered vehicles whizzing by their right.

Valerie glanced upwards. "I hope it doesn't rain." she sighed.

"Me too." Menkyu added.

Valerie looked at Menkyu. "You have strange shoes," she said, eyeing his sneakers.

Menkyu shot a glance at Valerie's low-heeled, low-cut, light, brown shoes. "Well, look at yours!" Menkyu sneered.

Valerie simply smiled back.

And then, as Menkyu and Valerie continued their journey, they started to avoid looking at each other.

Finally they arrived at the first building at the outskirts of the city: a noodle house. Menkyu realized that he was hungry and invited Valerie to eat with him. She was reluctant, but finally agreed. They made their way to opposite ends of a table for two. Menkyu ordered spaghetti, Valerie asked for noodle soup. When the food arrived, they each stared at each other's meal with strange looks in their eyes. Then they looked at each other. Finally, they said their prayers and ate their meals. Menkyu finished quickly, Valerie a little longer.

And then came dessert. Menkyu envisioned two scoops of chocolate ice cream, while Valerie saw a fruit platter of mango, peach, watermelon and pineapple slices. And then the strange looks came anew.

Afterwards, Menkyu showed Valerie around the city. He showed Valerie how the large mirrors on skyscraper windows reflect the patterns of the gray sky onto the ground. And then he led Valerie through the large sidewalks with the occasional hole in the ground where small trees grew. They sat on a bench and watched the vehicles, hovering and otherwise, pass by, waiting for a bus.

"What's a bus?" Valerie asked Menkyu.

"Oh, er, you don't know what a... I mean," Menkyu tried to explain, "a bus is a way of moving people; it's a large-er, thing where many ride at a time, which, er, follows a single route each time... that's it!"

"Hey, if the bus follows a single route, how can everyone who ride get to where they're going?"

"Simple. They get off when the bus stops close to where they want to go..."

"Oh. I see."

Menkyu led Valerie onto the bus. There is a place Menkyu thought Valerie should see...

They got off at the bus stop next to the Aura City theme park.

Past the ticket booth, Menkyu looked around, then said, "Valerie, how about you and I try the..."

"...roller coaster?" she finished.

"Yes," Menkyu sneered, "that's exactly what I had in mind."

Of course, he couldn't disagree.

Valerie and Menkyu immediately rushed towards the back of the long snake-like queue of spirits towards the roller coaster.

***

Valerie tapped her foot and sighed, "This might take a while..."

Menkyu had his arms crossed for the past quarter of an hour. He glanced at his watch. "It has been thirty minutes already. What's taking so long?"

He tapped Valerie's shoulder, asking, "Er, Valerie, why don't we just..."

"...leave the line?" Valerie questioned him. "No way! Come on, we'll be next, I'm sure of it..."

Screams can be heard at the ride skid to a complete stop right in front of Menkyu and Valerie. One-by-one, the spirits got off, and left the ride on the other side. Finally, the gates were opened, and Menkyu and Valerie seated themselves comfortably at the front.

The speakers came to life. "Welcome to Space Shuttle^TM. Please remain in your seats. Make sure that you have placed all loose belongings in the compartments. For your safety, please fasten the safety harness and keep your tails inside the ride at all times. Thank you, and enjoy your ride."

"Always those warning messages. I've heard that a thousand times before." Menkyu said to himself.

"Menkyu! Don't be like that..."

Menkyu braced himself as the ride started up the ramp behind them, one click at a time. He kept his hands tightly on the handles of the safety harness. He thought to himself, "Oh, man, I think my coins are still in my pocket..."

Valerie looked around herself. To her left were gray buildings, hovering vehicles which seemed like flies, and the ferris wheel below. To her right were mountains, forest wilderness, a meadow, a wide river, and the pink, shiny carousel. Above her loomed the gray sky; below her was the wide, heavy railcar and the red winding, snakelike track of the roller coaster.

Suddenly, a snap can be heard, followed by screams. To Menkyu and Valerie, the world seemed to suddenly fling itself backward and downward.

Menkyu screamed for dear life as they went up a loop. Valerie simply smiled and looked at Menkyu as the ride rounded another loop.

Before everyone knew it, the ride came to a halt midway up another ramp. Then it slowly climbed towards the top.

Menkyu sighed, "Valerie, how's it going?"

She smiled. "Great! Hey, I'm already having enough fun watching you scream." she giggled.

"Hey!" he answered. "Why, I'd..."

"OH NO!!!" Menkyu yelled as he realized that (although he has ridden before) the ride was now going backwards. He heard screams behind him as the ride rounded the loops... backwards.

To Menkyu, the world seemed to be zooming away.

But to Valerie, she felt like she was falling... falling... falling down a dark pit. Her heart tightened in fear. She froze in a stare towards the front of the ride...

...and before everyone knew it, the ride came to a complete stop right where they started.

Menkyu took off the harness, and said, "Hey, wasn't that fun, Valerie? Shall we line up again?"

Menkyu looked to his right. "Valerie?"

Menkyu took off Valerie's harness. "Valerie?"

Menkyu shook her. "Valerie?"

"Valerie..."

"Valerie!?"