The rain was pouring heavily and affecting the visibility of the headlights of vehicles that had just crossed the Argent toll road and exited the city, heading out on a winding road out of the Argent area. Jason drove his black Jeep through the city streets and, after an hour and a half, finally left the border area. According to the GPS on the luxury car, the journey to Karby would take five hours and forty-five minutes. That was only to the Karby border, not yet entering the city.
Jason was tired; he hadn't slept all day. He had just chugged an energy drink so he wouldn't get tired on the journey. But despite all that effort, his determination to find Val was greater than his physical strength. He kept trying to call Val's number, even though he knew the kid must have turned off his phone. There was no harm in keeping trying. The large, sturdy wheels broke through the road, which was partly filled with puddles from the incessant rain.
Jason found another letter under the pillow on his bed. Val had written him another letter.
"Boss, I have to go. Please don't look for me. I will try to get well and come back to you. Boss, don't worry, I am strong, I won't die quickly. Boss, you have no obligation to accompany me; this journey of mine is so hard. Even I myself might give up, let alone you. Thank you for being such a good, caring, and taking care of me when I was ill, but this is my problem, Boss; you don't need to feel guilty. Hopefully, you can be happy. I will be selfish and ask Boss not to forget me, at least for a year or two, until you get bored with me. Thanks, Boss, and goodbye."
The letter ended with a cute little drawing resembling a bear's face with big, round ears. The kid wanted to show that he was happy with a wide laugh and two protruding buck teeth.
Jason held back his tears. He had vented his frustration by hitting anything until his fists bled. But the kid still didn't show up. This was the reality; how could he just let him go?
The vehicle flew at high speed. Jason didn't care about anything anymore; even if his car would overturn because of the speed, one thing was for sure: he had to find Valiant.
"That brat!"
...
The night air was very cold. Even though Mrs. Jema had lit the fireplace, the air in the room was still damp. How could he sleep? The man thought. He lay beside Val, who seemed to be sound asleep with his back to him. Wasn't he cold? The man raised his head to see the blanket scattered down to his waist. How could he sleep on such a cold floor like this? He remembered the kid had just lain his body down not long after dinner, and fell asleep. Was he really exhausted?
The man, James, raised his hand, pulling the blanket from Val's feet to cover up to his chest. But the young man moved; he turned his body, curling up from the cold.
"Boss, so cold," he mumbled.
The man's eyes widened as Val curled up towards him, so close that he rested his head on his arm.
"Uh, Val," he whispered. Val clasped his hands in front of his chest because of the cold. The man couldn't move freely with Val so close, as if hugging him; he sought warmth from his large body. The man was about to shift his body, but Val's adorable sleeping face made him change his mind. It was such a sweet, soft face, so pleasant to look at. A pair of large eyelids tightly closed with long, curled eyelashes, sweet parted lips, and smooth, supple, and soft facial skin when he touched it.
"Boss, forgive me, I'll have to go," and he mumbled again.
How could someone sleep so soundly no matter what happened? It was probably because of the medicine. Earlier, he saw Val take out several bottles of medicine and eat them all at once. Was she sick?
Slowly, gently, James tidied the hair covering Val's forehead, sweeping it behind his ear; even the light brown hair was very fine, and he could smell a pleasant, warm scent from Val's body so close to him. He didn't know what the smell was, but he liked it. Finally, because he was also cold, the man slept with the young woman embraced into his large body, and even though he said he wouldn't sleep that night, it was very comfortable.
"Heh"
...
The sun emerged from between the thick leaves of the trees. The sun rose, and it began to get bright as Jason's large jeep crossed the border towards the small town of Karby. He had finally arrived there.
He stopped his jeep at a gas station to refuel and also to rest for a moment, at least to get coffee and breakfast. He had been driving nonstop from Argent, and although he wasn't sleepy yet, Jason felt his head was heavy; he probably needed to stop and perhaps ask the locals about the orphanage. But the convenience store cashier didn't seem to know about it.
"Pardon me, but I'm also new here. Maybe you can ask the gentleman over there, he's been here his whole life," the young man said, glancing outside the convenience store. Jason found an old man sitting and enjoying his breakfast at the convenience store. It was clearly not a big city, so anyone could come and sit casually in front of the convenience store just to hang out chatting. Jason nodded, he picked up his coffee cup and donut, and walked out of the convenience store.
"Excuse me, sir, pardon me, but may I ask you something?" Jason asked, without waiting long, he approached the man and asked. The old man with slightly dark and wrinkled skin looked up to find Jason, who then sat in front of him.
"Yes, how can I help you?"
Jason took out his phone, showing the address and a photo of the orphanage building in the small town.
"Do you know where this orphanage is? I looked for it on the map, but there are several roads; I don't know which one is correct."
The man squinted his eyes, looking at the picture Jason showed on his phone screen.
"Hmm, orphanage, oh, this one, this orphanage has been closed for a long time, the building has been demolished and turned into a field, it's around the bend up ahead, you'll find it if you walk straight from here, at the second bend, and then straight in. Right at the end of the slightly uphill road, and this location cannot be accessed by vehicle, you have to get out and walk to get there," the old man said.
"Has it been demolished? Then, where did all the residents go?"
The man thought, and he shook his head.
"Forgive me, but I don't know about that. As I recall, the orphanage had not been operating for a long time, so it was closed by the local government. You can ask the local government officials over there; they might know where the people went," said the man.
Jason looked at the road the man was referring to in front of him. He might go to the local government to find out. Val couldn't possibly go there; at least he would look for his foster mom. The young man often talked about her; he must have met her now.
"Oh, thank you, sir."
The man waved his hand.
"Yes, no problem."
...