In a small village nestled on the outskirts of the city... Kamil: "All praise is to Allah for this new morning. Come on, my daughter Ren, wake up! You're oversleeping, and you have school." Ren (groaning): "Ah... what time is it, Father?" Kamil: "It's seven in the morning." Ren (panicking): "What?! I'm late!" She jumped out of bed in a blur of motion. Kamil (with a light chuckle): "Alright, I'm heading out to gather some firewood. Don't forget to eat your breakfast, daughter." Ren: "I won't, Father." (Deep in the woods, Kamil is chopping wood) Wait, what is that sound? Kamil thought, pausing his axe. It sounds like a boy... he sounds terrified. "Let me check. I'll get closer to the source." Kamil crept toward the noise until he spotted something out of place. "What's this? An old building... and a car? What on earth is going on here?" Hidara: "Where am I? Why am I tied up? Someone, save me! What's happening? I can't see clearly... that drug they gave me made me lose consciousness. What do these people want from me?" The Unknown Man: "This isn't the boy I wanted. Are you all fools? What did I tell you? Useless idiots!" One of the Henchmen: "Yes, sir... but what should we do with the boy?" The Unknown Man: "I don't care. I only pursue my target, nothing else matters to me." Henchman: "But—" The Unknown Man (with a terrifying glare): "But what?" Henchman: "N-nothing..." (The Unknown Man stepped out of the building, climbed into his car, and drove away) Kamil: "Another car just left the building! Something is wrong. I have to hurry." (Kamil enters the building cautiously) Henchman 1: "What do we do now?" Henchman 2: "Why don't we call Mr. Jaber? Maybe he'll reward us." Henchman 1: "Good idea." (The phone rings) Jaber: "What is it?" Henchman: "We kidnapped a kid, but our Boss doesn't want him." Jaber (his face twisting into a cruel grin): "Well, I want him. I only care about the money. We'll cut him open and sell his organs. Bring him to me." Hidara (overhearing the conversation): "What? Am I going to die? Am I really going to die? This can't be happening..." Sweat poured down his face from pure terror. Someone save me! Anyone... please! Tears welled up in his eyes. "I don't want to die!" he screamed internally as the tears began to fall. Kamil (having heard everything): "What should I do? I have to save him... I'll do whatever it takes." Henchman: "No one is coming to save you today!" (Terrifying laughter echoed through the room. One of the men stepped outside to relieve himself) Kamil: "This is my chance. I'll take him out." (Kamil ambushed him from behind, knocking him to the ground. He quickly took his clothes and his weapon to disguise himself) (Kamil enters the building in disguise. He sees Hidara lying there with two men nearby) Henchman: "Why took you so long?" (Kamil remained silent, knowing his voice would give him away. The men grew suspicious) Henchman: "Why aren't you answering, you idiot?" One of them stepped closer to look him in the face. In a flash, Kamil struck, taking the first man down with a swift move. He fired a shot into the other man's leg, then grabbed Hidara's hand while aiming his weapon. Kamil: "One more step and I'll kill you both!" The men backed away in shock. Kamil managed to escape, carrying Hidara all the way back to his house. (Back at the building, one of the henchmen calls Jaber) Henchman: "Mr. Jaber... the boy escaped. A villager took him." Jaber: "Does he know what you look like? Does he know the Boss's face?" Henchman: "Yes, he saw everything." Jaber (furious): "This is a disaster! I'm coming over there, you trash!" (Jaber calls the Boss) Jaber: "The boy escaped." Unknown Man: "I told you, I don't care." Jaber: "He knows your face." Unknown Man: "I believe I already told you... I don't care." Jaber: "Fine. I'll handle it myself." Hidara's body was covered in bruises, burns, and severe injuries. He was unconscious. Ren: "What happened to him? Who is he? And why are you so scared, Father?" Kamil: "It's a long story... go heat some water and clean his wounds." Kamil (sadly): "My God... poor boy. We have no idea what he's been through. I'm going to wash up and try to rest." Ren: "Okay, Father." Ren began to gently clean Hidara's wounds. She whispered to herself: "This boy isn't from around here. His skin is so pale and fair... he looks like he belongs in the city." (Hidara woke up in the evening) Hidara: "Argh... my head hurts. What happened to me?" Ren: "You're safe now. Here, eat this so you can regain your strength." Hidara: "Thank you..." (He whispered to himself) "That's right... I was saved." Hidara: "Where is the man who saved me?" Kamil (walking in): "How are you feeling?" Hidara: "Better, thank God." Kamil: "What brought you here, Hidara?" Hidara: "Honestly, I don't know. Everything went dark, and then I found myself with those criminals. I owe you my life... I will never forget what you did for me. Thank you so much." Kamil: "Rest here until you're fully recovered, then you can go back to the city." Hidara: "No... I have to go now. Everyone will be worried about me." Kamil (firmly): "No. You are still injured. Besides, the kidnappers are still looking for you. You aren't leaving until you've healed completely. Do you understand?" Kamil insisted, and Hidara finally agreed to stay. (The next morning, Ren is watering the flowers) Hidara: "You have a wonderful father." Ren: "I know that. You don't need to tell me." Hidara: "I want to thank him properly for saving me." Ren: "Don't worry about that. My father isn't the type of person who does good expecting something in return." Hidara: "But—" Ren: "Just get better first. That's what would make him happy. My father loves seeing people happy. Now, I'm off to school. Breakfast is ready. If you need anything else, help yourself—just don't leave the house." Hidara: "Alright." Several days later... Kamil: "What do you say, my boy? Would you like to go fishing with me?" Hidara: "I'd love to." Kamil: "Alright then, let's head out." (At the lake) Hidara (excitedly): "Look! Look at this! I caught a huge fish!" Kamil (laughing): "Well look at that! You're a natural-born fisherman." Hidara laughed, a rare moment of joy lighting up his face. Suddenly, the sound of a car engine cut through the peace. Jaber stepped out, gripping a firearm. Jaber (with a wicked smirk): "Found you at last, you little brat. You're like a rat—hard to track down. Well, it doesn't matter now. I'm just going to kill you. Your existence is nothing but trouble for us... it's better if you die right here. If you ever made it back to the city, you'd only bring us ruin." Jaber leveled his weapon at Hidara and pulled the trigger. A Villager: "What was that? A gunshot?" Another Man: "That's rare around here... what's going on?" Someone else: "Someone's screaming! The shot came from the lake!" In that split second, Kamil lunged in front of Hidara. The bullet tore into his chest, and he collapsed onto the grass. Jaber (shaken): "You fool! What are you doing? I only wanted him!" Hearing the voices of the approaching villagers, Jaber growled in frustration. Jaber: "Tsk! Not now! I'd kill you all if I had the time... but not today." He turned his cold gaze back to Hidara. Jaber: "Hidara... enjoy your borrowed time. I will be back to finish you off. Savour it while you can." Jaber jumped back into his car and sped away. Villager (shouting): "Don't run, you coward!" Another Man: "Are you alright, kid? Kamil! My God, what happened to you? Pressure the wound! Don't let him bleed out!" Kamil (feebly): "It's... it's no use. Where is Ren?" Hidara looked down at him, his eyes wide with pure terror. Hidara (trembling and sobbing): "Kamil! Hold on! I'll save you! Please, don't die! Stay with me... keep your eyes open... please!" The News Reaches Ren Ren was walking home from school when she overheard some boys talking. One of the boys: "The man who kidnapped that kid came back... Uncle Kamil was shot trying to save Hidara." Fear gripped Ren's heart. Ren (screaming): "No! Where are they?! What happened to my father?! Is he okay?!" The boy: "Calm down... they're at the lake." Ren ran. Tears streamed down her face like rain. When she arrived, she saw the villagers gathered in a somber circle. She saw Hidara, broken and weeping. Then, she saw her father on the ground. Ren (wailing): "FATHER!" She threw herself onto his chest, sobbing hysterically. She turned her tear-filled eyes toward Hidara, her grief turning into sharp rage. Ren: "Get away! Your hands are filthy! Get away from him! It's your fault! If he hadn't saved you that day... he wouldn't be dying! You should have died instead of him! I hate you!" Hidara (broken): "I... I'm so sorry... I never meant for this... please believe me..." Kamil struggled to open his eyes one last time. Kamil (in a weak, strained voice): "Hidara... don't apologize. What happened... isn't your fault." Ren (sobbing): "Yes, Father... stay with us." Kamil: "Don't blame him, Ren... I was reckless. This is my fate." He gave her a weary, loving smile. "Live happily, Ren... achieve your dreams... and don't cry. Death is a debt we all must pay, my little butterfly..." He then looked at Hidara with his final ounce of strength. Kamil: "I leave Ren in your care... don't leave her alone. Protect her, support her... do you promise me?" Hidara (choking back tears): "I promise... I will protect her until the last day of my life." Silence fell over the lake, broken only by the collective weeping of the village. The Next Morning Ren sat by the window, her eyes swollen from a night of crying. The silence in the house felt heavier than any words. Hidara hesitated before knocking softly on the door. Hidara: "Ren... may I come in?" There was no immediate answer. Then, a faint, broken voice: Ren: "Enter." Hidara walked in slowly, stopping a few feet away as if afraid to get too close. Hidara: "I... I know you don't want to see me. But I had to talk to you." She looked at him, her eyes a painful mix of anger and sorrow. Ren: "Why? Didn't you say enough yesterday? My father is dead, and you're still standing here." Hidara lowered his head, his voice trembling. Hidara: "I know. And I know no words can bring him back. But before he left... he gave me a final request." Ren clenched her fists tightly. Ren: "A final request? Do you think words make death any easier?" Hidara: "No... but they bind the living. He told me: 'Ren is a trust in your hands... don't leave her alone'." Ren let out a bitter laugh, fresh tears falling. Ren: "A trust? I am not an object to be handed over after death!" Hidara took a step forward, then stopped. Hidara (with painful honesty): "I know that. And I won't force anything on you. But I must tell you one thing. If I could have died in his place... I would have done it without a second thought." Silence filled the room. Ren closed her eyes, her chest heaving. Ren: "Don't say that... my father chose his path. But he left me alone... and that's what hurts." Hidara: "You won't be alone. Not just because I want to be there... but because I promised him." Ren wiped her eyes with her sleeve and spoke in a low voice. Ren: "I will go with you to the city. Not for your sake... but because it's what my father wanted." Hidara exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of the responsibility. Hidara: "I promise... I will never try to replace your father, but I will be by your side... no matter what happens." She didn't answer him, but she didn't ask him to leave either. Hidara (softly): "I'll be waiting for you at the station in an hour." He turned and left, leaving Ren alone with the heavy, lingering silence.
