Jaber placed the white bag on the ground, muttering in annoyance: "Why am I always the one who does this… ugh… well, as long as I get the money, it doesn't matter." A terrifying smile formed on his face, then he opened the incinerator window and threw the bag inside. Whispers of his laughter rose, and he whispered a cold farewell: "Goodbye… Shadi."
In those moments… Hidara looked at Rin with concern: "Are you sure you're okay? You can rest inside the hospital."
She waved her hand in objection, as if the idea itself were a joke: "Don't joke with me… I'm fine, and in perfect health."
But Neil interrupted the conversation while placing his hand on his stomach: "I'm hungry… let's go."
Rin nodded in agreement: "He's right. The doctor told us I can leave."
Hidara remained silent, his eyes carrying clear concern, while thoughts wandered endlessly through his mind. Neil sensed what was going on inside him, so he placed his hands firmly on his shoulders: "Don't think I forgot Shadi… I won't forget him. But even if you search inch by inch in this filthy city, you won't find him without information. So… let's recover first and regain our strength…" then he added with a hungry smile: "Because I'm really starving."
Rin smiled lightly: "I think he's right."
Hidara finally sighed: "Alright… fine. Let's go."
The three left, heading to the nearest restaurant.
Suddenly, Hidara's phone rang.
He looked at the screen: "It's my mother…"
Rin commented gently: "She seems worried about you… answer her and reassure her."
He answered the call: "Hello."
Widad's trembling voice came: "My son… where are you?"
"Don't worry, Mom… I'm fine, and in the best condition."
She sighed in relief: "Is Rin beside you?"
"Yes, she's with me… don't worry."
Then he handed the phone to her.
"I'm fine, Auntie… don't worry, we'll return soon."
"Thank God… don't be late."
"We won't be late."
The call ended.
Somewhere else… Mahmoud was listening.
Suddenly, he stood up and headed toward Widad's room.
"They're fine."
Mahmoud sighed and said: "I know."
Then he entered his room, took out his phone, and called Kamal.
A mocking voice came from the other side:
Kamal whispered: "He's an idiot."
Mahmoud sighed, then added: "I want to tell you something."
Kamal replied: "Go ahead."
Mahmoud whispered in a low voice: "My son doesn't seem well… it feels like something happened to him. Look for him, please… help him."
Kamal asked: "How did you know?"
Mahmoud sighed and replied: "My instinct told me… my instinct never fails."
Kamal laughed mockingly: "Your instinct has always been as stupid as you… so don't worry, I'll look for him and bring him back."
Mahmoud breathed in relief: "Thank you."
Kamal replied coldly: "Don't thank me, my friend."
The call ended.
Mahmoud sat quietly on a chair and whispered: "Don't rush, my son…"
Somewhere else, Kamal looked at Salim: "We now have two reasons to search for Hidara."
Salim asked: "So where do we search?"
Kamal laughed: "Easy… this is Hidara's phone number. Search for him through it."
Salim extended his hand: "Give me the number."
Salim took out from his bag, which resembled a businessman's briefcase, a computer.
Salim opened the computer and entered a specialized location-tracking system belonging to the police department, then muttered: "Alright… within the next hour, we'll know where he is. The system has become slow because we're outside the department… it needs an hour."
A progress bar appeared on the computer screen from one to one hundred.
Kamal looked at him mockingly: "You idiot… why don't you use your forbidden energy to find his location?"
Salim looked at him: "And how would I do that?"
Then he explained seriously: "My forbidden technique, in order to activate, I must take a part of Hidara."
Kamal replied: "But I gave you his number."
Salim looked at him angrily: "Something tangible… like a hair, blood, or a piece of his clothes… anything connected to him. Then the technique activates for a distance of only 200 meters."
Kamal laughed: "Alright, alright… don't get angry. We'll wait an hour to know his current location… and now let's go. I want some ice cream."
Salim looked at him angrily: "Are you a child?"
He sighed in annoyance: "Ugh…"
Alright, and he followed him.
At those moments, Hidara, Rin, and Neil entered a restaurant on the other side of the city.
Hidara sighed: "I'm broke. I don't have money. And of course, that means Rin is broke too."
Rin muttered: "True."
Neil laughed: "Don't worry… today is on me."
Hidara looked at him in surprise: "Really?"
Neil nodded: "Yes."
Rin's eyes wandered around the place with excitement: "Look, look Hidara… there's ice cream."
Hidara smiled: "Luckily for you, I have one hundred and twenty… I'll go get you ice cream."
Rin's face lit up with joy.
Hidara returned and placed ice cream of all flavors in front of her: "Here you go."
Rin whispered excitedly: "Thank you."
She rushed toward him, hugged him, then kissed his cheek without being aware of it.
Hidara froze in place.
His face turned red intensely, and Neil's face also turned red.
As for Rin… she didn't realize what she had done until a moment later.
She looked at them… and saw their red faces.
Her eyes widened.
She had kissed him.
Her face turned extremely red.
She lowered her head, unable to raise her eyes.
She whispered shyly: "I'll go to the bathroom…"
She ran.
She entered the bathroom and looked at her face in the mirror.
She whispered: "I got excited… and kissed him…"
She remembered the moment… and her face became even redder.
She tried to compose herself: "They'll worry about me… I shouldn't be late… I must forget what happened…"
She complained: "How do I forget…"
Her face turned red again.
She took a deep breath: "I'll go out."
Outside, Hidara muttered: "She's late… where did she go?"
Neil looked at him with a funny look.
Hidara's face turned red, and he looked down.
Neil laughed bitterly: "Don't worry… she'll return."
Suddenly, Rin appeared.
Her steps were slow, and embarrassment was clear on her.
She sat with them.
The atmosphere was filled with awkwardness.
Hidara whispered: "The ice cream will melt…"
Rin nodded quickly: "You're right."
She took the ice cream and ate quickly and randomly.
Her face became messy.
Hidara and Neil laughed together.
She looked at them… then laughed with them.
Hidara took out a tissue and gently wiped her cheek.
Rin froze.
Her blood pressure rose.
To the point it reached and exploded in her mind.
Neil broke the silence: "Hidara… listen to me carefully. Do you remember the man who told you Shadi was working with him in his restaurant?"
Hidara sighed: "Yes… I remember him."
He added: "I'll call him… and I'll go get information about Shadi's father."
Hidara asked: "Do you mean we'll go to him?"
Neil shook his head: "No… I'll go alone."
Hidara was surprised: "Why?"
Neil replied: "First, he doesn't know you. Second, it's nothing dangerous… just gathering information."
Hidara objected: "But… you need rest."
Neil smiled: "After I find information about Shadi's father… we'll all go."
Then he added: "For now, you and Rin rest here… an hour and I'll return."
Hidara asked him: "And you won't rest?"
Neil smiled bitterly: "The pain of my leg… is nothing compared to the pain of my heart."
He turned: "Alright… I'll go."
Hidara said with concern: "Tell me immediately if something happens."
Neil nodded: "Alright."
He left the restaurant.
He raised his phone… and called the restaurant owner.
On the other side… Zarak's phone rang.
He looked at the screen… and whispered:
"It's the boy… from that day."