(Narrator: Marinus) Every person has their own shortcomings. For some, they are just their character; some, their negligence; and some psychological, physical or genetic, which they cannot control. Personally, I suffer from the former and the latter. I have many quirky personality traits which aren’t appealing to others. I talk too much, I act as a know-it-all, I exaggerate things too much and many more. The rest I don’t want to share; just know this: it is not my fault. I have many deeply rooted things. However, I never thought that even with my quirks someone would be my best friend.
The next day, Ijan looked very rested. He, like the others, ate the pancakes Ijan made. Vibhuti said, “So we are here in Aag, can we…” “Visit the Imagica water park.” Tejasvi finished for her, “We have already been to one water park, which ironically made Mr Water over here feel sick.” I put my head down in embarrassment. Ijan, noticing my discomfort, put his hand on my back and said, “My friend, I assure you all would be fine. If you feel comfortable, I could produce some blueberry pancakes for you.” I felt so warm when he said that. I nodded my head and said, “Just one.” Ijan went to the kitchen while I sat there listening to Vibhuti and Tejasvi talk; they looked so happy. They had their own inside jokes and all, something related to Brutus and Steal or something.
I wish I had a best friend like them who I would have inside jokes with and all. Just then Ijan came back with one small pancake and some syrup and said, “Hopefully this shall bring you in good strength today; if you do not want it though, it is fine, I understand” “No I shall eat it.” I insisted, the aroma filling the air, making everyone drool but me. I was not hungry, and I was not full, I just don’t like to eat. I fear…. Well lets not overcomplicate things. I took my fork and stabbed it into the soft surface of the pancake. I took a piece, and with all the hunger I could muster, I ate it and loved it. Was the most divine-tasting thing in this universe; however, I did not ask for more, for I hate eating. After we had breakfast, we cleared our dishes and packed for the water park.
Ijan helped me pack just the essentials, and we talked. He was, in fact, very interesting to talk to. At one point I kind of felt dizzy, so I sat down. Ijan gave me some water with some sugar mixed in it; he is so caring. I did not need to tell him anything; he just understood my situation and delivered. We packed and joined the others at the parking lot. Ijan took the wheel, Vibhuti called shotgun and sat behind with the ladies, though my flirting seemed ineffective over them.
At one point I sipped some of my kale milkshake; hey, gotta get my nutrition from somewhere. The water park was two more hours away. I was feeling sick, not from the kale but from my deeply rooted fear. I cannot explain it; a voice inside me was not letting me live in peace. I needed to find an escape. Took my really big water bottle, that where I get my hydration and water attacks from. I chugged it down, all of it. I guess I would have freaked out Tejasvi and Evanthia as they were staring at me in shock. Phase one complete next phase two delete/eject. Ijan stopped at a charging station to charge the SUV. While then I took a detour to the bathroom.
(Narration switches to Ijan) While Marinus was attending the call of nature, we waited as the electrons of our vehicle’s battery return back to the anode. This process took a duration of five minutes; however, Marinus was still delayed by his, how should I put this, purification of blood/ejection of processed food. I was unaware that he was held up because he was ejecting unprocessed food. After twenty minute and there still was no sign of Marinus. Thus, I advanced towards the stalls to check on him.
As I approached the lavatorial facilities, I perceived a faint sob. To verify if Marinus was employing the facilities, I knocked on the door and called out his name. Marinus then, in a faint, cracked voice, said, “I am coming just have to wash my hands” Then I perceived a gut-wrenching sound. I braced myself and unfastened the door. I perceived Marinus over there, hunched over the commode, ejecting his stomach contents. He peered up at me, wearing this flabbergasted expression, conveying the message that I must not have perceived him like this. I shut the door behind me and sat down proximate to him.
As he ejected more contents in the bowl, I rubbed his back. When he culminated with his ejection, I pressed, “Do you feel comfortable with us heading over to the place of amusement, or do you want us to retreat?” he presented a dim smirk and held, “I am not sick, Ijan; I do this to myself all the time. It is like breathing for me.” I peered at him and held, “If you require some support, I am always here. I will console you for this incident. I could prepare some juices that might sooth you, or else, as you mentioned, I belong to you as a friend; I would embrace you in comfort.” He then peered at me and questioned, “can I hug you?” I gave a slight inclination of my head as an affirmation to his request. He then slowly, however firmly, embraced me and sobbed into my chest. The anguish was sharp on my spine; however, I could not shun him away. To my credit, I held him close though it was uncomfortable. We just perched there for ten minutes then he let go. “We must head back; the others must be waiting for us.” I inclined my head in agreement.
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(Narration switches back to Marinus) We headed back to the car. Ijan carried me back. Sat me in the rear seat and all were wearing expressions of equal confusion. I still felt weird in my stomach. I rested my hand on it to soothe it, feeling its emptiness. Ijan then went into the charging-station shop and got back some smoothies for all of us, kale for me, chocolate for Vibhuti and him, and strawberry for Tejasvi and Evanthia. We all sipped our smoothies I silence until Evanthia asked, “So what happened?” “Marinus fell and injured himself; however, I reached him in time, and now he is perfectly fine.” He broke at that perfectly fine part. Everyone did not question that information, for Ijan never lies, ironic cuz he is an illusionist. Then we drove on. We reached the park in an hour. There were three amusement parks, a snow park and the water park where we were going to have fun. We parked in the parking lot and took a bus up into the park.
The park itself was amazing. While the girls decided to go on a three people me and Ijan went first on an extremely fun ride with an amazing drop. Yeah, I had some cold feet at first; however, with Ijan’s help, I faced no problemo. We went on several other rides, one of which was simply just a ‘U’ shaped slide for two which dropped and made us oscillate for a few seconds. We also went on another ride where we had to lie on a mat kind of thing and head, head first into the slide. It was fun, and I am a water mage, so I know my way around water, kay.
(Narration switches to Vibhuti) Ok, maybe Tej and Evanthia got tired of me cuz I was overly enthusiastic about going around the park, cuz I have been here so many times and I know every ride. I thought nothing could surprise me, but I was surprised to find Alhila waiting for us. She waved and said, “Hey, I knew you’d be there; I got info that I could extend my stay here, so when Ijan messaged me that you guys would be here, I decided to join you, and finally tomorrow I’ll get out of your hair.” Me and I hugged her tight, and I said, “Stay with us as long as you want.” I did not go on the purple and green slide; I let them go first, and I decided I’d go on it with the guys later on. After they came back, we decided to go on the red and blue funnel, which was fun, especially the funnel part. Alhila and Alhila screamed while Tej just rolled her eyes at us. After that ride, we then split into two to go on two different slides, one where Tej and I first went on the pink one with a drop in the end, and then we switched to the purple one, which, let’s just say that it was quite normal. Then Tej, Alhila and Evanthia headed on the vertical drop while I waited outside. Then we went on this other four-person ride which had an LED tunnel inside, cool. Later on, when we joined the guys me and Tej went on the ride again with them. We then took a lunch break where we ate some pizzas and garlic bread. As usual, Marin did not eat anything, not that I judge him; he is extremely active compared to the small amount of food he eats, that’s impressive. Ijan and I went to have some boiled corn after lunch. We caught up on what happened today, and I was happy to hear from him that Marin was gaining confidence to ride even the most dangerous rides.
After lunch, we switched sections while the guys rode the rides we rode; we rode on what they were done with. After that, we headed to the lazy pool.
(Narration switches to Marinus) Ok, so the lazy pool was the place where we were supposed to be lazy, right? No! Vibhuti insisted that we must race, and fine by me; I have water magic, I can win easily. Ijan and I took one floaty, Tejasvi and Vibhuti the other and Evanthia and Alhila the third. We set sail, and I used my magic to set sail forward. (Vibhuti: no fair, you have water magic) Well, it is fair cuz well, who cares? I am in the lead. (Vibhuti: If Marin is going to play dirty, so can I) (Tejasvi: Vibhuti, what are you doing?) (Vibhuti: Oh, nothing, just applying physics; see if I heat the water over here, the colder water shall move in, taking its place, thus, pushing us much forward, ‘Ushna’) then Vibhuti passed by us, “She is employing the principle of Thermal potential difference, she is so brilliant.” Ijan said dreamily, “Dude, you’re the physics dude; help me out here.” I asked, then he moved my hand to a different angle, giving us a boost. At one point we were neck and neck while Alhila and Evanthia were just pedalling behind, then Ijan did the thing that made us win: he dipped his hand in water and chanted, ‘Almadu-waljazur ’, which brought a gust of water to rise and push us forward- cool tide spell.
Vibhuti had to accept defeat, and we shook hands on it. Overall, today was a good day, other than Ijan finding out my darkest secret, but who cares.
Back at Vibhuti’s place me and I talked till late at night. The others went to sleep; we still talked while enjoying the drinks Ijan poured for us. “Hey Ijan so I got a joke” I said amused by the drink, “So like, there were to people and one person said ‘I want H2O’ and the other person was like ‘Yes I want H2O to’ and the waiter brought them their drinks and then the second person died” I don’t know if it were because of the drinks but Ijan’s reaction was like, “Ha, ha, ha, ha for he consumes hydrogen peroxide, oh, khawī you always amuse me” “khawī, as in I am your brother?” I asked, confused “Oh, Marin, not genetically Qamari; usually refer to their close friends as ‘my brother’ or in Qamariyyah ‘khawī’ comprehended” “Yes, but I am your closest friend? Even though I am annoying and a know it all” I asked, still confused. “Oh Marin, when you termed me as ‘mi amigo’ back in the Empódian forest, I considered you as my closest friend.” I don’t know if it was the drinks, but I think Ijan was loosening up to me, and I think he would call me by my full first name tomorrow.