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It was raining the first time they met.
Kurt remembers it clearly. The day was like every friday, he had just finished his evening shift at a small, boring grocery store and was heading to the usual pub. The prospect of relating his adventures to the drunken public never failed to revive him from his work slumber. A good beverage fitted the atmosphere perfectly!
It's as Kurt walked in the lively pub that he noticed a man he had never seen before, all dressed in dark, dirty clothes. Being a regular, it caught his attention quickly. Naturally he went to greet the stranger, hoping to perhaps strike a conversation.
The stranger was a quiet man. He spoke with a calm voice, and although he wasn't having his first drink his words were as clear as glass. He paid close attention when Kurt stepped up on the pub's stage to do his usual storytelling, and kept his eyes on him the whole time. Kurt still remembers it clearly, peacock blue eyes locked on him like he was the only thing worth looking at. It felt unusual. Thrilling. And Kurt liked it.
Maybe it was just how the man was, maybe he acted this way with everyone. But the next friday when Kurt entered the bar, he was sitting on the same chair again, with the same clothes and the same drink, and the second the pub's door closed his eyes were already on Kurt. They spent more time talking on the second friday, then even more time on the third. The man was very secretive, yet Kurt managed to scrap a few details about him. Like how the man was named Naib, although he admitted it too fast for Kurt to believe it true. How he always wakes up at the same time, accurate to the minute, which Kurt laughed at for a good second. How the brown spot on the back of his right hand came from bringing his hand too close to the oven. How he disliked the loudness of the streets, and was glad Kurt wasn't so loud. That one left Kurt confused, being sure he was the complete opposite of quiet.
He was quite handsome under that worn hood too, there was no denying that. Long, thin tied up hair wrapping around well defined features, a sharp nose that fitted his soft face along with piercing eyes, and an assured smile which, although rare, never failed to cheer up Kurt's mood.
It was only a matter of weeks before they were calling each other friends. They had made a silent promise to meet up every friday, and neither of them ever broke it. For Kurt it was something he looked forward to every day of the week, a few hours of peace in his chaotic world. Naib was so quiet he turned his mind quiet as well, his thoughts tranquill for the first time in a long time.
Kurt had always been a sociable man. His overflowing creativity never failed to impress his audience, the endless stream of adventures he had yet to tell always reached out even to the most uninterested spectator. He liked sharing his thoughts more than anything in the world, his insatiable desire for discovery never quite fulfilled.
Yet, even after all the people he met, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of loneliness when the night came to announce the passing of the sun. He had shared so much passion his entire life, but no one would ever return the excitement.
It's probably why naib felt so special the first time he met him. He truly listened to him, he found interest in his stories instead of amusement, he let his eyes swallow any words Kurt would come up with. He made him feel real.
______
While Kurt thought he was finally getting accustomed to Naib, the man chose to surprise him once more.
The day was like any other, casual chatters at the bar and shared laughs. The sun was staying up later now, orange light still visible through the windows giving on the lively street. Spring was coming. It was Kurt's favorite season, spring. It truly felt like a new year, weather warm enough to dress comfortably yet not too hot to breathe. He noticed a few buds growing on the cherry trees on his way to the pub, although those trees weren't the ones he was the most excited for.
There was this majestic weeping willow rooted by the town's river, standing as if guarding something invisible from the mortal's eyes. It had been sitting with naked branches since the first snow, acting like time had stopped and it was waiting patiently for it to start again. Kurt had loved this tree since the first time he had seen it, in particular the falling leaves wavering like hair in the wind. It should only be a matter of weeks before it would be wearing its green foliage once more.
Naib was being quieter than usual that day, if that was even possible. He looked lost in his thoughts, only pretending to pay attention to Kurt's rambling. He remembers being upset about it. He remembers feeling hurt, stopping in the middle of his speech and letting the silence grow between them. It was an awful feeling. When Naib picked up the conversation again, it didn't feel any better. He announced his departure from the country in a month, by the end of april, and made a point he would not come back.
"You can come with me if you'd like", he had said calmly, keeping his eyes locked on Kurt's. He always talked calmly, yet this time Kurt felt annoyed by the tone. It sounded fake, like it was there to obscure something secret. "You won't have to hide in your fantasies anymore. I'll show you an adventure. I'll show you the world." Those were the last words they exchanged that day.
The words had made Kurt mad, so mad he had left as soon as Naib was done. He cried a lot later that night, tears of shame and frustration. He knew very well what he was, just a little man stuck in his dreams. He knew he had never lived a real adventure, and probably never will. He knew he was a coward, and didn't need anyone to remind him, especially not someone he gave his trust to so blindly. Why wouldn't it be okay to spend his life in novels and fantasy worlds? He only felt safe inside his own mind. Was there even a point in leaving his safety if it was just to get hurt later?
Kurt didn't return to the pub the following month. He couldn't stand the thought of his friend, a mix of shame and self-hatred swarming over his mind at the bitter memory. He tried to convince himself it was fine, he had dealt with that before, and eventually the pain would fade away.
It didn't fade away. The pain only grew stronger, regret taking up more and more space as the fridays passed by, Kurt spending them alone surrounded by his books. He really should have just talked this through. He should have been brave and opened up. But as the days passed by, he only closed himself more, like trapped by his own insecurities. Naib didn't deserve any of this selfishness, all he had done was having the courage to be honest. He didn't talk a lot, but when he did it was to tell the truth. Perhaps he shouldn't have befriended him at all.
The last friday of april came up faster than he thought. Kurt didn't sleep at all the night between thursday and friday, a sense of dread haunting his mind. This day was his last chance. If he chose to avoid his problems once again, they would be gone for good. No more Naib, no more friend to return to at the end of the week, no more peacock blue eyes to glance at. Life would be back to normal. Ordinary. And boring.
He didn't want that.
Kurt doesn't remember exactly what moved him to act. He was just tired of running away. If ordinary life was all that waited for him, then he had nothing to lose. So he packed a bag full of clothes and food, grabbed as much money as he could and left his lonely room. For the first time he didn't hope to come back.
He ran to the pub as fast as he could, afraid Naib might have left already. Hell, he probably didn't come at all seeing how Kurt had treated him, but he still wanted to grip on that last bit of hope, the hope that maybe he still had a chance to fix his mistakes. He entered the pub breathless, his vision blurry.
Naib was there, sitting at his usual spot, with the usual drink, and his usual clothes. Still waiting for him.
The sight of his friend was overwhelming. Kurt felt guilt, relief, euphoria all at the same time and any words of excuse he had thought of on his way stayed stuck inside his throat. Naib seemed to understand though. His face expressed relief too. His smile was warmer than before.
Kurt sat next to him in silence, heart hammering in his chest from the run. He had never been more silent in his life before. It didn't feel so uncomfortable anymore.
That was the last drink they took together at the pub.
_____
"I'm going home." Those were the only words Naib gave as to where they were heading. Kurt didn't complain much, assuming it would be a few weeks journey. Yet there he was two months later, climbing up and down what seemed like a never ending no-man's land. After weeks and weeks of train and car rides, they had arrived in Nepal, their final destination. That's where the real journey began.
A few days of jeep rides took them to Naib's homeland, Ilam. Green mountains sown with forests and tea plantations were wrapped in a humid fog as monsoon season was approaching, giving the landscapes an ethereal look, as if the land was split apart from the rest of the world.
Not that it was actually empty of human presence. They would sometimes cross the sight of small villages, but in opposition of the busy streets forming England cities the emptiness was striking. Habitations got rarer as they climbed up higher, the soft fog starting to leave the mountain and give way to a blue sky.
Empty... The mountains were everything but empty, trully. Entwined roots of pine trees and cluttered bushes led the road to Naib's hometown still far off up the mountain of Sri Antu. The forest soon opened up to landscapes with scarce vegetation, once in a while meeting plantations of bamboo and cardamom trees.
Kurt was thrilled by the amount of knowledge laying in front of him, never sure where to put his eyes as he didn't want to miss a single beat of the world he was uncovering. He had never heard Naib talk so much before, doing his best to answer the endless flow of questions. He had never seen him so happy either. A nostalgic smile laid on his face as they were climbing up the lands, a good kind of nostalgic, the kind that makes you grateful of life, grateful of the loved ones.
The two had passed by a herd of cows about an hour ago. Again answering another question, Naib had explained their unusual presence. While most farmers in the country reared buffalo, the secluded region of Ilam sold unproductive cows and bulls in India for their meat. Naib remembered his father leaving the house to trade the cows down the border, and how Naib hoped to walk down the same path with him one day. He never got to in the end.
Naib's family... Come to think of it, he never really shared anything about his origins. Kurt usually avoided asking this kind of private questions since his friend often closed up at any mention of his past life. It didn't mean Kurt was uninterested, he was rather the opposite of that, yet there was something in Naib's eyes whenever his curiosity reached too far that left Kurt uneasy. He still wondered what his life had been like ten years ago, before he left the foggy mountains to never return - that is until today. Did he have any brother or sister? He looked like the elder son of a big family, the kind of brother that would give up their food for their still hungry siblings, that would take them on his shoulders to better see the sunset.
It was by the end of the afternoon that they were able to sight the closest stables of the village, announced by the bleating of the goats and a mild scent of manure. The two friends were both silent by now, a surreal feeling coming with the realization that they finally made it to the end of the journey. Well, Kurt hoped that it wasn't the end, more like a step in a much longer adventure. They hadn't talked about what would come after this, both because of Naib's secretive attitude and Kurt being too afraid to imagine anything else than what they had right now. In fact he wasn't sure what they had at all, but he still treasured it immensely. Naib felt like family to him, and Kurt hoped that he would allow him to stay by his side even after reaching their final goal, perhaps find new goals to aim for together.
People began to notice the unusual visitors, quickly bringing agitation to the village. Kids were the first to run to them, interested in the strangers's odd appearance. Naib greeted them kindly, bending down on his knees to be at eye's level as he pointed at a house a few stables away. Kurt assumed he was telling them the reason for their visit, since the kids were too young to have known Naib back in his teenage years. It was a pleasant sight.
It didn't take much time before the villagers left their occupation to come greet them, recognizing Naib's familiar face although it had been wounded by time. It seemed as if everyone had been waiting for his return. Kurt felt quite out of place between the incomprehensible speech and the intrigued stares.
Among all the fuss Kurt noticed a small group of women walking back to the village, carrying heavy baskets on their back, he was not sure heavy with what. As they came closer to see what the agitation was all about, one woman in particular, probably around her late forties, dropped her basket to the ground as soon as she recognized Naib. She called his name loudly and grabbed him in a tight embrace. The woman had a tired face and a bent back, yet with Naib's small size they still matched height. She cried as they hugged.
Then followed a long discussion between Naib and his family. Very long, since they had ten years of history to catch up. Naib introduced Kurt to the woman, his mother, trying his best to translate her every thoughts. It wasn't necessary though, Kurt didn't need to speak their tongue to know the words were ones of affection and relief. He received a warm hug from his mother as well, almost choked by her surprising strength.
It turned out Naib did have siblings, three sisters still living at the same village. The women in the village were taking care of the tea production, including the sisters, hence the baskets heavy with freshly harvested leaves. The siblings were all amazed at how Naib had grown up. He was just a fifteen year old kid when he had left, and even though he tried to keep contact with letters nothing was worth more than real contact. Kurt understood that more than ever now. No adventure novel could be compared to a real one. He felt a little ashamed of his past self.
The villagers's hospitality was nothing like Kurt had ever seen. They were offered to join the late afternoon meal with the family, the traditional dal bhat felt like a reward after a long day of walk. Kurt made sure to take notes of the simple recipe, mostly rice and lentils shared with some vegetable curries. His first notebook had been completely filled weeks ago and he had a feeling the second one would soon join the first. Maybe he could write a novel about his travels someday...
They had been given a bed later. Naib insisted on letting Kurt have it since he wasn't tired enough to sleep, even though the dark circles under his eyes betrayed the already obvious lie. Kurt didn't try to fight back, he was content with the comfort he was given. He wrapped himself in the warm blankets and looked at Naib as he was rummaging through his travel bag. A few minutes later he pulled out a pen and a worn out book Kurt had never seen before, starting to write on it silently. It was the first time Kurt had seen his friend write.
"Since when did you keep a journal? I've never seen that before." Kurt asked with a tired voice.
Naib seemed a little reluctant to answer. Almost embarrassed.
"I... It's not really a journal. I just use it to keep track when something important happens." Naib looked away. "I've had it since I left the country."
"You should have told me before!" Kurt was a little disappointed he had never shared it. "We've got more in common than I thought." He paused for a few seconds, trying to find something to keep the conversation going as he knew Naib would brush it off if not for Kurt's questions. "So today is an important day, huh. I mean, obviously, what am I saying? When was the last time you wrote in it then?"
"It's... I don't remember. A long time ago." Naib was definitely embarrassed now. Kurt knew it was still okay to push the subject though, with time he had learned to recognize when he was out of limits or not.
"Come on, I know you remember it," He teased him with a smile, a smile that quickly ran out when Naib finally decided to answer.
"When I met you," He muttered, peacock blue eyes staring right at Kurt. "And tonight I'm writing because I want to remember it. I want to remember that I've traveled to the other side of the world, and you're still with me."
Kurt was taken aback by the sincere words. He stayed silent for what seemed like forever while Naib went back to his journal as if nothing happened, his reddened face betraying him once more. After some time he decided to break the awkward silence.
"Hey, Naib?" Kurt asked for his attention quietly, too scared to use his usual cheerful voice. The man looked back sheepishly. "Thank you for keeping up with me. I'm sorry I don't thank you enough."
"Ah, it's fine, don't worry-"
"No it's not," Kurt cut him off. "You don't get it. I'm grateful for your help. I don't know why you did so much for me, and I don't know how to show you my gratitude. I feel so selfish to take your company for granted, but I don't know how I could ever make up for it. I'm glad you showed me the world, Naib. And I hope you'll still show me more."
It was Kurt's turn to feel embarrassed by his own honesty. He had sitten up in the middle of his speech, watching with red cheeks as Naib made his way to the bed. He sat beside him in silence. After a few seconds of what seemed like hesitation, Kurt felt Naib grab his hand carefully. He answered to the gesture by tightening his hold, assuring Naib he appreciated it. The howling of the night wind came to fill in the silence.
"I get it," Naib told him. "Thank you."
Kurt felt tears running down his cheeks, yet he had no idea why. He was just happy. Happy for the man he loved.