Destroying

Indonesia and Timor were walking together again. Timor was afraid to even move a step away from Indonesia, for he felt the danger that if he were left alone, he'd be in for pain. His thoughts suddenly shifted to Brunei. Timor recalled a chance meeting with him and the subsequent warm acceptance of heterochromia. "Indo, do you know where Brunei is?" Timor asked. This question greatly surprised Indonesia. "Hm?" Indonesia looked at Timora in surprise, then answered with a smile: "He's at home, most likely." "And I... uh..." Timor looked to the right. He wanted to say that he wanted to be friends with Brunei, but he was shy. "Do you want to be friends with him? Oh, I'm all for it!" Indonesia happily closed his eyes.. Timor looked at Indonesia with mild shock. Indonesia had figured it out so quickly. That's what "mind" means.. "I'll call him now," Indonesia took his phone out of his pocket. "And if he's not busy, I'll ask him to come here. I can even leave you one on one." It was more comfortable to be with Indonesia, but Timor didn't want to reveal his fear without him. He nodded, silently indicating that Indonesia could leave him. Indonesia began calling Brunei. "Hello, Brunei!" "Hi, Indo. ' You want somethin'?" "Yes. Where are you now?" Indonesia asked happily. He decided not to mention Timor right away. "At home." "Can you go outside?" "Not yet. I'm a little busy. Why?" "Hmm..." Indonesia thought for a moment. "It's okay, Brunei. I'll tell you when you're free." "I see. I hope this isn't because you're in trouble again." Brunei's voice became a little stern. "No-o, I'm fine, I assure you." the bicolor smiled. "Okay, I believe you. Then I'll call you when I'm free and we'll talk." "Okay. Bye." The phone beeped. Indonesia put the phone away, sighing. “He’s… busy, right?” Timor asked. "Uh-huh," Indonesia nodded. "But don't worry, he'll call me when he's done with his business." "Sure." Timor looked to his left. The little forest was nearby. Timor wanted to go there, but he didn't understand why. Indonesia continued talking to him and then suddenly turned away. As the saying goes, "just turned away, and then something happened!" It's the same with Timor. He went into the woods. He walked straight along the path, looking around. He quickly reached the place where Indonesia and he'd been last time. The depths of the forest began to beckon him. He was afraid, imagining all the possible consequences, but nothing stopped him. He ran straight ahead. He skirted the bushes, then passed a few trees and saw an old, abandoned two-floored house. The second floor was more of an attic, but it looked quite large. Timor approached hesitantly. Violent scenarios began to flash through his mind again. Timor imagined that inside the house was either a maniac who'd kill him, or kidnapped children. Timor approached the door. Despite the house's age, Timor was able to open it. It wasn't easy, but he managed to do it. Inside, the floor was wooden, the walls were also made of wood, but cracks, holes and mold were visible; on the left was a ladder to the attic, and on the right were three chairs lying around. Timor entered inside. The house looked as if it had been recently abandoned. The question "where from?" remained. Timor felt like he had stepped on something. He lowered his head and saw a broken rope. One of the parts could, in principle, bind a person's hands or feet. Again, imagination. Timor stepped back and leaned against the now closed door to the outside. He looked around. To the right, under the window, was a table with some crumbs, carnations, and, obviously, a thick layer of dust on it. Timor swallowed. Something was wrong. This house had only one room and that was the one Timor was in, and climbing the stairs was scary. Timor burst out of the house, barely pushing the door open. He ran back, almost crying. He could've easily screamed and started calling for Indonesia. Without him, the fear only grew stronger, and thoughts of that house terrified him. Timor ran out of the forest and looked around. Indonesia was nowhere to be seen. The panic grew even stronger. «Where's Indo?! Maybe he's home?» Timor wiped the tears from his eyes and walked toward home. He looked around, hoping to see Indonesia, but he encountered something even worse. He saw those three bullies. Timor wanted to just up and run, but these three saw him. One of them, the leader, ran up to him and grabbed his arm, pulling the ambassador toward him. "Ya didn’t tell anyone 'bout everythin', did ya?" he chuckled. "N-N-No," Timor answered feverishly. "Good." the guy patted Timor on the shoulder. "Otherwise it'd have been the end for ya," said the second one, coming closer. Timor began to tremble. He got grabbed by his arm and led him somewhere. The bullies behaved appropriately in front of others, but Timor was afraid to even utter a word, even though he had a thousand and one chances to call for help. Having taken Timor to a deserted place, the three threw him against the wall. "We didn't finish last time," the leader said. He snapped his fingers and then the other two began to approach Timor. "Don't worry, it's not murder." Timor shook. He was slapped, then punched in the stomach. Timor clutched his stomach with a groan, squeezing his eyes shut. “Ya shouldn’t have told yo brother ya were coming,” the leader said with a stern look. Timor opened his right eye through the pain and looked at him. He had a sudden urge to hit, no matter how much they bullied him. Just as he was about to approach, but got grabbed by a hand. Timor waved off and quickly stepped aside. The three looked at him angrily. Timor realized that now was the perfect moment to escape, as he was far from the wall. He ran in a random direction. The three followed him silently. Timor knew how fast they were, so he tried to figure out how to outsmart them. He ran out onto a crowded street and hid behind a tree. “Why you running around the street?” asked one of the random passers-by. “We not even allowed to run?!” the leader asked, clearly wanting to fight. "I know your parents. Do you want me to call them?" Brunei's voice suddenly rang out. "Wha...?" the bully's voice immediately became quieter. "No, no need. Let's run somewhere else." Timor peered cautiously from behind the tree and saw all three troublemakers gone. Timor breathed a sigh of relief, hiding back behind the tree, but then he peeked out again. "Look at those punks," a passerby said. "It's like they were running after someone, I can't be mistaken." "And they look strange," Brunei said. "Okay. I hope I never see 'em again." The passerby left. Brunei remained where he was, as if worried about something. He took out his phone. Timor looked at Brunei with worry. He wanted so badly to befriend him, but he couldn't bring himself to approach. All he could do was watch. Timor looked at Brunei. Brunei called someone, still worried. Timor began to wonder what could've made older one nervous. His thoughts drifted to Indonesia, and from there to a quiet escape. Timor felt ashamed that he'd left Indonesia and made him nervous. Timor looked guiltily to the right. At that moment, Brunei looked around. He noticed Timor, who noticed him a few seconds later and hid, covering his mouth with his hands. He began to tremble, a little afraid. He felt a warm hand touch his shoulder. "Why stalkin'?" Brunei asked with a gentle smile on his face. "I... I..." Timor turned to Brunei, confused. "I just... I wanted to befriends." Timor gave in quickly, but with some effort. He knew it was better for him to tell the truth at least this time, to make things easier. "Huh? I thought we're already friends, Tim." Brunei said, slightly surprised, but also smiling. Timor was no less surprised. Yes, he understood that Brunei considered him a friend even after meeting him, but he wasn't entirely sure. "I suppose you want to know me better. I don't mind," said Brunei. Timor was filled with hope, joy, and all the other feelings that come with friendship. He nodded, smiling as if to show that he truly wanted to get to know better. "You're like an angel," the older one remarked. "Your smile is so unusual. And it matches your eyes." "Really?" "Uh-huh. Oh, by the way..." Brunei lowered his eyebrows. "Indo's lookin' for you. He said you ran away from him." Timor looked away to the right, feeling guilty. "Yes, I ran away from him. But I want to go back!" Timor looked at Brunei. "Then come with me, Tim." Brunei took Timor's hand. Moments of further bullying could've made him pull his hand away and pull his hand from his new friend's grasp, but he held back. Brunei calmly led him back to the park. "So... can you tell me a little about yourself?" Brunei asked. "Indo was talkin' 'bout you, but I wanted to hear from you too." Timor began to think about where to begin. Starting over the past was simply painful, so Timor couldn't gather his thoughts. "Well... I don't know where to start." "Hmm... tell me how you met Mal, Phil and Singa, and how you feel about 'em in general." "Oh, that... Asean met me and he took me in. There I met Singa, Malaya, and Phil, and Indo... I didn't expect to see him in Asean's family." "Oh, right, Indo said you were separated. You were in different orphanages, right?" "Yes, but Indo was much luckier than me. When I saw him again, I..." Timor trailed off, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. "Tim?" Brunei started, stopping to walk. "Tim, come here." Brunei hugged Timor. Timor clung to him, quietly crying. Brunei stroked his back. "When I saw h-him, I-I was ready to cry with happiness. I-I was in pain without him, but t-then he appeared again." "I'm glad you reunited with him. I know what it's like to live alone without parents and relatives." "You… don’t have them?" Brunei quietly groaned in denial, shook his head, and said: "I don't even remember what they looks like, and... I don't wanna remember." Brunei frowned, hugging Timor tighter. "And I feel sorry for you. You were alone without your parents, Indo was somewhere else, how could you not be sad? But the main thin's you're with him again now and you feel better. «It'll only get easier when everyone leaves me alone,» Timor thought to himself. He would have gladly said it out loud, but he seemed to be under the control of his fears. No matter how often it is mentioned. Timor calmed down. For the first time, someone he'd only known for a day acted like a kind, understanding brother. "So... what do you think about the others? 'Bout Phil, about Mal?" "Oh, that. I like Phil – he's kind and cheerful. Malay... well..." Timor looked down. He remembered how Malaysia had joked about his age. "He loves to joke, although sometimes he knows no boundaries, but he's just as cheerful and kind, and Singa, hmm..." And then Timor thought. He knew almost nothing about Singapore. Singapore was a withdrawn person, often locked in his room, rarely smiling, but very smart and cautious. He could also sometimes, in a way unknown to everyone, find out a person’s intentions. Timor didn't know how to describe Singapure as a person. Simply saying 'quiet and serious' seemed rude. Timor began to look for synonyms, trying to come up with something soft, to replace at least the word 'serious' with something else. And about twenty seconds later, while Brunei waited patiently, Timor found something to say about Singapore. Smiling, he said: "Calm and proper. Everyone'd love to have a brother or friend like 'im. I like that, even though we hardly talked." "You hit the nail on the head," Brunei smiled. "How long you've known everyone?" "Almost the same. Indo's for about seven, Mala and Fila for eight, and I've known Singa for seven years, or rather, it'll soon be seven years since we first met." Timor was pleasantly surprised. It turned out he didn't know much, but thanks to Brunei, he was able to delve deeper into the history of friendship. Timor and Brunei soon approached Indonesia. Brunei rang the doorbell and then waited. Indonesia opened the door, nearly breaking it, and grabbed Timor by the shoulders. "You're okay! You're alive!" Indonesia hugged Timor. "I'm so glad you're safe. I thought you were lost." "He seemed to be looking for me," Brunei suggested, mistakenly, of course. "He was following me, and we ended up having a good talk." Indonesia dismissed Timor with a surprised expression. "Should've I been warned?" Indonesia put his hands on his hips with a resentful look. "Sorry…" Timor said sweetly, rolling his eyes and looking to the left, then added: I just didn’t want to interrupt." Timor decided to accept Brunei's mistaken assumption as truth. This wasn't scary; it even somehow brightened things up. "Okay. Wash your hands and get going to the kitchen." Indonesia smiled, pointing his finger down the hall. Timor nodded.

***

Timor stood in front of the kitchen window. He looked down. Outside, most of the places he knew were torture chambers. It was easier for him not to go outside, but then he'd be bombarded with questions. «Maybe I should start fighting back already? Or maybe… at least tell Indo that I'm being bullied? Mh!» Timor closed his eyes. «He won't like that I've been silent all this time. Even if he doesn't get angry, he'll be very upset! I'm... an honest brother to him.» There were quiet footsteps. The kitchen door opened. Timor slowly turned around. He saw Singapore. "Hm? What you doin'… here?" he asked. "Uh, I wanted to be alone," Timor answered. "Same." Singapore looked to the right in understanding. "Listen, is it normal to be withdrawn?" "I'm not withdrawn, Timor. I just don't talk much, and those are two different things. But in any case, if a person is withdrawn, it means they have somethin' to hide." Timor became noticeably nervous. He's a withdraw person, at least when he's alone in a public place without Indo, Phil, or Mal. Timor glanced nervously to the left. "It's not always like that, don't get me wrong. I've just heard about it, and I've seen it for myself." "That's to sa-a-ay…?" "Indo was a little withdrawn 'til you came back, and it was precisely 'cause of you and the fact that he wanted to see you, but it... how put it gently?" Singapore turned away and looked up. "It was a very obvious fact. We knew you exist, and Indo's isolation disappeared right after you reunited with him." "What? Why didn't Indo tell me about this?" "He didn't consider it isolation. He still talked to others and could be happy, but he often kept quiet 'bout problems." "Why did you tell me about this?!" Indonesia's loud voice rang out. Singapore calmly turned to Indonesia, while Timor looked at both in complete shock. "Well... well, so what? I was just afraid to let it slip, okay? I had to pretend I was happy! Everyone has their secrets." Indonesia put his left hand on his right shoulder. «Everyone has their own secrets...» Timor pointed out. Indonesia was partly right, although he said this as an excuse. "Indo, there's nothin' wrong with that," said Singapore. "It's just... it was supposed to be our secret. Tim shouldn't have... worry about me." Indonesia was becoming more and more confused with each passing second, which is why he stumbled, not knowing how to explain everything. «If he was hidin' this from me, then there's nothin' wrong with my secret. Everyone has their secrets... he's right.» After this conclusion in his head, Timor calmed down a little. Everyone has their secrets... Indonesia approached Timor. He clearly wanted to tell him something. Timor looked him in the eye and then hugged him. "I’m not angry with you," Timor said. Indonesia remained silent. He silently held his hands on Timor's back. He himself had forgotten what it felt like without Timor... life hadn't been sweet for either of them. Timor eventually left the kitchen and wanted to go to Indonesia's room, but he looked at the front door. Stepping out into the entryway and then onto the street, Timor would automatically become prey to predators. Timor ordered himself not to venture outside for the time being, for his own safety. He ran into Indonesia's room and went to the window. Suddenly, a loud melody rang out. It was the ringtone on the Indonesian phone lying on the desk. From the photo and the inscription, it was immediately clear that it was Brunei calling. Timor picked up the phone and answered. "Hello? Brunei?" "Oh! I wanted Indo to call you. You know, I completely forgot to ask for your number last time." "That's normal. Knowing me was much important to you." "Yes, a little. I'd like to go for a walk with you, if you don't mind." Outside... no! That's death. But Timor didn't want to refuse, 'cause he'd be safe anyway as long as it was close to Brunei. "Of course I don't mind, Brunei. Where shall we meet?" "Meet at the park. We'll get there almost at the same time." "Okay. I'll come soon." Timor ended the call and placed the phone back on the table. He turned around, sighing quietly but happily, and saw Indonesia looking at him with a satisfied expression. "What, became more alive?" Indonesia said. "Yes." Timor gently clasped his palms and raised his hand to his chest. Indonesia chuckled softly.

***

Timor stopped in the park. He looked around. There weren't many people and he didn't feel safe. Timor swallowed and began looking for Brunei. He saw him near that very fountain and was about to approach, but he was grabbed from behind. Timor wanted to scream, but his mouth was covered with a hand, in such a way that from the outside it might have seemed like an accident. "Let's go, buddy," the main bully said. There was false kindness and strong irritation in his voice. Timor was terrified. The leader was dragging him somewhere, dragging him, even though it looked like he was leading him by the hand. The bully pushed Timor into a tree. Timor hit his face and covered it with his hands. "Idiot! Ya can't run away from a conversation," the elder one snapped. "Ya might as well complain about me and my bros!" "Listen," Timor turned around, looking a little sternly at that monster. "I don't understand, since when are eyes the main indicator? The only monster here's you. You wanna kill me, but for some reason I don't." "What?" The guy looked Timor in the eyes with a terrifyingly insane look. He smiled, and his gaze made it even more terrifying. "Ya tryin' to argue with me now? Hit me, and that'll be violence and ya'll get into trouble." "B-But you're also show viol-." "'Cause I have the right. I'm an ordinary person, not odd-eyed like you." the guy pointed at his gray eyes. Timor wanted to say something, but his "rival" hit him in the stomach with his hand, then pushed him with all his strength into a tree and kicked him in the knee. The hellish pain made Timor scream in agony. The bully immediately covered his mouth. Tears quickly began to flow from Timor's eyes, and soft sobs and groans came from him.. "No standing on ceremony for ' monster like ya." the bully stepped back. Timor couldn't stand anymore. He sat on his tailbone. He'd had enough of the argument – now he was in more pain than he could've been. "If ya're the only one with a black eye – ya're not human. Remember that already!" the bully concluded, then quickly left the scene of the 'crime'. Timor closed his eyes and began to cry. Tears began to drip onto his dark gray windbreaker with yellow lines, creating wet spots. Through his crying he heard someone approaching him. Opening his eyes, he saw Brunei. He was, to put it mildly, in severe shock at the sight of his new friend crying. Brunei sat down in front of him. "Tim, what happened?" "I-It hurts. My leg hurts." Brunei looked down at Timor's left leg, where the hit had landed. He touched it. "This?" "Uh-huh." Brunei pressed his fingers on the sore spot, and Timor immediately let out a loud scream. Brunei pulled away his hand away in confusion, asking: "That bad? Oh, what happened?" "I... I... I fell." Timor began to tremble. He had lied again. Brunei carefully picked him up. "Hmm, you're light," Brunei said, smiling tenderly. Timor was a little surprised. Brunei had carried him off somewhere. The younger one tried to pull himself together. He looked to the side and saw that bully along with the other people. The bully frowned at the sight of Timor, which only made him look away. Brunei carried him to the entrance of some building. Brunei was about to open the door, but someone from the other side opened it. Brunei quietly thanked that person and headed for the elevator. Timor suddenly realized Brunei was carrying him to his apartment. Timor felt a slight pang of curiosity, but remained silent. The elevator doors opened and Brunei stepped out onto the sixth floor, then walked to his apartment door and unlocked it with his keys. Of course, when you hold a person in your arms, it's a little difficult. The walls of the apartment were covered with light yellow wallpaper, and the floor was covered with beige linoleum. The ceiling was also beige with a lamp in the shape of the sun. Timor felt as if he had entered another world. He sighed quietly in admiration. "You liked it? I knew it," Brunei smiled. "Okay, now I'll take you to my place." Brunei carried Timor down the corridor in his outside shoes, then he opened a smooth, bright door and entered a room that was similar in style to the hallway, with only a couple of paintings on the walls, a desk with a chair, a wardrobe, and a bed standing out. "I see you like the color yellow," Timor quickly noted. "Yes. It's been my favorite color since childhood," Brunei confirmed. Brunei laid Timor on the bed. He took off his shoes and pulled up his left pant leg. Both he and Timor saw a severe bruise on his knee. Timor was scared, because such a clearly visible bruise couldn't have been caused by an ordinary fall, which would've immediately aroused suspicion. But Brunei didn't notice. He was taking into account that the place where he found Timor contained small stones, and the asphalt itself could've caused such a bruise. Brunei took the first aid kit out of the cabinet and then sat down next to Timor. He wiped the bruise to clean it and then anointed him. Timor tried to suppress his groans of pain, squeezing his eyes shut. Brunei sighed and put everything away. Taking out his phone, he said: "I'll call Indo now and tell him everythin'" Timor lay on his back. He wanted to say 'thank you' to Brunei a hundred times, but silence was enough, and both knew it. Brunei called Indonesia, said was happened to Timor, and asked him to come. After the call, Brunei sat down next to Timor again and started talking to him. Timor felt like he was at him home. Brunei spoke as if he were his brother: with a smile on his face, a gentle and friendly look, confidence in his voice. Timor wanted to stay in Brunei's apartment forever so he could talk to him for a long time. There were five knocks on the door. Brunei got out of bed and left the room. He opened the door, knowing this was Indonesia. The red-and-white one nervously entered the apartment. "How's he?" asked Indonesia. "He's fine. His leg just hurts," Brunei replied. Indonesia nodded, took off his shoes and flew like a bullet to the door of Brunei's room. "Oh, these children," Brunei said quietly out loud. Indonesia ran into the apartment. He climbed onto the bed and sat in front of Timor. " ' You okay? Hit was hard?" "Yes. I don't know why." Timor looked away to the left again, guiltily and uncertainly. "You have to be careful. It's a park, the asphalt is hard, there might be something sharp or worse there." "Don't worry about me, Indo. The bruise 'ill go away soon." Timor smiled sweetly, closing his eyes. Indonesia hugged Timor, narrowly missing the sore spot on his leg. "Still! You're too young for this." Timor felt... anger. For the first time, he was angry at Indonesia. “I’m not little!” he thought, wanting to tear Indonesia apart, but then he looked down sadly.