When The Sun Fades

Red Green

"Phi Bas, aren't you bored being single?" Liew asked, concern etched across his face.

Bas kept his eyes glued to the laptop screen, his focus unwavering as he slowly shook his head. The glow of the screen illuminated his features, but it did little to reveal the turmoil beneath his calm exterior.

"You've reached your 25s, and you're known for being a  romantic singer, yet you've never been in a real relationship. I'm worried about what will happen if your fans find out," Liew pressed, his voice rising slightly in frustration. But Bas remained unmoved, the silence between them thickening, like a fog that wouldn't clear.

"I've got an idea that could change your situation. You won't be single anymore. This could even be the spark for your next album,Phi," Liew continued, his excitement bubbling beneath the surface, desperate to break through Bas's indifference.

Finally, Bas shut his laptop with a sharp click, the sound reverberating in the still room. He turned to Liew, skepticism clouding his eyes. "What?" he asked, his tone sharp.

"My friend mentioned a forest called RedGreen. They say if you enter, you can find your soulmate. But if you don't... you'll be trapped, all alone forever." A shiver ran through Liew as he spoke, the weight of the legend hanging heavy between them.

"Oh?" Bas raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.

"What kind of response is that?"

"Should I say it's an amazing idea? Or that I must go there? Stop romanticizing this-I'm not in the mood for fantasy stories," Bas retorted, frustration flaring. He gestured toward the bookshelf laden with fantasy novels, a silent testament to his own escapism.

"This is real! If you don't believe me, come and see for yourself. Spend a month there," Liew urged, his eagerness faltering under Bas's icy demeanor.

"Okay. I'm not afraid. If this is all just nonsense, then let's get ready to leave Alarick's place," Bas said defiantly, a challenge hanging in the air like smoke.

"Alright, see you, Mr. Single. I'm off to meet my wonderful professor. Bye!" Liew called as he turned to leave, a hint of triumph in his voice.

In a moment of frustration, Bas hurled his slipper at Liew, the projectile missing as his brother sprinted away. The sound of the missed throw echoed in the room, a palpable tension lingering as Bas sank back into his chair, a mix of annoyance and curiosity churning within him. The idea of being trapped in a forest, fated to loneliness, gnawed at him. Was it truly just fantasy, or was there something to Liew's wild tale?

Bas was surprised when he saw a flash of a shadow passing in front of his bedroom window, a fleeting glimpse that sent a chill down his spine. His heart raced as he rushed outside to investigate, the nighttime air heavy with an unsettling stillness. But as far as the eye could see, there was only the tall Japanese bamboo swaying gently, its leaves rustling against one another like whispers of secrets he couldn't quite grasp.

He returned inside, closing the door behind him as if to shut out the encroaching darkness. But it was no use; the shadow lingered in his mind, just as the unease had settled within his chest. Lately, he'd been noticing these strange, elusive shapes, skirting the edges of his vision, taunting him with their mystery. His once-peaceful life felt like it was slowly unraveling, fraying at the seams, yet he couldn't bring himself to share this chaos with Liew. His brother thrived in the realm of the extraordinary, and Bas feared that revealing his turmoil would only invite more otherworldly complicities into their already tangled lives.

He found himself lost in thought, grappling with the paradox of Bver and Liew. How could a man of reason, a professor steeped in logic, fall for someone as enigmatic as Liew? The contrast was stark; Bver's world was defined by facts and clarity, while Liew seemed to dance in the shadows, embracing the unknown.