Accept Your Fate

5 THE ROBBERS AND THE HELPER

Fernando arrived at a city named ‘Are you ready?’ which was abbreviated to ‘ AYR'.

This city was known for all manners of evil things. War, Kidnapping, and all sorts of things that claim people's lives.

It's hard for one to sleep peacefully as long as you are lucky to be alive. For that reason, they gave it that name.

The meaning of the city name was ‘ Are you ready to run for your life?’ because anything can happen at any moment.

People don't sleep with their two eyes closed because any disaster might arise at any time.

However, when a certain man emerged as the new president of the country, security personnel were mounted in every corner of the city. And the city was currently at peace.

Nevertheless, there were still some others who never saw peace as an option in their daily life, and continued with their bad deeds.

Fernando walked a few miles away from the car park after being dropped off by the driver.

Passing through a jungle area, he sighted a group of young men who were sitting under a shaded tree. Fernando was tired of trekking, and he was lost about where to go.

How to locate a suitable place to rest was the issue. Fortunately, he had a few dollars left in his hands to rent a single apartment for himself.

Fernando tried to approach the young men, who seemed to be busy with one thing or the other under the shaded tree.

Immediately he got closer to them, he froze after perceiving a bad scent.

He took a close look at them, and his senses sent him a message that those men were dangerous.

Without giving it a second thought, Fernando turned around to leave without saying a word to them.

Just as he turned around to leave, he abruptly stopped after a masculine voice echoed with a commanding tone.

“ Hey! Come over here!” one of the men called out to Fernando as he stood up and glared at his back.

Fernando quivered because the young men looked notorious to be messed with.

Fernando turned around and faced them, and he pointed at himself and asked,“ Me?”

“ Yes, you.” one of them responded harshly.

When Fernando saw that they were serious about it, he went up to them and stood before the drinkers. He was shivering, but he tried hard not to show it.

“ What do you have in store for us?”

“ I… I have nothing.” Fernando stammered as he fought the urge not to showcase his fear for them.

“ Are you kidding? How would a blubber-belly man like you spit out such an abomination?” one of them spat out angrily and gritted his teeth at Fernando.

“ Guys, forget about my body size. I guess none of you would be alive if he was passing through my condition at the moment.”

Fernando tried to explain himself, but before he could finish speaking, two of the men walked up to him and one of them jerked his shirt.

“ What are you trying to do?” Fernando fearfully asked as he furrowed his brows.

Within a few seconds the remaining gang members, who were still sitting down, stood up. They rounded Fernando and put him amidst them.

“ Search your pockets, of course,” one responded.

“ But I told you that I have nothing in me,” he replied to him and pressed his pocket which contained his remaining money and his phone against his thigh.

When Fernando saw that they weren't willing to let him go, he tried to fight them, but he couldn't.

Fernando trembled after some of them brought out serrated knives, while others raised the tip of their shirts and showed him their pistols.

On seeing this, Fernando remained calm and silent and let them take whatever they needed in him.

After robbing him, they chased him away. Before Fernando could scream for help, the men were nowhere to be found.

They all disappeared.

Fernando was left with nothing. Tears trickled down his cheeks as he dragged his legs on the street, looking for help.

‘ Oh, heaven. Is this how you want to punish me? What have I done wrong to deserve this humiliation?’

Fernando cried inwardly as tears continued dripping down his cheeks.

He was lost on where to go as he has no idea of how this city operated. The first thing that welcomed him to the city was a robbery, which took place a few minutes ago.

He was disowned by his family and here he is, looking for a means of survival, but the thieves couldn't see that.

What is this life? Should one just end his life for being hated by people? Or what?

No one knows what will happen to him in the next few seconds.

~~~

It was dawn and Fernando was yet to eat lunch and dinner. The only food that was in his belly was the breakfast he ate before the rejected wedding.

Fernando could be spotted sitting on a public seat opposite a provision shop in an open market.

All these while he was sitting there, he had been thinking of approaching the provision man and begging him for food, but Fernando was scared to do so.

“ I don't know anyone in this city, and I can't just go and beg that man for food. I might end up being embarrassed.” Fernando muttered to himself.

After thinking for almost an hour, Fernando saw that the day was getting darker, and he hadn't gotten food or a place to lay his head for the night.

His stomach was rumbling as it cried out for food. It wasn't easy staying hungry throughout the day.

At last, he made up his mind to meet this provision shop man and talk to him about his condition. Who knows if he might help? Presently, shame wasn't an option for Fernando.

Fernando got to the seller and pleaded with him that he wanted to have a word with him, and the man agreed.

The youthful man in the provision shop paid attention to what Fernando had to say.

After summarizing what had happened to him, which resulted in this situation, the man took pity on him.

“ Judging from your saga, I don't need an angel to tell me that you are going through a lot. For that reason, you would stay in my house for the meantime.” The man announced.

“ T-thank you, sir... You're indeed a savior to me.”

Fernando was stunned to hear that from him. He knelt on the floor and appreciated it.

As if that weren't enough, the man added,“ And again, you would be coming with me to the shop to work, and I would pay you for your service.”

“ Ahh!, Sir, I can't thank you enough for this kindness you have shown me, you shall never lack any good thing in life.”

Tears of joy began to stream down Fernando's cheeks as he was short of words.

As long as bad people still exist in AYR city, good people also exist.

“ I was about to close the shop before you arrived, and I can tell that you need clothes to change. I guess we should go to a boutique to get some new clothes for you because mine won't size you.” said the man.

“ Sir, I have done nothing to deserve this extreme favor.”

“ Well, you deserve a good life and not what you are passing through. But I just pray that this isn't a trick because the youths of this city can't be trusted.”

The man shared as he attempted to lock his shop.

Fernando stood speechless as he stared at the man before him. He was also afraid of whether he should trust the man or not.

‘ What type of human being can be willing to help you beyond imagination just because of a sad story you shared with him? I hope he isn't up to something bad.’ Fernando thought inwardly.

The shop was locked and they both entered the man's car and headed to the boutique to purchase a few clothes for him.

Even as they headed to the boutique, Fernando's mind was unsettled. Fear took the best of him.

“ Don't be afraid, I'm not someone you should be scared of.” the man said as if he was reading Fernando's mind.

Fernando nodded his head with a fake smile on his face.

With time, the truth shall reveal itself.