Baffling Journey of Bino and Jana

By Hamizan Yasin

The story is set in the fictional fifth district of Brunei, Daerah Lima. Two hopeless strangers, Bino and Jana, are struggling to fulfil their respective purposes. Bino's goal is to solve the infamous missing children cases. Jana's goal is to search for her missing little brother. After they meet for the first time, they come across a series of chaotic and intricate events that will ultimately transform their entire lives either for better or for worse. Despite the treacherous obstacles ahead, will they find resolution and contentment at the end of their baffling journey?

• Language: English
• Publisher: M Content Creations
• Release date: Jul 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201410773

Book preview

BAFFLING

JOURNEY

OF

BINO

AND

JANA

by

Hamizan

Yasin

Copyright ©2022 M Content Creations All Rights Reserved

Permission to reproduce or transmit in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, must be obtained by writing to the author via email:

[e-mail]

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

BAFFLING JOURNEY OF BINO AND JANA

First edition. July 31, 2022.

ISBN 9781471619571 (paperback)

ISBN 9798201410773 (ebook)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I am grateful to have a family who can tolerate and support each other through the good and bad moments.

Also, I am thankful to have Aammton Alias as my mentor. With his constructive advice and guidance, I am able to self-published this book.

Moreover, I would like to extend my gratitude towards, Erica Aammton, for her impressive editing and proofreading skills. She made this book readable and easy to understand.

Last but not least, I am glad to know that some of my friends and strangers have shown interest in this book. It means a lot to me. I really appreciated it.

PROLOGUE

IT WAS A SERENE EVENING. Unfortunately, the strenuous previous hours were merciless to poor Jana, her unsmiling face partially covered by the hood of her hoodie. It was as if she was masking her repressed emotions from anyone to perceive and dissect.

Unlocking the green door, she went inside the melancholic room. Dragging her slothful feet over to the beckoning bed whilst removing the burdensome backpack from her aching shoulders, she then tilted up her downbeat head and released a sad sigh.

Set free of her untidy hair from the oppressing hood, she turned her weary self around and collapsed onto the cosy bed, ruminating awful events that had happened during the day. The constant overthinking made her tiresome eyes heavier, prepping her vivacious consciousness to the confinements of slumber.

Someone was knocking on her door. Mik, Jana’s introverted younger brother, entered the room. He took a few hesitant steps forward and looked over at his quiescent sister.

Where’ve you been, Jana?

I was somewhere. Doing something, Jana indolently replied, with her eyes still closed.

You promised me that you were going to show up at my school and attend my art project. I was waiting for you for a very long time, but you didn’t come. Why do you always have to break your promises, Jana?

Affronted by Mik’s words, Jana sat upright in a matter of seconds. I was busy. I had so many things to do earlier. I cannot show up at multiple places at once like some kind of a superhero or something. I am really dead tired right now. I have not slept yet. We will talk tomorrow. Please close the door on your way out, Mik.

I’m sorry to bother you. Goodnight Jana, Mik replied, as he timidly walked backwards and left Jana’s room with an unpleasant guiltiness.

She knew what she had done was harsh, but she was tired of putting other people’s wellbeing first rather than her own. However, remorse began to bloom horribly in her heart after she realised she had vented out her frustration on to someone as innocent as her younger brother.

Jana massaged her stressed-out forehead with gentleness. She then untangled her earphones and plugged them into her ears before slumping back down onto the bed.

It was time to take care of her unhappy self. It was time to get some deep countless hours of sleep, as she hoped for her internal agonies and lethargies to be miraculously healed by themselves. Consciousness began sapping out from her miserable reality while she transitioned to the comfy reverie of sleep.

On the next day, she felt somewhat physically and mentally energised. She kept thinking of making amends with Mik for treating him badly last night, so she secretly bought Mik’s favourite food (Kelupis and Kari Rendang) from the local convenience store.

Knocking on Mik’s door, Jana entered while carrying a plastic bag. Mik. Where’re you? I got you something. Your favourite food.

But Mik was not in his room.

All of a sudden, sequences of red and blue light glimmered through the window and lightened up Mik’s room. She went over to the window and peeked through the blinds. On the driveway, her belligerent parents were having an indistinct discussion with two forbearing authority figures.

Raucous questions manifested in Jana’s thinking head: What’s going on? Why are the authorities here? Does it have to do with Mik? Where is Mik? What happened to him? Is he alright?

BEAUTIFUL DAY, ISN’T IT?

THE SKY WAS OVERWHELMED by thousands of black clouds. Even the luminous sun was barred from shining on to Pantai Angan Angan. The black clouds phenomenon is now a common occurrence in Daerah Lima. Its very existence no longer mystifies the populace.

Somewhere near the ocean, a little boy sat on a tree stump. His undivided attention gave the impression that nothing else matters to him except for the ocean waves.

From the distance, a listless man strolled forward like someone who had been straying on a bewildering desert, in search for a way out; a return to civilisation.

As the unforeseeable wind blew stronger than ever, the man made his way towards the boy and took a seat on the tree stump. They were silently watching the calming ocean waves.

The man turned his head to the boy. What’s your name? I’m Bino.

Not a single word was uttered by the quiet boy.

What about video games? You like playing video games? Bino asked again, as he waited with an uncomfortable smile, but it seemed silence was the only thing close to an answer for Bino right now.

Bino popped open a pill bottle with a distinct mark on the cap. He softly shook it and only one pill came out. Exhaling a disappointing sigh, he swallowed the last pill with the hopes of someday it will cure his distress forever.

Beautiful day, isn’t it? the boy delicately asked.

Yes, today is a beautiful day, Bino answered, even though he was doubtful.

I wish every day is a beautiful day, the boy said.

With a warm smile, Bino turned his attention to the ocean. Every single day is different. Some days are beautiful. Some days are not beautiful. Pausing, he looked upwards. An intriguing bluish cloud stuck out like a cotton candy amongst the black clouds. Light wind soothed his face and messy hair. The tranquil surrounding had affected him in a profound way. But, today. Today is certainly a beautiful day.

Turning his head to the boy, Bino’s eyes widened. The boy’s head was now covered with a bloodstained plastic bag.

No one is looking for me. No one cares about me, the Plastic Bag Boy mournfully muttered.

No, don’t say that. Everyone is still looking for you. Everyone still cares about you, Bino sympathetically disagreed with the Plastic Bag Boy’s statement.

If they’re still looking for me, if they still care about me, then why am I still missing? Have they given up on me? Have they lost hope?

Your family and the authorities are still hopeful. They won’t give up on you that easily. I’m not giving up on you. I’ll find you, Bino replied, with great concern. He wouldn’t allow any sort of negativity to cloud over the Plastic Bag Boy’s head.

Why are you doing this? Why do you keep on searching for me and the others? What do you get from all of this mess? It’s hopeless to find us. Hopeless!

Bino reached out his hand to the Plastic Bag Boy’s shoulder to comfort him. There’s still hope in this hopeless world. Believe me. I’ll find you and the others. I promise.

Hey!

Hearing a faint shout, Bino squinted his eyes to see a person wearing a vibrant shirt from a distance. It was Luma, Bino’s close friend.

Waving his hand at Luma, Bino turned around and the Plastic Bag Boy had vanished from his side. He immediately stood up and searched around, but he was nowhere to be found.

Bino and Luma sat opposite each other in a wooden tent.

Flipping through the pages of a black notebook, Bino found a blank page. His eyes were scrutinising the long text messages from Luma’s phone, memorising selected information. Jotting down important details.

Your handwriting is still the same. Messy, chaotic and unreadable. To be honest, it does look aesthetically nice, but how can someone read that? asked Luma playfully.

That’s the point, answered Bino, with a sly smirk on his face.

Finished, Bino clicked off the screen and returned the phone to Luma. Thanks.

No worries, Luma replied.

And this is for you, Bino offered, dangling a white envelope in front of Luma.

Thanks, Bino, but no thanks, Luma respectfully refused.

I know you need this more than I do. Just take it, Bino insisted.

Luma knew that Bino would force him to take the envelope, even if he had to repeatedly decline Bino’s generous offer. He reluctantly took the envelope. "Thank you, Bino. I really appreciate it. Let me know if you need anything else. So, are you going to that kid’s house in Kampung Tua to meet the parents?"

Yeah. I must meet them today. There’s no time tomorrow. I hope I can get some useful information from them, Bino replied, as he crammed his pen and notebook into his pocket.

The daughter, Jana. I believe I knew her.

You recognise her? Is she your friend?

I guess so. It was a long time ago. She probably doesn’t remember me now. I remember her because of her good looks. She was (or still is) beautiful. She got a cute smile too. Most of them college boys were fond of her. They wanted her to be their girl, but she rejected all of them. I think she had a boyfriend during college, but no one knew who her secret boyfriend was. Anyhow, I think you should try your luck. Ask her out. Who knows? Today might be your lucky day, Bino.

I don’t know man. You know me. I’m a straight to business type of guy.

If I were you, I would ask her out instantly. By the way, I’m curious though.

Bino looked straight at Luma with fascination. What’s on your mind?

What’re you going to do after this? After this entire thing ends?

Eyes diverted away, Bino tried to construct some logical answers in his foggy head before finally settling on the most common reply: I don’t know.

What do you mean you don’t know? Everyone is looking for you. When are you going to be back? Luma worriedly inquired.

Thanks again for the info. I must leave now, Luma.

Hey, listen. Why don’t you just come back to us? Forget about this pointless investigation. Let’s just go back to our glory old days. Back to where we used to be, yeah? Luma said persuasively.

I can’t go back now, Luma. If I don’t solve these cases, who else is going to solve them? I’ve made a promise to myself that I’ll solve these cases. No matter what the consequences, I must solve these cases, Bino explained, hoping Luma would understand his irrefutable decision.

Luma rubbed his stressful forehead and then observed the spectacular scenery. Beautiful day, isn’t it?

Recognising the familiar words, Bino stared at Luma thoughtfully. Suddenly, someone or something smacked Bino’s shoulder. He spun around like a disconcerted madman and found no one close by.

You good, Bino? Luma asked, as he approached Bino cautiously.

Alarmed, Bino looked downwards and stared at Luma’s clenched fist. Luma noticed what Bino was staring at and revealed a pill bottle with a distinct mark on the cap.

Do you have any extras? Bino piteously asked.

I thought you quit. You need to see a doctor, man, Luma advised.

Doctor? For what?

Don’t lie to me. I know you. That head of yours, it’s full of agony. You need to see a doctor. Do a brain scan or something. Besides, when I took these crappy pills, I always consumed them moderately. But not you. One time, you overdosed and almost got yourself killed. Remember that?

What’re you talking about? I got money if that’s what you’re asking.

Sighing, Luma unwillingly gave up his pill bottle to Bino. Here, just take it. It’s free.

Thanks Luma. I really need this. I’m forever grateful to you. I promise I’ll do what you asked, Luma.

What did I asked of you? I can’t remember, Luma asked, puzzled.

Don’t you remember? I made you a promise. A big promise.

Really? I can’t remember. I must’ve been asleep that time.

Leaning against his parked car, Bino skimmed through his notebook, studying a particular page.

From a distance, a cheerful family took turns playing the seesaw at a colourful playground. The jolly family made Bino smile, wishing that someday he would have a loving family similar to theirs.

Bzz! A mysterious buzzing sound could be heard progressively getting noisier and maddening. It caused a repugnant sensation in Bino’s head.

Rapidly popping open the pill bottle, he poured a few pills into his shaking palm and swallowed them all in one sitting. Then, he placed his jittery hands on top of the car roof, making an effort to manage his hyperventilation.

Eventually, the mysterious sound faded away.

Settled down, he opened a pack of cigarettes. There was only one cigarette left. Loathing his unending addiction to nicotine, he clasped the cigarette between his lips and crushed the empty cigarette pack with his fretting hand.

Trying to light up his cigarette, he immediately hid it when he saw a little girl approaching him.

Are you alright, mister? Are you hurt? the girl asked concernedly.

What’re you doing, kid, coming here and asking me if I’m alright or not? It doesn’t matter if I’m alright or not. You don’t have to do that. You don’t even know who I am. I’m a stranger. I’m not your friend. Haven’t your parents taught you to never say hi to strangers? Strangers are dangerous, Bino bitterly cautioned.

You don’t have to be mean, mister. I’m just concerned about your wellbeing, that’s all, and my name is not kid. My name is Ela. What’s your name, mister?

I’m not giving up my name. Didn’t you hear what I said just now? Just go away, kid.

Don’t say that. I’m just worried, Mister No Name. Actually, I don’t believe that all strangers are dangerous. Once we know each other, we’ll no longer be strangers. We’ll become friends.

Bino assumed that Ela wouldn’t leave him alone unless he revealed his identity or sickness. If you’re expecting me to tell you something about me, just don’t. You should believe that all strangers are dangerous. Now, please go away. Go back to your family. They’re worried sick about you. Please go away, Ela. Don’t worry about me. Just go.

No, I’m not going away. I just want to help. Please let me help you, Ela benevolently said. Resilience of Ela’s pure optimism proved to be undefeatable against Bino’s cynical justification.

Suddenly, Ela’s mother came over hastily and grabbed Ela’s arm. Ela! What’re you doing here? How many times do I’ve to tell you? Don’t talk to someone you don’t know. You might end up in the news like the others. Do you want that?

Frightened, Ela shook her head at