Upon arriving at the harbor, with anxious faces, Tin and the old man swiftly boarded the boat. They wasted no time oars raised, sails set. Their destination was clear: the northeastern reef, the last place Yoga was seen.
"When did Yoga come to borrow your boat?" Tin asked, breaking the silence amid the crashing waves.
The old man paused for a moment. "Perhaps... around dawn."
Tin looked at him with growing concern. "Dawn? That's far too long ago!" he exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice and spreading through his body.
After rowing a good distance, they reached the area near the reef. But there was no sign of Yoga. They called his name repeatedly, their voices swallowed by the sea wind.
Suddenly, the waters stirred violently. A large shark emerged and struck their boat. With no weapons to defend themselves, Tin and the old man had no choice but to retreat. They rowed away from the reef, breaths ragged and hearts pounding.
Then, the old man's eyes caught something in the distance. He pointed toward the northeast. "Look!" he cried. "That's a wrecked boat!"
They immediately changed course and approached. As they drew near, the old man shouted, his voice filled with horror and disbelief, "This... this is the boat I lent to Yoga! It's capsized and there's a huge hole in its hull!"
Tin let out a frantic scream. "YOGA! YOGA!! YOGA!!!"
Without hesitation, he prepared to dive. But before he could jump, another shark rammed their boat. Tin staggered but remained determined, gripping a wooden oar tightly his makeshift weapon.
"Hey! Are you crazy?!" the old man yelled as Tin positioned himself to leap.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"Saving Yoga, of course," Tin answered firmly, his voice sharp with resolve.
"You think he's down there? Look! Three sharks are circling the wreck! If you go down... you'll die!"
Tin glanced into the depths. Sure enough, three dark shadows circled below. But suddenly, one of the sharks veered off, as if biting onto something... or someone.
Tin narrowed his eyes, and his heart seemed to stop beating.
"Yoga..." he whispered.
Without a second thought, Tin dove into the ocean.
"You're insane! You'll die!!" the old man screamed from the boat, his face stricken with fear.
Unable to bear watching Tin fight alone, the old man dove into the sea, trying to lure the two other sharks away. But it was in vain—the predators remained focused on Tin.
The old man hurriedly climbed back into the boat and rowed with all his strength toward a large, jagged rock protruding from the sea. There, he tied a long rope to the stone and plunged back into the water.
In the depths, he saw Tin battling fiercely.
"Save Yoga first!" Tin shouted. "I'll hold them off!"
The old man nodded and reached for Yoga's sinking body. Just then, a shark lunged, but Tin struck it with incredible force, sending it reeling. The old man resurfaced with Yoga in his arms.
Once he confirmed Yoga was safe aboard, he tossed the rope back into the sea. Tin grasped it with one hand, the other still clutching the wooden stick, ready for the next attack.
But misfortune struck. One shark came from the side and sank its teeth into his arm. The pain was excruciating. Tin screamed but refused to give in. He kept climbing, even as his left arm twisted and tore under the shark's bite until it was gone.
Blood tainted the water, but Tin kept fighting. With what strength remained, he pulled himself up using the rope. The old man hauled him up with all the strength he had left. Tin's body trembled, his face pale, but his will remained unbroken.
At last, Tin reached the edge of the boat and was pulled aboard. The two remaining sharks swam away, as if admitting defeat.
Wasting no time, the old man began tending to Tin's wounds, wrapping his arm with wet cloth and strips of torn clothing.
"Yoga... is he okay?" Tin asked weakly, his breath labored.
"He's alive," the old man answered gently. "Don't worry... he'll be alright."
Once both of them were stable, the old man steered the boat back to the harbor. The waves now seemed calmer, as if they too were guiding them home.
Upon arriving at the harbor, several people present were taken aback. Their faces were filled with shock as the old man recounted everything, leaving out not a single detail. His voice trembled, yet it carried conviction. The long tale stood as a testament to the courage and unease they had endured.
Without delay, Tin and Yoga were rushed to the hospital. For five days, Yoga lay unconscious. Only on the fifth day did his eyes slowly open, staring at the unfamiliar white ceiling above him.
A doctor approached, speaking calmly as he explained what had happened.
Yoga listened in silence.
When asked to recall what he remembered, he said, "I went to the reef to fish… I was reeling in a lot of fish when suddenly the boat tilted… and… I don't know what happened after that. As far as I remember, my boat sank."
Once declared fully recovered, Yoga was allowed to leave the hospital.
Meanwhile, Tin's bravery became the talk of the village. His daring rescue of Yoga filled the townspeople with admiration. A sense of trust gradually grew, stronger with each passing day, as if he had become a new beacon of hope for their village.
Yoga ran aimlessly, unsure of where to go. His steps faltered when he saw Tin standing before him. Yoga looked at him his face a mix of confusion and hesitation, not knowing how to express what he felt. In a quiet voice, he asked:
"Was it… you who saved me?"
Tin gave a soft smile and replied, "Yeah… Are you okay?"
Yoga didn't respond right away. Instead, with a face full of guilt, he asked, "Why did you save me?"
Tin took a slow breath and answered calmly, "Do we need a reason to help someone?"
Yoga's eyes no longer held hatred. He looked at Tin as if searching for a thousand answers in his gaze.
"But… didn't I try to push you away before? You know I hated you," he said quietly.
Tin gave a small smile, showing no trace of anger.
"Did I really leave when you pushed me away? And if you hated me… does that mean I must hate you too? I don't think so."
"But… you lost your arm…" Yoga whispered, his voice trembling as tears welled up in his eyes. "Because of me…"
Tin looked at him gently. "Hey, can I ask you something?" he said softly. "Is your heart still lonely?"
Yoga didn't answer, but his expression shifted.
"If you're still feeling lonely… may I be the one to ease it?" Tin continued.
He glanced down for a moment, eyes on his missing arm. "Yes, I lost this hand. But strangely… it feels like a burden has been lifted. Like the sins I once carried are fading every time I do something good. And maybe… my heart feels lonely too. So, Yoga, may I be your friend?"
Yoga stared at him, but no longer with hostility. Instead, there was something else something warmer, gentler. As if a memory stirred in his heart: the words his father once told him.
"Yoga, when you feel lonely, it means you're closing your heart. So open it... so you can find a friend, and smile wide again."
In a quiet whisper, Yoga said, "Thank you… for saving my life."
A wide smile returned to Tin's face. With his only arm, he gently patted Yoga on the shoulder.
"Hey… isn't the festival coming up soon?" he said cheerfully. "Let's go together."
Yoga nodded. "Yeah… let's go."
And for the first time, a smile bloomed on that boy's face a genuine smile, like a flower finally brave enough to bloom in the long-awaited spring.