The sun sets in the distant. Three figures walked toward the sheltered bus-stop where many like like them are there for a purpose. She took out her cigarette from her small branded bag. The other followed suit, digging for a cigarette in his hollow packet. She placed it between her lips and brought a small rectangular object near to the stick.
Click. A small ember hovered over the top of the device and lighted up that cigarette.
"Hey, I need it too!"
She blew the grey smoke into the air and handed him the lighter where he urgently lighted his own.
The newbie stood there with his heart pounding with his feet rooted to the ground. He was wondering if he was going to be a part of this operation. He rubbed his forehead hastily as beads of perspiration kept flowing down. Obviously, he was nervous and had no formal training before.
Suddenly, she took out the stick and passed it to him. He was genuinely shocked as he had no idea that cigarettes can be shared.
"Don't worry la...No AIDS one la.." she said to him jokingly.
His right hand was trembling and without thinking, he placed it between his lips. He took a deep breathe from the burning stick and tried to swallowed it down his throat and lungs. Naturally, as a first-timer, he coughed out with minimal smoke. His friends asked about him. He shook his head and continued to smoke.
After a few times, Newbie got used to it. Quite the contrary, he kind of liked it. It wasn't as smelly as other cigarettes and it had an icy flavour when the grey fumes passed into his mouth. However, the experience was short-lived. Cigarettes burn faster than a incense stick. Either that or he sucked in too much smoke for each consumption.
He threw his stick into the grass nearby. She adviced him not to smoke anymore and he agreed. But deep inside, he was desiring for another stick. He hadn't got addicted but got hooked onto the exotic smell that particular stick burned.
Desires aside, he knew he had to stop. The principles that he had had became a set of guidelines. Lines had to be toed and no crossing over.
This...is my FIRST and LAST puff.
Reminiscing the smell of that cigarette..
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