3. His past fragment

“Yes Csar? I will send it to you at once”   

“This is between us” said Csar on the other end of the call

“Understood Csar,” 

“Don’t call me unless I contact first” 

“Understood,”  

The calls end with a few exchanges. The person known as Csar leaves the alley and disappears within the crowd. 

.

.

.

The sun beaming light shone throughout, casting its light all around. It was a normal sunny morning and a young man in his school uniform turned back from the school gate with the intention of skipping class. 

Plugging the earphones on both sides he strolled downtown toward the city Library while grabbing a hot coffee on the way. 

“One hot Americano, no sugar” said the young man

“One hot Americano, 100% sugar” a playful voice spoke from behind, catching his attention. He turned to see the familiar person without any manners. The individual responsible for his skipping class, causing him to endure the boring library on a Monday morning.

“Eh, what a coincidence,” said the newcomer. “But to say a cute person like you drinks black coffee with no sugar. Such a rare sight”

The youngman said nothing as he handed the money to the cashier, but a hand bead him to it with a black card tapping on the bank’s POS machine. 

“I’m paying for you,” 

“No need,”

“Come on Asher,” whined the newcomer 

Asher handed the money to the cashier “For the coffee”

“You are so mean”

Asher rolled his eyes and waited at the side for his coffee with the same annoying guy. 

“Are you skipping class today?” 

“...” Asher 

“I’m skipping too. Where are you going? Let sit together” 

“Asher,” 

Asher tsk in absolute irritation, he glares at the annoying fly that keeps bugging him “Mind your own business, Jay. Don’t make me repeat myself”

“Please,” said Jay “I just want to be friend with you”

Asher give a fake smile before turning back to signature stone face “But I don’t want to be friend with you”

The staff places his coffee as he takes it “Goodbye. Hope to never see you again”

“Wait Asher,” Jay called out, he grabbed his coffee before running after Asher.

The cafe door pulls open as the two leave together, one with disdain while the other with hope. 

Asher continues his walk to the planned destination but with the annoyance bug following him he has to take a detour aiming to chase off the follower with the long walk. It doesn’t come as a surprise when Jay keeps following him into the alley behind the people's house. The alleyway is quiet especially on a hot morning like this, people have gone to work and study except for the two. 

Asher and Jay are fourth year business students in New York top university. Unlike Jay who was born with a silver spoon, who paid a hundred thousand to study, Asher got into the prestigious school by receiving a full sponsor scholarship. He is all but determined and a smart student, his everyday life involves studying, his goal is to complete the degree and make it worth the scholarship he thrives so hard for. 

He is an introvert with no friends, if it is not study related he rarely talks to others and his silent attitude has caught the eyes of the great young master Jay.

Jay stares at the person he follows from behind, Ash is pretty, too pretty for a boy. He has been flirting with him for a long while now but Ash doesn’t seem interested for even a bit. 

He jogged to match Asher pace to initiate a conversation “I was waiting for you at the bus stop but you never show up” 

“I told you not to wait,” said Asher 

“But I wanted to come to class with you” Jay argue with his reason knowing well that Asher won’t give a fuck

Asher stops in his tracks, takes off his earphone and turns to face the other person “Jay, why do you keep playing with me?” 

Jay frowned in disbelief “Play? Who is playing? I already said that I like you. I like you and I’m not playing” 

Asher heaved a sigh, he was speechless by how thick faced this person is. His confession is as plain as a bun and his sincerity is as blunt as casual greeting. Asher can’t seem to comprehend the real intention behind those fake acts. He continued his pace ignoring the puppy eyes from the other male. 

“Asher,” Jay 

“Wait Ash-” Jay voices cut off with from loud grazed against the nearby wall

Jay hastily yanks Asher arms pulling him into the alley. 

“W-what the hell was that?” Asher asks, he was stun and angry at the same time

“Shh!” Jay push him against the wall as he cover Asher’s mouth “It was a gunshot”

“How? Why are we hiding?” Asher head is full of confusion  

“They are after me” Jay, he try sneaking a peek at the side in an attempt to sight the shooter 

Closing his eyes Jay sigh in relief “They are gone” 

“They? So there are more than one of them?” state Asher 

“Probably,” Jay 

“Who exactly are you?” Asher 

It was Asher's turn to close his eyes, he needed time to absorb, this whole situation is too much for a social introvert like him. For a person who only knows the distance between home and school, the outside world is far from one galaxy. Dodging bullets, gunshot, assassination and stuff were the things he saw in movies aside from not knowing he also did not want to experience. 

Even though not by choice he still preferred his current life, he was an outcast but it was peaceful. 

The unfortunate encounter was supposed to be his breaking point but instead of regretting he is grateful. 

Ever since that day he has been stuck with Jay, from home to school to everywhere with bodyguards surrounding them each time they step out of the mansion. Asher has moved in with Jay and his family but they never met as the both of them lived at the side mansion. 

Everything might sound exaggerated by Jay have stated his reason that day after the incident 

“Come with me” Jay was about to drag them both out of here when Asher slap his hand away 

“I’m not going” Asher stated through grit teeth 

“I promise you will be safe with me,” 

“Safe? How am I being safe with you? Those guys were after you” 

“You are right and the fact they saw your face,” Jay sigh “Now they know that I care for you and they surely will go after you” 

“You will have to stay with me from now on” said Jay to the still confuse Asher “I’m not ready to lose you, not when I like you this much” 

The time they spent together has gradually reduced Asher's built up wall, he slowly opened up and accepted Jay’s love. These past few years Jay has shown his sincerity in every possible way, he showers Asher with love and pampers him with care. 

“Are you fake sleeping, Asher?” whisper a man deep voice 

The man's hand teasingly caresses the other figure beside him with a wide smile. The two were sleeping in the same room on the same bed, being all close and intimate anyone can tell they’re a lovely couple. 

“Wake up my dear Asher,”

Wake up

My dear

Dear 

Ash-

Ash jolts awake, his forehead profuse with sweat, his lifeless eyes turn bloodshot, the orbs thirst for vengeance. He gets out of bed and exits the bedroom walking slowly as he scans his surroundings. 

His eyes land on a sharp knife on the plate beside the fruit bowl, lifting it up he slash open his wrist. 

His cold eyes stare at the dripping wound with a smile as he repeats the action completely oblivious to the open door. 

Xenorr enters the house with paper bags in his hand but the sight he behold causes him to drop everything.

“ASH!” Xenorr yells the younger name as he sprint toward the scene

TO  BE CONTINUED…