7 | Gate Keeper

Another cut of flesh, another blood to waste,

I feel it in me, the want to vanish in haste.

This life is tricky, stacking me with thoughts I can’t erase,

Tick-tock, I ain’t running but I’m getting chased.

-G

-==-

Francesca hurried to the exit door, gripping the books she borrowed from the library and the papers she worked on for the article writing, while fishing out the car keys inside her bag. She already felt the keychains but got stuck to one of her things inside.

“Oh, shoot,” she mumbled as droplets of rains started to pour, the gray clouds already crawling on the sky.

Augustus looked at her curiously from his car, hearing everything she mumbled despite the good distance between them. He patiently waited for her to reach the entrance of the parking lot, easily dropping the hood of his black jacket over his head, hating the coldness of the wind because of the rain. A rain in the summer? He didn’t like it at all. That and the fact that he made a slip and lowered his guard down to her, making him and his brother vulnerable. The way his brother Ram threw him a look of disappoint nagged at his mind. He never liked disappointing anyone of them, never wanted to be the cause of what could be their downfall.

“Bro, what have you done?” Ram whispered, shaking his head. “I told you not to get drunk around strangers.”

“Augustus,” Gin chimed in, his body leaning toward him as the three of them settled on the empty dining room, all their brothers busy playing computer games. “You have to go get it. I mean now. That key in the hand of a human could do a lot of damage.”

He ran his hand down his face, unable to look at their concerned faces. “I messed up.”

Ram slightly tapped the table, drumming his finger. “I kinda know her. She’s nice and smart. It’ll be easy for you to get it.”

Gin nodded. “Use your charm. I know I did tell you to find someone to fall in love with. But I ain’t saying to give the most important key in our existence. We’re the gate keepers. That role isn’t easy.”

“I’ll fix it up, don’t worry.” He stated, hating himself for letting alcohol get the best of him. It was a first time for him to make a slip like that.

The small conversation earlier that day vanished in his head the instant he saw her half-run toward the parking lot, using the books as her umbrella.

She then halted seeing Augustus, as if waiting for her.

“Francesca,” he greeted.

“Hi,” she said, motioning her hand to her car. “Uhm, I’ll meet you here. My apartment’s just a couple of blocks away.”

Augustus shrugged his shoulder, gesturing his hand. “Do you mind if I go with you? That way you don’t have to drive back here.”

The rain started to pour, a light thunder echoing from afar. Getting soaked wasn’t on Chessa’s mind but she was also trapped whether to agree to the stranger’s suggestion. Looking over at Augustus, all she could see was how great he was playing the piano.

“Yeah, sure,” she muttered, trying to convince herself that everything would be okay. After all, inviting a guy in her place was a first time.

They both hurried to her red hatchback car, finding comfort to be out of the rain. Augustus could almost hear the thumping of her heart, her quick pulse once again teasing him. He looked away from her, crossing his arms over his chest, as if physically restraining himself. He briefly closed his eyes, his silver bracelet seemed to burn his skin.

“Uh, seatbelt?”

He heard her soft voice, distracting him. He did as what was told and let silence filled the air between them.

“Can we turn on the radio?” Augustus asked once she stared to drive, exiting the campus.

“Yes, okay,” she answered, turning on the car radio and raising the volume up. The music just ended when the DJ came in, announcing another song request when she side remarked the scandal with actress Amira France.

She was caught making out with her daughter’s tutor. I mean, yikes. It’s the fourth time they were caught doing things like that. What would her daughter Francesca say about that-

Chessa hit the button, turning it off. “Nothing’s good on the radio these days.”

“Hmm.” Augutus agreed, noticing the black band around her index finger. Had she been wearing it even before? Familiarity struck him but couldn’t place where he had seen the ring before. “A lot different back in the old days.”

She smiled, nodding. “I couldn’t agree more.”

“So, how was the camp studies? Enjoying it so far?” he asked nonchalantly, rocking his mind on where he had seen the exact black ring before.

“Yes,” she answered. She then sighed. “I’m writing an article for one of the arts displayed in the library.”

He raised an eyebrow, recalling her seemed absorbed at the sculpture- the Cursed. “Which one? The sculpture of the Prime?”

Chessa’s eyes grew wide. “That’s the one. I couldn’t find out more about them, though. Almost zero book reference. I wish I could meet the artist behind that piece.”

“Why that of all the sculptures and other arts in the library?”

She shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t know. I’m just drawn into it. It’s like when you enter a room and suddenly hear a faint sound of piano, the melody reaching out to you, as if summoning you closer.”

A genuine smile crossed his lips. “The Prime is one of the ancient creatures in the world. They originated from this very land.”

Chessa glanced at him. “You seemed to know about them. You also said they’re a fruit of sins and wars, right? Did you know who’s the artist that made them? I mean, they’re myth, aren’t they?”

Augustus sighed softly. He could tell she was really intrigue and curious, like a mouse to a trap. “I don’t know much about them and I don’t think you can find a reference book about them. You can always change topics, I guess.”

His tone sounded indifferent, like he was not interested at all about her article. He was hard to read, as if purposefully throwing a mask, keeping people at a good distance. Like how he easily dismissed Minalissa and Charleson. Chessa chose to drop the conversation then.

The drive to her apartment was short and she parked her car on the reserved spot in front of the building. They both got out from the car, thankful that the rain wasn’t pouring anymore. Augustus leaned against her car, his jacket hood still on his head, hands tucked on the front pockets.

“I can wait here,” he said.

He seemed cold. “You don’t have an umbrella,” she replied.

He shrugged his shoulder. “Nah, it’s just rain.”

Chessa nodded, smiling inside, relief washing over her. She did not want to invite him inside, after all. She ran inside and into the elevator, anxious about the whole thing. He seemed a nice guy despite his cold exterior and snide remarks here and there. But what made her nervous was because of the same situation she got caught before, with another guy, someone who looked nice but a real evil inside. Someone she wished would just die, no matter how bad that she would look wishing death to someone. She was mad and broken- all because of that incident.

Flashes of blurred memories rushed to her head, her heartrate doubling as the elevator got up. The heavy footsteps. The scent of strong masculine perfume. She breathed in and out, practicing what her grandma used to tell her whenever she was starting to panic. She smoothed her ring with her thumb, distracting her mind.

No, she shouldn’t let the nightmare crawl back to her. She wouldn’t let a faceless man consume her mind once again. She was her own gate keeper, the one who had better control of her thoughts. She’d been practicing self-defense ever since, refusing to be stuck on that nightmare. Tears filled her eyes, her cheeks getting warmer, and when she heard the ding, she got out and tried her best to walk calmy toward her unit.

Letting Augustus to drive with her looked like a bad decision. She had to inform Bryce that she might need to change her place. She rolled her eyes, knowing the man would probably go into hysterics. Bryce Samson was her grandma’s trusted secretary, the one who still get in touch with her whenever she needed something done. Chessa hurried down the apartment building, clasping the badge on her hand, her sneakers squeaking against the shiny tiles as she half-ran directly to the exit door.

Augustus was still beside her car. He looked lost in thought, his posture screamed mysterious, like a guy coming straight from a fiction world. His shoulders were a bit hunched, his foot tapping the pavement. He then turned and glanced at her direction as she approached, as if sensing her.

Chessa handed him the badge.

“Thanks,” he said, his huge hand gripping it securely. “I’ll have Ram give you the badge tomorrow since he’s in your class.”

“He’s your sibling?”

He nodded. “Yeah, he’s a junior, like you. The president of Wordsmith Club.”

“I know him,” she muttered, remembering how good and welcoming Ram Raganzo was compared to him. They seemed to be on both end of the spectrum. “And I’m guessing you’re a senior?”

“You guessed right.” Augustus turned his back, starting to walk away when he slowed down and turned to her. “Students don’t easily get Mulvar badges, you know. But since you impressed me, you earn it.”

His praise was not something she anticipated but she was glad to hear him say that. Chessa just nodded. “See you around?”

He heard the faint uncertainty in her voice. “Maybe only at Mulvar Chamber, Francesca.” He chuckled and left the area.