Chapter 1: Austin

The aroma of coffee could be smelled in every corner of the shop. Latte, Cappucino, Brewed, and Black. The atmosphere was a little bit rowdy and loud as the cafe was packed of workers and students combined. Clock says it's 9 am, no doubt the cafe gets this energetic and noisy.

I took on the last order for my morning shift and hurriedly removes the apron and cap that I'm wearing. For sure, Justin is annoyed waiting over 30 minutes now. She's not the type to wait for someone longer than 15 minutes. I could honestly see her face screaming at the top of her lungs.

I grab my things and hurriedly fixes my self, "Manager! I'll be going now!" I shouted at Peter, the manager of the cafe I'm doing part-time.

"Yeah! Be careful on the way! Say hi to Justin for me!" Peter said without turning his head. Blending the last order, I gave to him

Peter is the manager/owner of the cafe that I am working at. Justin and I know him ever since we were little. He took me in for a year and gave me a spot in the cafe after I runaway from home when I was 15 years old. He is soft and a kind-hearted man, the only person to ever look at me without pity in his eyes, but only concerned a parent could ever give.

"Yeah! Will do!" I answered and leave the cafe.

Every once and in a while, I would go the Justin's university to spend half of my day in the library and go to my other jobs at night. It's a 10-minutes walk from the cafe. If Justin is free during those time, we would eat and chat a little until she goes to her next class. Since I can't afford going to university, Justin said I could use some of my time to read and broaden my knowledge by reading and researching. She has a thing for knowledge and education. Something that I admire about her.

Before I enter the university, I stopped by the public restroom to changed my clothes. I have to look decent and presentable; it is one of the famous universities in town after all. Not unless I am with Justin, nobody would suspect me that I am an out-of-school youth. She is one of the top students in the university, everybody knows her. Even the guards and utility department. Justin's turf is enormous. It specializes in chemistry which she is currently enrolled. Even after years of coming here, I am still in awe on how magnificent the whole university is.

The phone in my pocket suddenly rang. I immediately press the answer button, it was Justin.

"Yup? I'll be there. Few more steps to go" I said over the phone. 

"Ahhh." Justin pauses. "I'm in the middle of my consultation. I can't have an early lunch with you, I'm sorry Aus" she said on the other line of the call

"Nah. It's okay. I'll just hang around the library for a couple of hours and go straight to my other jobs. I'll just see you at the diners" I said

"Yup. Take care!" she said and end the call immediately.

Seems like Justin is caught up on another consultation about her research. Not that it would be an issue for me. I can literally spend my days alone reading. That's the only thing I love beside wolves and lycanthropes. A hobby I need to cope with loneliness and boredom.

I took the seat on the very back of the library. Sitting with a stranger is a no-no to me. I can't stand being with other people for long. Unlike other university's library, this place is huge. There are over 20 book shelves and long table inside with five chairs on each side. During this time of day, only few could be seen. It is quiet and peaceful. A good place to read and study.

After placing my things on the seat, I make my way straight to the mythology section of the library. In this part of the place, you could see different kinds of myths; Greek, Norse, Asian and more. Upon scanning the title of the displayed books, my eyes were caught by a familiar author, Priam.

I hurriedly extend my hand to reach for the book, but another hand grab onto it first. I turned my head to the direction of the owner of that hand, it was a man just a little bit inches taller than me.

"Ahm. I saw it first." I said and show my hands to him, waiting for him to give it back.

He tilts his head to his side and his mouth curved upward. He then crosses his arms and put the book against his head, as if he is thinking. He just stands there for another couple of minutes until he clear his throat and face me properly.

"But I grabbed for it first. First come, first serve" he said as if mocking me.

Due to my ill-nature side and childish attitude, I snatched the book at his hands and raise my eyebrow at him.

"I saw it first. I was reaching for it before you. You just had a little bit longer arms Mister." I said and turn to the other way, walking fast hoping I somehow shake a part of him enough for him to stop.

After taking a couple of steps, someone clear their throat to my side. To my surprise, it was the man from a while ago. He's walking beside me with hands in his pocket. I walk faster to my seat, but then he sits across me in the same table. I'm starting to feel a little bit irritated. But I need to control myself, I'm an outsider after all.

"You're odd." He suddenly said smiling from ear to ear, and placed his hand against his chin.

I know he said that to me but I choose to ignore him. He will go if I ignore him, I thought to myself.

Instead of answering him, I open the book and placed it standing in front of my face, serving as a barrier between us. After a couple of minutes, I decided to peek at his place, only to see an empty seat. Finally. 

I let out a sighed put the book down.

"Relieved?" a voice rang to my side. My face turn to my left side voluntarily.

"AHHHHMP!-" he cover my mouth while putting a finger against his lips, telling me to keep quiet.

"Library. Manners" he said and release me.

My mouth was left opened as the words won't come out. I can't seem to pick the right words to say. I tapped my fingers to the table and decided to just ignore him again. Ignore him Aus, ignore.

"You really would ignore me? I'm hurt" the man on my side suddenly said.  

I subconsciously greeted my teeth and frowned out of irritation to this man. A habit I have whenever I am mad, and there's no doubt, he is the cause.

"Sorry, but I don't talk to stranger" I said in a cold tone without looking at him

"Woah. Well, I'm Shaun" he said and extend his hand for a shake

"And I don't shake anybody's hand" I immediately answered and put my focus on the book I had.

"Ooohh. You love myths?" he paused. I heard him chuckled, "Ridiculous" he added

The nerves on my head are starting to show. He really does have a talent for making me mad. I softly close the book and turn my gaze to him. My eyes squinted from the irritation I have. I scratched the back of my ear, another habit I possessed.

"Ridiculous!? Hah! Would you please just go on your way and get the hell out of here!?" I whispered angrily to him, not wanting to cause another disturbance for the people inside the library.

"Feisty" he said and smiled again

"I'm Shaun" he said and extend his hands again. I frowned at him.

"I won't stop until you answer" he added.

I puffed some air and took a deep breath, calming myself. I put my hands against his, and grip it as tightly as possible.

"Austin" I muttered in greeted teeth and immediately take my hand from him but he grips it even tightier. Damn, he's strong.

"Ouch. Would you please give my hand back?" I said in a cold tone and forcefully take my hands from him

I hurriedly fix my things. Take out Justin's library card and fill out the information then make my way to the counter and left the card there. Thankfully, it was Jane on the shift, Justin's friend from the middle school. "Thanks J" I whispered to her and exits the library.

"What a bastard." I muttered to myself, shaking my head lightly

"Bastard? Rude" someone said on my back. A familiar irritating voice

I turn around but immediately backs away. If I was late even a few seconds, our faces would bump to each other, his face were just inches away. I felt the flushed on my cheeks, but shakes my head again but I failed to control my temper this time, and immediately burst out in anger.

"Do you really have the time to annoy someone you don't know!? Just to your class or whatever! Leave me alone! Jerk!" I shouted at him.

My shout was starting to draw out attention. People were turning their heads just to see what is happening and I felt eyes staring at us as I feel my heart beating faster. Sweat are starting to build up. I'm starting to took heavy breaths but it feels like air could not go through. My hands were shaking. I can't really stand being surrounded by many people. A hand reach for me, I turn around and saw Justin's face. I hurriedly clasp at her.

"Okay everyone! Show's done, time to go!" Justin said and hold me tightly and shoo the other students who were around us. She walks towards a bench near the library's exit and let me sit. She takes out a water bottle and gave it to me. She then wipes my eyes using her handkerchief as she lets out air.

"What happened? You look terrible." she said and put her hands in her waist.

As I am breathing heavily, I can't open my mouth to utter any words.

"Ahh Justin?" Shaun said, walking towards us with an awkward smile plastered on his face. 

"Oh Professor, why?" Justin said.

I froze in my seat for a couple of seconds as I exchanged glances to Justin and that Shaun. I felt like I made a terrible mistake this time. Calling Justin's professor names and even cursing at him. What the hell is wrong with you Austin?

That Shaun looks like a 20-years old college student. He is tall. He has a cleanly cut jet black hair, broad shoulders and a carved feature straight from a comic book. Literally anybody could mistaken him as a student, as he looks even younger than myself and Justin. He's actually good, well aside from his personality.

"I think... It's fault. I'm sorry" Shaun said, scratching his head.

"Ohh? What happened?" Justin said walking closer to him

Unable to speak properly, I can't intervene in their conversation. My heart beats were starting to calm down, but my hand still shakes. I pressed the back of my head against the tree planted near the bench and closed my eyes hardly trying to calm myself down.

Why do I feel that way? Why do I get scared every time whenever people walk near me? I feel as if they were trying to suffocate me. Like they wanted to choke me till I die. Why do I feel that way? Am I that strange? Obsession over mythological beings and now this?

It started when I was 10 years old. I don't really remember the cause, but one day, I suddenly got this unexplainable fear whenever people would get near me. My heart would beat faster than normal, my hands would shake, I would find breathing literally harder than usual and I would sweat buckets. I thought I was beginning to be okay as I am working in an environment that would put me in a situation where I would be surrounded by people; cafe and diners. But here I am, panicking with just a number of people walking near us.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would cause her to react this way. I was just teasing her for a bit" Shaun said playing with his fingers.

I heard them talking but my energy is draining and I can't force myself to speak up.

"No, Prof. Its okay. She is always like this whenever people would walk or circle around her. It was as if they are suffocating her" Justin said waving her hands as a signal of disagreeing to what the man said. 

"But I am quite guilty. I teased her and that cause her to shout which draws attention from the students. Good thing you came" Shaun answered in return.

"Ahh. She just can't stand people sometimes." Justin said shaking her head. 

I open my eyes and stand up, fixes myself and walks slowly. This talk would drag longer if I would stay there longer. I don't want people peeking at my life or talking about me, even Justin. I find it unlawful and irritating. But before I could literally take another step, Justin grabs me by my hand.

She looks at me angrily, "Where the hell do you think you're going!? You were literally passing out a just a few minutes ago and now you want to go!?" she shouted at the top of her lungs as she grabs my arm tighter

I took all the remaining strength I have in me and take arms away, "Then what do you want me to do? Sit quietly like a dog while you two are talking about me as if I was a ghost? Don't joke Justin" I said and chuckled, "and you know I hate people peeking at my life." I added, looking at Shaun's direction.

"I'll just see you at the diners" I said and walk away.

Why do people always peek their noses on something they don't even know? Why do people's curiosity always dive into other people's lives? They don't care when they were needed but put their selves in a situation where they don't even belong.

I thought my life would be much easier if I just runaway. I thought all the nightmares and the fear would go away if I left that place. But five years passed and they still haunting me. They are still here. And they never left. I may be free as a bird right now, but I feel like somehow, I still have those shackles in me. I can't seem to move forward. Damn this kind of life.