PRESENT
August Arthur.
When I was a kid, not only that I got used to people calling me Art but it also wonders me why I was really named August. I wasn't born in August, I was born on May, so that can't be the reason why my first name is August. I really didn't get the chance to ask my parents about it because they died when I was eight, not old enough and not curious enough to ask about it.
The people that I call my parents were actually my foster parents. They didn't hide it from me fearing that one day when I know it from other people, I would hate them. I couldn't imagine myself hating them for that small fact but I'm glad they did tell me on their own. I also couldn't imagine knowing it from other people. That brings up the possibility that they didn't even choose the name August for me.
I could have been named August in the foster home where I came from.
Knowing that I was a foster kid must be the reason why I pursued to be a teacher. It's not hard to remember my learnings when I was pursuing education even though I didn't practice my profession. I'm always with kids in the library and I am satisfied with that without having to teach in a proper classroom environment. In the first place, I wanted to become a teacher because of the kids. Also, I guess, with the influence I had with mother's sister.
When my parents died, Aunt Melina, mother's younger sister, took me in. She didn't want to marry but I remember her having one constant boyfriend even though she has others every month. When my parents were still alive, she's one of those aunties that travels the world and when she comes back, a lot of goodies and stories are ready for us. She loves kids and she's happy that we're more than ten kids in the family as her nephews and nieces. She was, I guess I can say, forced to settle down for a while because she took responsibility of me.
She's always mad when I put it that way. I try not to but I remember her missing her travelling when she tells me her bedtime stories. It was only when I graduated college that she said she'll travel again and I was even happier than her because she'll finally do what she loves again. She even teasingly scolded me saying I just want her gone.
As far as I know, she still has her constant boyfriend up to today. The one that stayed all these years despite how unfaithful she is. But it isn't my story to tell anymore. Besides, they both are in a really complicated yet happy relationship that I can't fully grasp and understand.
She became more confident in leaving me every time she travels when I met Jihan. She said she wouldn't have to worry about me being lonely or scared that I'm alone. She liked Ji very much because their personalities match very well. When Ji and I didn't accept our jobs then, I really thought she'll scold us hard like what Ji's parents did. But instead of doing that, being fresh from Malaysian trip, she just showered us with lots of goodies and stories from her adventures like we were kids.
She said, as long as we're happy and we know what we're doing, she's going to support us. Later, she approves it a lot that we work in the library, instead of accepting our supposed-to-be jobs, because of the kids. Aside from sponsoring and donating new reading materials, she also sponsors reading events where she can read stories and poetries to children.
We just really are fond of children...
Which brings me back to this profile sent to me in my email. It's only five in the morning and I have plenty of time before I get ready for work.
Yuan Vincent's profile.
Alongside the profile documents sent to me is a message explaining why this was sent to me. It says, "...for you to be assured that you can trust me". Was I too suspicious of him last time? Did I show him that?
The content of the profile is just a detailed version of what I searched from the internet. It also includes proofs like his work ID. I feel flustered receiving this kind of things because it makes me think that I looked at him like his too untrustworthy. These are too much and I don't really know if it's as necessary anymore. Am I required to send my profile back to him? Just to be fair to him?
Another proof included is what he mentioned to be his grandfather's last wish—a document version, the last will.
It really does say that whoever may have found the journal shall...
Everything here is what Mr. Yuan mentioned. No more, no less. No elaboration or anything like that so it only means that I have to agree on meeting him again to know more.
Aside from all these documents sent to me, I can really trust him, right? He works to protect women and children... He protects children. I can trust him because of that, right?
It's not a matter of my safety or anything like that, it's a part of it but it doesn't only focus on that. It's not like I'm being asked for anything dangerous. I know this is the point of exchange of trust because we are going to associate our lives now to each other in order to accomplish his grandfather's wish—if I'm going to agree.
Breathing deeply and sighing, I remove my glasses and stretch myself here on my seat.
The journal beside my laptop takes my attention. Weirdly enough, I couldn't leave it on the library.
"Why did I open you in the first place?"
I sighed again. I need coffee.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Thank you for meeting me again, August."
I awkwardly smile and thank Mr. Yuan for pulling the chair for me. He doesn't need to do it but he did and I'm embarrassed for it. "T-Thank you."
He sat down too and called the waiter, saying we should order first then we will talk. We're here at a fancy restaurant and thankfully this is a place where Ji and I likes to spend our money on, making me familiar with the too-hard-to-pronounce names of the dishes and actually understand them.
When the waiter left, he poured me a glass of wine before asking me if I read what he sent.
"I did but I still think that it was too much. I feel obligated to send mine just to be fair on knowing all of that information."
He chuckles and shakes his head. "No need for that but if it will make you comfortable, please send it anytime." He takes a sip of his wine. "About our deal, I believe you have decided yet?"
He gave me a week to think about this and I'm sure I've thought about it well. At least, I hope my decision is the right one. Shifting on my seat, I breathe deeply. I really hope I'll be doing the best for both of us. "I will sign the deal."
It was obvious how what I said made him beam. His eyes are a give-away even though he doesn't necessarily show a full happy face. But then he chuckles again before really smiling, as if not being able to containing it. "I'm actually relieved to hear that. I want to act all cool but, in all honesty, with a week that passed, I haven't properly thought about what I'll do when you reject me." He laughs, relieve is really showing on his face. "I mean, when you reject my offer."
I thought lawyers can really hide their emotions and I know they really can, it's just refreshing to see a lawyer be as open like this.
Scratching the back of my neck, I smile too. "It was too hard to say no to your offer and I really am curious. Must be the downside of being associated with books, curiosity get stronger than ever."
The waiter came back with our entrée. Not later, with our main course. The food looks as heavenly as it smells.
I weighed the pros and cons and I really can't think about much of the cons. I really don't have much to lose but just much to gain. Except for the time I will spend with this deal, I don't have to even exert effort at all because it will be just like reading and retelling a story to children—not that I'm saying that Mr. Yuan is a child. I'll be gaining the satisfaction to my curiosity and for that I'll remain my sanity.
The deal, the last will of his grandfather, requires the finder of the journal to read its content from the very beginning to the last. But for every end of an entry, it will have to be retold to him as if telling him the story of what happened to that entry. That's how simple the last will says.
He poured us another glass of wine. "Like what I explained last time, the last will doesn't mention any benefit for the finder of the journal when he agrees to the deal. But I'm assuring you that you will get at least something from this and I will not simply take and waste your time on a whim. I am a lawyer myself but, of course, I am involved so we will have another lawyer to do the legalities for us. If you have your own lawyer, he could also be present with us."
Now that I think about it, I never had the need to associate myself with a lawyer—until now, with him—or had the need for one. I don't really want to hire one but I think I still need someone to at least be present with me. "I don't have a personal lawyer but can I bring someone with me when we discuss the legalities? Just like a witness on my side."
Jihan will be perfect for this and, at least, it will all be explained to her in details as well so I wouldn't have to struggle with it on my own way of explanation. Plus, I would be more confident with this when she knows.
He nods. "Of course, but I trust you that you know that person well?"
"Yes. She's family."
Our dessert came and I didn't remember ordering for it, but I'm surprised he chose a matcha cheesecake for me. Chocolate one for him.
"Is it okay for me to ask some questions?"
"Sure, of course, you can."
I know I should have asked this first but to be honest I really almost forgot about it. I asked him about what does the journal mean to his grandfather. It has to mean so much for him to include it in his final will and for it to be an important thing to his family.
It also wonders me that how come in a big family like his', where they are five siblings in total, how come that he, the last child, got to have his grandfather's name and has to be the one to carry the last will. But I didn't ask about this anymore because it felt too personal.
"That journal is cursed." He laughs with surprised look but immediately waves his hand to calm me down. "Not a bad curse, I'm sorry for scaring you. I meant to say that it holds something in it that is unexplainable to us and even to science. We experienced that first hand. In my opinion, my grandfather wants to relive that 'something' to someone."
We both teared up like we're heartbroken on our first meeting—I know exactly what he means now.
He smiles knowingly as if remembering something. "It will be too complicated to explain but that journal has been donated a long time ago. At least I remember it was included the in box we personally prepared when we were young. Only now that someone has finally found it."
I'm suddenly scared to know more yet I don't exactly know why. I'm afraid I can't ask any more questions about it so I didn't say anything else.
"I know we will just have our legalities the next time we meet, but can we do a trial?" He pours me the last glass of wine for us.
"Like I should read the first entry now?" I know he meant not at this very moment.
He smiles and nods. "Only if it's okay with you."
I smiled too. "It's okay with me... under one condition."
"Sure. What's the condition?"
"Let's meet on the simpler place." Ji was right that this restaurant will really make me feel like we're on a date and I really feel wrong having to think of this that way. "We can just meet on the library next time."
He chuckles. "Okay. The library next time."