Today
Karl is drinking chamomile tea. he sees a silhouette of his former girlfriend. a shadow of his dead dear love. then he looks at Psycho Twin at his side.
her red bright lips. her pale blue eyes. her white skin. her thick black eyebrows. her long blonde eyelashes. her long black hair. the visible veins in her pale hands. the black nails. the emo ass clothes she wears. that charming way she plays with her hair. the sweet friendly smile. Karl wonders why he had never notice her before. there is something particular about her. there is some beauty about the way she is. the way she can be angry most of the time.
Psycho Twin looks at him. she feels odd with him looking at her. she usually hates him, but she has allowed herself to be forgiven since her brother adores him. others find something that is friendly or familiar about him. they think positive of him. but she can't forget the way he put her and her brother in danger that one time.
Karl asks Psycho Twin about her real name. she feels angry and bothered by that question. Karl tells her that he is sorry. there is a secret behind every detail about a person's identity, especially when it is a made-up identity to face the world behind a screen. the secret can be corny, funny, or something awful one to which put behind themselves. and in this case her name is a hurtful topic to Psycho Twin.
"it's Palmer Temples. my brother's name is, Gordon Temples."
"His name is a bit chubby."
"Pardon me? what do you mean?"
"It was a joke. Gordo is fat in Spanish. his name is Gordon. with the N it will be like more fat, it is supposed to be, you know. like... it was a joke, a bad one... I am sorry I didn't mean it like that. I just. I am sorry."
Karl has notice for a while. but somehow, he has started to feel something for Palmer. he isn't sure if it is love. as he keeps looking at the phantom of his past. jet she is starting to become truly important to him. the more time that passes, the more attraction he feels. the harder his heart beats per second.
it is probable that Gordon has become aware of that. Karl is worried about how Palmer will answer towards his emotions for her. Karl is aware of her hatred towards him. she doesn't trust him nor like him at all. it hurts to think about it.
Karl doesn't know how to deal with his emotions. he doesn't know how to hide it. it is hard to stay away from her, when he feels the need to stay closer to her. right now, the scenario is perfect to confess. and for that same reason he stands up and walks away. it hurts to feel that way.
Karl doesn't feel deserving of loving again. then there is the fear of the past becoming the present and the future. maybe time will tell how to solve that issue. every time Karl pictures his future at her side, then comes the image of her dying in his arms. he swallows saliva thinking about the worse.
Karl wonders if love was that complicated the first time. he wonders if it will end as abruptly as it started to happen. or is he going to love Palmer for all an eternity? he doesn't want the question to be answer. he doesn't want to live the present, but it is worse to hold to the past. then the future is a menace whoring your destiny to life.
Karl finds himself in front of Gordon. he looks a bit like Palmer, but he is more bright and less beautiful than his sibling. Gordon is such a friendly boy who follows Karl around. Gordon seems to suspect about Karl's problems of the heart. Gordon finds a role model in Karl. he thinks well of him.
Gordon believes himself to be a professional love doctor. he tells Karl that he can help him at any time with his sister. Gordon knows all her secrets. he then frowns thinking about a way to make sure they get together. but he knows about the past that affects her till this day. he knows it will be hard to be an agent of cupid.
"I am fine right now. I don't think I am the right person for her. she deserves much better than me. I only bring bad omens." said Karl to himself.
Gordon plays with some toy cars. the kid is a teen, but he mostly behaves like a little kid. it doesn't help that his sister shelters him from everything. the kid hasn't been able to develop properly like a kid his age. at least not mentally. this is a matter that brings caution to Karl as he doesn't know how to behave in front of Gordon. he doesn't know if he should treat him like a kid or an adult.
then there is the issue about Palmer observing everything they do from afar. is like if she didn't trusted Karl enough, not even after such a long time. not even after all the things Karl has done to earn their respect and forgiveness.
Gordon tells Karl that he needs to learn about their past first. only then he will be able to get closer to Palmer. he also needs to tell her his story for her to see him in a different light. Gordon is unsure about the future. so many of their brothers in arms had died. so many had given up midway. he knows he is too weak to make it to the end with his sister. Gordon hopes for someone to be there to guide his sister to the end. and that someone seems to be Karl.
of course nothing is written in stone. there are things that are hard to predict. there are things that can go backwards against our will or desire. one thing is for sure. this world is cruel. it gives hope at times, and then it breaks it apart at will.
Karl looks away as he takes a candy from his pockets. he swallows the candy. he hates sugar. but that specific candy was her favorite. the candy she used to love. with tearful eyes Karl tries to forget about the past. then it comes to mind that everything he does. everything he finds to be important to him is related to things she used to like, or things she used to do.
Karl falls on his knees. he holds his tears to not cry. Karl covers his face with his hands. Karl doesn't want for others to know how he feels. he wishes to keep the appearance of a tough guy. Gordon tries to get closer to him. Karl yields telling him to stay away from him. he asks for some space.
Palmer was observing from far away. she was drinking coffee in a cafe. she throws it away. she runs with all her might. in question of seconds Palmer jumps. she kicks Karl so hard. he flies two meters away up in the sky before falling in the ground.
"Are you trying to hurt my brother again?" yields Palmer furiously.
"No, that is why I asked him to stay away from me." answers Karl in a calm tone of voice.
Palmer kicks him hard. Karl doesn't resist. he feels guilt. he closes his eyes. then a good memory comes to mind. a memory with the girl whose name he has forgotten over the years.
it is about a day in which both of them were sitting on a field. they were looking at the nature. it was one of the few moments of peace they shared. it was long before her death. before her torment became hell itself.
that day she asked Karl to wait for her after school. he followed for some time until they arrived in front of that field. a field that has nothing magical. nothing out of the ordinary. and even so it is perfect because it is simple. that day it was just Karl and her. the moon was as beautiful and bright as it has never been before.
Karl wanted to hold her dear in his arms. he wanted to tell her the words that are true to his heart. and he stopped himself afraid of those feelings not been mutual. later on, will come a time that he will regret not telling her about the pure emotions his heart felt for her.
that was the last time Karl smile genuinely. the last time he laughed innocently. he was just a boy with a crush at that moment in time. a boy who loved a girl his age.
Karl wakes up abruptly. he is inside the nurse office. he tries to stand up. his body gives up. it may be the stress or anything else in general that caused that reaction. then he looks at Palmer in front of him. she is angry yielding at him. because he is still half unconscious, he is unable to understand anything at all.
Gordon tries to stop her. he tells her not to be too rough on him. Gordon feels pity for Karl. the man falls unconscious as he was getting beaten up by Palmer. to make it worse, she didn't waste a second to yield at him as soon as he wakes up.
Karl laughs loudly. he is grateful to Gordon for been so nice to him. he is thankful that the younger guy was able to forgive him. then it came to question the fact that Karl hasn't done much to earn that forgiveness. he makes a promise then that he will do anything to earn Palmer's respect.
Karl blushes thinking about a future in which Palmer is at the center of his tale. a future in which they can have a happy ending of their own. then he stops himself from dreaming further. it was enough already to think about something that sounds almost impossible.
Gordon and Palmer are arguing. the longer the argument becomes, the more resentment Palmer feels towards Karl. for some reason even when she knows that he isn't a bad guy. even when what he did back then was justifiable until certain point. even when there are a lot of things about the perspective of the situation. she can't stop herself from hating the gentleman in front of her.
there is a loud noise. they look outside. then they see a wounded man been carried by some of their own guys. the wounded guy is taken to emergencies. Karl leaves the nurse office. he walks directly towards Doctor Middle Finger. he asks if he knows what is going on. Doctor MF can't speak. he holds Karl from the collar. he pulls him into an empty room.
"Do you really want to know who that is?" asks Doctor MF nervously.
"Yes, you better answer me truthfully." said Karl worry.
"He was working for Federico. he knows about Federico's secret plan. we must stop him before he does something truly awful. we suspect that a great tragedy is in the making."
"How much did he say."
"Nothing so far. he was in a terrible condition when we found him. he may die, even before he is able to speak. it is our duty to keep him alive."
they leave the room. Karl is nervous. things haven't gone well so far. but Federico is a dangerous person when he is on your side. now that same person as an enemy is lethal, if not hell itself. Federico is scary as an enemy. he can even act as an enemy to himself.
Karl leaves the base. he is followed by Gordon. there is something that has been feeling off. something is wrong. then when he turns to look at Gordon, there is a stranger coming closer to them holding a pistol. Karl pushes Gordon out of the way.
the stranger shoots at Karl twice. then he leaves running. Karl is standing as he bleeds out. he gives one step and falls in the ground. he looks at Gordon's scare face. Gordon screams asking for help.
it doesn't take long for Palmer to come out. she helps Gordon to take Karl inside the base. Karl closes his eyes. he opens his eyes to find himself inside a dream. he is standing above clouds. he then looks at the girl who has been haunting his days. it is then that he remembers her name. Karl whispers her name one last time.
"It isn't your time jet. my love, you have to return to the world of the living." she yields before kissing him abruptly with passion.