The two long legs played with the leaf litter below.
She trampled the dry leaves on her feet while rubbing her arms hard. It's cold. It was clear that her legs were starting to tingle, her palms were frozen, and her body shook. It was apparent she was freezing to death.
This time, she was battling the night wind that blew in the autumn. She was wearing only thin pajamas and barefoot. Not to mention the temperature tonight reached minus two degrees. Plus, a gust of wind seemed to mock her, laughing at her stupidity who dared to leave the roof of the warm house to follow her ego alone.
Ivory wiped her wet eyes. She counted the seconds by crying in the park, not far from her partner's house. She had been spending her time here, alone, in the silence of her sorrow.
It could be said she was sad. It also could be said that she was afraid. It also could be a mixture of both.
She had been scared ever since Aaron started touching her. The warm caress tickled all over her body and almost made her make a mistake. Ivory swore she would have a hard time getting those memories out of her mind.
Shortly after Ivory picked up the clothes that Aaron had started to strip, she hurriedly ran from the house until she finally arrived at this park. She poured out her fear in tears. She admits that she was a coward. But really, it's not a pleasant memory when your body is groped by a stranger. Ivory didn't like it. She felt harassed.
Was she that low in Aaron's eyes?
"What are you doing here?"
A question hit her ears.
Ivory looked up, and her eyes widened in surprise. Panic controlled her soul. She stuttered to answer the simple question of the person in front of her.
"No… Really… I just need to take a breath of air. I-"
"Don't be afraid. I'm just asking."
Ivory swore that this was the first time she had heard and seen a man-like figure in front of her with a soft and calm voice. There was not the slightest bit of grumpy or bossy tone that characterized them. They usually carry no sharp gazes and weapons to bring order to stubborn local residents.
There was no Guardian who looked like this person.
"I'm just curious. Why would a girl want to spend time outside in this cold weather?"
The man smiled.
The Guardian smiled.
No Guardian smiled before. Usually, they just look like robots, cold and heartless. Was it true that the man in front of Ivory was a Guardian?
But he does look like a real Guardian.
Look at the distinctive navy blue-colored press body uniform that he wears, equipped with various badges that look more like Guardians in general. Not to mention the shiny black boots specially designed for the country's guards. He also wore the typical beret hat decorated with star badges that only people like them had.
Indeed this man in front of Ivory was a Guardian, right?
"Unless that person ran away from home or something?" he guessed critically.
It's dangerous if Ivory is caught running away from her partner's house. Regardless of her status, she was currently a Copulation participant. It is certain that her every move will be monitored by The Higher-ups and the Guardians.
"I… I… Just…"
"I said don't be afraid," the man interrupted.
The man shifted from standing to squatting right in front of Ivory's feet. Ivory's body shrunk, which was actually no taller than the Guardian. She was hesitant and afraid of the movement of discipline in her country.
Deftly the Guardian untied the laces of the boots he was wearing. The man took off his shoes one by one until now. All that was left were his feet wrapped in thick dark brown wool socks. He held out a pair of shoes precisely in front of Ivory's feet.
"Wear these shoes. Your feet may go numb later."
Ivory's violet eyes were getting wider. She clumsily rushed to her feet, shaking her head vigorously. She even bent down to refuse it.
"No need. Thank you. I'm sorry," Ivory stammered.
The man in front of her chuckled lightly, making Ivory even more confused about what to do.
"Look at your feet. You're not wearing anything. Just wear these shoes before you have to be rushed to the hospital for hypothermia," The man said in a friendly tone.
Ivory's gesture, which was still petrified, only made the grin on the handsome Guardian's face wider.
"You… You're a Guardian, aren't you?"
The man in front of her smiled crookedly in response. He crouched down again. With a gentle but firm motion, he tugged at Ivory's feet and put the shoes on.
"No… Don't… Gosh… You don't have to—"
"Your feet are as cold as ice. Still don't want to wear shoes?"
Ivory was still wide-eyed, shaken by the treatment of the person she had just met. "But then you… so…"
Ivory's stammering words were ignored by the man until he finished tying his boots that almost fit on Ivory's feet. The man chuckled in satisfaction and stood up again. He smiled crookedly at Ivory, who was still gaping in surprise.
"As I thought. Your feet fit mine."
Ivory stared in horror at her warm feet. Her feet now feel much more comfortable. She was protected by those Guardian boots.
"You don't have to. Really. Your feet will get cold later," Ivory said slowly.
She felt terrible for letting the man put his boots on her feet. The feet of the person in front of her, who was now only wrapped in socks, made her pity.
"It's my job to do it," replied the man.
He removed the beret hat perched on his head and brushed his black hair back, like the shampoo advertisement Ivory used to see on the television at Roger's house. The man then put on his hat again.
"But you… Guardian" said Ivory stifled. She hesitated to say it, but she really wondered what had happened to that person. "Aren't all the Guardians—"
"I thought so," the man interrupted. He smiled, not a friendly smile or a warm smile like before, but a smile that contained a trace of sadness that emanated from the movement of his thick lips. "The meaning of Guardian is to guard. We must protect all citizens of this country," he said.
"But it's not usually a good Guardian like you," said Ivory. Instantly she realized her mistake just now and corrected it, "It's not that I mean Guardians are evil, it's just that—"
"Ivory!"
Ivory's question was interrupted by a call from the figure who had made Ivory leave a long time ago.
Aaron ran towards the two of them. He gasped slightly as soon as he arrived beside Ivory. Thin smoke came out of his mouth and nose from the cold.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere," he panted.
Aaron glanced at the socked man in front of Ivory. Out of courtesy, he bowed to greet the person. A second later, his hand pulled Ivory closer to him.
"Let's go home. You could get in trouble if you run into him," he whispered in Ivory's ear.
Aaron sighed softly, realizing that his partner only wore a top above the elbow. "Why don't you wear a jacket or coat? You could freeze to death here," he said again. The brown-haired youth then took off his long thick coat and draped it over Ivory's shoulders, embracing the girl slowly.
"You don't have to—"
"I have to," Aaron said firmly.
He guided his partner away from the black-haired Guardian, who was looking at him intently.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have forced you," Aaron said. "We'll talk about this later at home. Come on."
The two walked side by side, with Aaron slightly pushing Ivory's body to run faster. Ivory, who felt terrible for leaving just like that, then paused for a moment from her path. She looked back and smiled weakly at the figure who had lent her the shoes.
"Mr. Guardian, thanks for the shoes. I'll return it tomorrow."
Listening to those words of gratitude warmed the heart of one of the people there. The figure behind Ivory and Aaron smiled calmly. He nodded once and replied to the words of the girl Aaron was hugging.
"My name is Cakara. You can return that any time. I don't mind."
And they parted in the cold night.