It was a gloomy day. Ashnah sat on the park. There are only few who are jogging around. Some are with their peers and with their dogs. She was staring blankly at the greenish surroundings. She sighed for the nth time.
Someone poked her arm. She shrieked and almost jumped out of her seat. It was Elix. His smile was not perfect but geniune. His tan skin complimented how manly he looks. And his thick and well arranged brows just perfectly suit his keen deep eyes. I understand how his girlfriend was obsessed with him. Though he may not be so tall but at least he have the right beef on the right places. His lower lip is thicker than his upper lip which just made him look sensual. She almost smile at her silly thought. Why am I observing him in my writer mind?
Unlike the last time, he seems to be brimming with good vibes. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to surprise you."
"You'll make me spit my very soul out of me," she chuckled.
He chortled. "How have you been?"
"We'll, it's complicated," she avoided his eyes, not wanting to discuss the confusion she has been for the past few days. "How was yours?"
"I flew back and had to end my toxic relationship with Monica."
That made her turn her head back to him. "How was it?"
His lips stretched in a smile. Joy was obvious in his eyes. "It was fulfilling. I did not mean for us to end like that but we'll end up destroying each others life if we continued what we had."
He sat on the bench just a few inches from her.
She just nodded as she listened to him. They were laughing together when she felt a pair of eyes on her. It was an eerie feeling. It's like it was trying to gobble her up.
"What's wrong?"
She tried to shrug it off. "I think the wind's just getting colder. It's chilling."
"Here, have my jacket. I don't need it," He took off his jacket and handed it to her.
She hesitated. She's really not that cold.
"This is the last that I can do for you. It was embarrassing before. A fully grown man crying in front of you. Just treat this as my thanks offering for lending an ear for my problem before."
She gave him and understanding smile. "It was not embarrassing--you know crying. It was just our ego holding us back since this world's standard for strength is based on who would collapse first. Crying is just like shitting, or taking a shit. You'll want your poo--"
She paused when she noticed his shoulder shook as he covers his mouth. Realizing how she expressed her thoughts through words, she joined him in laughter.
"Shitting? Are you seriuosly trying to crack a joke?"
"No, I was serous though." She brushed off the tears on the corners of her eyes. He did the same. "What I want to say is, growing strong is just like the cycle of eating. How can you get new strength if you're still holding onto the strengh turned into burdened feelings? You need to let go of those tiring feelings in order for you to get new nutrients, new thoughts."
"You're right," he agreed, considering what she said. "Thanks a lot, Miss Pres. I really awe you this one."
"Can you please stop calling me Miss Pres. Gosh, that's part of the history I wish I can erase," she said covering her ears, afraid he might tease her more.
"Yeah, Miss Crybaby Pres?"
She moaned in exhasperation. "Can you please stop that?"
He laughed one more time before giving up. "Okay, okay." He said his hands up in surrender. He sighed, letting go of his teasing. "Thanks a lot, Ash."
"That's a lot better," she beamed back. Fina's word echoed once again on her mind. Her smile disappeared, replaced by worry.
"It looks like you're worried about something. You always have this look back in highschool. I always wonder until I've heard about that certain incident."
"Oh, that," she said slightly embarrassed of what happened in highschool. Back then, she's not really good in expressing her emotions in words. Due to their family quarrels, she took some medicine, intending to end her miserable life and left a note about how she felt. She have no idea why it did not do her any damaged though. She was fine though she took quite a lot of medicne. "That was embarrassing."
"You might not want to remember that. But we were quite surprised. I understood then why you're so quiet." He said, weighing the situation. "You know you can always check on someone, a friend perhaps to tell your problems. Someone will listen, you just need to find that someone." He's not looking at her but she can tell that he's observing her reaction. "If you don't have such a person currently, you can have me. I mean, I like talking to you. Like talking deeply," he smiled sheepishly. "I mean if you find talking to me comfortably."
She chuckled on the slight panic showing on his eyes.
"Come on," he said, trying to smile away his embarrasment.
"Thank you," she said. She looked at him intently. "I love deep talks. Many have said that to me though--you know, telling me that they can be someone I can confide with. But I was never comfortable. It's probably becuase they saw me as someone strong and I would like it to keep it that way."
He finally looked back to her. "Am I making you uncomfortable then?"
"No, it was actually the opposite," a heartful smile stretched her lips. "I felt too comfy when I'm with you."
He smiled back, finally relieved. "So, can you tell me what's bothering you?"
She nodded. She looked forward, trying to organize her thoughts to explain to him the situation without disclosing the odds of her reality. "Say, I'm someone tasked with a really heavy job."
He nodded, encouraging her to go on.
"And not just a heavy job. But a job that could affect other poeple's---" she paused for a while, trying to make it seem not dangerous, "--lives. And if I don't take this job, it might haunt me forever; shall I take this job?"
"Wait, are you in danger?"
"No!" she refused, probably too hard. "No," this time softening her disagreement.
He looked at her suspiciously but decided to believed her for now. "Well, first, are you going to be satisfied if you'll take this job?"
She checked herself. If I can help others through cleansing the demons out, then yes. If it is to keep my family and friends safe, then yes. "Yes."
"But how about not taking this job? Would you still be happy and find a different job? And even if it haunts you in the future. Are you confident that you'll be able to overcome your regret?"
She also asked that question before. But this questions always trigger what she's afraid of. What if on the next attack it would be a her family or a very close friend? Would she regret it? Would her conscience be able to take it knowing that she have the ability to stop it but she's not able to? Uncle Arnold is going to take her side but how can he battle with his colleague just to let me be free from such responsibility?
She felt something between her brows. It was his forefinger.
"You're lost again in your thoughts. I thought I'm someone you're comfortable to confide in?" He smiled to comfort her.
"I'm sorry, old habits are hard to die," she tried smiling back at him.
"I might be pushing you too hard for my own comfort."
"Oh, no. You're actually doing great," she sighed to shoo her frustrations away. "Thanks a lot."
"But I'd like it better if you can think about your own safety. If you're getting your nose into something troublesome, seek help."
"You worry a lot," she flicked a finger on his forehead.
"Ouch! I thought I'm giving you a serious one-on-one advice?" he said exaggeratingly.
"Come on, like that would really hurt a brute like you," she giggled. She felt lighter now. Somehow, she managed to come up with a conclusion. 'I guess I need to plot another appointment dinner with Elix for this favor.'
***
His grin grew wider. He saw how his plans are going. It was right of him to think of her as the perfect vessel. All those emotions she chose not to recognize--he'll have them rise on the surface in due time. Proud of the fruit of his plans, he took one last glance at her before leaving. He made a bet. In this deal with the Great Creator, he knew he would win. His shoulder shook as laughter reverberated on the dark alley.
"I told you before, no chains will ever bound me. As long as my presence live in their hearts, I won't cease to exist."
"My liege," his second-in-command disrupted.
"What is it now?"
"You are needed in the headquarters," he said in his cool voice.
"Can't you lowlives do your own job accurately?" His voice raised in anger. Yet his minion remained unfazed and it pisses him more. "Stupid! Do you have to ruin my day with your chatterings?" He balled his palms, itching to throw punches. But he held himself back. He remembered how he felt before this maggot disturbed his moment. He walked to his car, trying to control his anger.
***
"Are you sure about this?" It was Uncle Arnold's nth time repeating the same question.
Fina tapped Uncle Arnold's chest. "You're cool image is getting spoiled. Stopped overreacting. The child has made her choice. We didn't pushed her. And her positive response is for the better."
"That is still yet to convince me," he said through his gritted teeth. He got his coat and walked to the the door. "I'll cool off my head first."
"Forget the old man. His maternal instincts are getting ahead of him," Fina's annoyance was obvious on her face.
Ashnah couldn't help but chuckled. "Shouldn't it be paternal instinct?"
"Well, he looked more of a hen brooding over his teenage chic who have just taken her boyfriend back home."
"How can you say that with such a straight face?" Jin was laughing hard.
"Well, he annoys the hell out of me. He's acting like a macho man but his inside's like a nagging mother." She breahte out heavily to calm herself down.
They were in Fina's house. It was a comfortable home. She told them that she is ready to give them her answer. After talking things out vaguely with Elix, she felt more lighter and thought that she may be more needed on this field. Despite her fear that she may be on the dangerous path and she may not be up to their expectation, she's curious on how their lives ran and felt like the main character of the action novel that she read before.
"You'll be on training this Monday," Fina started. Jin was just on his phone, playing the most popular online game.
"Is it located in your organization?"
"Not in this city's office. Arnold will drive you there. You don't have your IDs yet and there is an orientation for newbies for the whole region."
She mentally took note of all the important details that Fina stated. "Are we going to live inside the training grounds?"
"No. You're not required but we have sleeping lounges in case you'll need it. The other utilities are also packed and ready to use shall someone need them during training or if someone decides to reside inside the org to save time from travelling."
"Is there anything important that I need to use?"
"You'll probably need to change at least three times during your training. It would be more or less like a military training. Anyways, good luck."
***
To say that they're going through a military training is an understatement. Her whole body is shaking. Ashnah was out of her breath and was starting to blame herself on how she came across such a decision.
"Hey," said someone with a baritone voice.
She gaze up only to be greeted by a pair of deep set eyes surrounded with thick long lashes. His gray eyes seemed to fathom my deepest core. She have not seen him before. He was wearing a trainer's clothes. She's currently on a plunking position. Her arms almost gave up on her. Looking up to him made it worse. "Sir, yes si--"
'Great! Just Great!' Her arms finally gave up on her, making her kiss the ground. She grunted in embarrassment. The gray-eyed trainer helped her up.
"I'm gonna take her to the clinic," he said to the other trainor who was instructing them before.
It was then that she noticed the pain on the bridge of her nose. She also felt something dripping from her nose to her mouth. "Oh no," she muttered. She tasted the rusty liquid on her lips. Ashnah lost her balance. Before she knew it, she was held in a pair of strong and muscular arms and was lifted from the ground.
She tried to say she's okay but nausea just got her moaning. She pushed her palm against her lips, trying to stop herself from vomitting.
"You hit your head. Stop struggling first. We need to get you treated," he whispered on her ears. She felt his breath on her ears. She felt like living inside the scenes she have read in the romance novels and saw in televisions.
She wanted to shake her head to elude from such thoughts. Afterall, she's not here for some juicy romance. But her dizziness got the best of her. She cannot even open her eyes. It did not took her a while to feel the soft cushion on her butt.
"Rest," he said while removing her shoes. "The doctor might be on break but they'll be here briefly." He wiped the sweat from her face. He scooped her neck to gather her hair and whipped her hair in a high-top bun that is too loose. The air conditioner helped her cool off. He let her smell a minty flavor vaporizer to relieve her from her nausea.
"I see we have a new patient here," said another male voice.
"She hit her face on the ground while doing plunk," he explained briefly.
She grunted, wanted to disagree but that's just her shame.
"She must be dying out of embarrassment," the doctor snickered. His gloved hands touched her face, inspecting her nose and other details on the wounds of her face. "This won't leave a scar on your beautiful face, lass. But be careful next tme."
"Is she gonna be fine?"
"That's just minor injury. But to be sure, you can get her scanned in the hospital. The organization covers the bills so why not take advantage of it?" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay, I'll take her then."
"Just let her take her rest for a while before going. I expect you know how to clean the aftermath."
"Yeah, yeah."
After her nosebleed stopped, he cleaned the messed it caused--the remaining blood on her face from the wounds and her nosebleed. He also applied the ointment on the small cuts on her face.
"They call me Cale," he said after a long while of silence when the doctor left them.
Her nausea already settled down. "I'm Ashnah."
"Ashnah..." He muttered her name like he was trying to remember something important. "You're Arnold's niece?"
"His friend's niece," she corrected him. Did Uncle Arnold ask for a special treatment?
"I heard about you from the Research Department," he explained, seemed to read what she's thinking.
"Why? Do they want to take me as a research test subject?" she panicked. Did I just jumped to my doom?
"Relax," he laughed, the dimple on his chin was visible. "Don't get me wrong. They would since you're quite unique. But Arnold's going to make a mess if they did. So they won't do it."
She can almost imagine their disappointed sighs.
"That's it. You looked good when you smile," his smile grew wider.
She paused upon realizing her lips stretched into a smile.
"There is no need to be cautious. I won't do you harm," he said as he clean up the tools and trash.
'Yes, you will,' whispered a voice at the back of Ashnah's mind. From his body to his face to how he acts, those features screamed danger. She already met someone with the same caliber before. They belong to the cassanova type. They're no good for the heart. It was proven and tested.
"You looked like a cat," again with his killer smile.
Her face contorted. "No, I'm not."
He just chuckled.
"Are you flirting?"
"Wow, that's a direct hit. Can I say yes?"
"No," said a voice from the door. It was Uncle Arnold.
'Thank goodness for your good timing.' Ashnah couldn't stop her sigh of relief. The last thing that she would need is another heartbreak at this time. She can't afford to be distracted from the path that she's starting to take.
"Uncle," she smiled widely. Her smile went awkward upon remembering how she was rushed to the clinic.
"I've heard you collapse during training so I rushed here," worry reflected in his eyes. "I realized that flies could also be swarming on you."
She'd like to giggle but stopped herself. Uncle Arnold looked more rigid than her biological father would. "No worries, uncle. I'm no teenager. I know how to swat flies at least."
"That's our good girl," he grin with satisfaction.
"I mean no harm to your niece, Arnold," Cale said unaffectedly with that friendly smile on his lips.
"As you should be. And remain that way as much as possible--harmless, I mean," he warned. He grabbed her arm from his, "We should head now to the hospital, Ashnah."
"Yes, uncle."
"Where are your things?"
Someone hurried to the door. "Hey," he greeted. His sweat is dripping allover. Probably from training. His eyes looked from both of the men in the room then went to her. "I've got your bags. We just finished training and coach told us to bring you your things."
"Thanks a lot..."
"Norze," he filled in.
"Thanks a lot, Norze," she smiled at him genuinely.
"Flies really are swarming around you," Uncle Arnold said, bemused.
"Uncle, can you please stop with the teasing?" She flushed in embarrassment.
"Alright, alright." He took her things from Norze. "We'll go ahead of you, lads. Good luck courting my niece!"
"Oh, shut up! You're embarrassing me." She pushed him outside in case he'll be muttering another embarrassing remarks.