Swoosh!
My breath was caught in my throat just as Harris's fist was caught by Benjamin's palm. In less than five seconds after I turned from balcony, Harris swung his fist toward Benjamin's face.
He, who had clear veins on his neck, didn't hear me tell him to back off from Benjamin. Meanwhile, Benjamin also didn't take his calm gaze off Harris. Gosh, what were they thinking to make such a fuss in someone's gathering?
"Act wisely. If I get hurt, you'll be kicked out immediately."
A sinister smile crossed Harris's lips as he lowered his hand. He replied in a low, cold tone, "Then let's get out of here."
Harris grabbed Benjamin by the collar of his shirt. His sharp glance froze me for a minute. Then he dragged Benjamin down the stairs, ignoring the people partying happily on the ground floor and seeming oblivious to our existence.
"Let him go, Harris!"
As we approached the side of the River of Flowers, I pulled his arm tightly until he released his hold on Benjamin's collar. I could feel my heart rate increasing when Harris's cold gaze turned to me.
"When did you start loving him?"
His question jolted me.
"You two share a common origin, don't you? Hmph. It finally makes sense why I constantly feel out of place here," he said, casting his sardonic glance the other way.
"No, Harris," I said, shaking my head slowly and taking a step forward. "I just met him in Archtier's. Besides… didn't I tell you I'm from the future?"
Harris looked at me unimpressed. "So did he?"
Harris's head movement seemed to point to Benjamin. The look in his hazel eyes was colder than a breath of wind.
When I was about to explain to Harris, Benjamin intervened between me and him.
"Do you love him, Harris?"
I was speechless when I saw Harris's surprised face.
"Even if we come from the same place, we don't necessarily have the same feelings."
Harris just kept silent and looked at Benjamin cynically. However, it seemed that Benjamin's words were not enough to ease Harris's emotions.
"Brissia," Benjamin called me. "If any of us fall into that great river…"
Benjamin pointed at the dark river beside us.
"…I'll let you help Harris first. Everyone will call him a lousy agent if he drowns."
Harris pushed Benjamin's shoulder in annoyance, especially because Benjamin chuckled. When the brown-haired man turned and started walking, my amusement turned to panic. I rushed to grab his hand.
Grip!
I glanced briefly at Benjamin who was holding my hand.
"It's alright. He won't be angry."
I looked at Harris who kept walking with his back to us. Indeed, the way he walked was not as fast as when he was dragging Benjamin.
"Or are you afraid that I'll propose to you again?"
"Please, stop that, Benjamin."
I heard Benjamin giggle beside me. Then he called out loud to Harris, making him who had walked ten meters away from us turn his head with a flat look.
For a few moments, they chatted a little way in front of me. When it was over, Benjamin came back to me, while Harris walked away from me.
"Come on, let's talk for a moment," Benjamin said with his usual dignified smile, offering me his elbow.
I glance briefly at Harris, who doesn't even turn his head in our direction. Even though it was awkward, I decided to believe Benjamin and put my arm around his elbow.
"Did you always offer your arm like this before you arrived at Archtier?"
Benjamin looked the other way, apparently recollecting.
"I can't even remember how I speak formally or casually in modern life."
My brows furrowed. That bad?
"But as you can see, this is how gentlemen here treat ladies," Benjamin said, motioning for me to look at the passersby.
Ah, yes, I almost forgot that I was in an era of strict ethics.
"By the way, did you find any irregularities after your arrival here?"
"Yes. Two of my best friends were drawn here and disappeared. I have a doppelganger, and so does Tyler. It's just that Tyler hasn't had a chance to meet his doppelganger yet."
"Oh…. I guess Tyler was lucky enough that he didn't meet his 'twin'."
"Why is that?"
Benjamin seemed to stare at the dark sky before looking the other way.
"When you go back in time, you want to live. Who do you believe would be the bravest to face life's challenges if you and your doppelganger crossed paths?"
I answered his question with silence.
"My doppelganger died the second I met him."
My eyes widened at Benjamin's next words.
"He died by himself?"
Benjamin turned to me with a deadpan look. "No. I ended his life."
I held my breath. It felt difficult to swallow my saliva. Even the air around me turned chilly.
My steps almost came to a halt when Benjamin's expression changed to one of regret.
"I did that at his request to save him from being chased by someone," said Benjamin. "But now it feels as if everything would have been better if I had just died then."
Benjamin looked surprised when I suddenly covered his eyes with my palm.
"You don't have to give up just because they are still after you."
I lowered the palm of the hand that blocked his view, making him turn and look at me in surprise.
"Aren't we always being chased by something we can't escape? Like… time?"
Benjamin just stared at me in silence. Who knew how long a salty drop would drip from his eyes, which were as blue as water on the sand. Nevertheless, I wasn't sure my heart could handle the pain of wounds being washed away by salt water if it started to drip.
My focus returned to him the moment he let go of my hand, which appeared to be still gripping the back of his hand.
"Yes. Like time, I'm afraid there will be things I can't avoid if you keep being nice to me, Brissia," he said while looking the other way, making me follow his line of sight.
Harris walked toward us, making me wonder when he'd be back.
"Act as though you don't want to be mine if you are his."
Benjamin's soft words made me turn to him who turned around, walking in the other direction.
I could tell he didn't want to upset Harris again, but was it wrong for me to care about a friend from the future?
"Hey, aristocratic child."
"Stop calling me that. My father is already a prisoner."
The sentence that sliced his heart didn't seem to bother Harris, nor did he run out of words.
"Let us take you to your house. Your butler is looking for you, you know?"
Benjamin stopped. He turned to us. I gave a small nod as his gaze fell on me as if he was confirming Harris's words.
"After all this time…?"
Harris rolled his eyes, pulled me as he approached Benjamin, then pulled him too.
"I know how it feels to be left alone. The butler also didn't appear to be interested in serving anyone other than you."
After saying that, Harris released us both and we took the initiative to walk beside him.
"He probably knows all you want is freedom," he continued.
I glanced at Benjamin who smiled slightly.
"Just being outside with you guys has told me what freedom is."
Harris snorted and smiled a little to see the relief radiating from Benjamin's face. Hearing that relived me. We hastened our steps before midnight arrived.
***
After taking Benjamin back to his house, Harris and I walked hand in hand by the River of Flowers.
The silence that filled the deserted streets made me miss those walks with Benjamin. It felt as if the moment was created for the three of us.
"I'll take you home again, Brissie…"
A low pitched voice humming softly beside me made me turn around, found Harris who was singing while turning his head and looking into my eyes.
"…Across the ocean, sea, and wild."
Ah, that song. A song of someone's longing for home. He changed the name of Katherine, the woman in the song, to mine.
We continued to move slowly until we came to a stop and faced each other. The falling snow made me realize how cool his gaze was.
When Harris slightly bowed and stretched out his hand to me, I reached and held his hand. Slowly, he led me to follow the rhythm of his feet. Away, closer, turning around, like our relationship lately.
"I always feel when you are near. That life holds nothing, dear, but you."
Harris sang with his melodious, soothing voice again as he swayed me to the side. The previously tense silence became serene as a result of his deft dancing and the sight of the snow-covered town.
"And when your old friends welcome you…"
I was surprised when he drew me close and hugged me tightly.
"Your loving heart… will cease to yearn."
After he finished the song, he put a handgun in my left hand, which made my heart race.
"You can use it, can't you, Brissie?"
My breath caught in my throat as I noticed a group of people wearing black robes and hiding behind crow masks standing ten meters behind Harris.
Oh, God.
"Now, run."