We lock eyes.
He gives me a full once-over and an artic chill spills over me, dread shuddering down my spine. He looks away disinterestedly and by the tell of his hollow eyes and careless nonchalance. He doesn't remember or recognize who I am—not that he would care—unlike him, I don't have that sweet bliss of willful ignorance.
C (open string)
D (first finger on the A string)
E (second finger on the A string)
G (open string)
A (first finger on the D string)
G (open string)
E (second finger on the D string)
C (open string)
My mind begins to right itself. He passes me like I'm nothing because he treated me like I was less than that. My heart sinks to my stomach and my insides turn to stone, anchoring me to the ground. Ever since that harrowing encounter ten years ago, he and his gang made it their duty to make me suffer. Every. Single. Day. Worse when they got physical and claimed 'all pets need training'. Little me often came back home with scrapes and bruises that I blamed on my clumsiness at school. And do you know what the worst part was? I never told my parents. I was scared, humiliated and was terrified beyond comprehension what those boys would do to me if I got them in trouble. If they preyed on me to satisfy some sick need, using me as their source of morbid entertainment...
Imagine the perilous retribution I would've incurred on myself if I snitched on them.
Kenji is the only person that knows what they did because we share the same trauma. In his heroic attempts to defend me from those barbaric boys, they beat him senseless each time. And yet Kenji never complained or even exposed the hate crime to his or my parents, all because I asked him not to. That was my biggest regret. I could take the pain, the shoving, the cursing and bulling. All of it. But I couldn't bear Kenji being caught in the crossfire because of me.
But one day God decided to deliver me from my torment because somewhere in elementary school, Vanko and his gang left the country. Rumors circulated that they returned to Kazan. I didn't care. They were gone and out of my life, finally liberated from my unending anguish and from Kenji paying the price of being my steadfast protector.
After five years. He's back like a curse that has befallen me once again.
Kenji snaps his fingers in my face, jolting me from my daze. "Ayo, where'd you go?"
He follows my line of sight, looking past me to the back of Vanko's head.
Alexia lets out an amused breath. "You look like you just saw a ghost. What? You know the new kid or something?"
A frown puckers Kenji's forehead. "What new kid?"
"I'm not even listening, but even I heard. Franko—or whatever the hell his name is—transferred here from Russia days ago. One week into the new year and he's already hanging in Alister's circles."
"Because he's not new." I struggle to rein in my animosity. "He's just back."
"He—" Kenji whips around. But he's long gone. Sudden realization settles on him. "Russia...Vanko? That bitch is back?"
"Whoa, what season did I miss? Who's Vanko?"
I back away from them both. "Someone you don't want to meet."
¬¬¬
The press conference is held at the main square, with the politically strategic backdrop of the Town Hall behind us. The camera crew are all prepped for the live taping that will air on the news tonight. The tribune podium is set up in the center and my father stands behind it proudly. His shoulders squared with boundless confidence. Once he concludes his statement, he introduces me to the stand. I take his stead, lighting up an award-winning smile as easy as flipping a switch.
I look beyond. The throngs of news reporters swarm the podium, shoving their microphones in my direction. The police are spaced out in intervals between the blockades, keeping crowds of townspeople at bay. Before I can even get one word out, I'm blinded by camera flashes, bombarded by the constant shutters and assailed by the overwhelming succession of questions.
C (open string)
D (first finger on the A string)
E (second finger on the A string)
G (open string)
A (first finger on the D string)
G (open string)
E (second finger on the D string)
C (open string)
I command silence with expert ease, and a hush falls over everyone in radius. I open up my speech about philanthropic funding and partnerships in rural areas.
"Efforts are underway to explore ways to encourage philanthropies to invest in rural communities. Supported by the King Foundation to enhance the field of rural philanthropy by exploring how to shift the paradigm of philanthropy to encourage investment in rural communities."
"And how does Mayor Smith plan to achieve this?" one reporter shouts out. "All there has been is talk and no action. And extensive projects like these require big funding."
"That's the beauty of it," I say, wrangling with a scowl and a smile. "Because he can back up his talk. The mayor and the council are in the works of strengthening the economic capacity of the town. Implementing model interventions, policies, and practices. Sustaining programs, services, and supports. Building and maintaining a workforce in conjunction to providing community education. And achieving new policies, systems and environmental changes."
The response slaps a disgruntled frown on his face. I meet it with a grin.
"That's the difference between my father and his predecessors. They all talked a good game. But Mayor Smith does the work."
The crowd erupts into a cheering applause, chanting, "Mayor Smith," with a reverent echo.
I lean into the microphone. "Any more questions?"
¬¬¬
The evening soon casts its dusky gown over the sky, spilling over the horizon, setting the sky ablaze with a warm amber glow. Whilst I wait for them to arrive, I set up the lounge, pushing back the furniture aside to make room for the mattresses and the bounty of throw pillows. Once I'm done crafting the cosy fort, I head to the kitchen to retrieve the snacks and drinks, relocating them to the lounge.
During transit, echoes of angered voices invade the front entrance. I smile to myself as I make my way to the door, shifting the chip packets to one arm so I can free my hand to open the front door.
Kenji's hand freezes mid-air. "Okay, Raven. Did you foresee us coming or something?"
"Something like that," I say, nodding. "I heard ya'll arguing. Just hook up already cause you two already act like a couple."
"I have a boyfriend." She shoulders past him to trudge up the steps. She yanks out the one chip packet from under my armpit. "Besides, I'd rather drink my own vomit than be with him."
"If you want something to slurp, I'll give you something to swallow." Kenji enters halfway, leaning his forearm against the doorframe.
Alexia whips around to flash him double middle fingers, before disappearing into the lounge. Kenji grins, slipping his one hand into his hoodie, his other draws off his hood as he strolls inside. I close the door behind him.
I move to follow Alexia. Kenji glides out in front of me.
"Where are you rushing to?"
"Margot Robbie, remember?"
"She can wait," he dismisses. His face growing unnaturally serious. "We need to talk."
"Not this again, okay, bro. I'm fine," I say to shut it down. "It was a long time ago and do you really think he's going to try anything?"
He breaks into a sardonic smile. "I honestly wish that he would."
I give him a quick peruse. No doubt that my homeboy has hit a glow up since then and could definitely give Vanko a run for his money if they re-matched. Kenji's gym-honed physique is alike to an Olympic swimmer: long, lithe and lean.
"Easy there, Rocky. Nothing is going to happen," I say, more to reassure myself than him. Something I need to believe. "I'm fine. It's been years. I'm sure he's forgotten all about me. It was all nothing to him."
His thick brows collide. "Yeah, well, it was everything to me. I haven't forgotten, and I'll never forget what he put you through." He pauses to try cool himself down, nostrils flaring with agitation. "If he lays even a finger on you." He lifts up both hands helplessly, like it's out of his control. "I'm gonna get booked for manslaughter and I will gladly do the time."
I push his shoulder back lightly. "Stop. Okay, nothing is going to happen, I swear it. I'm okay. There's no point in me wallowing like I need an apology from him. I want him nowhere near me. I just want to move on with my life."
"I gotchu." His arm swathes over my shoulder, steering me to the lounge. "I'm just saying... if that boy even breathes in your direction. I'm cancelling that life subscription."