Chapter 4: Stranger

When I returned home, Master was sitting on the couch as if he was waiting for me to come home. I looked into his droopy eyes. He was still half asleep. He slowly turned towards me when I entered the apartment. I did not know what to think while looking at him hugging that bottle of alcohol.

“Where have you been? It’s already dark outside.”

“Mister Handler dropped by.”

“He took you out?” His voice had a tiny hint of quiver.

“Yes. I brought you some egg drop soup too.”

“What did you talk about?”

“He said happy birthday to me.” I put the take-out soup on the table.

“Ah- right.” A faint smile appeared on his sullen face. “You turned fourteen some time ago.” He looked at me and then touched my cheeks. His eyes seemed peaceful. “You’ve grown really fast. You got beautiful brown eyes… just like your mother.”

“Mhm… I’ll leave the soup here. Please eat it while it’s still warm.”

I must not let him tell me things I should not know about.

I went to my room, leaving Master in his drunken state. Once he becomes like that, there was no way for me to tell what would come out of his mouth. Sometimes, I just did not want to watch him. He got that air around him. It was like he is suffering so much but at the same time he was trying so hard to hide it. However that time, the peaceful look in his eyes was different. It was not the expression of the “Master” I’m supposed to know.

It’s kind of… frightening.

It was better to leave him alone until he becomes somewhat sober. I hoped that he forgets everything he told me.

I will protect Master.

I threw myself on my bed and closed my eyes. Talking with the handler was always tiring. It was suffocating. I needed a long rest. I left the documents that the handler gave on the table. I postponed looking into it for the next morning.

That next day, I decided to look around the city. I changed into a new set of clothes; I picked up a dark colored blouse, jeans, and my knee high boots. I put my gloves on. Before leaving my room I took the long coat hanging at the side of my bed.

“Where are you going?” His voice rang as soon as I touched the doorknob.

“I want to take a look around the city.” I answered facing him, standing up straight. “I heard there is a festival going for the whole week. I want to see it.”

“Mhmm.” He sounded detached. “Take care.”

“Is there anything you want me to get you?”

“Whatever you feel like taking home.”

“Understood.”

I put my coat on before leaving the apartment. It serves as another layer to conceal the weapons I brought with me.

The festive music I heard got louder as I went closer to the center of the city. The drums that set the rhythm played along with xylophones and trumpets, those sound in harmony awakened the playful spirit among the crowd. People in fancy costumes were dancing along with the music as the audiences’ eyes followed their lively performance.

It hurt my eyes looking at all the brightly colored shirts with matching pants, and dresses. Children along with their parents held hands while being fascinated by the parade. Couples walked together side by side while they laughed and teased each other. Despite the noise and the mess made by this flood of people, there was a laidback and peaceful atmosphere around the city.

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“I still do not understand what people find fun in all of these noises.” I told myself as I wandered around the city. “What is so enjoyable about watching people in costume walk around the streets? If anything, I could only think of good places and conditions to secretly take care of a target. It’s convenient to just pass by and bury a knife in one of these people before disappearing in the crowd. But then again, assuring the death of the target will be a pro—”

I paused after bumping on a tall man. He was wearing a lime green shirt, slacks, and leather shoes. It did not seem like there was any weapon concealed in his clothes. The thought I had a moment ago just faded as I looked up. I reached for the pocket knife hidden at the side of my belt.

I was careful not to bump into anyone. How come I did not feel this guy’s presence?

“I’m sorry,” he said.

I lifted my head to get a clear view of that tall man. The blinding light of the sun made it hard to see his face. His silver blond hair sparkled as the light touched its tips. His glasses glowed for a second while looking down before he turned his sights ahead. It seemed like he was catching up to someone. I let go the pocket knife after confirming that the man was not a threat. We were about to pass each other when he grabbed on my shoulder. At the same time, I grabbed on my knife again.

Is he playing tricks on me?

“Excuse me,” he said with a crooked smile. A drop of sweat rolled down from his forehead. “Are you familiar with this area?”

“No, I’m just a tourist.” I stared at his arm. On his wrist, I can see a glimpse is an expensive looking silver watch.

“Is that so?” He scratched his head while letting out an uncomfortable short laugh. “Sorry, I’ve inconvenienced you.”

“Are you lost?”

“No,” he answered while looking around. “I’m not particularly lost. It’s just that I got separated from my friends. We came here for a breather.”

“I see.”

I decided to leave. His problem was not my problem.

“By the way, are you lost too?”

This guy was not letting go of my shoulder.

“Aren’t you a bit too young to be wandering around in the middle of this crowd in an unfamiliar place? Where are your parents?”

What a troublesome guy.

“It’s dangerous to leave a kid unattended.” He continued.

“I can take care of myself.”

“Hmm… Are you perhaps… a runaway teen?”

“No.”

“Your parents aren’t around, and it doesn’t seem like you are with your friends either.” He grabbed on my arm with both his hands. “This is quite suspicious. I’ll take you to the police box.”

Tch-!!

“Don’t worry, it won’t get you in trouble.” He said with a wide smile. He started to take me with him. “You just have to say a bit about yourself so that we can contact your parents or friends.”

How am I supposed to deal with a man who is not a target or a witness?

Anymore argument with this man was futile. I can stab him and then disappear with the crowd, but I did not want to attract unnecessary attention from this much people. If I had stabbed him, I would need to leave the knife in him to prevent too much blood spilling and sticking on me.

I cannot knock him down in one clean move. He was larger than me and I did not possess the physical strength that can make sure he drops unconscious. If I attack and fail, he had the size and weight to restrain me. I cannot engage in a fight. If I did, the situation will escalate into a bigger incident.

We must live as if we never existed.

It was best to go with the flow while waiting for an opportunity to get away from him. I let him lead the way in the busy crowd. Something this simple cannot be a problem. There were many openings. I just have to wait for the right moment.

“My friends and I decided to visit this city after our exams to relax, you see.” He started telling stuff about himself while we were going through the sea of people. “We were watching the parade when I got separated from the group. It’s my first time going to this festival so I was pretty lost watching the marching band.” He chuckled. “My friend grew up here so I was kind of confident everything will be okay but I guess I was very inattentive. I heard many bad things happening in the news lately. Just in another city far away—Ah-” He looked back at me and smiled. “I guess this is not a good topic. Anyway, it’s dangerous to be walking around alone. The parade is fun and all but you have to keep in mind your safety.”

He continued to chat about things I could care less about. This man was raised in a peaceful environment. He was kind and unguarded. He talked a lot with a smile on his face. It seemed that he easily gets into people’s good side. I did not feel any ulterior motive or malice in the way he acts. He was very lax. The atmosphere around him did not project any kind of threat.

But this is still an undesirable situation for me.

I followed him for a while and looked around the festival. The moment he let his guard down, I slipped away. After making sure he was not following me, I hurriedly returned to our apartment.

The sun had not fully set yet but I decided to call it a day.

“You didn’t bring anything?” Master questioned me the moment I stepped into the living room. There are more bottles of beer rolling on the floor.

“Something happened.”

“Will that be a problem?”

“No.”

Aside from the alcoholic drinks, there are still some edible stocks left in the fridge. I grabbed the sandwiches and a bottle of water, and then headed to my room. The sandwiches were cold. The flavor was plain that I cannot even tell what the fillings were exactly. There may be a mix of some vegetables and egg with an overwhelming load of mayonnaise. I was too tired to bother getting something else. Not after that encounter.

I cannot live any record of our existence in this city; not anywhere at all. That was why I hoped to not bump into someone like that guy again.