You Are...
Names of characters, places, and things including some details that may exist in reality are purely coincidental and fictional. This story is a product of the author’s imagination.
I went into the library that day and maybe just maybe when I met the guy with the brightest brown colored-eyes that might be the start of everything... somewhere.
“Sorry Kalen, the book that you’re looking for was already been borrowed by another student.” My brows knitted.
“How come? Boundaries is the only book that no one bothers to read in this library.”
Zelda exhaled.
“I know, I know. You’ve been reading that for three years now since you enrolled in this school.” Faint laughs came from her and I blushed, getting shy.
It’s weird, I know but something about the writer of the book draws me into reading it a lot of times since then until now.
That person must be trying to send a message to a certain someone who that person knows well.
“Then Zelda, can you tell me who borrowed the book?”
She nodded and slid a library I.D. in front of me. I blinked as I was stunned.
Kenji Gomez.
“Yes he is... I know what you’re thinking. He’s a handsome and the tallest student inside the library now and you can see him reading if you walk straight from here then turn left. I bet he’s alone now since there are only a few students at this time around.” She went back to the shelf she was fixing before I talked to her earlier.
“Thank you Zelda. I’ll bring you a choco frappe tomorrow!” I said before I started following her instructions. The steps I make feels so slow and the light coming from the tall windows of our school library as I turned left was illuminating that I find it hard to look at the face of the student that was sitting at the edge of the table.
Ish. He’s this attractive yet why does he look like a loner?
“Hi can I-”
“Can you go with me after class this afternoon?”
I should have asked why.
Of course because I didn’t know him except his name that I saw from his library I.D.
A lot of students were walking out of the university exit and there he was a tall guy with a prominent facial features, brown-coloured hair with a honey skin tone was leaning on the wall right after the exit with his lab coat. I guess he’s a medicine major?
“Kalen! Hey, do you want to grab some snacks before heading home? I’m bringing Jack with me.”
My eyes drifted from him when I smiled at Vanya who was literally pulling Jack that was grinning behind her. They look foolishly in love. I want to feel that as well.
“Hello Jack. I’m sorry Vanya but I can’t at the moment, I have a...”
What is it actually? A meeting? An appointment or a date with a medicine student?
“I’m sorry but I asked him out first.” A hand took my wrist and my heart beat louder than usual seeing Kenji, towering between me and Vanya with his tall height.
“Oh wait- You’re...?”
I only smiled at Vanya and his boyfriend apologetically since we just left them like that. Not that I have a choice, this guy just popped out and pulled me.
“Kenji? Where are we actually going?” I asked when he finally let go of my wrist as I walked beside him.
“You’ll know soon.”
“B-But we’ve just met... How can I trust you that you’re not going to pull my organs out for sale?” I heard a chuckle.
“You want the book right?” He just stared at me and we halted just to start a staring contest. Well, I surrendered because my neck was feeling stiffed.
“Fine... Just so you know, my father is going to hunt you down when something happens to me.”
He nodded and smiled.
“We’ll be alright.”
The book is important to me since I grew loving it while trying to decipher the real message of its writer. The book is a mystery itself and at the same time an open letter for someone he fell in love and cherished before he passed away.
“Wait how did you even know my name? I haven’t introduced myself yet.” My face heated in embarrassment and I panicked.
“Sorry! I asked the librarian who you are so please don’t think of me like a stalker or something!”
He chuckled that made me assured a little bit.
“It’s okay. You did that because you want to borrow the book so it’s fine.”
“Right... My name’s Kalen by the way.”
“I’m Kenji, fourth year bio student.”
I made an ‘o’ with my mouth since I didn’t know what to say next.
There were only a few people left walking in the area we’re walking at. We walked through in an alley until we reached the end of it.
“An abandoned and unoccupied lot. Is this the place where you will sell me off to thugs?” Kenji shakes his head and pointed to his left. A stair leading to a shrine was there.
“Let’s check it out.” He said and went.
“H-Hey... Don’t you think it’s a bit creepy?”
“The sun is setting soon. Ghosts started to appear if you stand here for too long.”
With a blink of an eye, I quickly ran up the stairs heading to its entrance while hearing his faint laugh behind me. However, as soon as I passed the shrine entrance, something feels different.
The dusty-old shrine in front of me felt like it wanted me to come closer.
“This is a shrine of a deity who watches its believers between through time and space between life and death. Old folks said that the deity couldn’t go back to heaven because she lost his way after spending a lot of time with humans so the deity decided to stay here and have his own followers that she will look after even on their next lives.”
A deity who couldn’t go back to heaven?
“Wait, how do you know about that? How did you even find this place? We’re in a religious country. How come a legend like that exists?”
Kenji only looked at me with a glint of melancholy in his bright brown eyes. He fixed his lab coat and the bag strap on his shoulder before drifting his eyes away from me.
“I just want to share this place with other people since it would be a waste to let a legend forgotten. Here...” He handed the book he fished from his bag.
“You’re not answering my questions.”
“It’s getting dark already. Let’s go.”
“But-”
I looked back at the shrine and sighed.
“It looks familiar.”
“Thanks for giving me the book.”
Kenji nodded.
We got back at Makati City in no time and my driver called that he’s on his way.
“Also, for showing me the shrine. It looks quite creepy but ancient.”
For the second time, he only nodded as a black bmw parked in front of me.
“I need to go now. See you when I see you, Kenji.”
The look on Kenji’s face was making me, worried? His handsome face looks unhappy and his moist lips looked like he wanted to tell me something but he couldn’t.
As I comfortably sat inside the backseat, I finally heard his deep voice speak.
“Bye, Seven..."
The next day, I got the chance to eat breakfast with my father. This kind of moment with him is actually quite rare because he usually spends his mornings and days in his office or overseas due to his businesses. I don’t mind it actually since I know that he’s working for our future. Sometimes, I missed my parents’ presence in a dining room... together with me.
“You don’t have any business trip today?”
“Right timing that you asked son. There were some problems in the main office in Pasay City yesterday so I need to head there later.”
I nodded even though I don’t know anything about his businesses since he has a lot of investments except I know that he’s running a steel and roof factory.
“Son.”
I blinked at him while putting a large slice of bacon on top of spoonful rice in my mouth.
“Don’t you miss your Grandma? We can visit my mother this Saturday if you want.”
I’m not a college student who spends my weekends outside the house. I prefer reading fictions and playing games. Yet Dad’s eyes looked concerned about something regarding grandma. I sighed mentally and smiled.
“Of course, Dad. I would love to. It’s still Tuesday so I have a lot of time to finish my projects to vacant my Saturday.”
“That’s great Kal.”
We continued eating after that and his phone rang exactly when we finished. We bid our goodbyes and he used his own car to go to Pasay City since we only have one driver, the one who drops and picks me up from school. His name is Revo. He’s in his mid-thirties and still single, I think? I never saw him dated before maybe in private.
“Revo, I found out yesterday that there is a shrine existing in someplace near Makati.”
He looked at me through the rear view mirror with a curious look.
“Like the ones that Christians have? With a saint and a cross with a roof built in stone?”
“No... It’s weird since it looks more like a small house made in wood and there were scriptures written around it like it is too ancient to even read.”
I was staring outside the window when he cleared his throat.
“Really? How did you find it?”
“A student in my university told me.”
“Is that so...”
“You should be careful when you’re with that person Kal. I’m not sure if knowing about that shrine will bring good or danger to you.”
I quickly looked at Revo’s back and noticed we’re near the university gate.
“Why...?”
He stopped somewhere in front of the university where there were less cars passing by.
“That shrine is a legend and its info was passed down from my family to my father. I don’t know why and how but I was the only one left in my family and should be the only one who knows about that.”
“Tell me more about it Revo.”
He only closed his eyes and sighed.
“That info you’re asking holds a lot of mysteries and secrets from the past, Kal. It would be safe for you if you just forget about it.”
I exhaled and nodded.
“Then see you later Revo. Be safe on your way.” I smiled and I was about to step out of the car when he said something.
“Be cautious when you’re with that student Kal. He knows something exclusive and it’s bugging me.”
The next hours of my day consists of lectures so I barely have time to go to the library to read the book again. But of course, I didn’t forget about giving Ms. Zelda her choco frappe which she thanked me after. I’m taking up a business degree so my day consists of lectures about markets and sales. Maybe I’ll just read it when I’m home since Vanya has been bugging me about Kenji when we met after our last periods.
Right... Where’s Kenji by the way?
Revo was suspicious about Kenji. Me either. Like why would he want me to come to that eerie place? Whatever, let’s just forget about him and that ancient-like shrine. Also, Revo and Kenji are both weird. We’re in 2019. Legends stay as legends. Stories to be amazed at but that’s just it.
I was walking out of the exit gates when a low yet deep voice stopped me.
“Are you going home already?”
I nodded and smiled a bit.
“Can we go to Starbucks together? My treat.”
Kenji was asking me to spend time together in a coffee shop. This feels like a cut from the fiction I read before. I blushed trying to think normal.
Should I say yes? But Revo’s words were repeating inside my head.
“Okay but I can’t stay for too long.”
After we both agreed to it, we walked together to the said place. As expected, a Starbucks near our university will always be jam packed of students and such.
I lined up first while he stood up behind me when the person in front of me suddenly stepped backward resulting me in stumbling back.
“Are you okay?”
He was holding my shoulders, saving me from that fall. However, there was a movement behind us that pushed Kenji’s front behind me. I blushed. I felt something poke behind me! My face was getting hotter until I realized he was still holding me on my sides.
“You go find a table for us, I’ll order.”
I nodded and obliged. Who wouldn’t after hearing his deep low voice. I mean- I roamed my eyes to find a big table for us but they were always occupied with students busy with studying and some were just using their phones even if they’re done drinking. Typical bystanders.
“A table for two?” I ended up taking the table beside the window. I was looking for a wider table so it wouldn’t be awkward for two guys sitting together.
I sighed and looked at him lining up at the counter. He’s freakishly tall. I just noticed that? With his messy hair and sharp brown eyes, he is actually handsome. I failed to notice that yesterday since I was worried where he would take me.
“Sorry, it took me long enough to buy us drinks. You got bored?”
“No, it’s fine. I was also busy thinking about something.”
Kenji nodded and sat in front of me.
Why do I feel like I’m so small now that he’s already sitting yet still looking tall?
“Thinking about what?” He pushed the tray slowly near me and I mouthed ‘thanks’ before I took the paper straw and used it to sipped the frappe he bought for me.
“Why did you want to go here anyway?”
“I just want to because you’re with me.”
“Erm... Why me?”
“I want to get close to you but I have no other reasons so I asked you out here.”
I stopped and swallowed loudly.
“Why...?”
It’s Kenji’s turn to drink his frappe leaving me without an answer. Wasn’t that an indirect confession to be- friends? Yes, I think it was. We just spent our minutes silently sipping on our drinks while avoiding his direct gaze at me. His gaze was making me feel things, I’m not sure since I barely spend my time with other people. Good thing Revo suddenly called telling me he’s at the parking lot already.
“My driver just called and he’s waiting for me. I’m sorry but I gotta go, Kenji. Thanks for the drink. I’ll treat you next time.” I was smiling as I stood up strapping my bag on my back when his eyes soften and he lightly tapped my forehand, like he wanted to hold my hand.
“Kalen...”
“W-What is it?”
His eyes were contemplating yet he only shook his head and sighed.
“Can we really see each other next time?”
A weird question when I just said I will treat him next time.
“Yes, we can... Bye!” I waved at him as I walked out to the exit and good thing I saw him smiled before I left the establishment.
The trip way back home was quiet and I think it’s because Kuya Revo saw me with Kenji.
“Did he say something about the shrine?”
He broke the ice so I answered nonchalantly.
“None kuya.”
“Kal, before we head back to the mansion, your father wanted to have a dinner in Shangri-la Hotel with you.”
“Really??”
I noticed his smile as he nodded. My face beamed in happiness as I heard it. It has been centuries since we ate together outside. The last one was when I was still in high school. However, Revo stepped on the breaks without a warn that stopped my head from imagining good things. Fortunately, I was wearing my seatbelt or else my head would have been on the windshield. Bloody hell.
“Are you okay Kalen?!”
Revo checked me as he quickly looked back at what’s happening outside.
“Revo, what’s happening? Why are they cornering us? Who are those guys by the way?”
“I don’t know Kal but it’s dangerous so stay down.” There were black cars blocking the way as one by one, each one of them were holding guns while they stood around our vehicle, trapping us. We’re cornered might be because we drove in a shortcut where only few vehicles pass by.
I was about to follow his order when a red laser point was pointed and moving from my arm up to my chest until it reached my face.
“I don’t think I could.”
Revo’s loud voice was muted when I was struck by something cold- painful thing against my forehead before I could even comprehend. Everything was muted and even my eyes could not function.
Father, wait for me...
Wait, what about Revo What will happen to him?
“Can we really see each other next time?”
It’s getting darker and I couldn’t hear anything around me except Kenji’s last words.
