Chapter 02 - Visit from an administrator

― Serious, a hell of a headache!

― Shhhh, my head is exploding...

The singer watched his two friends, the band's bassist and guitarist, complaining ruefully. He was also getting a headache, although his was coming from another poor night's sleep. Shaking his head in denial, the boy left on the circular stone table a bag with two well-sealed lunch boxes.

The boys raised their begging eyes, daring him to pout with his lips.

― Is it soup?

― Manioc with meat. Eat it while it's hot. ― Said the singer smiling at his friends.

― You're an angel, Leo!

― Fuck you before I forget. You owe me twenty bucks for this hangover of yours.

The two boys didn't even care about the singer's complaints. The delicious smell of the soup had whetted their queasy appetites, and they soon started to eat.

At that lunchtime the movement in the university seemed to increase gradually. All the students' chatter made the boys' headache grow, but it was still better than staying inside the building, where the echo would hurt them more.

― Okay, I filled your bottles. ― Said the drummer, carrying two thermoses, also leaving them on the stone table.

― Thanks, little one. ― Whispered the guitarist, making a face at the slightest movement of his head. ― Oh shit, remind me never to drink again.

― You always say that and always get drunk when you get excited. ― Warned the vocalist, amused with his friends' hangover.

― Hehehehe, I'll remember that. By the way... Were any of you scheduled to study with someone?

The three boys looked at each other and then nodded.

― Not that I remember. Why?

The drummer looked over his shoulder, looking worried.

― That guy's been staring at us since we got here, and he's holding a briefcase.

Turning in the direction observed by the youngest member, the three boys noticed the person mentioned. He seemed to be the same age as them, a little over twenty, and beautiful with his blond hair like a ray of sunlight.

Wearing a black overcoat that looked like it came out of some old book, the unknown figure had noticed the boys' gaze and made a subtle mensuration with his head. The erect posture and the direct attention that the fellow was devoting to the quartet was rather odd.

It was a mix of the elegant and the fearsome, resulting in that guy and his presence.

― What the fuck is this?

― Will we finally have our first crazy fan?

Sighing low, the singer let his hands in his pockets trying to warm the digits that were suddenly cold.

― Relax, he's an acquaintance of mine.

The three band members turned surprised to the singer.

― You like cosplayers now? What the fuck is this?

― Are you still drunk by any chance? ― complained the singer as he got up from the stone bench. ― The guy works with my old man. Probably came to see me.

― Your old man? I thought you cut ties years ago.

The vocalist peered his eyes over the fellow who stood a few feet away.

― Yeah, I thought so too. ― The whisper had not been heard by the two hungover boys, who returned to their soup. ― Go ahead, and get better soon, because this afternoon we have a job and I don't feel like doing your part.

― Leozinho, darling, have I told you to take that place today?

Turning his head over his shoulder, the singer opened a friendly smile despite the thorny words.

― I'm waiting for you so that we can go together to that place, Rafinha.

― Ah, even telling us to take it up the ass makes him look good. I envy him. ― murmured the other gloomy.

Ignoring his friends' grumbles, the singer walked towards the guy, who remained still like a wax doll. As the distance shortened, the singer felt that strange sensation in his body. The cold in his stomach, the desire to go far away.

The more that guy smiled at him, the greater was his desire to pretend not to have seen him.

And when he finally reached him, the singer heard that soft, formal voice greet him.

― Young master, I beg you to listen to me at this moment. Could you accompany me to the cafeteria?

Without saying a word, the singer continued walking towards the cafeteria closest to the campus. Knowing that he was being followed by the guy, the young man tried to dispel those feelings.

He had ignored those people for over ten years. He had cut any relationship they could have with them. Everything to have a merely happy life, keeping his most painful memories stuck in his unconscious.

He should have considered that newspaper article as a warning. He could have taken his car and skipped class to stay at the seaside until the dust had settled. As he had done last time.

Entering the empty cafeteria, the singer sat down at a table with the elegant man in front of him. Leaving his briefcase on the table, the blond still smiled cordially at the young man.

― I am so happy to finally contact you, young master Leonardo. I was already imagining that I would run to the beach once again.

The boy arched his eyebrow at noticing that his escape attempt had been discovered. Even more surprising was to know that the fellow had not gone after him even though he knew where he was hiding.

― What do you want, Vicente?

― I must do my duty and present you with your father's will.

Should he put an end to that matter once and for all? It would be better than continuing to run away from that awful man.

Pulling out the yellowed envelope, Leonardo took out some documents from it. His father's will was not known to him, as well as any other information about him from the last years since he had left home.

Nothing was of interest to him.

He didn't want to get involved with anything else.

However, as he read the typed lines Leonardo's brown eyes widened to the point where he jumped out of his chair and stared at the guy in front of him.

― What is it?

―Your father's will. ― Answered the blond man patiently.

― I'm asking what the fuck is this written here! ― Shouted the boy leaving the sheets on the table.

The man leaned his elbows on the table, swallowing dryly without trying to smile. He raised his amber eyes to the dark man, showing him the seriousness of the matter.

― Young Master, it was always your father's wish that you inherit the...

― No, I will not. ― He replied categorically. ― I said I would never set foot in that place again, and I meant it. Sell it to someone else, do whatever you want, this has nothing to do with me.

― Master Evilian had a partner, in fact, but he had passed away when the young master was still a baby. ― Said the blond boy, taking a pair of glasses from his overcoat pocket ― Master Douglas has a son who currently works with us, but he won't be able to inherit the property.

― Why not?

The blond fellow tapped the tip of his forefinger on the paper, Leonardo sighing defeatedly as he finished reading the document. If before the startle was due to his inheritance, now his terror came from the deal decided by his late father.

― Marriage? ― Turning to the man who was resting his chin on the palm of his hand, smiling sweetly, the boy grimaced. ― Not a chance in hell. I'm not getting married just to give that place to a woman I don't even know.

― A man, young master. The person in the bargain is a man.

Blinking dazed, Leonardo leaned back in his chair.

― I'm not gay!

― With all due respect, it is not said that you need to consummate the marriage. ― said the other, seeming to revel in the other's frustration.

― I'm not getting married.

― So you will inherit the property?

― Neither will I inherit that place. ― snarled Leonardo.

Sighing defeated, it was the blond's turn to lean back in his chair. Interlacing his fingers over his knees, he pondered silently without detaching his amber from Leonardo. Seconds later mute, he was shaking his head.

― Come and see a show, young master.

― No ― He replied categorically.

― Allow me to be frank, young master. ― Vincent said, looking at the boy through his glasses. The aura around him had changed, all the cordiality had been replaced by a coldness that needed no comparison. Leonardo had even shrugged his shoulders and swallowed dryly when he had the amber stuck on him. ― It's about time you stopped acting like a brat and made your commitments. You left home and have managed very well so far, but your father had died and left a park in your name. If you want to give up your share, then you have to come tonight, meet with representatives from each part of the park and make a statement.

― You are running after this brat to inherit that place.

Leaning his arms back on the table, leaning menacingly toward Leonardo, the blond man didn't break eye contact.

― If you want to prove to me that you're grown up enough, I'll be waiting for you in front of the tent. And then, we will settle this once and for all.

Vincent had not changed at all over the years. Well, in terms of personality, of course.

Always elegant and formal, being responsible for his work and doing it impeccably. But when it came to arguing with someone, all he had to do was look that amber in his direction and raise his voice and the cold aura would become present.

How many times had he scolded him over the years? Even when he left home, Vicente was the only one who came to see him to wish him a happy birthday or just to spy on him on behalf of his father, which happened one to three times a year.

He knew him well enough to know that there would be no other way out of that situation. Vicente would really go and wait for him in front of the tent, and help him to put an end to the matter. The problem was always that with Vicente things had to be settled there.

Never anywhere else.

― See you tonight. You don't have to miss your evening classes, if you can make it to the end of the show that's enough.

Watching that fellow walk away from the cafeteria, leaving behind that envelope, Leonardo was sure of one thing.

That cursed man had checked even his curricular grid to corner him. He should fear what else he could know about his mediocre life.