Chapter 03 - The life of an anxious university student

The life of a university student revolves around trying to save his free time from the piles and piles of papers and projects that fall into his lap if he chooses to leave everything to the last minute. Leonardo avoided this path as much as possible, even trying to reconcile it with his part-time job in a mechanical workshop.

It would be out of such a regular habit that he and some of his friends could spend the whole afternoon just putting the finishing touches to a paper presentation, right after lunch. And with two hours to go before the start of the evening class, the circle of friends could chat away in the campus car park.

― Go on, handsome, show what you can do!

― No pressure, I'm not professional.

Leonardo climbed on top of his friend's skateboard and got impulse to slide on the asphalt of the car park. He went far away to go around with more speed, jumping on the curb in a small maneuver. Still he heard the impressed shouts of his friends as he passed them. Noticing being filmed by a mobile phone, he held up two fingers in a "v" and a wink before getting off his skateboard.

― He showed off.

― I'm impressed with you guys managing to stand up on this thing.

The light haired girl looked at the skateboard and then at Leonardo, with a subtle blush on her cheeks. The boy had pushed the skateboard until the girl's feet and extended his hand as an invitation.

― A matter of practice, do you want to try?

She opened a wide smile, which had been contained in time, nodding several times before holding Leonardo's hand and climbing the skateboard. The balance was easy to maintain while the skateboard was stopped and someone was holding her. So the boy went from side to side making the skateboard move, without stopping holding the girl.

― Oh, I picked up some tickets at that park outside of town. Do you want to go?

Leonardo's mind immediately went white and his smile froze. Even though he kept his attention on helping the girl to keep her balance on the skateboard, inside his head an eruption of unpleasant sensations took over his neurons.

― I didn't know you were into that kind of thing.

― Some friends from the other building said it's cool. I was thinking of going this weekend. But it's a shame to go alone.

― How many tickets did you get?

A huge smile broke out on the college student's face.

― I got three. ― A wave of grumbles widened the guy's smile.

― Of course it's expensive, that place is always packed with people. And they're always talking about it on TV. Back in high school...

Leonardo stopped following the conversation.

"― Leo, let's go see the puppet. He is real".

The fog, the darkness, the cold and the dread. These were memories that took root in Leonardo's mind whenever that place was merely mentioned. He had even had nightmares that night, reliving the terror of the devilish smile of a guy hiding in the shadows, even though blood was splashing on him.

He preferred to say he had that strange dream because he was tired from going over his notes all week late at night. Well... Except last night. He didn't usually neglect his studies, but that night had been terrible for him. Not only for singing with his band in a bar, but because of the unexpected visit he had received that morning.

Vicente.

When he was still a boy, Vicente already worked with his father even at about his age. Always holding papers and smiling gently treating him as if he were royalty. Always fulfilling his duties with perfection to the point of earning his father's compliments.

Working as his right arm.

It was Vicente who sought him out when his father was hospitalized for a sudden stroke. He tried in every possible way to take Leonardo to the hospital, but the brunette only went at night when he knew that nobody would be around.

During his nightly visits, Leonardo did not stay more than half an hour in his father's room. He just sat in the chair and watched him silently, noticing the signs of old age and tiredness. The unshaven beard already had some white hairs, and his hair seemed to have turned grey.

When had he aged like that?

The next time he had seen Vincent was to announce his father's death. Three months ago. He was the one who took care of the whole funeral, although Leonardo did not attend.

But he knew that in that afternoon the sky was cloudy and a heavy rain was falling. An atmosphere worthy of a funeral.

And now he saw Vicente once again.

It was funny that the visits of that crazy assistant seemed to bring problems to Leonardo.

The cold sweat was making him nervous. The girl had noticed the coldness in the university student's hands, raising her eyes worriedly to him. Trying to bend down to look at his face, the girl lost her balance and fell forward. Luckily Leonardo woke up from his reverie in time to hold her in his arms.

― That was dangerous, you're okay?

The girl's cheeks flushed when she noticed that she was face to face with the boy's chest, and that he was still holding her tightly in his arms. Pulling away quickly, she cracked a nervous smile.

― Yes, it's really hard to stand up on this thing.

― Good thing I held you, then.

A gasp had called the attention of both of them, and Rafael pointed with his head to his friend who had bought the tickets and owned the skateboard. Leonardo noticed that the guy wasn't staring at him, but at the girl. Soon he understood.

He had bought the tickets to invite the girl.

Before he could say something, a dark haired girl appeared in a race, she held Rafael's shoulders, staring at him with horror.

― Tell me the storeroom is still open!

― It is, but the queue is too long.

― When will we present the project?

― we'll be the last one.

― I'm going, then. I'm going to print our work.

She hadn't even had time to catch her breath and the poor girl was already running towards the storeroom. The small group started laughing at her despair, which was already usual since she was always late for work.

― How fucking cold! ― Rafael grumbled, shrugging into his coat.

Tilting his head to observe the sky, Leonardo sighed. After class he had to go to that place...

― Oh Leo, let's go get something to eat. I'm starving.

Before go, Leonardo went to the owner of the skateboard and pushed it towards the girl. Smiling widely to those two, he winked.

― You know more than me, you must teach her well. See you in the classroom!

Without looking back, the two friends went to the cafeteria to buy snacks. Leonardo was the only one who slowly enjoyed his snack, having to fight bravely so that no piece was bitten by his hungry friend.

Killing a little time before they entered the classroom, Rafael sipped his hot coffee without looking away from his friend.

― You seem to have your head in the clouds today. Did something happen?

Leonardo took a bite and denied with his head.

― Nothing much.

― I've known you since school. I know when you are worried about something. Tell me.

Pulling the napkin away from the snack, Leonardo didn't look at his friend. Even though his mouth was full, he smiled for having someone who knew him so well without having to say anything.

― Solve some problems with my old man. That's all.

Receiving a squeeze on his shoulder, Leonardo felt the warmth of friendly comfort. Without touching the subject, the two of them continued hiding there until it was time to enter the building and go to the classroom.

When they entered, they lodged themselves in the back of the room where the group of friends was already gathered. They talked about the project, checking the part that each one would speak and the slides that were put together. Soon the teacher entered the room starting the classes and the presentations.

― Since today is only going to be a presentation, do you feel like going out somewhere afterwards? ― whispered a classmate to the group.

―That would be cool... Where do you want to go?

― To drink?

― I'm still hung-over. — Rafael complained with a grimace ― But I'm sure we could go to the square and waste some time there. What do you think? Are you going Leo?

Leonardo kept his eyes lost on the car key he was holding. He had taken it from his pocket when the subject was brought up. He would be waiting in front of the tent.

He didn't want to go.

But it would be better to put an end to that story.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his head and noticed the several pairs of curious eyes staring at him intently.

― What?

― I asked if you were going with us to the square after class.

― No ― He answered, despite his lack of conviction. Leonardo looked at the car key again, putting it in his pocket.

The other boys of the group turned to discuss what they would do after class, and only Rafael faced his friend. Letting a few pats on his back, he gave him a subtle smile before joining the conversation of the others.

An hour and a half later the class began with the teacher calling the teams to present their project. Luckily for a certain eager, runaway boy, his team had come last in the presentations. And because he had done his work very well, preparing a dynamic with his class to guarantee more points from the teacher, the group had taken even more presentation time.

The class that was supposed to end around nine o'clock ended an hour and forty minutes later. Thanks to the excellent work that had made the whole class participate actively in the dynamic.

Little by little the classroom was empty and Leonardo went back to the car park holding the car keys. His black Chevette was near the library building, waiting coldly for his arrival. Sitting in the driver's seat, Leonardo complained the cold and took his mobile phone to put in the GPS the address of the place.

It didn't take much effort to find the picture of the park on Google. The route was created in seconds, showing that many users were searching for that place.

So different from years ago.

Once again he wanted to escape.

He wanted to go to his flat and sleep it off. Nervousness rose in his stomach making him tighten the steering wheel in his hands. No way he wanted to go to that place. Especially not in that cold weather.

But if he didn't go, Vicente would pick him up again at the college. He would probably have a long lecture to give him. And he would even tell him he was acting like a spoiled brat.

― Ah... Let's go.

Starting the engine to get in the long line of cars, Leonardo was getting courage to follow the way to that place.