Chapter VIII: The Past Leaves Deep Traces

The dawn of a new day begins to appear. This time, for me, the day comes with the feeling of joy that I am still alive after the previous night. Well, although I didn't escape unscathed, I can still say that thanks to Cesare, everything ended well.

Speaking of which... Cesare sleeps so peacefully that it amazes me how good he can look. Well, I don't know what the future holds for me, but I hope to continue to be friends with Cesare.

"Antonio, are you awake?"

How cute... Cesare finally woke up. I wish I could learn more about this world. Days go by and the first week since I've been here is almost over. Honestly, I've even started to forget about the meeting with the Cardinal. All I do is enjoy the present in front of me.

"Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"No... I was planning to wake up soon anyway."

"Well, what are we going to do today?"

"I don't have anything in mind... Maybe you do?"

"Considering we're injured, I'd say let's sit and get to know each other better. What do you say?"

"An excellent idea. Of course, I think a drink would be perfect in the meantime, don't you?"

"I don't usually drink, but if you insist...", I said, a little ashamed.

After taking a bath and changing into something comfortable, we went to Cesare's office. In a few minutes, Sister Catherine came with a bottle of wine and some snacks.

"I really don't want to bore you with the story of my life... To be honest, it's a bit sad and uninteresting," I started.

"Don't say that... I want to know more about you."

"Okay then..."

-Six years ago-

Finally, I left my parents' house for the first time. I'm about to go to the school where I will study to become a priest.

"So, Antonio... For the next 4 years in this school, you will prepare yourself physically, intellectually, and emotionally for the life of a priest. We hope you feel good in these years, and in the end, we can be proud of you!"

"I hope so too!" I replied happily.

I don't know how I will be able to adjust in such a place, but I will try...

"Hi, are you the new student?"

"Y-Yes...I am..."

"I'm glad to meet you. My name is Benjamin."

"Nice to meet you... See you later!"

"Wait a minute!"

Oh, come on! I just arrived at this school and people won't leave me alone. Luckily, this school has a huge library where I can hide from people... People have always wanted something from me or my family. My father is the director of the national bank, and my mother is a judge at the capital's court. Well, being alone at home all day, I haven't had real friends. Most people befriended me for money or other reasons...

"Antonio, what are you doing here?"

And this guy? Benjamin, I think his name is... Honestly, I'm tired of these kinds of people trying to get close to me for material reasons. I can't even be at peace in the library anymore...

Time passed, and after a few months, something changed in the behavior of the others...

"Look at the school nerd... This guy spends more time in the library than the librarians," one of my classmates said.

"Shut up... Didn't you know his father funds our school? Do you want to mess with that?"

"Guys, I have an idea!"

Suddenly, one of the gossipers approached me.

"Hi, dear classmate! It's a beautiful day today, isn't it?" he said with a smirk on his face.

"Do you need something? Spit it out!"

"Oh, come on... We're classmates, aren't we?"

I tried to avoid him, when suddenly that person tripped me, and I fell, to the amusement of everyone present.

"Hey, stop it!"

"Guys, run!"

Damn... I knew it wasn't a good idea to study away from home... Now I have to be more careful and avoid trouble from my classmates... Why can't I be as open as them or like this guy?

"It's okay, get up!"

The person I couldn't stand just reached out to help me up. Well, I refused him and got up on my own. I don't want anyone's help.

"Don't mind them. That's how they are..."

"Are they your friends?"

"No, let's just say they're my classmates. My friends would never pick on people around them, don't you think?"

"I don't care!" I replied angrily and embarrassed.

What does this guy look like, you wonder? Well, he resembles Bright Vachirawit, that Thai actor who starred in the 2gether series... How do I know that? Well, I had already watched the series at the time I'm talking about.

After several weeks of peace, a strange event occurred while I was at the library. One of my classmates asked me to help him with something, and when I followed him, I felt a blow to my back and passed out. When I woke up, I was tied up in a very dark and cold place. Of course, I wasn't alone...

"Antonio... You know, we would need something... If you could help us with the modest sum of $10,000, that would be great. Don't say you don't have it. After all, your father is the director of the national bank, isn't he?" said the classmate who tripped me a few weeks ago.

"Do you think you'll get away with this?"

"We don't think so. We already know that!"

"I can't help you with such a sum, so could you untie me and then we go our separate ways?"

"You're not helping? Well then... Guys!"

Well, you can guess what happened next... After being the victim of a rain of blows, I started to cry. Why? Because I realized that I was alone and that's how I'll remain forever... Until...

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, Benjamin... You know, we were just about to untie our colleague... I think the seniors tied him down here..."

"Stop lying... I already told you not to touch him anymore! He's my property, right?"

Wait, what? I'm nobody's property... What's this weirdo saying?

"Sorry, brother! You know, I didn't know that..."

"Well, for that, you'll face the consequences!"

I couldn't believe it when I saw how this guy started hitting the others just because they picked on me... I can say that these guys turned into sheeps after a few minutes.

"Antonio, are you okay?"

"Yeah... How are the others?"

"They're fine, just some minor injuries... I think you should be more concerned about yourself than them! Come on..."

I couldn't believe it... I walked out with him, and he took me to the doctor's office where he disinfected my wounds and bandaged me up.

"T-Thank you, Benjamin!"

"My pleasure... Do you like pancakes?"

"Yes, I love them!"

"I was just about to make some... Do you want?

"S-Sure!"

After a few minutes, the peanut butter-filled pancakes were ready. To my surprise, they were better than my mom's. Seeing me so happy, he smiled, pleased with the result. I can only say this... After that event, we became best friends and...

"Antonio, are you okay?" Cesare said after I finished talking.

"Hic! I can't believe I won't see him again! Why? Why, Cesare? Tell me?"

"Antonio, calm down!"

"No! I won't calm down! Cesare, I had feelings for this guy... I would have even broken my vows for him! What do I do now? I'm devastated..."

"Antonio, what do you mean by that?"

"He was the first person who looked at me for who I was, not for my financial status or anything else... We were so different... He in the spotlight and strong, me ignored by everyone and weak... But he didn't... Even though he did..."

"Antonio! Antonio, are you okay?"

"My little lamb with brown hair... You even look a bit like Benjamin... Well, he looked more Thai than Korean, ha ha ha!"

"What Thai? What Korean? Antonio, snap out of it!"

"I'm fine! You can't tell me what to do! You should have told me what to do when I started drinking too much, not now..."

"Antonio, put down the glass... Enough..."

"You can't tell me what to do! Even though you're a pervert, you're a good person. I'll tell you now, because I'm drunk, but that's what I think... If you were Benjamin, I would have... No, forget it!"

"Antonio, it's the third bottle... I hardly drank at all, and you drank too much! Calm down!"

"Suddenly it got warm... Do you mind if I undress, do you?"

"Antonio, no!"

"Don't? What's wrong? It didn't bother you before... So, now that you know my past, you hate me, right? All I can say is... You're the second person who looked at me like that... I owe you, and I hope to repay you someday..."

"Antonio, I didn't know you went through so much... But how did you become so warm and kind..."

"Well, you see... After being ordained a priest, I was sent to a parish... Only troubled people there... Sick people, elderly, victims of physical violence, and others. I was their only refuge. The only one who could listen to them. And so I became more open to others... And thanks to Benjamin, I became an angel for so many people... Including you, the people here!"

"But, weren't you also a victim of others' violence?"

"I was, but I had a very strong protector. Benjamin, and now I have my other great protector... You!"

Cesare POV:

I can't believe he's saying these things... It's like he's a different person now. It seems like it was a good idea to let him drink. Anyway, he won't remember anything tomorrow, but it doesn't matter.

Wait, what's he doing? Why is he kneeling down?

"Antonio, what are you doing?"

"You are my guardian angel from today, and I bow before you and kiss your feet in gratitude for everything..." Antonio said, teary-eyed.

"Antonio, get up! Come on, go lie down!"

"I won't lie down... I'm sober and I have no reason to sleep, right?"

"Come with me..."

"Where are you taking me? I'm scared of the dark... Mommy, mommy!"

"Antonio, snap out of it!"

"Mommy, is that you? Are we going to bed?"

Oh no! It seems like he's already starting to lose lucidity... Well, at least now I know the truth about him...

"Cesare, promise me something before going to bed, can you?"

"Sure... What is it?"

"Promise me that you'll protect me and you won't leave my side... Even if I have to go back, I don't want to lose you too..."

"Antonio, you're so sincere today, why?"

"Just enjoy it, tomorrow I think I'll forget everything..."

Antonio POV:

I don't know what happened and why my head hurts so much... I think I drank too much last night. It seems like I told Cesare some things about me and then... What next? I don't remember anything... Wait, why am I undressed? Oh no, this can't be...

"Cesare, wake up!" I woke Cesare up.

"Another 10 minutes..."

"No... Now!"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Why am I undressed? Wait, you're dressed... Cesare, what happened?"

"N-Nothing, I think..."

"How? You think? I hope I didn't do..." I asked, scared.

Cesare POV:

Well, something strange happened last night. Right after he made that declaration, he started undressing, and even though I stopped him, eventually he did it. Honestly, I didn't mind what I saw, and I'm glad I can finally enjoy this sight... He looks like an uncultivated field, but maybe in the future, who knows? Surprises are everywhere, right? I guess I shouldn't think about such things, but he did say I'm his angel... He begged me not to leave him and to be with him... I think in the end I'll stop him here and I think His Eminence needs a younger secretary. Hm, maybe I'll talk to the Pope and he'll agree to make Antonio the cardinal's secretary. That's what I plan to do today, so I hope he accepts.