Chapter 09 - Back to home

As Vicente said, the last door of the corridor on the left already had his things boxed up.

The room was large, because besides holding the bed and the wardrobe, there was a study table facing the window. Lucky for him, it was a full suite for him to be comfortable in. Judging by the absence of dust and the tidy sheets, his arrival was much expected.

Before exploring the place, Leonardo had unpacked his things and put them away in the wardrobe. It was definitely better to have a place like that. In his kitnet his clothes were folded neatly in a cheap dresser, whose feet were already falling apart thanks to the mold caused by a never tidy drip.

He even had a bigger bed now, without having to squeeze into a thin single mattress. He had plenty of room to sprawl out.

He was reluctant to stay near the park and the circus, and imagined it would trigger annoying memories. However he should admit his urge to let out a joyful shout at having some comfort.

As he tidied his things in his drawer, his mobile phone rang in his pocket. Picking it up, recognizing Rafael's name, he answered immediately.

― Hey, man.

― Bro, I already sent you our project by email. What do you think about hearing the scores over the phone?

― That's cool... ― Looking around, Leonardo noticed the notebook on the table. ― Call me when it's time.

― See you later.

Leonardo held the notebook and looked at it from all sides. It wasn't the best and most expensive, but it was good. It seemed to be one of those that cost two thousand dollars, just to be used for internet. If he wanted to download some game its memory capacity and video drive couldn't handle it.

― Can I use it? If it's here...

Leonardo, anxious to use the notebook, abandoned his task of packing his things to turn on the electronic. He logged in his e-mail account, opened his project and checked the time. It was still early, and he would probably have to wait for those guys to close the park.

So it was okay for him to get a little lost in there, right?

He could explore the mansion later.

He had a scholarship to keep.

Snapping his fingers, Leonardo soon pulled out his backpack, taking out his notebooks. He had used the whole afternoon to study, doing the work from where they had left off. His dedication and concentration took him far away, without hearing the screams coming from the toys.

From time to time he sent messages to his friends pointing out more mistakes in calculations and material. When he turned on the light in his room, he had already fixed the hair that fell into his eyes and put on a pair of glasses to continue his studies.

At 7:30 at night his mobile phone rang and the orientation started over the phone. Leonardo took the opportunity to clear doubts and correct the project, showing his responsibility to deliver nothing less than perfect.

In the tip of the pencil he made the calculations together with the teacher, without hearing someone knocking in the door and Vicente's figure appearing in his search. Noticing that the boy was concentrating, a smile appeared on the lips of the one whose presence was absent immediately afterwards.

The orientation had lasted half an hour, yet Leonardo had continued with his friends on the phone to get the job done. The door had been opened again, Vicente appearing with a tray of coffee and some chocolate chip biscuits.

― Young master, please eat until dinner is ready.

― Huh? Ah, thanks.

Vincent let out a low laugh at Leonardo's lack of attention. He didn't even look at him, he just nodded and kept his eyes on the paper where he was scribbling the project. But he held the handle of the cup, took a sip of his coffee, and bit the biscuits.

― Leo, leave the rest for tomorrow. Rafinha is already drooling over his notebook.

Checking his watch to see if it was a little after nine o'clock, Leonardo let go of the pencil.

― It's ok. Go rest and tomorrow we'll continue.

Ending the call after two hours of waiting, Leonardo could finally lean in the chair and close his burning eyes.

― Young master?

Leonardo jumped when he saw Vicente standing beside him, with a polite smile suppressing his laughter.

― When did you arrive?

― Were the biscuits good?

Lowering his eyes to the tray, Leonardo blinked in astonishment. When had he left them there? And when had he eaten them? He could taste chocolate in his mouth.

― Uh... It was, I think.

Taking off his glasses and the hair clip that held his hair, Leonardo felt his eyes burning. A tired sigh escaped his lips when he stretched.

― Young master, I must introduce you to those who know about you. Soon they will arrive, and I informed them that the meeting would take place in your office.

― My office... I have one?

― Yes, young master.

Leonardo raised his finger to contest, but Vincent denied it with his head in a clear sign of wasting his time. Would they enter the discussion again? Then it really would be a waste of time. Snorting Leonardo just grabbed a sweatshirt to put on and then followed Vicente out of the room.

The night view of the mansion was beautiful. The huge windows from the ground floor to the second floor showed the darkness. Vicente had gone to the stairway and kept going up, going to the right this time. It was there that a wood double door opened showing a large office.

The ceiling was painted like a starry sky, and the chandelier resembled Saturn with its ring. The wood-panelled furniture was impeccably well cared for.

― Master Evilian used to work here. ― Vicente commented, having Leonardo turn around in surprise. ― I didn't take his belongings.

Looking at the table, Leonardo visualized his father sitting there working. Somehow it was nostalgic. Touching the icy table, he had the funny feeling in himself. Shouldn't it be strange to walk into an office that belonged to someone who had already passed away?

Walking around the table, he noticed some picture frames with pictures of his family. Leonardo had picked one up, recognizing himself as a child in his mother's lap. His brown eyes were fearful, and his tiny hands clutched at his mother's blouse. She, on the other hand, looked beautiful. A huge smile on her face as she warmly held the child.

Next to her a tall man with messy brown hair held another child, who pointed at the camera.

The photo was taken in front of the circus tent.

The sound of the park was heard. Leonardo moved closer to the window, drew the curtains aside and could see part of the illuminated circus tent. They were the same colours as the ones in the picture. Suddenly he remembered his childhood.

The happy part of it.

When he had a close and warm family, who loved to play. That family that would never come back, because only he was left.

A cake was rising in his throat. Leonardo forced it down, refusing to cry. Leaving the picture frame on the table again, the boy approached the window, sitting on the sofa below it where he watched silently the tent turning off its bright lights.

He had promised himself he would never set foot in that place. Though it was his beginning and the roots of his most precious memories, it was also the home of disgrace. Of his greatest nightmare.

But there he was. Not only had he stepped foot in the circus, he had helped an artist and would also live there temporarily. Contrary to every certainty he had built up over those years.

Wouldn't his return be linked to his need to have his family back? He hated to be alone. It was unbearable.

Hadn't he felt relief when he saw Vincent again after his father's death?

Pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head and leaning it against the window, Leonardo closed his eyes hiding in the shadows. For an instant he wished could be shrouded in silence, for not understanding himself properly.

What was he doing there?

Why did he come back?

Could it be?

Could it be....

Could it be... That he could cling to Vincent, pretending he was part of his family?

While the university student was immersed in his emotions, knocks were made on the door. Vicente silently went to it, opening it to find the three figures who seemed eager to enter.

Vincent raised his forefinger over his lips in a sign of silence.

― I miscalculated something. ― he whispered as he leaned against the door after passing through it. ― I imagined he was prepared, but there are still wounds to be healed. Anyway, come in.

Opening the door again, Vincent entered making noise. Leonardo heard him, but he did not raise his head or open his eyes. He continued sitting on the sofa, listening only to Vincent's careful voice.

― Here are those who will keep your secret. Guys, this is the heir of Dreamland World and son of Master Evilian.

Leonardo got up from the upholstered chair and lowered his hood, facing three people besides Vicente. One boy who looked younger than him, with blond hair and colourful clothes that Leonardo recognised as cosplay. The second one was tall, about his age, had platinum hair and red eyes that overflowed with malice. And the third, the trapeze artist he had saved the other day.

On recognizing him, Leonardo arched an eyebrow. So he had saved none other, or none less, than the main attraction of the whole circus? Wow, the level of the trouble he had got himself into that day was becoming high.

― This is the young master...

― Leo!

To the university student's surprise, the trapeze artist had run up to him and hugged him tightly, burying his head in his chest. With his arms spread apart, not knowing what the hell was going on, he noticed that the boy was holding something heavy. Looking closer, wasn't that his coat?

Why would he have it?

Raising his eyes to Vicente in a cry for help, Leonardo received only a nonchalant shrug. Good, he wouldn't get any help from anyone else apparently.

― Finally you have come home, Leo.