Chapter 27 - Thoughts of a lonely young master

― Is that the list of suppliers of safety equipment?

― Yes, young master. It arrived on Friday morning, and after checking it I brought it for you to see.

Leonardo sighed, looking thoughtfully at the document. The material used in the safety equipment was very detailed, which seemed to guarantee the quality of the product. Well, he couldn't be frivolous in his analysis. The safety of the artists needed to come first.

What had your teacher said about analyses like that? Hm...

― Have you worked with them before?

― Not with this company, but the predecessor sponsor had already commented that he had partnered with them on some projects.

Ah, he still remembered that malicious brute. It seemed that despite his perverted shadow, the son of a bitch was a good entrepreneur. Leonardo hated the fact that it would be because of that bastard that he found himself in that despicable situation as a young master.

Though it was fun to have perks. Not having to worry about other jobs to have somewhere to eat and somewhere to sleep. He could focus on college while maintaining his scholarship. Even the professors praised the improvement in his papers.

He hated to admit it, but coming to Dreamland had saved him.

But in return he would have to act like an heir. And have moments like that, when Vicente would teach him about management and entrepreneurship according to his late father's wishes. Hours and hours sitting at old Evilian's office desk, reading documents and listening to complicated explanations.

That was the deal. He had to follow it.

― All right, you can deal with them. Schedule an inspection on the safety equipment and see what's needed before you order. As long as it stays within our budget.

Vicente's eyes sparkled with emotion when he saw Leonardo speaking like that. Even though he was leaning over the table in a bored pose, his words sounded worthy of an heir.

― Yes, young master.

― Ah, and what about the new sponsor?

― I'm afraid we don't have one yet, young master.

Tapping his fingers on the table, Leonardo was about to complain of hunger when he had an idea. Straightening in his chair, he pointed at the administrator.

― Since we are going to open a food court, see if there is any franchise you want to close.

For the second time Vincent's eyes shone.

― Ah, what a brilliant idea, my young master. I will take the necessary steps.

A thunderstorm had made Leonardo look at the window and was surprised by the darkness. Was it already so late? From the heavy clouds in the night sky he could already see a heavy rain. And yet he could see some bright spots coming from the park that was still working.

― We must close for now, young master. Is there anything you wish to eat for dinner?

― A hamburger would be nice. ― Murmured the boy without paying much attention to the clown.

― As you wish.

While Vicente left the office, Leonardo stretched before tidying the sheets spread on the desk. He had even bought a notebook for his notes from Vicente's classes. But that night there were several subjects, which increased his pile of documents.

He did not want to carry all that to his room.

Vicente had said that that office was his now, so there would be no problem leaving them there, right? Besides, he hardly saw the other boys entering that room. It was safe, wasn't it?

Opening the first drawers, he organised the paperwork so as to remember where each one was. For his notebook he had chosen the last drawer, which, when opened, he found a similar one with a black cover.

― What's that?

Taking the notebook, he opened the first page, reading the first lines with his eyes wide open. His fingers drummed on the handwritten letters in pen, causing his heart to accelerate abruptly.

Leaning back in his chair, he caught himself curious reading more and more lines. Soon it became pages and pages until he came to the conclusion that this was his late father's diary.

He did not want to read it.

He did not want to know his deepest thoughts.

But he couldn't take his eyes off those impeccable letters. He could feel in the curve of the L's and D's the pleasure his father had in writing his daily life. Especially when he talked about two little boys who seemed to enjoy themselves running back and forth between foramen driving him crazy with worry.

Ah, that was right. He once had a family.

It seemed such a ridiculous and distant idea from his reality that it didn't belong to him. As if he wasn't worthy to have belonged to a loving family.

His dark eyes went to the portrait holder on the table. More precisely to the figure of a crying boy. Yes, that family belonged to a boy who needed love and care, a boy who shivered in the darkness and loneliness. Leonardo wasn't that person anymore, so he didn't have the right to have a family.

Even though he longed for one.

The thunderstorm had made him wander his eyes back to the diary. Resting his head on his fist, the boy read his father's memories as if he were an unknown person. And indeed it was, for he had never imagined that his father was as attached to the circus as those impeccable words said.

A person who treated the circus as if it were home.

Knocks at the door startled Leonardo. In a start he closed his notebook, marking with his forefinger the page where he had stopped reading. Hiding the notebook under the table, he watched the door open and a tuft of platinum hair slowly appeared.

― Why, the young master looks frightened. Were you doing something inappropriate?

Leonardo sighed heavily at Ray's malice.

― Why on earth would I do something like that in the office? It would be better in my room.

Ray covered his mouth, muffling his malicious laughter.

― 'What a bashful young master, hohoho.

― What do you want, Ray?

Taking a step into the office, the magician had made a respectable measurement.

― Vincent asked me to let you know that he will be delayed with the young master's dinner, as an unforeseen event has arisen that he needs to deal with immediately.

An unforeseen problem?

Leonardo arched his eyebrow and turned in his chair to look at the window. Despite the torrential rain falling outside, he could still see the light coming from the park. If he thought about it, amusement parks aren't supposed to work on rainy days, problems can arise. He shouldn't be surprised.

― It's OK, I'm not in a hurry. Are the others back yet?

― Thanks to this unforeseen event, we need to help Vicente. I hope the young master won't be lonely without his puppet around.

Leonardo had repressed the urge to swear at the bastard.

― Get out, you crazy magician.

Ray laughed amusedly spinning on his heels.

― I'll tell our puppet to come and keep your lonely fiancé company.

He wanted to throw something in the debauched magician's face, but Leonardo just growled until the magician closed the door and vanished.

Being alone again, the boy turned his chair to face the window trying to see something strange in the park. But it wasn't possible to see something so far away.

If he was alone in that mansion, on a rainy night like that, there was only one way out to avoid suffocating feelings like loneliness. Lowering his eyes to his lap, Leonardo crossed his legs and went back to reading his father's diary.

The more he read, the greater was his certainty of not knowing that person at the same time that he felt nostalgic. The details of what the park and the circus were like back when the family was united still remained intact in those memories. Remembering this made Leonardo smile a little.

Until he had found an interesting passage in the diary.

"Today Lucca asked me if he and his brother could inherit Dreamland. I was so happy that all that foolish man could do was hug his child. My precious boys understand this father's dreams, and I am only happy about that.

But my boy's insatiable curiosity pulled me in that direction. He asked me another question, this time wanting to know why I loved this place so much. Nostalgia was inevitable. Lucca loves the story of the train. I told him again.

I told him once more that when I was his age I had the happiest day of my life with my late parents when I visited the circus and saw a magic trick. No other day of my childhood was as golden as that one. It just doesn't become as golden as the preciousness of having the beautiful Mariane and the boys.

I hope more families can enjoy happy memories like the ones I had."

― Happiness... So after having done everything you wanted, you just walked away? ― Whispered Leonardo, closing his eyes for a moment.

He could imagine the silhouette of his father on his back, walking towards two other distant silhouettes. Leaving him behind with his hand outstretched into the void.

Why was he the only one left?

His chest felt suddenly tight. His eyes burned and the tip of his nose itched. Before any tears were shed, Leonardo took a deep breath and rose from his chair approaching the window glimpsing the view of Dreamland.

― Just because of a happy memory you donated your time, blood and sweat to build this place. And now you just dump it in my lap.

A movement in the garden had caught his attention. It had been a little difficult to see through the wet glass of the window, so he kept his eyes open without blinking. Unlike any other situation, Leonardo's eyes were cold and empty. His presence was almost non-existent as if he feared being recognized at the window.

And it had remained that way until the silhouette had come closer to the mansion. That light hair and tall stature had made him recognize the guy he had ignored all week.

It seemed they would be back soon.

As he watched, Benjin had suddenly stopped walking and then had fallen to the ground. Leaping in place, Leonardo's eyes widened and he leaned towards the window, opening it regardless of the wind and the coarse drops that drizzled into the office.

― Hey, you stupid puppet, get up! HEY! Benjin!

Even if he screamed, the trapeze artist hadn't moved.

― Oh, shit!

Quickly the young master stormed out of the office. As fast as his legs could go, getting in the way of the staircases and the reddish carpets. Even so he leaned on the walls and pushed himself to force himself to keep running until he reached the front door.

When he finally reached the outside, he saw the trapeze artist still lying on the grass. He quickly reached Benjin, carefully turning him over and checking for a bruise on his head.

― Benjin, wake up. Hey, you idiot, open your eyes!

― Hmmm...

― Yeah, come on. Conscience man.

He was trying to wake up. Leonardo had touched the trapeze artist's face and felt the heat emanating from his skin. He was feverish. And they were still under the heavy rain. He assessed the trapeze artist's body and held his arms to make him sit on the grass.

― You are taller than me, I don't know if I can carry you. So wake up you idiot!

Despite the call, Benjin just grumbled, unable to wake up. He had to do something. He was depending on him.

Turning his back to him, he held his arms and made a great effort to get Benjin up on his back. Despite the effort in getting up with the trapeze artist on his back, Leonardo was amazed at how light he was.

I mean, Benjin was taller than him. So he should be heavier. But his body... He was thin. Too thin.

Snapping his tongue, he held his legs tightly and walked into the mansion. What the hell could have happened to that idiot to the point where he was feverish and passed out in the rain? Had his rehearsals been so difficult that they had overwhelmed his body? Or was it those fancy suits he used to wear that made him catch cold to the point of catching a heavy cold? It was winter, damn it!

Climbing the stairs and heading straight to his room, Leonado had taken his time deciding his next move. Benjin was cold and wet from the rain. He should take off his clothes, right? He had never taken care of a sick person like that.

Leaving Benjin on his bed Leonardo started to take off his clothes. They were thin and light, not appropriate for someone to wear in the middle of winter. He would scold him when he woke up. Oh yes, he would. Each time he took off his clothes was a grumble of a future sermon to be given.

Unfortunately Leonardo had no idea where Benjin's room was. He didn't have time to look, so would lend him warm clothes. He dried his body and hair, put on some sweatpants and a warm shirt and tucked him under the heavy covers.

― Shit, what do I do first?

It would be a real battle if he could keep Benjin from making his condition worse.