Chapter 14

Outside the university, street lights had already been lit. The noisy place earlier had fallen into dead silence. Guards are still patrolling with their flashlights on their hands while the crescent moon is peeking above their heads.

Kane, Aoi and Chess arrived at 6:30. It was already past the university's curfew.

They hid along the shadows as they stealthily approached the narrow alleyway connected to the university forest. The stand was still there, but the old man and his goods are no longer around.

"Let's hurry." Aoi said in a low voice as he stepped his foot on a faster pace.

Chess and Kane had silently followed behind. They had nothing to say but their eyes never once left their anxious-looking doll.

Through the old, rusty gate, they successfully entered the university. And because of the silence, the creak it made was loud enough to be heard, causing the patrolling guards to freeze on their spots.

Rumors say that every school had wandering ghosts, what if the top university is no exception? That thought gave them goosebumps it was impossible for them to come and check where the noise came from.

"We didn't hear anything… we didn't hear anything, okay?" one of the guards said to his partner.

The other guard had only nodded his head while constantly shifting his eyes from left to right. The loud creak he heard made him sweat even though the night air was cold. He's not good at ghosts… he wanted to run and leave his comrade behind. But it's not a manly act so he stayed and continued patrolling with his jelly knees.

The three people, on the other hand, had no idea that they caused fear to the guards outside. Even if they knew, they wouldn't have still cared.

They walked through the dark and silent forest, dry leaves rustling beneath their shoes, the trees slightly dancing at the rhythm of the wind.

"Do you think they're still there?" Kane had broken the silence.

He had his hands inside his pants pocket while his hair was swaying along with the tree branches. Aoi tilted his head but he didn't turn around to glance at Kane. He just nodded his head while staring straight ahead.

"Yes. Even though the others left, I know that Reis is still there." His voice sounded so sure.

Chess, who was listening silently, had noticed Aoi's strong trust towards Reis. Even on the first day they met, he already noticed that something is happening between them. They seemed so close, their bond looked strong, but it didn't feel like they were friends at all.

The way they interact and the way they look at each other, even though there are physical contacts, it was just like they're looking at a stranger. So how come that they feel so connected? How did they manage to do it?

Chess was muddled.

Not long after, they finally reached their room. The light was still on, which means that there are still people inside. Aoi hurriedly dragged Chess and directly marched into the room.

The people inside had stopped and turned to give them a glance. They were complete. Everyone, but Prof who is most of the times missing in action, are present. Jill stood up in glee and welcomed them back. He had approached Aoi with his wide smile.

"How is it? Easy?" he asked in a happy tone, but Aoi didn't pay him any attention and just went straight to Reis as he lifted Chess's wrist to show him the bruise. Jill was left standing alone, facing nothing but air.

Kane had approached him and simply patted his shoulder with a grin. Jill glared at him.

"Can you do it?" Aoi asked, staring intently at Reis with his round eyes.

Reis stared back at him, not even bothering to glance at Chess's wrist. Chess felt that he was invisible. It was the same with Kane earlier, they all seemed more concerned for Aoi than him.

"I can… but I won't do it." Reis answered lazily, flapping his long lashes as he blinks.

Everyone had noticed how Aoi balled his fist. Even Jill, who was busy on arguing with Kane, had suddenly stop. They all stilled as they watched the scene before their eyes.

"Why not?" Aoi spoke in his gritted teeth.

He looked impatient while Reis was just sitting so lazily. After a second of silence, Reis finally stood as he grabbed Chess's wrist away from Aoi's grasp. Then, he glanced at Cale who was sitting at the corner.

"Can you do it for me?" his voice was lazy but it sounded serious.

Cale said nothing but he gestured for Chess to come over. Chess immediately went over, glancing back at Reis at Aoi who was still standing in front of each other.

With their position, it looked like they would end up in a fight in no time. But the fight that he expected never happened. Chess sat beside Cale while his eyes still followed the two figures as they disappeared from his sight.

They left the room. He understood nothing.

What just happened? Is it okay to leave those two alone? He wanted to ask, but Cale suddenly started to talk.

"It'd be okay if it's Reis. You don't have to look so worried." He stated, attending to Chess's bruise.

"What is actually happening?" he finally asked.

He is indeed worried, but not exactly. He is worried but he's more on curious.

Why is Aoi acting that way? And why is Reis also acting that way? They looked like they were about to fight, but they actually just left. He's curious about their relationship. Just what is happening between those two?

He wants to know the answer. He wants to find out how they manage to build that strong connection between them.

"It's already the third time that this happened, so it's not really that new anymore. I'm just wondering why he's reacted to your bruise." Cale answered lowly. He had already cleaned the bruise and is now applying ointment.

Chess knotted his forehead.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his eyes following the movement of Cale's hand. He moved so flawlessly and in less than a minute, he's already done with the right hand.

"When Aoi first acted that way, it was because the stray cat that he had been looking after was killed. The cat was beaten to the point that it died. After burying the cat, he ended up beating the people who did it. Well, even if that was me, I'd probably do the same thing."

Chess had the same thoughts. He would probably end up making them pay too.

"The second time was when we did an order. At that time, Reis had been hit with a bat which left him a black eye. He also had bruises on his cheeks and arms. And when Aoi saw it, he acted the same way as he did right now. The person who did that to Reis was no longer existing, so he ended up hurting himself."

Ended up hurting himself? Chess had a vague conclusion of what's happening with Aoi, but he didn't say anything. He waited for Cale to continue and tell him himself.

"Aoi have low tolerance for violent people, even though he is sometimes violent as well. He hates it when someone from his close circle had been bruised. Its okay if it's wounds or cuts or anything that bleeds, but when it comes to bruises, he just can't take it. Thus, to sate the anger, he needs to take it out on other people. He chooses to give the favor back to the offender, but if the offender is no longer to be found, he ends up hurting himself."

Chess listened silently to Cale. His left wrist is now being bandaged, but he didn't feel pain at all. He was too immersed on listening that he can't think of anything else.

"That's why I'm curious as to why he reacted that way to you. It's not like you're close, right?" Cale commented. Chess also agreed.

They really are not close, so why? But aside from that, he needs to know something first.

"Aoi… why did he become like that?"

Cale had stilled for a second after hearing that question. Then he lifted his lids and glanced at Chess who was staring at him. He then glanced at the hand that he's aiding before heaving a sigh. He finished the bandage before finally releasing Chess's hand.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked in a low voice. He tilted his head and stared outside the window before remembering the time that they first saw Aoi in that condition. Then he turned and glanced back at Chess.

Cale lifted his lips in a bitter smile before finally deciding to speak.

"Aoi had been raised in a rich family. He is an only son. He may look pretty and dollish, but he's actually a victim of mistreatment and abuse."

The words he heard made Chess still.

He looked at Cale as if he was asking if he's kidding or not. But Cale didn't look like someone who'd joke about that thing, so it probably was the truth.

He knew that these people aren't normal. He knew they are something more than what they look like. But knowing that Aoi is someone who's abused wasn't really good news.

"Hey now, why are you telling him all that?" Jill had interrupted their conversion.

Jill had that same curve on his lips, but his eyes were different. He looked like someone new, like someone completely different. He looked vicious as he looked down on the sitting Chess.

"It's better that he knows." Cale answered nonchalantly, not giving Jill a single glance. He had his eyes fixed on Chess who definitely felt the tension rise. "You do have an idea about this class, right?"

That question was directed at him. He slowly nodded his head, locks of his hair had fell, hiding his eyes completely. He lowered his head and stared at his bandaged wrist.

"You're a class of forsaken people, right?" he muttered, just enough to be heard.

Jill narrowed his eyes while Cale simply stared. He lazily lifted the corner of his lips before resting his cheek on his palm.

"That's right… we are the Pawns. Disposable pieces used by the Kings to maintain their reign."