Page 10 of Carnal Games

I’m too far down the rabbit hole.

The only way this obsession ends is whenhestops showing up.

***

I reach the park late.

The evening crowd thinning and no signs of the group of cadets in the middle of their training.

Instantly, my heart deflates like a popped balloon.

Despite knowing Mr. Severe isn’t here, I glance toward the parking lot and see his spot empty.

Was yesterday truly the last time?

Unwanted tears sting my eyes as I try to hold them back. A crushing weight pressing down on my chest, stealing my breath. How could I have become so attached in such a short time? Without even exchanging two words?

How can I miss the loss of someone so profoundly, someone I never even had?

Suddenly, my world feels dull and lifeless. Devoid of colors. My dress that made me feel beautiful mere moments ago has now become a sad memento of a goodbye.

Not yet ready to go home and answer questions from my mom—who can read me like a book—I walk in the direction of my favorite spot in the park. The tall neem tree under which I would sit and spend hours watching him.

Except when I’m almost there, my steps falter and I blink back in shock.

My world righting itself on its axis.

My life awash with bright colors once more.

Because underneath the long branch of my favorite—now lucky—tree, stands my scary reaper with his perpetual stone-faced expression.

However, it’s not only the sight of Mr. Severe that has me perplexed and doing a double take, it’s the tall and familiar figure standing opposite him.

Nathan.

The charming and amazing listener-slash-stranger I ran into yesterday.

Oh my god! Is he revealing my secret to Mr. Severe? I quickly brush the absurd thought away. Because firstly, it’s impossible since he has no evidence that the man I told him about is Mr. Severe. Secondly, I found Nathan to be genuine and nice. I’m young but I’ve been told by mydaduthat I’m a good judge of character.

Though Nathan doesn’t look like the calm and collected version from last time. In fact, he looks downright livid. He and Mr. Severe look to be in a heated argument, judging solely by the anger darkening Nathan’s face. He is an inch or two shorter than Mr. Severe but looking no less an equal and just as powerful.

I can’t hear their conversation from this distance, which is making the nosy side of me jittery to catch what they’re arguing about or how they know each other.

But doing so would get me caught.

Instead, I skirt to the side from their line of sight behind a group of bushes. The sun has almost descended so the sky is shrouding me in semi-darkness.

I study the body language of the duo.

There’s a deep familiarity between the two in spite of the tangible tension. As though they’ve met before but their relationship ended on bad terms.

Could they be related?

I wish it wasn’t dark and I wasn’t standing so far away so I could properly see their faces side by side and compare. If they’re brothers, they must look a little alike. They are both insanely handsome but at the same time are as different as day and night.

One exudes darkness.

The other—lightness and warmth.