The Girl Who Couldn't Kill

Chapter 10-Bento Guy

Autumn and Noel arrived at the classic bento shop near their school. It was the most popular dinner amongst students whether that was lunch or dinner. The smell of freshly fried chicken and rice waft its way over to them and the smell of brewed tea settled in the air.

Autumn's stomach gurgled. "I could use a bento just about now."

"No time for that. We need to find the bento guy. From the info Ajax gave me, the guy is short, has a perm, and has a stud on his left ear." Usually, schools in Taiwan forbid flashy jewelry and accessories, but American schools were an exception.

"There he is." The bento guy was standing behind the counter on the phone, taking an order, his red cap hiding his face.

Autumn approached him with ease. "Excuse me, I was wondering if you have a second to talk."

He looked fearful, peeking around the corner but he agreed. "Let's go to the back." He nodded at his co-worker to take his place.

They sat down at a rounded table, a lounge for employees to rest and eat. The room was quite bland contrasting with its storefront of mascots and decorations. "We heard from Marley that you delivered an anonymous note to the library on the night of Connor's death." His voice lingered in the empty room.

"Shhhh. Don't be so loud." Bento guy's eyes were darting to the door back to the shop. He was prompted to run away, but Noel wasn't going to let that happen, even if it meant flinging his 110-pound body on a stranger.

"C-Connor told me to deliver it, okay? I thought it was just a stupid prank! He promised to tip me more next time he ordered a bento so I agreed." His short arms waving in the air.

"Did you ever see what was written inside?" Autumn asked.

"No, he told me not to. But he looked especially drained that day. He didn't even insult me like usual, he sort of just threatened me to deliver the note at a specific time." Bento guy recalled.

"Was he upset about something??"

"Yeah. It seemed like he was mad at a teacher and someone else. He was cursing names but I wasn't really paying attention. All I wanted was the money."

Autumn's eyes widen. Was Connor suicidal? No. Connor wasn't like that. He would never just end his own life like that, not over something stupid.

Noel sighed. "Maybe it was a suicide letter."

"No way." Autumn replied without a word of hesitation.

"And how would you know?" The Bento guy inquired.

Autumn was exhausted from hiding her secret. She wasn't the bad guy and she knew it. She was the girl willing to wait for the boy to change and become a better person for herself at the same time. She always saw the best in others and chose to love and feel with all her heart. Perhaps this was the reason she was loved by many, and not just because she was talented or attractive.

"I was in love with Connor." It felt like the best thing to say. Although it never felt right to admit it, the weights lifted off her shoulders were like a dove taking off through the clouds.

There was a pause of silence that lasted for what seem like a decade. Both boys had frozen shock on their faces. When they hadn't spoken anything for 2 minutes, Autumn took it as a cue to explain.

"I met Connor when I was in grade 2 and had art classes together and when we got into Brighton, we sort of reconnected. I hated his guts at first but I slowly learned all the pressures and traumas he had to deal with all by himself. He was the loneliest person I knew, yet he was surrounded by dozens of people. He was suffering, and his parents neglected and invalidated him repeatedly," she paused to exhale. "All I'm saying is that although I can never condone the actions he had acted upon, I had a soft spot for him. I don't believe he deserved justice for the bullying he had done. So closure is the best resolve I'm looking for." Her emotions were taking over her so she stood up and started pacing, her eyes stinging like needles.

"I'm so sorry Autumn," Noel lifted himself off the chair to place a hand on Autumn. She looked at him graciously. "I had no idea what you were going through. Even with my awful history with Connor, I see how you related to him." Noel felt bad and sympathized with Autumn because he knew she had let herself fall for someone who had the potential to be good for her and not the person he truly was.

Autumn burst into tears. The boy she loved was brutally murdered. She never got to say goodbye, the last they had spoken was their last fight. She had hoped to work it out and pave a future for the both of them, transporting them into a world where they could start over as improved versions of themselves. Autumn missed his smile, the one he rarely wears. She knew she had to let him go eventually, but it pained her physically to even push the thought of him away. But then again...Connor never loved her on the way she did for him.