Protector from Afar ✔️

Chapter 12 - Did you eat?

밥 먹었니?

2 days later

The charcoal pencil wiped and whooshed over the paper, decoratively accompanied by gentle piano tones from the radio. The wound under the bandage itched and I scratched and smeared black streaks over it. I looked back and forth between the bandage and the charcoal pencil and clapped my hands over my head in annoyance. My cell phone rang. I picked up without looking who was calling.

"Yes?"

"Hey, Fini," Raphael said, sounding happy. "Make sure you go to the outside lounge around 5pm tonight."

"Why should I do that?"

"Trust me, you won't regret it."

"I regret picking up."

Silence.

"Are you okay, Fini?"

I sighed. "Not really."

In the background I heard the crunch of gravel and car doors slamming.

"Are you travelling?"

"Mum is going to the countryside, to the even more rural country," he chuckled, "I just let her get off at the train station. And I, well, that remains to be seen. But promise me that you go to the outside lounge at 5 p.m., it's very important, got it?"

He simply hung up. I leaned back in the chair and looked at the clock on the wall, only eleven o'clock. What do I do until then? Exactly, sleep. Maybe I'll oversleep.

I only slept superficially, the music mixed with my thoughts in a strange way. When my back started to hurt, I threw the blanket aside in annoyance, got up and did a few stretching exercises. I used my fingers to pull my toes towards my stomach until I felt a tug and then let go. It was still light outside, the birds were chirping loudly and happily. I didn't even dare look at the clock. Until my phone beeped; a message from Raphael at exactly 4:45 p.m.

| Brush your teeth and go to the outdoor lounge.
| Everything will be fine :-)
| -Raphi

There was really no reason why I shouldn't go, and he wrote that everything would be fine. I brushed my teeth, even flossed, and used mouthwash. I had to go into the outside world, which meant not looking like a bum.

Pre-sorted outfits neatly hung up and packed in garment bags. I opened one of them and when I gave the pants a quick shake something small flew out, with a ping it slammed into the mirror and hit me right on the knee. In front of me was the ring he gave me last year. I paused at the sight.

He...
Jian...

I forced myself to stay calm. Now wasn't the right time. I quickly slipped into my pants and buttoned my blouse, that should be enough. I pocketed my cell phone and left a minute before 5 p.m.

Why should I go there? Does he want to show me something? The area is destroyed, and it could take weeks for everything to be repaired. I crossed the garden and Minnie winked at me from the stone bench, I winked back.

I slowed my pace when I heard voices. They sounded loud and excited. The closer I got to the outside lounge, the louder the babble of voices grew and the more my stomach tingeld. Fear? Willingness to fight? Anticipation? And then I saw Felix. He hopped and disappeared behind the new plant divider in front of my studio.

When I walked past it and saw what was behind it, I stopped. There was no evidence of a recent fight. Colorful fairy lights hung criss-cross and cast their light onto the table below. The pavilion was open on all sides and made the area appear larger. Eight pairs of eyes looked at me silently, waiting. Chan, who was closest to me, made a welcoming gesture with his arms. All I could do was look at him, my brain blank, unable to find words.