When Boxes Rattle

Chapter 4

"Spots."

Terence turned to face his friend. "Spots?"

"She was wearing spots, Terence. Spots."

It was only eight in a monday morning, so Terence figured his friend's brain was still left on his bed. Things like that happen all the time.

"I don't get you, Kev," Terence spat.

The two of them stopped on one of the cafe's benches and let go of their damnable books. The first subject for the prelim's examination was Advanced Accounting. They still have to offer burnt sacrifices.

"The girl. The one who gave me the box," Kevin answered. "I was with Kalia yesterday in Booksale and there she stood, right in front of me, with only the children's book section and coffee comics separating us."

Terence knew exactly who he meant.

Drearily, Kevin continued to deliver. "She was wearing tights, covered with leopard spots."

"And you got aroused because of the spots?"

Kevin punched him lightly. "I am not a pervert like you."

"Dude it's called testosterone."

"Mine's beneath my stomach. I would wonder where you store yours except that you don't actually like to store them."

Terence laughed as he took out his yellow pad. "So, about this spotted girl--"

"She is not spotted!" Kevin retaliated.

"I'm kidding, Kev," Terence laughed a second time. "Did you go talk to her? Or did she even recognize you?"

"I think she did. I think she recognized me but she just hid it behind her books. I saw her look at me a couple of times."

"And you did not go to her?"

"I didn't bring the box with me that day."

That made Terence stop midway from pulling his calculator out of his bag. "You didn't talk to her because you happened to have left that pissworthy box home. Is that what took place? Dude you had less than three percent chance of meeting her again and you didn't take it!"

"Yes, I didn't. I forgot to bring the box."

Terence almost threw the calculator away in frustration. "I can't believe you, Kev. Your sister's afraid of buttons, and you're afraid of spotted girls."

There was a brief silence as a couple passed them. Terence began scribbling some notes on his yellow pad.

"Look, man," Kevin started, gathering his words together. "You've seen me fight back at Raymund and he was bigger than me. You've seen me speak out against one of our professors for mocking my faith. You've witnessed me lie to the discipline officer. And still, Terence, yesterday I felt afraid. I knew it was less than three percent, but I was afraid. You know I don't always feel afraid."

"You were scared she wouldn't recognize you?"

Kevin smirked. "No dude. I was afraid she'd recognize me, but she'd pretend she didn't. Because I didn't bring the box with me."

With that, Terence nodded firmly. It wasn't the "we'll leave it there" kind of nod. Nor was it the "okay if that's what you believe".

When Terence nodded, it meant he understood. Because deep down, he did. How could he not, he was Kevin's only bestfriend.

"So what do you want to do now?" Terence questionned.

"Study?"

"Aside from that. Did you bring the box today?"

Kevin reached inside his backpack and pulled out the box. It was brown, with a leatherline border of black, and a casket handle gleaming with silver. When Kevin placed it on the table, their was a dull thud followed by a rattling sound. Like something hard and heavy was inside.

"We could open it now, you know," Terence suggested. "That leatherline lock can be easily unscrewed."

"I know. And trust me when I tell you I've had urges before. But she said I should never open this until we meet again," Kevin sighed absent-mindedly. "We have to find her. We have to raise the percentage higher."

He could push the subject, but Terence knew his friend will only take it all against him stubbornly. Kevin had been smitten by the girl, that much is sure.

Until today.

What if it was the box that has smitten him?

Terence Fernandez grabbed the box and examined it again. Upon closer look, he found the hinges were of silver, the platform was iron, and there was a musky scent to the thick textile that covered the body. It was a curious box, even for a human being who laughed at everything. He gave it a shake.

He had asked Kevin many times before what he thought the box contained. To this question, Kevin would always reply that upon shaking the box, he would hear rolling articles. Heavy billiard balls, but with flat sides and angles.

When Terence shook the box, he thought he heard a thudding. As if rows of heavy bars were softly colliding with each other. As if those rows of heavy bars were made of gold.

He laughed. Now, he was the one smitten.