Sinners - The Puppet (currently being re-written)

Chapter 9 - Return...

April 8, X027

Ivan Fernandez awoke with a jolt at the touch of a warm hand on his shoulder. He took off his sleeping mask, eyes momentarily blinded at the sudden light, and blinked. After a moment, he regained his senses and turned to see who just disturbed his peaceful sleep. He was met with the face of his companion--a bodyguard, to be specific--whispering to his ear that they had just arrived at the airport.

Right, he was on a plane.

Ivan nodded curtly and stifled a yawn, watching as the bodyguard rose and took their hand carried items from the compartment. The world spun a little, his head pounding ever so slightly, and the bile on his stomach still threatened to slip out of his throat.

This was why he hated planes--or any mode of transportation for that matter. His motion sickness just had to torture him during the first half hour of the flight. Of course he wasn't stupid enough to suffer for nine whole hours so he closed his eyes and thankfully fell asleep within seconds of total darkness.

Still rubbing his temples, Ivan was handed his shoulder bag and reached for his phone in its pocket. 11:39 A.M., it said, making the flight at least thirty minutes behind schedule.

...

Next time he should probably choose a better airline.

A long line of passengers had filled the aisle and he waited for them to leave, a hand propping his chin to the armrest. He was staring off into space when he happened to glance upon a pair of girls sitting across his seat on the opposite side of the plane. And he noticed how they hastily hid a phone out of his view when he saw them.

Tsk. Ivan rolled his eyes, rising to his feet and urging his companion to follow at once. There was just no helping them, was there? He had caught those same girls squealing and muttering idiotic things about him when they thought he was still sleeping during the flight. He was smart (and good-looking of course) so he knew why they were acting this way. No woman just seemed to be able to resist his looks but this was starting to get on his nerves. Maybe he could cover his face the next time he boarded a plane and act like a sickly passenger who didn't attract as much attention.

...Although when that "next time" would be was the question.

Ivan instantly exited the airport, luggage in tow, and the bodyguard led him to a familiar blue car parked by the curb. Its driver smiled at him, opening the door and gesturing for him to enter. (Great, a car right after a plane ride). Ivan nodded in greeting as he finally boarded the car, hoping deep inside his mind that he wouldn't throw up anytime soon.

The ride brought him through the streets of Lumia and Ivan opted to stare at the scenery that passed him by. During the two long years since he'd left, the city had undergone a considerable change and he felt almost alienated. Here and there stood buildings he'd never seen. The roads were wider, the trees even less. The experience was akin to riding a time machine and being transported into a future he wasn't a part of.

In the first place, why did he come back? He wasn't too attached to his homeland so it didn't matter whether he lived overseas for years and never return again.

Huh. If his past self thought that was enough of an excuse then he was in for suffering.

This whole ordeal had begun exactly a month from now, March 8, X027 (he had marked that dreadful day on his calendar), when he went and visited his current guardian and teacher for their daily teaching lessons. As gifted as he was since childhood, Ivan had gone to school only once--when he was in first grade--and was often reprimanded for his actions, causing his dearest uncle to decide that he was not fit in such environment and resorted to home-schooling.