Panic overtook me as the lesson ended. I saw the need to stop Len from stretching further from the mistake he’d made. Edmond was indisputably a wild boy and he would by all means maintain his greatest dignity. He was someone who wouldn’t give up easily. If Len lost, he would definitely be severely injured. Even if by chance he won, Edmond would come back for vengeance.
I remembered last time Edmond fought a group of gangsters who attempted to flirt with me in the street. It was his best fight ever. One against five. And it was also the time I was charmed by him. He was courting me at that moment. What a nice move! Somehow, I began to suspect if those guys were under his order and protecting me was just an act to lure me. Girls are readily persuaded, aren’t they? At least I was.
I knew my words would not reach Edmond so I targeted Len. I had the responsibility to keep him away from danger. Plus, what if his family found out he fought with someone and got hurt? That wouldn’t be a happy ending. And his butler might be accused because of it too!
To save Len and every surrounding individual this fight might trouble, I had to prevent Len from meeting Edmond.
“Len, don’t go.” I seized his sleeves and pleaded like a child asking for ice-cream.
“Huh?”
“Please, don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Either he didn’t get it or he was acting stupid.
“I said don’t go fight with Edmond.”
“A vow is a vow. I pledged and I must do.”
It was useless. Len was as stubborn as Edmond. Maybe all boys were like that. I had no choice but to follow him. At least if anything happened, I might be able to provide some first aid. I had already stolen some bandages from the school medical room. I just hoped the nurse wouldn’t find out.
Edmond and his gang were already waiting in the playground when we got there. They all turned to us with much malice and nastiness.
“Edmond, be fair, one to one.” I said.
“It’s always a fair game.” Edmond unbuttoned the first button of his shirt and took off the tie. Len was also putting off his cardigan.
“Mind if you help me hold this for a moment?” He handed me his bag. I wanted to reject and said. “No, unless you don’t fight.” But that would be too rude and meaningless. He wouldn’t give in.
“Watch her.” Edmond ordered his boys. “I don’t want her disturbing the fight.”
What a bastard! The boys kept me away from the scene and we could only stay in the corner of the playground. The two boys declared their beginning of attacks.
Edmond got to his feet fast but Len was even quicker. Len punched Edmond on the face and he retaliated by a kick. Len leapt and dodged. It was a graceful move. Raged, Edmond made another attempt to reach Len but he couldn’t even get a touch of him before Len hit him again. Edmond stumbled over and fell down.
Quickly getting up again, Edmond rushed towards Len and pushed him hard. Len stepped back but still stood firmly. I couldn’t see exactly how he did it. In a blink of an eye, Edmond was tossed across the ground. The boys around me began to feel astounded.
Never turning his face down, Edmond tried again and this time, he grabbed Len’s wrist. Without much effort, Len clenched his neck and hurled him. It was apparent Edmond was fighting with all his might but Len was acting as though he was really in a game. Edmond was standing no chance against Len.
Len was too powerful. Too forceful.
Edmond moaned in agony after being chucked onto the ground.
“Giving up, Edmond?” Len asked.
Edmond, indeed, refused. He stood up and lifted his fist once more. And…that was the end of it.
The boys gathered around to help Edmond up. I still found the whole incident absurd. Edmond was covered with bruises and Len was perfectly fine. Without shedding a drop of blood. Without even a scratch.
“Are you alright?” I still inquired.
“Yes.”
Len took his bag from me.
“Wait!” Edmond bellowed. We turned to see this poorly defeated boy.
“Don’t you think this is it. I was just not in the right condition today.”
“Is that so?” Len tittered and that set Edmond on fire.
“I’ll make you kneel before me one day!”
“I don’t want to disappoint you but that will be pretty unachievable.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“You were the one who made me talk.”
Edmond was losing all his pride by now. It was funny to see how irritated and yet helpless his expression was.
I was thinking he deserved it.
“How did you do that?” I asked, still shaking my head in amusement.
“What?”
“How could you be…so hasty and…?”
“Did I scare you?” Len looked at me anxiously.
“No,” I said. “It just happened to surprise me.”
“Oh...”
“And don’t fight again. Even though you aren’t practically hurt, fighting is bad.”
“Thank you for caring, Alice.”
I blushed when I heard his gentle voice. I was about to hand him a handkerchief for wiping the sweat when I noticed he was not a bit wet from the fight.
“Isn’t George here to pick you up today?”
“He’s busy.”
Could a butler be busy? Well, yes, but wasn’t picking up Len one of George’s tasks?
We were walking down the street when Len suddenly took my hand.
I didn’t duck but felt a bit lost. I had only met Len for two days, three at most (Including the day I bumped into him) and he was holding my hands! He was doing too much for me as well. Why would a stranger stand up for me and comfort a broken-hearted girl like me? It was totally out of order.
“Alice, if I were not what I seem, would you still be my friend?”
I was unprepared for his sudden inquiry. What did he mean by that?
“I mean…what if…I am rude and evil?”
Evil? Could Len be evil? The way I saw things was Len was the most sociable person I had ever met.
“Why?”
“You like to ask why, don’t you?”
I knew I asked “Why” frequently but that was just because I wanted to gain knowledge to something. Len was concealing too much from me!
“You can’t be evil. That’s all.”
“Oh, and if I can?” Len interrogated.
“That depends. There are also good evil and bad evil.”
Len burst out laughing. “There are?”
“For me, there are!” I snapped angrily.
“Thank you, Alice.” Len gripped my hand even tighter. My heart skipped a beat.
Some music could be heard and not far from us was an ice-cream stall. A fat lady was selling ice-cream to young children.
“Fancy one?” Len offered. “I still haven’t paid you back my lunch.”
“You didn’t even eat it.”
It was the fact. Len asked me to buy him a lunch but when the match ended, he told me…
“Oops, I forgot I can’t eat.”
“Why?” I scowled. “Everyone eats lunch and you have got to be dying hungry.”
“I am still fasting.”
“Fasting?”
“Yes, my…my…” Len stammered. “My religion!”
So, in the end, he didn’t take a bite. I was the one who consumed both lunches and I swore I gained one extra kilogram for that.
I was taken back from my memory as Len was ordering one chocolate ice-cream.
“Hey, I haven’t said I want it!”
“Just take it.” He forced the cone into my hands.
“You take a puff also.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not? It’s just one bite.”
Len sighed at my request and agreed to taste it. I could never forgive myself for my selfish command because right after that, Len threw up.
“Len!” I cried in
distress. He turned away from me so that I couldn’t see him vomiting.
I could see he was in pain and I was almost to tears.
“Len!” I muttered and handed him mountains of tissues. He waved okay at me, still keeping his face out of my sight.
“I’m sorry.” I repeated over and over again. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright.” Len was grasping for air when he finally looked up again.
His face was clean and a smile emerged at the corner of his mouth.
“I can’t stand cold things.” Len explained.
I was still castigating myself for bringing him needless pain.
“You should have told me earlier.”
“You really wanted to share it with me so I guessed I might try one sip.” He chuckled. “But it doesn’t work, eh?”
“You scared me to hell.”
“You don’t know what real hell is.” Len said acutely.
I stared at him and he grinned again. “Come on, your ice-cream is melting. Eat.”
I obeyed and started licking my chocolate ice-cream.
Later, Len walked me home .
“I’m really sorry, Len.” I apologized once more.
“I told you I am alright.”
I leaned forwards and whispered. “Can’t you tell me where you live? Not even some hint?”
Len pondered for a moment and replied. “If you want me, call my name. I would be there.”
I grimaced.
“Curiosity kills, you know.”
“Whatever!” I pretended to be angry and headed to the door.
“Bye, Alice.” Len said softly.
When I turned again, he was nowhere to be found.
“Who’s that boy?” Winnie asked once I entered home.
“You’ve seen him?”
“Yes, that handsome kid.”
“He’s my friend, a new transferred student to school.”
“I hope he’s not as impish as…”
“He’s nothing like him.” I mumbled.
“I don’t mean to be nosy but…”
“Really, Winnie, you needn’t worry.” I assured. “I will never meet anyone like Edmond again.”
Winnie nodded and returned to her kitchen.
Winnie might be a thoughtful mother but sometimes she was too over about me. I needed some privilege and secrets to myself too.
That night, I couldn’t stop dreaming of Len. He was mysterious. I had so much to learn about him, if only he would allow me.