章 20: Lenford: A Bittersweet Memory (Part II)

That day, was the first day I lied. I called my mother and told her I was sleeping over at a friend's house.

In reality, I was tailing Lenford home. If I think about it. I wasn't exactly well hidden. Few people stopped to ask what I was doing but I just grinned and put a finger to my mouth while doing the classic "shhh" action.

They giggled and thought I was playing along with my friend and sent me on my merry way. The road that was well lit turned into an eerie and winding road.

I felt scared but glanced ahead at Len who didn't even bat an eyelid. I steeled myself and hurried into a nearby bush.

I have no idea what I was thinking at the time to follow after him, but I did so anyway. The house he finally stopped at was shabby and old. A man dressed in a singlet and shorts stood by the door as he drew a cigarette.

Len started to shiver. I didn't understand why at the time, but it was probably a psychological thing. The weather was still warm at night. I rubbed the mosquito repellent on my skin as I scurried closer into a nearby bush.

The man grabbed Len by his hand before dragging him into the house. I stayed behind the bush for a seemingly long time, when it was in fact a few minutes. I sighed as I stood and was about to leave when the door slammed open and the man dragged a crying Len by his hair.

I felt infuriated and chased after him, hitting him. He easily flicked me aside but I steeled myself and bit him.

He screamed in agony before grabbing a wooden plank and glaring at me. I felt scared. Really scared. Len yelled something inaudible before he held onto the man.

The man hit him in the face with his bare hands before turning his gaze back at me. I wanted to run, but I couldn't leave Len behind.

I grabbed a fistful of dirt and threw it at the man before grabbing Len's hand and running away. Len stumbled in his footsteps before running after me.

We ran a great distance until we were near the park. I tugged him and we hid inside the play house, beneath the slide.

We burst into laughter over how we managed to escape from the big bad man before Len started tearing up. I quickly pulled him into an embrace before rubbing his back.

He must have been even more terrified than me. I bit my lips as I too started to tear up. After crying for a long time, I fished a white cloth from my pocket and dabbed Len's tears.

In the faint lighting from the moonlight, Len's swollen cheek and watery eyes looked beautiful. I touched his face and watched him flinch. He held the hand that touched his face but said nothing.

I leaned in and kissed him. The moment was short lived as Len was grabbed by his shirt and tossed onto the ground. My eyes widened as I stretched my arm to reach him.

Len glanced up at me and shook his head as the man started to beat him up. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I wanted to help him but couldn't. My voice caught in my throat and I felt the bile forcing its way out. I forced myself to swallow as I tried slowing my breaths.

Len's crying voice as he pleaded for the man to stop died down. I peered out from my hiding spot to find the man lifting Len like a sack of rice. I didn't know what to do and followed the man up till his house before hiding in the bushes again.

The man opened a rickety looking shade which I assumed was the storehouse and tossed Len inside. He then locked it and went into the house, slamming the door behind him.

I waited for a long while, up till the house grew quiet before coming out from my hiding spot. I glanced at the wooden plank and dragged them into the bush so that it'd remain out of sight.

I then rasped on the door of the shade as I asked Len whether he was alright. There was no response and I felt myself growing more anxious.

I pulled at the door but it would not budge. I tried hitting it with a stick as well but it still wouldn't pry open.

I then climbed to the small opening of the window and peered inside. Len was curled into a ball. I called out to him but he wouldn't response.

Anxiety hit me like a boat as I found myself even more worried. I tugged and pulled at the rusty grills as I tried to make an opening. Maybe it was due to my frantic movements or constant calling, Len began to stir.

"D-Doyle? ... Eh... where is..."

"Len!"

"D-Doyle! Doyle..." Len whimpered as he tried to move.

Blood spilled from his lips as he moved to stand. My eyes widened in shock as I fumbled about unsure of what to do.

"L-Len! Don't move! I-I'll try to get to you somehow! Uh... um... am... ambulance! Do you want me to call the ambulance?!" I asked as I pointed at my phone.

Len glanced up at me and shook his head. I knitted my brows as I glanced worriedly at him. Why should I not call them? Why didn't I think to call them?

"N-no! ughk... D... Don't call them... F-father... does things he didn't mean to..."

"H-huh? What are you talking about? Len... you're heavily injured..."

"M-mother left with big brother and little brother... I'm the only one left... Father is... very sad..."

"B-but..."

"P-please... I'm... fine..."

"But Len! I'm not! Seeing you injured feels the same as me being injured!"

"Eh?"

I gritted my teeth and was about to dial the emergency number when the house lights turned on. My eyes widened as I began to tremble.

"Who dares make a ruckus in this fucking night?!" a gruff voice asked as the door creaked open.

The man exited the house and I found myself wetting my pants from sheer fear. Nevertheless, I held my phone up in a trembling hand as I pointed at it.

"I-I-I.... I will call.... call the cops!" I stuttered as I tried to keep my voice steady.

"Ah?! You're that brat from earlier! Where's that fucking plank?!"

"I... I'm serious!"

"You brat!" the man growled as he spat on the ground.

"L-let Len go!" I braved myself to say that before the man lunged at me.

"D-Doyle?! *cough**cough* A-Are you alright?!" Len's voice called out as the man hit my hand that was holding the phone onto the ground.

The phone slipped out of my fingers as the man then crushed it. My eyes widened in horror as the only way I could possibly rescue Len was taken away.

"Now no one can help you!" the man grinned as he stood up menacingly.

I instinctively covered my face when a bright light shined in our direction. I then felt a warm pair of arms pulling me into their embrace before lowering my arms.

"Young Master, Doyle... are you alright?" the man asked as I glanced at his face.

Smoothly shaven wide chin, thick furrowed eyebrows and warm Hazel coloured eyes. It was the butler my parents assigned to me.

"I-I'm fine... L-Len! What about Len?!" I asked as I twisted myself to glance at the shade.

I saw the man pinned to the ground by two other men in suits while another two were opening the door to the shade.

Len crawled out of the shade with blood flowing down his chin as he extended his hand towards me. I squirmed my way out of my butler's arms and ran up to Len as I wrapped him in my arms.

"Len... Are you alright?"

"Y-yes..."

***

After that day, Len was constantly happy. His complexion was free from bruises or injuries while he smiled more often.

However, those days didn't last. I had to leave the town as soon as Summer was over. I pleaded to stay but my parents denied my request. We were separated. I didn't know what happened to Len after that day.

We promised to be pen pals and wrote each other letters. However, after two to three letters... He never replied.

Years passed and I found Len again. He was a new transfer in the company. I found myself following him with my eyes. He looked better. No more bruises or wounds. However, his timid nature remained.

He was also scared of confine places and darkness. I noticed all this things about him probably because I had been watching him for so long.

The only problem was... he didn't remember me. I don't know why or how... but I was never someone he looked at twice.

My current friend and rival, Rayson was all he could look at. I felt frustrated and confused. Why him?

I couldn't understand my own feelings. Yet... I knew I wanted him to see me. I wanted to be able to share that warmth and happiness I felt when we were young, during that summer... once more...