TST, 2020
“What does a girl in a light nightdress do in man’s bedroom this late?” Macy said, crossing her arms.
Rachel squinted as she got up from bed. Macy was in a light blouse and a short tracksuit which left her thighs bare. Her foot was tapping as her head moved up and down.
“Why entering in someone’s room without knocking?” Rachel said.
“Should I knock in my boyfriend’s room?”
Rachel chuckled. “Boyfriend?”
“Leo is my boyfriend.”
Rachel smiled. “So what?”
“Stay away from my boyfriend!”
“I’m just his friend!”
“Said by every caught prostitute…”
“Can you open your mind before opening your mouth?”
“I’m warning you!”
Rachel squeezed her eyes shut.
“If I ever find you with my boyfriend again, I’ll raze you.”
“He’s not—”
“You’re not Leo’s type… so lope and never come back!”
“I’ll give you a piece of advice—”
“I don’t want to see you!”
“Trust me… you are not Leo’s type either.”
“You monkey…” Macy said, grabbing Rachel’s hair.
“You’re not in Leo’s heart.” Rachel pulled Macy away. “And one of the hardest decisions you’ll soon face in your life is choosing whether to walk away or to try harder.”
**********
Leo was the last one to arrive at Chrysanthemums garden near the burnt prohibited library. Leo didn’t like chrysanthemums flowerers that much. He read that chrysanthemum in Japan has to do with death. White chrysanthemum blooms are reserved for funerals and decorating graves. In several European nations, including Belgium, Italy, France and Austria, chrysanthemum symbolism has to do with death. The only time chrysanthemum flowers are given in these nations is as a token of comfort, grief or bereavement. Leo stared away from the flowers.
“You’re always late.” Baraka said.
“What’s the plan?” Leo said.
“We lay low till 2300hrs. When the lights go off, we move.” Isla said, bag on her back.
It was 2255hrs. The constructors stopped their work for that day and packed their stuff. The lights around the area went off. When it was quiet and no signs of other people, the four marched towards the library.
“The library was built by five focal pillars.” Isla coughed. “Two are at the front, two back, and one at the middle-center.”
“Guys, are you sure we can do this?” Baraka mumbled.
“Listen!” Daniel snapped.
“Our target is the pillar at the center.” Isla said.
“Guys, my heart is going to burst off the chest.” Baraka muttered.
Leo sighed. “Can you shut up and listen!”
“You’re the one who said this is not going to be funny. I don’t want to ge—”
“Ten footsteps from the central pillar is where our document was buried.” Isla said.
“Guys, what if we get caught?” Baraka said.
The three turned to Baraka. He was vacillating.
“Let’s find this central pillar. Isla take Dan, I’ll go with Baraka.” Leo said.
They split. Using faint light torches, they searched the area.
“Hey Leo, aren’t you afraid?” Baraka said.
“What you fear the most is what you attract the most.”
“You are here because you did a mistake. Isla and Daniel are children of superiors. If we get caught, I’m the only one who will lose school.”
“Everything will be okay in the end.”
“What if it’s not okay?”
“Then that’s not the end!”
“You say that because you have nothing to lose. I have!”
“Then go—”
Isla whispered, beckoning Leo and Baraka. Leo and Baraka followed her.
“This is the pillar.” Isla said.
“So, ten steps from here?” Daniel said.
Leo started counting the steps. The three followed him.
Baraka’s stomach was growling. “Guys—”
“You should introduce your upper lip to your lower lip and shut up.” Isla said.
“It’s here.” Leo said.
“Let’s set up a perimeter to shun boo-boos.” Daniel said.
Leo drew a square around the area. Isla dug into her bag and removed a plaster chipping machine.
Baraka exhaled. “Guys, that’s going to make noise. We will get caught here!”
“You know what…” Leo patted Baraka. “It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it.”
Isla handed the machine to Daniel. Daniel stared at them for a while and turned on the machine. Baraka’s hands were on his head.