I yawned; the time currently after 22:00, and this twenty-four hour mall was still crowding with customers. I smiled as a small child waddled towards me, his mother not far behind him, as the kid wrapped his miniature arms around me.
Returning the gesture, my body consumed by a large soft-poly cupcake, before releasing the boy, patting him on the head, and then waving as he ran back to his mother's side. 'How cute.'
It was only then did I notice the passing figures of a familiar gang, their symbol buzzed out into their hairs, forged as a necklace, or worn on the sleeve of a jacket. The Contractor's deals, or TCDS - letters in a Roman font, as if it were inked as a tattoo, but of course they weren't. It was a notorious temporary gang, each member in debted to their so-called 'contactor'; an individual unknown to all except those who do its dirty work.
"Guys, isn't that Cutie Cake?" I felt a shudder go down my spine as the three men approached me, freshly trimmed goat-tees and a branded steel face unaltering.
"We're getting pictures right?"
"Yeah, and then cupcakes."
Despite their innocent sounding conversation, I knew better than to let my guard down; if they found out who I really was, they wouldn't spare a moment in taking me in to hopefully reduce their time. With this in mind, I attempted to prepare myself, waddling in another direction whilst reciting the Lord's prayer.
"Hey, Cutie Cake!" I stopped, turning around slowly. "Can we get a few pictures with you?"
Mentally shaking off all my fears, I nodded, beaming smiles that looked much more like scheming smirks returned to me. "Nice! You two stand on that side so I can get all of us in." I now stood in between them, the three of them leaning into me as they all grinned and made hearts with their hands. "Okay- smile!!"
'Lord, give me strength…'
Whilst I stood there, the gang members shifting between numerous poses as they snapped more photos, I at some point became less stiff, deciding that the more comfortable I acted, the less suspicious I would appear.
Well, that was before they froze. I followed their eyes, bodies stuck and all looking in the same direction - an old lady.
"S-sorry Cutie Cake," The camera-man began, pocketing his phone before starting off elsewhere.
"Yeah, but we gotta go."
"Thanks for the pictures."
I waved in response, now turning to the figure of the elderly woman that was about to turn a corner in the mall - a short, white wavy french-braid reaching only to her shoulders, and long white wide-legged trousers paired with a floral blouse and a black, leather hand-bag. I pondered going after her for a moment, wondering why the men from TCDS would behave in such a way after seeing her.
However, I knew that if I left my spot, then my boss would definitely give me an earful. 'I mean, not like she would fire me.'
As the thought passed me, I immediately but carefully went after the woman.
Whilst stalking her, I took note of the increasing number of customers and people who wanted photos with me. Is she aware that I'm following her? It was then I saw her take out her cellular device, tapping away as I tried to get near her, but stopped as I felt a tug on my costume's hand.
"Cutie Cake?" I halted, turning to the deep yet child-like masculine voice behind me. "Can I get a photo?" An ebony, fluffy bundle sat atop his head, accompanying his thin, black framed glasses that guarded his maple eyes, and honey skin coated in a baggy, black, zipped-up cardigan and dark denim cargoes.
As I was about to comply with the teen's request, I jolted at a sudden exclamation.
"CUTIE CAKE!" I swiftly faced the woman, her dark eyes slit and dark skin glowing, usually appearing gentle, but now only fierce. "Get. Back. Here. NOW!"
Promptly saluting her, about to go back to my spot, I turned back for a brief moment, frowning at the disappearance of the woman, but surprised by the boy's as well. 'Didn't he want a photo…?'
°•◇•°
"The contractor's deals… old lady… boy…" I lay across the grass, my head cushioned by my loose, brunette curls as Akira fed me the vegetables from her lunch. "Is it weird to think they're all connected?"
"I have no clue what you're on about." My friend told me, expression stoic as usual. "What time did you finish your shift yesterday?"
"23:30."
"What time did you go to bed?"
"Sometime after four, I think…" My companion sighed, setting her bento aside as she went into her bag. "Huh? What are you-"
"Don't move." Once I laid back down, my face upwards, I soon felt a wet, refreshing, cucumber-scented sheet plaster over my face, leaving only my eyes and mouth free. "We have half an hour." I heard as Akira placed her blazer beside my head, she too rested on it with what I perceived as a face mask.
"This feels so refreshing," I smiled. "Thanks."
"I brought them for you. Hopefully, it helps you rest."
"You're so thoughtful, Akira!"
As we both lay in silence, the bristling of the leaves in the distance becoming clearer and random voices echoing through the air, I began to think again. 'What connects them all…'
"So, Carlos, when were you planning on coming back, huh?" My ears twitched; for some reason curiosity started kicking into a conversation on the other side of the fence. "It's almost been a year!"
"Won't you shut up?" I sat up with a sudden pulse, head turned to that voice. "You exaggerate too much." I knew that voice… that child-like masculine one tone! Looking over, I recognised that familiar fluffy bundle, those rectangular spectacles, and his golden-brown eyes.
"Lucía?" Humming to my name, my friend continued, "What is it?"
"H-huh? -Oh!" My wet face flickered between the distancing boys and Akira, conflicted on what to focus on. "Just- uh… i-isn't that Hugo?" I pointed to the pair, the girl now looking over, much less intrigued.
"So it is, but can you just rest for once-?"
"Imma go say 'hi'."
"Lucía…"
"Hey, Hugo!" I called out, now resting my arms atop of the wooden frame that separated our schools. At the sound of his name, the boy, thick brunette coils jumping, whipped his attention towards me, a huge grin apparent as he neared.
"Lucy! It's been a while." We were practically cousins; him being my aunt's uncle's daughter's son. "Akira giving you a facial?" He joked, sniffing the air. "Cucumber, nice."
"It's to help me rest." I said in a matter-of-fact way.
"Something she isn't doing right now." I jolted, only now sensing the presence of the said girl.
"Sorry Akira, but he's family!" Taking the moment, I returned the gaze of the mysterious figure. "Is this a friend of yours?"
"Ah right! This is Carlos." Hugo finally introduced, the other giving a nod, hands in his trouser pockets and honey skin sparkling in the sunlight. "He doesn't come school often - if you ask me, it's probably something to do with all the games he's got-"
"Don't start giving wrong impressions." Carlos spoke, frowning at my 'cousin'. "I'm just busy."
"Busy playing games!" Hugo then turned to me and Akira. "Anyways, are you two considering the residential next month?"
"Me and Lucía signed up, but…"
"I'll have to ask my aunt." I awkwardly smiled, pushing hair out of my face.
"Prima Gabriela? She would definitely let you go!" The boy insisted before gesturing to him and Carlos. "We were the first to put our names down, and you already know my parents." I chuckled, memories of our smaller bodies being constantly scolded by either of the adults in his house.
"Well, uh- we'll see." Pushing myself off of the fence, I raised a hand. "I wanna get a bit more rest with this thing, so we'll be going now."
"Yeah, going to rest." The ice skater stated, expression sharp before turning to the males. "Bye Hugo, Carlos."
"Nice meeting you both."
"You too, Carlos? See you next week, Hugo."
"Ah yeah, family dinner. Can't wait." I smiled at his sarcasm, but as I was about to go after Akira, who was already seated at our spot, I noticed a small baby pink and beige keychain hanging from the mall boy's rucksack, two eyes staring right at me.
'So, he really is a Cutie Cake fan.'
Later, as I locked my front door behind me, the setting rays of the sun plastered on the white walls beside me, I heard the clinging of dishes and sizzling of a fire coming from the kitchen.
"Tía, I'm home!" Taking off my shoes and slipping on my slippers at the doorway, I saw a neatly combed waterfall of frizzy waves, framing one of the most perfectly sculpted faces known to mankind, peeping out from the other corner of the hall. "Something smells nice."
"Sobrina, dear, how was school?"
"Good. I also got a whole pack of face masks from Akira!"
"How nice." Her pitch alone was healing, attending to any unknown built-up stress within me, as I dropped off my bags and blazer in my room. "What about your way home?"
"It was alright." I answered, rolling up my sleeves and turning on the tap at the kitchen sink. "Had to take the longer route though."
Once I had taken an onion from her, moving to the chopping board, my aunt spoke, "I got a text from Mrs Forbes -" I groaned. "- that you had signed up for a camping trip in the mountains?"
"Oh, that…" I sighed, thinking that the old teacher was trying to cause a fuss over my sleeping hours again. "I just wanted to secure a place just in case you'd let me go."
"Okay."
"Is that a yes?"
"Maybe." The woman smiled, me pouting as I went back to cutting vegetables.
"Ah, I should probably tell you that I saw the boy from the mall at school; he's friends with Hugo."
"Oh? The one you thought might be connected to the Contractor's Deals?" I nodded, glancing at my aunt through the corner of my eyes. "We still need to confirm that suspicion of yours, and if it's true, that would change things." 'Of course it would…' I didn't let my disappointment show too much, instead just focusing on the task at hand. "If you are out in the country, it would be harder to call the police without casting suspicion on yourself."
"I know."
"However…" I felt a playful tug at my cheek, sticky flour now stuck to my face as I chuckled. "-'the wicked run when no one is chasing them-'."
"-'but an honest person is as brave as a lion'." I grinned, only then realising what she meant. "S-so I can go?!"
"Maybe." She laughed, hands back into kneading dough.
"Tía!"
°•◇•°
It was minutes to eight when I stood, arms resting on the wall around the lit up ice-rink. My classmate told me that she wanted to get a few cinematic shots for her portfolio, so I came as her professional photographer.
"How are these looking?" I turned the screen of the camera towards the ice, Akira drifting to a steady stop in front of me, and a satisfied expression flashing across her face.
"Lucía, you should do this more often." Her chestnut eyes beamed at the photos, flickering over every small detail they picked up. "You would make good money."
"That's actually not a bad idea…" I considered it. Though I didn't mind most of my jobs, they often kept me up until late into the early morning.
"I could pay you-"
"I'm not taking money from you." I reject her before she can finish, frowning but not interjecting. "Also, I asked my Tía about the trip, but all she said was 'maybe', so maybe that's a yes?" The other simply shrugged her shoulders, now resting her arms on the wall.
I wondered for a moment if I should tell her about Carlos and the old woman at the mall before I noticed her coming out of the rink.
"It's late."
"If you're worried about me, I don't mind going for another hour." Akira shook her head.
"Remember, I have a competition in two days, and my coach wants to practise early tomorrow morning." Making an 'o' shape with my mouth, I packed away the device in my hand and followed my friend out of the building, where her chauffeur was patiently waiting for us.
After exchanging my 'good evening's with Mr Nakamura, we all sat in a comfortable silence as we headed to my usual drop off point.
"If you were to do small jobs for my family instead, then I would have good reason to pay you, right -?"
"Akira, you would pay way too generously and I would feel bad for taking money from you, even if it was in exchange for work." My classmate, Hayashi Akira, is the daughter of the owner of a major electronics company - Yashi-to-Giju. Most of the devices you'd see on a regular day would likely have their logo engraved somewhere on them. "I don't want to turn our friendship into a transaction."
"... alright."
"Besides, you're already giving huge discounts for the phones, so what more could I take from you?" Before she could protest, we had already stopped around the corner from my apartment complex. "Thanks for the ride." I smiled, unbuckling my seatbelt as the old chauffeur nodded.
"Good night, Miss Hester."
"Good night, Mr Nakamura, Akira." Upon receiving no reply from the girl, I reached over and placed my hand over her fisted ones. "Seriously, you don't need to worry about me." I grin. "I'll sleep for eight hours! How about that?"
"You shouldn't joke about that." She stated sternly, yet her features said otherwise; lips currently bent into a small smile. "Good night, Lucía."
Once I had waved the Cadillac off, I instantly began my strides to my own home.
"Maybe I really shouldn't go on the trip…" As I thought aloud, now turning the corner towards the front of the building, my eyes instantly widened, retreating back. 'Why is he here?'
Slowly and stealthily, I poked my head around the edge of the wall, eyes catching sight of fluffy, wisping waves; honey-comb skin that shone under the natural light; and rectangular glassed-frames which reflected streaks of white.
Tucking my head back, my mind whirring and theorising possible conclusions, I looked out again only for our gazes to lock. I froze for a moment before clearing my throat, stuffing my hands into my coat pockets and tucking my face behind my scarf as I walked over casually.
"Hey, uh, so what brings you here?" I ask, the boy, both feet flat on the ground and back leant against the space beside the door, simply staring back. "Carlos, right?"
"You can drop the act. I already know who you are." He began, tone sharper yet voice still a curious mix of a child and a man. "And I know you know who I am."
"Yes? I am Lucía Hester, and you are Carlos-... what was your last name again?"
"I said to drop the act, Angela." I tensed at the name, my guard up and my mind slightly regretting not bringing my duffle bag, but reassured myself that he wouldn't take the risk of pulling anything now. "The contractor has her eyes on you."
"And so does every other gang in the states." I shrugged, not seeing the point in acting oblivious. "What are you playing at anyways? And do you mean TCDs' contractor? She's a woman?" The male sighed, pushing off the wall.
"Don't think about going on that trip." Carlos warned, about to begin his trek down the street. "Being in a secluded place in the country right now won't be good for you -"
"Wait!" I call after him, his steps stopping. "Why warn me? It's clear to me that you're somehow connected to them, so why help me out?" Carlos didn't turn, only looked downwards to his feet.
"Some debts can't be repaid in life, so what's the point in trying?" I felt my heart stir at that; the core of my beliefs being the fact that someone came and paid a debt that no human could ever. "At some point, you just get used to the weight of it all anyways; the ones left by our parents. You'd get that."
I didn't say anything immediately. Clenching my fists and taking in a big breath, I began, "But what if that burden was never meant to be carried by you?" Carlos's head turned at that, pupils shaking as if questioning my very existence. "Yes, it's hard to have to live everyday with the stress of having to deal with something left by your… parents, and I don't know what it is that causes you to say that, but what I do know is that you don't have to carry the burden. There's a lighter yoke that I received in exchange for mine, and I pray that you find it; that the light in me will illuminate the path to your freedom."
We stood in silence for a couple of moments, the subtle night breeze humming past us.
"You're… strange." I merely smiled at that. "I'm leaving now."
"Oh! If you come to the mall tomorrow after school, I can give you that picture." The boy frowned, a hue of pink across his face, probably not happy with his love for the mascot to be referred to so casually.
"Whatever."
"See yah tomorrow!" I waved, Carlos simply nodding before heading down the street again.
'I really do hope you find that path.'
.
.
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