His Touch Remains

3. Archer

The surrounding was still hazy and quiet from the remnants of the cruel night. I embraced myself and sat on the bench behind the long lines of tall Mahogany trees, overlooking the bay of Adelaida where the sun woke up every day.

The fishing boats lined up beside the boardwalk were as calm as the bay. The seagulls were playing with the morning breeze. They were gliding up and that was something I envy. I wished to fly high and be free just like them, just like before everything happened.

I inhaled a large breath. Now that I thought about it, was that still possible? Last night was like a hollow place that I could barely get through it. Real memories paraded in my mind and in my dream. It was raw like it was just yesterday when it happened.

Seeing the man wasn't something that would slip right through my hand. He triggered it fast. He unlocked one of the keys from that past. Why would he suddenly appear now that I was doing fine? I didn't want to lose my strong facade... I was just beginning this new life. Goodness... what would I do now?

My mind stopped wandering when I noticed a cute little Siberian Husky wagging his tail as he circled the edge of the wooden boardwalk, barking the seagulls around him. He's alone so I went to him.

"You're playing with the seagulls?" I kneeled and carried him from behind. He barked. "You want to play with me instead?"

I turned him around. He's panting. His eyes were so dark and they looked so innocent. A name tag was hanging on his neck.

"It says here your name is Archie. That's a nice name. Are you alone, Archie?" I raised him. He didn't look like a stray dog. He looked tamed but no one's here.

"I think you're lost." He craned his neck as if he could understand what I just said.

"Oh, look. It's sunrise." I caught the sun slowly rising over the horizon. The bay glittered majestically when the rays of the sun reflected on it.

"If no one's going to get you here after the full sunrise, I'm going to take you home first. Then, we'll come back here tomorrow just in case your owner is looking for you. Is that alright?"

He whimpered and licked his nose.

"Is that a yes?"

"Not a chance."

I blinked. Was I hearing things? There's no way a dog can talk. "Okay?"

"Archie!" someone called the dog's name. Upon hearing that, he barked and managed to jump out of my loosened grip. He ran behind me.

I turned around to see the owner, I assume. But what I saw was someone whom I wished not to see for the rest of my life. Suddenly, the morning breeze penetrated inside me and I froze.

"This is the last time I'm bringing you here." His dark voice echoed. He was kneeling in front of the dog, leashing him.

"You," I uttered as hard as a rock.

When his eyes found mine, he only raised one of his thick brows on me like what I did to him yesterday was nothing but a pinch. What would I expect?

"You," he repeated as he stood and carried the dog.

My breathing quickened when he advanced towards me like a Goliath who would bring me down to my knees. I stepped backward. "Stop walking!"

"This is a right timing. Don't you think?" he smirked.

"D-d-d..." I stuttered. The heat on my body rushed up when one of my heels reached the very edge of the boardwalk. I quivered. "S-Stay away!" I yelled, looking down the deep grayish water behind me.

"She's bad Archie. You shouldn't let people like that touch you."

My forehead creased. I got confused and lost in my emotions upon hearing what he said. Was he referring to me? My anger at him just doubled!

"What do you want?!" I glared at him. I wanted him to see how much I despise him but his hooded eyes were getting the s**t out of me. I didn't want to see them!

He patted Archie's head as he looked at me intently. "You think I don't need your explanation? You slapped me real hard yesterday," he casually said.

"Because you deserve it! You deserve more of it!" I shouted, anger burned inside me and I am sure it reflected in my eyes. It irritated me, even more, to see him just smirking at my remark! He was not bothered at all!

"What the hell are you saying? I am pretty sure I just met you yesterday. And it didn't go well but now it seems like you are accusing me of something I don't even know. Silly girl," he told, chuckling a little bit.

I didn't get if there's something to laugh at what he said. But it suddenly occurred to my normal senses that he was right and I hate to think that he was.

I closed my eyes firmly. "You are not him," I said in a soft voice.

He is not him. He is not him. His name is Apollo, right? I heard it from Louisa. His name is Apollo and not... not him.

"What did you say?" I heard his footsteps moving.

I trembled but I stayed still, not wanting this trauma to get me. If I want to overcome it, then I must face it. Besides, this man was not him. It's not him Leil!

Bullets of sweat formed on my back when I saw his running shoes right in front of mine. "Why is Archie with you?" he asked.

The wind whistled around us and his scent immediately lingered. It was... different. But I didn't want to see his face. His face triggered me yesterday and a while ago.

"I... I... He found me."

"Really? Why? Are you lost?" he sounded so innocent at that.

My brows furrowed, now beginning to be annoyed with that question. What does that even mean? "If you are joking, it's not funny."

"And you slapped me. Now that's funny." Even if I couldn't see his face, I could only imagine that he was grinning.

I rolled my eyes. "My bad. I thought you're going to attack me so I defended myself."

"I am? For all I know, I tried to help you out of Louisa."

And now I was completely annoyed with the mention of another name! I hissed. I couldn't remain bowed down because of that! I looked up at him. I almost retracted when his massive chest welcomed my eyesight. His fitted track shirt hugged his body well and I hate that I noticed it.

"Okay! Let's forget about it. I am going!" I stepped beside him but he didn't let me. He let go of Archie which came running around immediately then he snatched my wrist.

"What?" I hate his eyes! I immediately turned my head to my wrist and pulled it against his large hands. "Let go of me!"

"You know what I want."

My goodness! Why was this group of friends so annoying!

"Okay! I'm sorry!" I shouted, still resisting but he only tightened his grip. This guy was a war freak too!

"That's not how you properly say it," he said seriously but he looked so chill.

I can sense authority in that serious voice but I wouldn't give in. I pulled my hand hard against him and my body jerked because he resisted.

"You are so annoying! Let go of me so I can properly apologize!" I said. But I won't give him what he wanted. I know I was at fault but I saw him as someone else and I wanted that slap to happen!

He looked at me suspiciously while I grimaced my face from exerting full force to getaway. He did let go of me and the second after, I was plunged into the water behind me.

"He is an asshole!" Alex roared before she sat down in front of me. She took out our lunch on the tray and handed me mine.

"Totally an asshole," I agreed. "Just look at him," I turned my gaze on the center table of the cafeteria where Apollo, Louisa, Venice, and Clarence were seated. Alex turned her head around, "Just by looking at his back, you can sense that he is arrogant." I couldn't help but to roll my eyes.

"But he helped you. So he is a half-asshole," she chuckled with what she said. She almost choked while drinking her water.

I told her what happened yesterday and this morning and she couldn't still agree with me?

"There's no such thing as half-asshole. But if there is, I'm sure the other half isn't half-gentleman. He is a jerk. Believe me! I don't understand what's the hype with him," my brows furrowed. I almost tortured my rice.

"He is handsome, that's all."

It turned out, Louisa and Venice weren't the only famous students here but also Apollo and Clarence. Girls were absurdly mesmerized by the two. You could see their eyes forming hearts just like when they walked here a while ago. How unusual that it was the first time I noticed the two guys since the semester started.

"Don't tell me you are attracted to him too?"

"What? I just said he is handsome. He is. Isn't he?" she smiled innocently.

"Ugh, no," I groaned. "It isn't just about the face."

I hate him not only because he looked like someone but he was annoying too. He indeed helped me get out of the water but that was because the dog jumped too. He even rescued Archie first who knew how to swim.

I was soaked in the water for too long because of him. And now I couldn't help my eyelids from getting heavier as minutes passed. Although the weather was humid, I felt cold and I kept on sneezing. This is bad.

"You're sick Leil," Alex said while reading her notes. She's serious about what she's doing. I was not in the mood to study so I was just scribbling words on my notebook.

"Don't worry. It will get away," I said. But right after telling that, I coughed. My throat was itchy.

"I can come with you to the clinic. Let's go?" She started to arrange her things but I stopped her.

"It's alright. You can stay here. I'll manage." It's lunch break anyway and I couldn't last any more minutes here. I might doze off.

I crossed my arms while walking. The school was quiet during lunch break as students often eat outside, usually in the town center. But there were still students hanging around the campus.

"Hey! Look, isn't that Leslie?" I heard my name as a walked into the hallway. I sighed. I was being recognized already.

"That's her! Let's go to her!"

Oh no, not this time. I could sense danger in those words and I was right. I stopped walking when two girls stood in front of me.

Fear enveloped their eyes but I couldn't sympathize. "Leslie --"

"I'm busy." I cut them off. As much as I wanted to help, I am not up for it this time.

"Please! It's Louisa!" the girls cried.

I didn't stop walking even if they were following me behind. And I know for sure it was Louisa. What is it again this time?

"Those bitches won't just stop, aren't they?"

"Y-yes."

"Sorry girls. I can't help you today," I said dreadfully, not having energy left as I already felt my body aching. This is getting worse.

"But --"

"Excuse me. I'm going to the CR," I reasoned and turned left.

I entered and went inside the cubicle. They mumbled something but I didn't mind it. I'm not going to pee. I closed the bidet and sat on it.

I'm just going to stay here for a while until they forget about me. After few minutes, I was about to stand up but cold water dropped above my head, causing me to fall back at the bowl.

"s**t! Oh my god! What the f**k!" Startled, I stood and slammed the door and as I expected, Louisa and Venice were laughing their asses off!

My smirk was caught with my breath because I gasped for air. I ended up coughing. Nonetheless, I never stopped glaring at them with so much irritation. I hate that I couldn't fight back! I think I got more sick.

"Oh? No, I won't say sorry if that's what you are waiting for," Louisa smirked. "I just didn't see you get drowned this morning so I decided to give you another one," she smiled devilishly.

I rolled my eyes. I wouldn't care if they knew. I expected Apollo to say it anyway! They were like that. They just piss my ass off with their dirty petty tricks which I could slap back at them.

"I will get back on you!" I pushed Venice aside and started running away.

Fortunately, I have my cardigan on so I used it to cover my blouse. I would freak out if even my bra will be visible to people. Ugh! How did they know I was there?!

I ran fast to avoid intrigue from people who might already recognized me. I didn't even think anymore about where to go. I just realized my feet led me to the clinic, fortunately.

I held my chest to calm myself from running too fast. As I pushed the door, the air coming from the aircon made me shiver.

As soon as I entered, I looked around only to see closed dividers in each bed. Somehow, the clinic was creepy when nobody's around.

"Hello?"

I walked past the beds to see if the nurse was around but no one's there. I went to the cabinet on the corner across the last bed when I saw a towel. I need to dry myself. I was very wet. My hair was still dripping with water, even my clothes! However, I could open it!

"Why is this hard to open?" I pulled it repeatedly until the things inside were already cluttering.

"You can't be too hard on me as well. You're just a cabinet!" I complained.

I inhaled once more then pulled it real hard, causing me to stumble backward when I loosened my grip on it.

"Oh, oh! No!" My hands danced in the air, hoping to keep my balance but I was going to fall backward! This was so much for a day!

I closed my eyes instead and waited for it but it did not come. Wait, I did not fall! Someone's holding me on my waist! I opened my eyes slowly and the person seemed to materialize in front of me.

My brows wrinkled with his dark and serious face while looking at me. My eyes widened when I realized who he was.

Oh no, not again! I immediately stood, my head was burning and boiling from both headache and annoyance.

"Pervert!" I shouted and slapped Apollo again.