Chapter 3: Refusal and Resolve

Just like in my memories, today was scorching hot. The unassuming populace filled the streets with life, as numerous cars passed through the busy road. Towering buildings were seen in all directions, and advertisements were flashed through the large television screens.

It was a prosperous city, but I knew that it would meet its end soon.

“You’re late,” greeted Jerry the moment he saw me approaching. He was standing in front of the silver metallic placard of our university, just beside the large steel gate. Numerous university students passed through the gate. On his left was an angelic face that was very much familiar: Jerry’s little sister.

“Sorry, I had to fix some things,” I said.

“What’s… that?” said Jerry, his eyes squinted as he scrutinized me from head to toe. “Why did you carry your entire house with you?”

Right now, I was carrying a large backpack that covered my entire back. On my hand was the newspaper-covered sword I stole from the old man.

“I can’t explain right now,” I said. I afforded a glance at his sister, then gave a polite and friendly smile. “Jerry, we’re still missing another person. After I get her, we’ll depart for the mountains.”

Jerry’s eyes widened. He probably could not believe the words I just said. He probably had not expected me to ask him to suddenly go camping.

“What, what the hell?!” he shouted. Some of the passersby glanced at our direction. “Did you know that I got scolded by my boss because of this?! Dude, I almost lost my job! And now, you’re telling me we’re just going camping?! That’s it?!”

“Hey, not so loud,” I remarked. “We’re not going to be merely camping. Trust me on this one, okay?”

I swear I saw a small steam come out of Jerry’s nose after that. He looked at his sister, then at me. “Fine. So, who’s the other person we’re taking with us?”

“Franchesca Voulie. We’ll be taking her with us.”

Jerry opened then closed his mouth.

“You guys know each other?” he said in almost a whisper. His sister seemed to have noticed his irregular breaths as he asked that question. She shot a quizzical stare as she tilted her head.

“Not really. This is the first time I’ll be speaking with her,” I said. From my position, I could clearly make out my reflection against the metallic placard of the university. “But we’ll be taking her with us anyway.”

I tossed my large backpack to Jerry, and he almost stumbled from the impact. He glared at me, but I casually brushed it aside. “Wait here. I’ll go get her.”

“Chase, you do realize that she’s the goddess of our university, no?”

“I know,” I chuckled. Somehow, the idea that I would finally be able to protect her filled me with unexplainable bliss.

The thought of the upcoming apocalypse was quickly clouded by gleeful thoughts.

That’s right. I no longer cared if other people in this world dies. What mattered was that Jerry and Franchesca were safe. Everyone else were second priority.

Jerry stared at me as though I was some madman.

“I’ll be right back. Stay here, okay?”

After those words, I entered the University. Behind me, a loud sighing sound was heard.

***

Thankfully, the security inside the university was lax. They did not even bother to check the newspaper-wrapped sword I held as I went inside. The guards were merrily chatting with each other, and I immediately used that to my advantage. With fluid movements, I easily blended in with the other students.

If I remembered correctly, it was around five days after the Apocalypse transpired before I met Franchesca. To put it simply, she still did not know me around this time.

I did not know how she survived those five days of hellish nightmare alone and without me by her side, but one thing was sure: The me right now would do everything in my power to protect her.

Back then, we survived together for a few months, prolonging our lives by hiding and eating rotten food. It was disgusting, and there were numerous times we got sick, but it was our only means for survival.

But there was no longer any need to do that now. I vowed to myself that I would protect her, no matter what.

I easily located her class after asking around. She was undisputedly the most popular girl in the entire university, also nicknamed the ‘goddess.’ Her beauty was unparalleled, but what attracted me the most was her tenacity to survive—and her kindness.

When I was sick, tired, and wounded, she tended to my injuries. When I was on the verge of giving up, she cheered me on.

My only regret back then was that I was far too weak. She lost her life trying to protect me. She lost her life trying to buy me time to escape.

Now that I thought of it, I was a big pile of scum back then. I should have held the demons at bay and made her escape instead, despite my injuries. I was a scum. A coward. There was no doubt about that.

“It’s my turn to protect you now,” I said with resolve. “I won’t let you die. I promise.”

As I stood outside the door to her class, I heard her professor speak.

“The pulmonic heart sound is best heard at the second ICS, left parasternal border. Usually when we auscultate this region…”

I twisted the knob and the door squeaked open. The professor stopped with his lecture as he looked at me. But I did not care about that.

My eyes looked around, and I immediately found her. She was sitting at the front, right at the middle.

A woman with brown, curly hair flowing till the shoulder. Her blue, almond eyes were gazing at me, and they glimmered with curiosity. Her body was slender, a bit pale when compared to her white dress. Her nose was not flat nor pointed, just the right angle and shape. Her lips were red and velvet, and I remembered the first time we kissed back then.

For a moment, my mind went blank upon seeing her beauty.

I realized that along with the professor, all of the students were staring at me. I locked eyes with Franchesca for a second.

“Yes, what is it?” said the professor.

I ignored her.

With a loud and clear voice, I said, “Franchesca Voulie! I love you! I have loved you since I first met you! Please go out with me!”

My declaration of love stirred everyone inside the room. Some of the female students squeaked, while some shot daggers at my direction. Most of the male students were glaring, while some were snickering.

I could not blame them. After all, I was ugly. I knew that since I was a child.

“Hey, baldie!” said one of the male students at the back. “You’re disturbing our class! The goddess will never go out with someone like you!”

Laughter from the male students came after that.

“That’s, that’s right!” said the professor. For a moment, I thought of how weak her voice sounded. “You’re disturbing the class! Do those things after classes are over!”

Once again, I ignored her. My eyes were focused on the woman that was intently staring at me. Contrary to my expectations, she was calm and composed even after my declaration of love.

She must have been used to being confessed to, huh?

“Franchesca!” I repeated. I no longer cared about appearances. What mattered was that I was able to take her far away from this city. “Please go out with me!”

My voice echoed inside the room.

Franchesca gave an apologetic bow to the professor. She said, “Sorry about this, professor. But could I go speak with him for a moment?”

It took a few seconds before the professor was able to respond. “S-Sure! Go ahead!”

Snickering sounds from some of the students were heard. I was pretty sure that they were expecting her to reject me. Well, it did not matter anyway. My goal was not for her to fall in love with me. My goal was to convince her to come with me towards a safer location.

After all, this city would soon become the spawn point of demons. It would be no exaggeration to say that this city was one of the most dangerous places to be in once the apocalypse strikes.

Franchesca approached me, and wordlessly, the two of us went outside the room.

In the hallway, she said, “I’m sorry. But I hardly know you.”

So, she was going to start with an apology, huh? I let out a small smile upon realizing that she was indeed the same Franchesca I knew back then. Her kindness was the same as before. And that beauty—Oh, God. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

“What are you smiling about?” she asked.

I did not realize that my suppressed smile had already turned into a broad grin.

“Sorry,” I said as I immediately assumed a serious face. “Well, what I’ve said before… I really do love you.”

“I’m sorry. But I do not know you. And besides, I have no plans of entering into a relationship with anyone right now,” she said, her voice apologetic.

I momentarily paused. How should I convince her to come with me? And then realization struck me.

I said, “Franchesca Voulie. 20 years old. Your father works oversees. A civil engineer. Your mother died back when you were in high school, due to colon cancer.”

She shot me a quizzical stare after I said those words. Slowly, her curious face turned into that of terror. Yes, I know. I probably looked like a madman-stalker right now.

“Your sister is in the Province of Capo. A student of biology. Right now, your only companion is your dog, Benedict. He’s a large one, isn’t he?” She took two steps back as she listened to my ramblings. I was pretty sure that she was about to run away, but then she heard things that only she should have known about, she stopped and listened.

“You have three diaries. The first one was written when you were nine. It’s mainly about how awesome your dad is. The second one was written when you were in high school. You were depressed about the death of your mom back then, so you wrote out everything in that diary of yours.”

By now, her expression of terror slowly faded away. Instead, it was replaced by shock and curiosity. After all, this was information only she knew about. Well, she told me about this back in the previous timeline. But of course, she had no way of knowing that.

“How, how did you know that?!” she breathed.

But I did not respond. Instead I continued, “Lastly, the third diary. It’s a diary filled with your hopes and dreams. About how you wanted to be a singer, but your fear of crowd was preventing you from achieving that. It’s also filled with thoughts of how handsome Aleck Frozen is.”

I shrugged after I said that part. Honestly, I thought that comedian was ugly.

There was a long and awkward silence after that. She stared at me, probably in shock or terror, or maybe both.

“I-I’ve never told anyone about that!” she said, her voice turned high-pitched and eerie.

I chuckled then smiled.

“You’ve told me about that,” I said. She shook her head. I added, “Otherwise, how would I know?”

“That’s, that’s what I want to find out!” she breathed. “Y-You’re… You…”

Her flustered face was such an adorable sight. I wanted to hug her and kiss her, but I restrained myself.

I steeled myself and said the words that I needed to say.

“You don’t have to love me back. And I won’t be expecting anything in return, but please, just for this instance, come with me,” I said. “Otherwise, I can’t protect you!”

Franchesca shot a quizzical gaze at me. “What do you mean?”

“This city will soon turn into a warzone,” I said. I did not reveal the fact about the demons. After all, she would not believe me. “War will soon engulf this area. I need you to come with me. Please.”

Franchesca’s eyes went wide the moment I knelt down the ground. A student that was going to pass through the hallway stopped and stared at us.

“Please. I know this sounds selfish, but please come with me,” I begged. Tears started forming at the corner of my eyes. I felt desperate. What if she did not concede and come with me? What should I do?

Franchesca breathed in then out. She stared at my pleading self for a moment.

“I’m sorry,” she said as she shook her head. “I can’t.”

And without another word, she went back to her class.

I sighed in remorse. I should have expected this.

The spectating student from before stared at me for a few seconds more, before he eventually passed through. I heard him whisper, “Pathetic,” behind my back.

I leaned on the wall. From my position, I could hear the muffled voice of the professor from before.

I looked at the newspaper-covered sword in my hand.

“If she’s not going to come with me to a safer location, then I’ll just protect her in this place,” I said. Resolve shone through my eyes.

I went outside and made Jerry and his sister go inside the university. Thankfully, the guards were as lax as before. Our entrance was swift and fluid.

“Change of plans,” I said to him.

Jerry raised a brow. He was probably confused of what was happening. “What? Seriously, pal. Are you okay?”

I did not answer his question. Instead, I declared. “Change of plans. We’ll stay here. I will guard her with my life.”