“Well, no. It’s just—” Aster tried to spill the beans, but I stopped by covering his mouth.
“Oh no! It’s nothing. Nothing!” I dragged Aster to my room and closed the door.
“What’s with her?” asked the confused Maury.
Meanwhile, Gwen gets a look of surprise by seeing Aster’s unexpected appearance. “What is he doing here? Why is he all by himself?!”
I explain the professor is going on vacation for two weeks and wants us to take care of Aster while she’s away. Gwen agrees after listening to my story.
“I see, but where is he going to sleep?”
“On the floor, I guess. I can’t leave Aster alone in the living room with Maury there.”
“Okay but make sure he doesn’t see his ears.”
“Do you have things to entertain yourself?”
“Yes, I have this.” He opens his sack with only a laptop, a charger, a wireless mouse, and some USB flash drives. “Do you have Wi-Fi?”
I’m shocked that he knows computer terms. But then again, he’s been living in our world for three years, so he’s been using them for a while.
“I don’t have a router, but you can use my smartphone as a hotspot.”
“Is that possible?” he asked.
“Let’s try it,” I said. Aster opens his laptop and waits for it to load while I open the cellular settings on my smartphone. Afterward, we managed to connect the computer to the Internet, and we visited a random website to see if it loads. It looks like it did.
“So, it was successful after all,” I said.
“Yes, it worked out. Thank you.”
With all that said and done, I exit the room. Gwen followed in her cat form. I close the door in case Maury tries to peek.
“What was that all about?” Maury asked.
“Nothing. I’m going to make dinner, okay?”
How long must I keep this up?
Date: July 17
Time: Afternoon
The three of us are playing cards.
It’s summer, and we’re bored. What else we’re supposed to do? It’s tempting to keep Aster in my room, but I’ll be no different from her. I called for her poor treatment of him, after all.
I can tell Maury is curious about him, so he decides to ask some questions.
“So, how do you like it here?”
“It’s okay though,” Aster replied.
“You’re a foreigner so where are you from?”
“I-I don’t know...”
Hey, you’re distracted, buddy! I peek at Maury’s cards to see if I can steal them. Maury took notice and placed them down quickly. Aww!
“That’s odd. Did you lose your memory?”
“Something like that...”
“Then how come you need to cover? Are you an artist or something? There's no need to be shy. Can I see your face?"
I wish I can pull the hood too, but I can’t remove on impulse because I don’t want Maury to freak out and run. I must keep a lid on things.
“Um, I...” Aster shrugs with discomfort.
I had to intervene to prevent Maury from asking more questions.
“Hey! Who’s got the Full House?”
“I don’t...” Maury said.
“Me neither...” Aster said.
“It’s me! I got the Full House!” I shouted, showing my trump cards. I glance at Aster. I know he wants to tell the truth, but he can’t!
At least not yet...
Regardless, Aster is having fun with us. Next, we’ll order some pizza, drink beer, and watch random movies until we sleep.
By the way, don’t ask how I won. I just did.
Date: July 22
Time: Late Night
I notice Aster isn’t sleeping. He’s sitting on the floor with his back leaned against a wall and his head down. Something is bothering him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Aster looks up at me but doesn’t reply.
“Is the floor uncomfortable for you?”
“No, I’m used to sleeping on floors.”
“Want me to sit next to you? Better yet, sit next to me.” I invite him to sit on my bed. No, get your mind out of the gutter. I didn’t invite him to do it. I want him to tell me his problem. Gwen, in cat form, opened her eyes. “What’s going on?”
He thinks a bit and decides to sit on my bed next to me. I lean myself closer towards him. Shit! My heart’s pounding fast. I better say something before I lose it.
“Hey, can you explain the events three years ago?”
“Yes, I’m curious as well,” Gwen said.
He takes a deep breath before preparing his reply. He starts to explain his story. Gwen and I listen carefully.
Date: 3 years ago
Time: unknown
Somewhere in a lab. A group of explorers brought in the last coffin for examination.
“Excellent work!” said the leader.
“Yes, but this coffin is quite heavy.”
“But aren’t coffins normally heavy?”
“Yes, but not too heavy. It might be bones of a large animal. Alright, let’s look."
The leader opened the coffin and found a human-sized bag that’s tightly sealed. The other explorers seem confused as they expected to see another skeleton and not a sack.
“This is very strange...”
The other explorers gave the leader a pair of scissors to cut the bag open. The leader slashed the sack carefully as not to harm anything inside. After the leader finished, the others opened the sack far wide. They found a shocking revelation.
“What is this?! Is this a monster?!”
“Maybe but it looks human!”
“What’s the meaning of this?!”
“Calm down, all of you!” the leader cried. The leader checked its pulse. Turns out the humanoid creature is still alive.
“No way! That’s impossible! Is this for real?!”
“What are we supposed to do?”
“Leave it for now. We must focus on the other findings. We need to finish this as soon as possible,” said the leader. The leader ordered his team to leave the room which they all do.
Aster twitched his fingers and opened his eyes. He sat upward and looked at his surroundings. Everything seems different.
“Where am I?”
His clothes were soiled from centuries of erosion yet his skin wasn’t. In fact, his skin looks completely different. He looked at his hands and realized his unexpected change.
“My hands... They look different.”
He got off the coffin and tried to walk, only to stumble and fall. He got up again and took his steps towards a wall. He remained still before stretching himself. Once he did so, he opened his eyes in full.
“This is not the underworld but...” He walked around looking at things unfamiliar to him. He went to check another coffin and looked at the skeleton inside it. He began to shake.
“I’m alive!! But how...?”
Aster noticed a small mirror on a desk. His hands shook as he picked it up. He saw his reflection and dropped the mirror a second later. The shards scattered all over.
“My face... No! My body! How did this happen? I-I need to get out of here!!”
Aster’s escape from the lab has begun.
He tried his best to escape, hiding however he could. But his escape was harder than he thought. Everything was new to him.
He suffered tough luck by bumping into a random scientist. The scientist was accompanied by a large group of people, who were horrified when they saw him. Panic ensued, and guards came from all directions to shoot him.
But the bullets deflected him. He asked for help, yet no one listened. The guards kept shooting at him. Aster couldn’t take it anymore. Thus, he unleashed a powerful spell that blew up the lab, killing all within.
Aster walked down the empty road. But he was still weak and soon collapsed once again. He laid for hours.
Then a van arrived. A young woman —a graduate student— noticed a body
and told her colleagues to pull over. They didn’t want to carry him, but she insisted. They took him to the back of the van where he remained asleep.
A few days later, Aster was sitting in front of a committee. “Who are you? Where are you from? Where do you live?” they asked.
Aster didn’t respond to any of them. The graduate student came into the room, explaining he is scared and needs support. The committee wanted to have the military kill him. But President Alejandro —her cousin— opted for a better plan: have her watch him. They agreed to this and made her sign a contract. She signed without hesitation.
Soon after, the gal taught Aster the ways of the modern world. She used flash cards and placed post-it notes on many objects with its name and definition.
“I am Agnes. Tell me your name.”
“I... I forgot...”
“If I called you Aster, would you take it?” she asked, looking at the crimson flowers.
“That is not my real name but...”
“I need to call you by a name so...”
“I’ll take it, but only because you named me.”
The two of them giggled.
Date: past summer
Time: unknown
Simona College library, deepest level. Aster and the gal were at the furthest table away from prying students. The room was dark, so the glow from the laptop served as light.
“Congratulations on graduating,” Aster said.
“Thank you,” she replied. “I want you to do something for me.”
“Yes, I’ll do anything you ask.”
“Good! These are student exam papers from my History 101 class. You wouldn’t have any problems grading them, right?”
“No...”
“Excellent!” She dumped student papers on the desk. “I expect you to finish by next week. This isn’t a one-time thing. You’ll be doing them as part of your job as my assistant. Here’s a reference sheet if you need it. And please don’t leave the library until I get back.”
Aster watched as she left the library.
Date: July 22
Time: Late Night
“So that’s how it happened...” I said. “But how did you end up with a sword?”
“I can explain: I gave it to him. Don’t ask how I got it from.” Gwen said.
“So, you feel better now?”
“Yes, thanks for listening. I can finally sleep.”
I yawn. Man, I need some sleep! We all do.
Date: July 23
Time: Late Night, New Moon
I can’t sleep. I keep having these recurring dreams. But these thoughts are becoming more vivid as time goes on. They have gotten so real I get headaches before waking up.
***
“Unable to find proof of sorcery, this case is closed,” said the judge as he slammed his gavel. It was over. All over. Everything...
I was surrounded by reporters as soon as I left the courthouse. All of them desperate to ask me questions. My lawyer kept pushing them off, but they persisted.
A girl of my same age came to me, pushing all reporters aside. She was furious. She slapped me with no remorse much to the other’s horror. “I don’t care what the law says! You killed my fiancé!! You’re a witch! Go to hell and DIE!!” I took the hit. There was nothing I could do.
People feared me whenever I went. Social media sites wanted me dead. I asked my roommates for help, but they kicked me out. I asked my aunt for help. She refused. Even the job I had declined to help and fired me. Never in my life, I felt so alone. And thus, I found myself sleeping in the streets penniless and cold.
One day, I was on a bridge. I wanted to end it all, so I climbed. As I was climbing, I heard a voice. This was the voice I’ll soon become familiar with. The voice told me not to do it. I knew I didn’t want to, but I had no other options. None! I was rejected everywhere.
“If you do it, everything will end,” it said.
I looked for the source of the voice, but I couldn’t find it. It was dark at night, and the moon was shining at its brightest. There are many beautiful things in this world. The voice is right! I must live! I wiped my tears and left the bridge.
I wondered how I got these powers. But I guess it doesn’t matter. If I can use them for good, then I could prove myself useful in the world.
***
I've seen the same black figure of a woman standing in front of a giant moon. Who is she? I run towards her, but she keeps her distance. Like, I can’t reach her. It’s also hard to describe the figure itself.
The whole scene changes to a dark ice cave with a colossal black monster on a rampage. Another female figure summoned a spell that killed it. And then it was all blank afterward...
I can’t identify both as everything is blurry. I can’t even hear voices. All I see is the scene and nothing else. But still, I can’t help but feel scared. Desperate! Nobody is telling me the truth! I don’t understand. What is Gwen hiding from me? Can someone explain to me why?!
***
I remain in bed with my eyes wide open. Tears stream from the sides of my eyes.
“What’s going to happen? I’m scared...”
Gwen got up. She crawled to see me crying.
“No, don’t cry. Nothing is going to happen to you. You’ll be okay.” She licked a tear from my eye and rubs her head on my cheek. I hold her close to me. I feel better, but I still can’t sleep.
Date: July 26
Time: Late Night
Something about Aster has been nagging me for a while now, and I’m curious to see what it is. Thankfully, he’s still awake looking at his laptop.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I’m looking up a few things based on the movie we saw earlier. I couldn’t help it.”
“You know, I’ve been curious about you. Well, it’s more about your body.”
He turned off his laptop and placed It aside as he looked at me confused. “What about my body? Don’t tell me you find it freakish?”
“No! That’s not what I meant! I accepted you already. What I mean is ...well... I’m curious to know what it’s like underneath your clothes.”
“You want to see me nude, is it?”
Damn! He didn’t have to be direct!
“Well, I, um...” I muttered. Do I want to see him naked? Sure, I’m curious about his body but not to the extent of wanting to see him nude.
“I think it’s not a bad idea. You and I have been close for a while, and I think this is the opportunity to do so.” He stands up and walks to my bed. “Since that is your wish, I would be more than happy to comply.”
I jump off feeling red all over. “Hold on! I’m not ready yet.” I tiptoe some steps to him.
He stops in the middle of my room with hands on his hips, showing some impatience.
I freeze before him. My heart’s pounding.
He has his arms crossed over his shirt, ready to take it off anytime. “Shall I start?”
“Wait!” I went up behind and pressed against his back. I start rubbing my hands over his clothes. He got a bit puzzled at this sudden change. I already know he’s thin, so I don’t have to go over this again. Instead, I lead my hand towards his bottom. A hard statue like Aster should have compact privates if you know what I mean.
“What are you doing?” he asked with his face redder than a red vine tomato.
“Copping a feel on you,” I replied. I was close to reaching his private spot when he pulls my hand out. “This is crazy! Look, if you want...” I can tell he's nervous.
“Okay, let’s take it slow,” I said. I guess Aster has never been naked with a girl or slept with only one.
I invite him to sit on my bed, which he does. Then I ask him to lie down. He complies without a second thought. Gwen is not here. She’s sleeping in the living room, so there’s no danger of her getting squashed by him.
I place myself on top of him. His first instinct is to reach out to my chest. He rubs his hands over my shirt copping a feel on my breasts. My private’s t
ingle and I moan a bit.
“Do you want to know something?”
“What is it?” he asked.
“I like you.” I bend down to kiss him. His lips are hard, but his tongue feels normal. I’m surprised he took it. I proceed to undo his pants. He didn’t object.
Seeing from above makes him look so cute!
I pull down his pants (but not entirely.) He isn’t wearing underwear, but this confirms my theory of his privates being compressed! It’s like looking at a naked Ben doll. Just because he’s like this doesn’t make him less of a man. He’s so cool!
I lay on his chest, and he holds me as we sleep.
Date: July 31
Time: Afternoon
Maury, Gwen, and I are eating our afternoon snacks. Aster approaches us with a text message he received from the professor.
“Today is my last day here. Agnes returned last night, so she texted she’ll pick me up tomorrow morning.”
“This calls for a celebration, right, Maury?”
“Right!”
The truth is I don’t want him to leave. I’ve gotten attached to him, but his heart is with her and not me. Besides, I think he has a thing for her. Still, I will not forget that night. We made a silent agreement to keep it between us.
“Let’s order pizza again! Do we have booze?”
“Yep, we still do!” Maury replied.
“So, pizza is this triangular shape food made of cheese and sauce,” Aster said. “That’s the one we ate last time, right?”
“Yep, that’s right!” I said.
“Then I agree we should order. Can you request less sauce? It didn’t do good on me.”
We order three boxes like last time. Each of us ate its own box. I gave Gwen a slice of my plate.
“I’m going to miss having you around. Will you come here for a visit?” Maury asked.
“It depends. She’s going to teach a class.”
“So, you’re going to be stuck in the library, watching movies, and not going out. Honestly, that gal needs some sense beaten into her.”
“There’s no need to get worked up. It is what is. Let us enjoy the rest of the day.”
He’s right. We must accept things for what they are even if they’re a total pain in the ass!
Month Six - August
Date: August 6; Time: Late Night
Gwen and Moros meet once again on the rooftop of my apartment building. "Thanks for coming," Gwen said. She is in her usual 2-legged form. As for Moros, he wears stylish clothing with staff on the one hand and a metal briefcase on another.
Legacy of Dolyn Page 9