*Chapter 19: The Past?

Lunely's PoV

"Take care of yourself Brother Lei, okay? If you have a problem, just call me." I smiled at Leiro as he was busy fixing my hair.

"Wait, that's my line." Leiro said jokingly to me when he finished tying my hair. My, I will never be ashamed that my future husband knows how to fix my hair. Hehe ...

"Oh I'll be going you brother okay? Thanks for fixing my hair. I love you brother." I smiled and took the bag from my seat. Leiro just gave my comb back to me and a kiss on my forehead. It's a good thing Meryl isn't here now- or maybe Leiro won't kiss me on the forehead as a goodbye kiss.

"Love you too, Lunely."

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When I got out of Leiro's school I started walking to the left from the gate- well, because M.L. Institution at actually near from Leiro's school so walking might be the best option.. It's only a five-minute walk so I'm comfortable with that. Not to mention that I'm used this.

While walking, I thought of calling Yusarine abroad- hayy ... Even though I'm still a little angry about what happened to us at the airport, I feel like I miss her already.

My phone was constantly beeping but there is no response. Maybe she's busy. It's been a few days since we last spoke. Whoo .. If I were there, maybe I might also experienced what Yusarine experienced.

I just put my cellphone in my pocket and suddenly-

"Freeze there Miss... Come with me if you don't want to get hurt."

Fear suddenly gnawed my heart. I can't breathe as I felt my heart blocking my throat. I couldn't move not because of the tightness of his grip on my arm but because of the focus of a sharp thing that I didn't know what. I tried to be calm so that nothing bad would happen to me- I don't want to die! Leiro needs me!

Just calm down Lou, just calm down. Whatever he needs, give it to him. If he does something bad to you, remember the basics of self-defense and run as fast as you can. For now, let's try asking him first.

"Don't worry ... Rest assured you won't lose anything. I won't take advantage of you or take anything from you, okay? I just want to talk to you- in private."

Eh? Did I hear right? What kind of snatcher is this? Actually, there are some bad things a snatcher wants to do to its victim but why this one is different? Have they upgraded as well?

"W-Where are you taking me?" Hearing what he said made me less nervous, but I was still scared of that sharp thing already pointed at my side.

"Don't worry. We'll talk at the coffee shop near here. Act naturally as if we're together. Just try to run you know what you'll get." Eep, he's really different- usually snatchers take their victims to a secluded place but why does he want us to talk in the coffee shop? Is this a prank?

Well, after a few minutes we reached the coffee shop just a few meters near M.L. Institution. Upon entering, that guy took his cap off but leaving his mask untouched. I tried to look at him but her turned his face from me- luh? What are you, a shy-type?

"Go sit on the last table over there. I'll order some coffee for the two of us while we talk. And don't you dare run or else..."

The heck is that?! A snatcher treating you with a coffee?! What kind of nonsense is this huh? Seriously, even though this is the first time I was kidnapped, I feel like my first time was really weird.

Well, it seems he's doing that for a reason so I just let him. I sat down a table near the glass wall of the coffee shop as minutes passed, that guy slowly went to me and sat on the opposite side of the table.

"Wait a minute, Mr. Snatcher... What's wrong with you? Why are you doing this? If you wanted to talk to me, we can just do it in a nice way, you know?" I pouted, but he chose to be calm and serious.

"Well, I am treating this conversation nicely."

"Yeah, snatching me really is nice." I rolled my eyes and averted my gaze from him when his coffee order for the two of us arrived.

"So, what do you really need from me huh?! Why did you set me up like this ?!" I suddenly asked him several questions, but instead of answering those questions he suddenly removed his mask, revealing his face in front of me.

My eyes widened ... This face, it's really familiar. Light brown skin, blue eyes, long nose, brown hair and that height that makes him look American- but he really is.

"Wait a sec, Mark Kian?!" I was surprised to see him once again. I know him so much. He is Mark Kian Mugrage, and he almost became my patient since he had ESCD a year ago, and I'd say my first boy best friend I met.

"Yep, I am. It's been a while, Lou." Mark Kian smiled as tears started to fall from my eyes. I suddenly hit him with a comb on the head causing him to laugh a little.

"Curse you! You've been gone for so many months and that's how you greet me back?! I hate you!" I pouted as I crossed my arms and gave him a fiery gaze. I got even angrier because I thought what kind of sharp thing was pointed at me, yet it was just a ballpen.

"My, you're really cute as always Lou. So how are you now? I think you had a hard time handling your work as you've already been assigned as the assistant commander of M.L. Institution, am I right?"

"Well, somehow it survived. So, what is your purpose and why did you kidnap me?" I ask him as I take a sip of my coffee.

"Oh yes, I would like to apologize for making you scared, but this is an important matter that only the two of us would know. It's all about Professor Seth." Mark's voice became serious once again as I ask him about it.

"Eh? What's wrong with Prof? Did something happen to him? Why did you mention his name?" I asked softly as I put back my comb that I had slapped on him earlier.

"I know this is quite unexpected, but Lou, I'm begging you. Please, leave M.L. Institution at once." He told me directly that I almost let go of the comb after I heard that.

Those words made me surprised- wait a sec, that's a bit rushy. Why did he say that? Eh, is he angry with Prof? I mean, the two of us knew Professor Seth very well but why did he say that?

"Pardon me?"

"Remember the day Professor Seth went to a conference? It was held in the U.S. inside Professor Silvia's company. I was there together with Professor Silvia when I found out something creepy about him." The way Mark Kian talked made me think that what he said is somewhat true.

"Creepy? C'mon now Mark... We haven't talked in months and this is what you're going to tell me? You should be a bit considerate-"

"I'm not turning any tables around here Lou. What I said is true. During the conference, Professor Seth suddenly walked out as Professor Silvia introduced the vaccine that can cure ESCD. All of us were surprised as Professor Silvia ordered me to followed him."

"And? What did you do?" I asked him as I felt pain on my head. I feel like I want to know what happened.

"I sneaked on the front as I heard Professor Seth mumbling and grumbling. Seconds passed, I heard everthing. Professor Seth planned to end humanity by taking advantage of this disorder. He lied to all people that the only way to cure ESCD is through the presence of little sisters. He was all wrong..." Kian's voice rose a bit that time as he left his coffee untouched.

"Mark, you know I can't believe you there. Professor Seth saved my life once and I know he's a kind person. How come you make hasty conclusions like that?" I asked him, as confusions started to swirl around my brain.

"Yeah, I feel you Lou, but it's the truth. Professor only wanted to kill male teenagers like me and your patient through this, nonsense solution. I tried to research something about him, and I actually found something creepier than killing male teenagers. " Mark handed me a folder with Professor Seth's name on it. The folder's a bit old and wrinkled, but its contents are still good.

"What is this? And can you not say that the solution that Professor Seth made is just a mere nonsense?! Remember that he has treated many ESCD patients-"

"Well, I thought so, but we're all wrong Lou. Read what's inside and see for yourself." Mark said as he took a sip of his coffee while I began to read what was inside.

My heart stopped.

Everything here was all about Professor Seth's dark past. He said here, he had a little sister when he was young, and had a boyfriend. This was his greatest gift seeing her little sister happy together with her boyfriend.

Yet, an incident happened. Professor Seth's little sister's boyfriend broke up, which made her really depressed. This is her first time in such a relationship, so it was a bit painful for her brother. Professor Seth tried to calm her down, but it was no use.

Until one night, Prof. Seth woke up from a loud thud from his little sister's room. As he opened the door, out came his little sister who was no longer alive while hanging over the ceiling.

That moment really broke Professor Seth's heart and filled my mind with anger and revenge. After that incident, he promised, one day, that he'll put all lives of male teenagers to an end...

"Death?!"

"Now, do you understand everything? That research was created by his driver he killed years ago so that no one could stop his plan as this pandemic struck fear into everyone's hearts. But instead of fearing it, he made it an advantage to finally take his plans into action."

"Look, Lou, I'm not forcing you to believe me. I'm just giving you a warning. It's up to you whether you believe me or not. And yes, since you are already the assistant manager and Professor Seth's not in your institution, I want you to carry out this task."

"Eh, what task?" Well, that came out of nowhere...

"Recently, a young girl died from an accident. And it's not an ordinary accident. Some people believed it's more of a set-up." Mark said to me once landing a green folder with no name on the outside.

"That girl is actually a secret member of the ML Institution. You don't know it, but she was adopted before you knew it. Yet, Professor Seth ordered her to kill her next target, which she can't, that's why she killed herself by making this set-up. "

"Hala, this is a terrible woman oh. But isn't this a bit mysterious? I didn't know we even had a roommate at the M.L. Institution." I scratched my head as Mark suddenly held my hand and spoke.

"Lou, I'm leaving the rest to you. Hopefully you could change your mind after you knew everything about this girl. Please, make haste."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." I instantly rolled my eyes and opened what was inside that green folder, but suddenly my world stopped so much that I almost threw the folder away from me as I saw that girl's name...

Her name was... Liana Damandre?!

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