Chapter 14

Aurora blinked her eyes several times. Frowning involuntarily, she heard Lexton's words that she couldn't quite understand. Organization? The Alfacht Clan? Ah, is that why the man with the umbrella asked her which organization she came from? Because they were people of an organization with a certain environmental scope?

"What do you guys do?" asked Aurora quickly, before Lexton could continue his answer.

The man widened his bead, seemingly searching for the right word.

"We?" he said, hanging up the sentence. "Doing business."

Aurora wanted to ask more questions, but the look in Lexton's eyes told her not to.

"You don't really need to know the details," the man said. "The important thing is that you're safe here, and that you live well until you turn 21. You just need to go about your normal activities, and that means you need to stay here with us."

Aurora exhaled heavily. She knew it had to happen, because she couldn't go home again.

"Alright," Aurora agreed. She had to at least try, and wait for Gama until he returned. Despite the uncertainty, Aurora didn't want to stop hoping.

"And about Gama...." Lexton drew out his sentence with difficulty.

"There's no need for you to continue, sir," Aurora cut in quickly. Their eyes met again, and Aurora saw the sad look in Lexton's eyes. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked. Brother forbade me from finding out about his whereabouts, and I'll abide by that."

Lexton was at a loss for words, as if his lips were paralyzed now. Aurora looked at him with a very calm glow, in contrast to him who still radiated a deep sense of guilt whenever Gama's name was in the air.

"Gama told you that?" asked Lexton to confirm. "Not to find out about him?"

Aurora nodded quickly. Shifting her gaze to look in another direction, the young woman seemed to be lost in thought. Probably looking for the remaining fragments of the brief memories she had with Gama back in the day, before she had to accept a mission to meet Lexton as she was now.

Gama's absence made Aurora feel alone, with a very low level of confidence. She had no one to depend on anymore, she had nowhere to go home to anymore.

"Just as you received a blue letter, I received a pink letter," Aurora replied. "Brother told me a few things. Namely that I should look for you, because you are the guardian who will temporarily replace my brother for me. And in that letter, he also asked me not to ask or find out anything about his whereabouts."

There was still a needle in Lexton's heart that he could not ignore. The young woman sitting in front of him probably didn't know the truth, that they had just held a funeral for one Gamaliel Vernon. Aurora probably still didn't think that Gama was no longer alive, and that he really wasn't coming back.

Until whenever.

"Aren't you curious?" asked Lexton this time. The throbbing in his heart was getting louder, along with the chatter about Gama that permeated the room now.

Lexton thought Aurora would ask him to tell her, but all the man got was a firm shake of his head later.

"No," Aurora replied. "Another thing my brother said in his letter to me was that whatever happened was his choice a long time ago. No one can fault that, though it still feels gray to me. What choice do you think he made?"

Lexton was again petrified. The look in his eyes turned even sadder. Not knowing what to say, or should he just confess now that he was the one who caused this young lady's brother to cease to exist? Where should he start his confession?

"Alright then," Aurora said then, breaking the silence that had been present. Looking back at Lexton, she gave a small nod. "Perhaps we can stop here, since it looks like your cake is getting cold."

Lexton had almost forgotten to eat his muffin, and now he replied to Aurora's words with a faint smile that he forced at the corners of his lips.

"Alright, I guess that's enough for today," Lexton agreed.

Aurora was about to get up from the sofa, wanting to retreat from Lexton's presence when an idea suddenly popped into her head. She didn't know if she was being presumptuous in asking for this, but she really needed it now.

"Uhm, Mr. Lexton."

Lexton tilted his head. "Hmm?"

"Can I ask you for something?" the woman asked hesitantly. She silently prayed that Lexton would not find her troublesome.

"Tell me."

Gathering her courage, Aurora spoke up slowly.

"Can I continue my studies? I can't just stay at home waiting until I turn 21. Don't I also need to move around so as not to disturb the peace of this house, right?"

Aurora risked everything to ask that, she really wanted to continue her interrupted education.

Lexton looked silent, as if he was considering carefully. Aurora was no longer his guest there, but his sister whom he had to take care of and make sure her life went well. Just like what Gama had asked, and he had agreed to do that.

To be her guardian, to protect Aurora Vernon, and to avenge what Gama had yet to accomplish.

"Do you want to continue your studies?" Lexton repeated to confirm.

Aurora seemed to bite her lower lip reflexively, and Lexton saw it happen before his eyes. Giving a small gasp, Lexton watched with labored breathing. The room felt suddenly hot.

"If you permit," Aurora replied. "I'd at least like to have friends, to move around like all the other young women my age out there. Do you think that's possible?"

Lexton didn't know, really didn't know. It never crossed the man's mind to take care of someone's studies, but he had already agreed. Is this what a guardian does? Giving her the opportunity to continue her studies?

There was a moment of silence as Lexton seemed to think for a while, weighing up all the risks and good and bad of letting Aurora go to college out there.

"Regarding continuing college...." Lexton hung up his answer.

Aurora waited beady-eyed, hoping that he would agree.

"I guess that's not bad," Lexton continued. Aurora cheered inwardly, widening her smile as wide as her face without realizing it.

"Thank you, sir!" she exclaimed happily. "I appreciate your help. I'll make sure I'm no trouble, and I'll study hard!"

Lexton had a small gasp when he realized how happy Aurora looked, with a smile that had yet to leave her beautiful face. Noticing Aurora, Lexton had a conversation with herself for two seconds.

'This girl looks beautiful when she laughs.

"As your guardian, this is the first thing I can do," Lexton replied. "Be ready in half an hour. We'll find the right college."