Ben's POV

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I woke up to the sun's rays hitting my face, blinding me momentarily and forcing me to raise my hand to cover my eyes. I let out a groan of frustration and threw the covers over my head in a last attempt to rest a while more, but it was futile. I was already wide awake.

    I sat up groggily and turned to look at my bedside table. My alarm read at 7 o'clock. I groaned once again and rubbed my face with my hands roughly. I was early. Again.

    I threw the sheets off me and hefted myself off my bed revealing my naked body. I made my way to my closet and began to gather my uniform, heading to the shower craving its soothing and cleansing properties. Once in I turned the knob that Mourner had instructed me was the warm water and allowed my thoughts to wander while reaching for the shampoo.

    I hadn't been sleeping very well in the past week due to my memories of the moment my caregiver left me. They left me with the feelings that I had at that time, and they were emotions too intense to handle again. I took a deep breath and let it out shakily, trying to compose myself. I couldn't let those memories still affect me. It had been more than 200 years, and I could only assume that my caregiver had perished. He was human, after all, and I...was not.

I let that fact sink in for a bit and shut off the water's flow. Somewhat signaling that I had to stop thinking about that and exited the shower, making my way into the room with a towel wrapped around my waist, changing myself into my uniform which I had left in the bathroom thinking that I would change in there, but had decided not to. Once finished, I made a mental note to consult my Mistress about my dreams when she arrived home from her job, but for now, I quickly strode down the stairs and into the kitchen to make myself breakfast before heading out for University.

“Well, well. You’re up early Ben!” I heard Mourner mutter as he entered the kitchen as well, in his baby blue pajamas he liked to wear so much. I chuckled lowly and saw through my peripheral vision as he opened a cabinet beside me and pulled out a bag of fresh grass I had pulled only a couple of hours ago. He grinned and looked up at me in question.

I smiled, “ I couldn’t rest appropriately yesterday, so I thought I should pick some fresh grass for you.” I explained and turned back to the eggs I was cooking.

Mourner stayed silent for a while, making me think that he had left, but when I turned again, I was surprised to see him in the same spot and his bottom lip quivering. I stopped what I was doing and immediately kneeled in front of him. “Hey, Mourner, are you all right?” I asked curiously, frowning.

Mourner seemed to snap back from his daze and sniffled loudly, wiping his big nose with his hand roughly, smearing mucus all over his hand. “Do not worry, Ben, I am just worried for you. You will be leaving for your mission in a week, and I do not know when you will be back.” He said, grabbing some napkins from the kitchen table.

I raised an eyebrow, “ Mourner, I have been on countless missions before. Since I was two. What makes you think this will be any different? I’ll assassinate the bad guy, rescue the poor defenseless captive, come back and deliver them to Mistress Oshinawa’s study where she will talk to them and relocate them to a safer place, and then I’ll tell you the magnificent stories I learn from around the area.” I tried to explain to Mourner, but he simply stared at me in silence and looked away. I sighed and returned to cooking my now burnt eggs. “Hey, how about you help me and explain to me what a blind date is?" I asked Mourner, trying to change the subject and smirked when I heard a choking sound. Guess he didn't expect that.

"What- what in the hell are you talking about? Who the hell invited you to one of those?" Mourner squeaked out when his breathing was normal.

I turned around and made my way to the kitchen table, sitting across from Mourner so I could see his funny reactions to the news. "Um, another student invited me."

Mourner immediately grew pale. "Another student? Don't you think it might be a trick? They could be playing a prank on you! Didn't I specifically tell you to not listen to any humans?" Mourner began to scold me, but I raised a hand to silence him.

"Wait, I don't even know what a blind date is. Please explain." I requested, and Mourner sighed.

"Fine. I'm assuming you know what a date is, right?" Mourner asked, and I nodded. I'd learned about it when Oshinawa would teach me about the lives of humans and how to participate in them. I had gone on a few dates here and there during the 200 years I was alive, but only with super hot and important young women. I aged quickly and was already looking like an eighteen year old by the time I was two months old. Since then, I have looked like a young 18-21 year old. I don't know how, but It helped me a lot, and I learned a lot about different cultures as I traveled the world and would go to different schools to learn where my targets would be present. Some would say I used my dates for information, but that's my job. I get paid with a roof above my head and food. Not to mention the amount of wealth I have accumulated with the help of Mourner. And even if I did use the girls, they would eventually do the same with me. They mainly wanted sex and then leave to gossip about it, but I always managed to find an escape route and make sure they were thoroughly entertained. With the help of illusions, of course. But yes, I did know what a date was, "well," Mourner continued, " a blind date is very similar except you don't know the identity of who you are going with. She might be fat, skinny, white, black, tall, or short. You'll only know when you meet up with her in the place where you agreed on. Understand?"

I nodded again. "Oh, ok. Well, I'm heading there after University. I won't be able to come home for dinner later, all right?"I asked, and Mourner shook his head in approval. I moved to get up but was stopped as Mourner grabbed me by the sleeve of my uniform.

"Wait, Ben. Are you seriously planning on going to the blind date in that uniform?" Mourner asked incredulously. I looked at my clothing and arched an eyebrow in confusion. What was wrong with my uniform? I was wearing a formal grey suit with some black dress shoes and a white dress shirt accompanied by a black tie. It was my best suit that I owned.

"What is the problem? I have attracted many women with this uniform." I boasted, absentmindedly fiddling with my tie.

Mourner now shook his head in disapproval, "Have you learned nothing of this century? Women in the University often prefer someone with casual clothing, with brand shoes. Some Vans or Converse will suit you, or some sports brand shoes and some white ones will compliment your skin tone, so you should choose a shirt that is light in color to add to that effect. Skinny jeans or joggers will be most appropriate to cover your legs. Black ones, if you must. That's the style nowadays, also don't forget to wear black socks because with white socks it will look awful,  and maybe wear that necklace that L- I mean, your caregiver left you. It...will suit you... I think." Mourner mumbled nervously at the end. I tensed. How did he know of the necklace?

"All right. I will. Thank you." I thanked him and made my way up the stairs. I began to feel my blood boil but chose to ignore it. Someone would find out about the necklace soon, and I'm glad it was Mourner and not my Mistress. She would want to destroy it, and I couldn't bear that thought.

I moved towards my closet and opened it, making my way inside it, pushing aside the tons of clothing that were on the hangers and the floor.  I walked toward the left corner of the closet and opened the shoebox that was positioned there, opening it and grabbing the black Converse shoe that fits on my left foot. I removed the thick laces and removed the aglets at the ends, taking out the cotton that was inside them, removing the necklace that was hidden in between the cloth.

I walked to my bed and sat, carefully holding the necklace in my cupped hands. I admired the intricate golden chain, the many delicate links appearing expensive and posh, but the most ornate part was the polished, golden crescent moon hanging by a small almost non-existent link. It was so elegant and seemed to radiate a golden hue, but I dismissed it as a trick of the light. I could stay admiring it for hours, the fond memories of my caregiver and I chatting under the Calptrogyne trees about the creatures in the area. He was so patient and was the smartest guy I had met. I could barely recollect anything about him, but I knew I would never forget the color of his eyes. His unique and beautiful eyes. The glow of smoldering embers. The image was very vivid in my mind, almost as if it was burnt into it.

I would never disregard his promise either, and it played in my head every time I thought of him or gazed upon the necklace. ' Your name, boy, will be the reminder that I, Lalo Pascual, care for you and forever will be with you and when you look at the moon, let it also be a reminder that we will meet again. By then, I hope you have done some wonderful things and have some incredible stories that you can share. When we meet, you need only tell me your name, and I will immediately know who you are...because your name will be Beneharo Pascual.' I would catch myself often sniffling, or even shuddering, goosebumps decorating my skin at the sincerity of his voice when he spoke.

Later, I had discovered what moon he had been referring to when I was taken to a shack in Japan while I was asleep, exhausted from the emotional turmoil that had occurred inside me and the amount of screaming I had produced with my juvenile lungs. I woke up and immediately searched around me praying that I had been dreaming and that it was a terrible nightmare, but the truth was in my garment's pocket — a golden moon. The moon he had been referring to. Not the bright, pale moon. The one in my hands at the moment, with its cold, heavy metal seeming to seer into my skin as to remind me that it had been real.

That he had neglected me. 

I felt my body begin to quiver as tears formed in my eyes, the memories coming fast and without mercy. I knew I was going to lose it if I didn't end it here, so I placed the necklace back in between the cotton and returned everything how I had put it before in a rush, a droning sound growing in volume as I moved faster and with more labor and strength. I could feel the memories retreating with each action that I made to conceal the necklace and the unpleasant remembrances along with it in my closet. The sound, however, still rose and was to the point of being deafening, annoying me and sending me into a panic so hard that as I finished placing the lid on the shoebox with more force than I had anticipated, I bolted up and took a few steps away, the sound fading as it had never existed.

It was then that I felt my chest contracting and I noticed I was panting heavily like I had run a marathon. I brought my trembling hands to my moist hair, combing it away from my eyes and performed breathing exercises, attempting to calm myself before I went downstairs to bid farewell to Mourner.

I breathed out one last time and considered myself calm enough to leave. I was going to be running late for University if I didn't leave now, so I changed into what Mourner had recommended quickly, gathered my materials I would need for my class today and with one last glance towards my closet, I closed my room door and plastered a grin on my face. Immediately feeling relieved and rushing downstairs, quickly wishing Mourner a great day, and out the door, I went.

I couldn't wait for my date.