Read Summer Agony :: Chapter Four - When Our Eyes Meet

The girl who was at Beer earlier. And probably the same person he had dreamed about in the previous nights. His temples ached for some reason, as if the vision from his dream was coming true. That was it, he thought. He saw her like that, exactly as she was at that moment.

She slept peacefully, as if on vacation on a paradise island guarded by God. Remi checked his watch again, just to be sure. It was already past four o'clock. Indeed, it was not a safe time, besides being cold and his clothes feeling thin.

This doesn't concern you. He knew he was right about that. The best thing to do was to move on, leave as if he hadn't witnessed that. Yes, just pretend none of this is happening.

Remi despised irresponsible people because he couldn't ignore them. With good examples of negligence in his life, when he encountered someone like that, he felt a dormant revolt resurface within him.

This doesn't concern you. He repeated to himself, recalling how he had acted in the dream. He just left, right? Yes, that's what he should do. He should go home.

He was still waiting for the change. The cashier guy was counting the coins somewhat weakly. Why was it taking so long? Don't worry about it. Just go home. Like you did in the dream.

At a certain moment, a man with dull eyes and a slouched posture came along the sidewalk, noticing the sleeping girl. Remi tightened his grip on the soda can in his hand. He observed that the man was considering approaching her. It was the perfect bait for a hungry crocodile. But damn it.

"Your change," the young cashier guy reached out his hand, but Remi didn't hear him.

Move on. Don't get close. Stop staring at her. However, he knew the man couldn't hear his silent commands. A sudden urge to stand between the stranger and the sleeping girl filled his chest—a strange impulse he couldn't fully understand. It was certainly related to the way the stranger was looking at the girl. Malicious and entirely repulsive. He even managed to pull a smirk at the corner of his mouth. He wished to lift his head towards the sky.

Is that why I'm here? His silent question received no divine answer.

When the man was closer to her than he should be, Remi's mind emptied, and it was like glass shattering on the ground. He hurried away.

"Hey! Your sandwich!" The cashier guy shouted.

"Any problem?" He approached them, speaking loudly.

His rough voice carried with the wind, startling the man. The guy pulled an empty chair, sat in front of the sleeping girl, placing his soda can on the table. The man, still standing, analyzed him in amazement. Remi hardened his face against the stranger. "I'll ask again. Any problem?"

The man shrank.

"Oh, yeah, yeah..." he scratched his beard while nodding.

The stranger started walking away, cowardly retreating. Remi still looked back, watching him disappear. The guy took a deep breath, releasing the disgust that had been stuck in his chest. He noticed the girl still asleep. He narrowed his eyes, incredulous. He wondered what would have happened if he hadn't been there? He wondered what happened in the dream?

Then, he noticed. There was something in her hand. Remi managed to see the name written on the bottle: Allegra.

He put his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together, taking in more and more air. He inflated like a balloon. He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of sleep on his eyelids. When he opened them again, the two dark coffee orbs sparkled in the darkness. He took the soda can in his hand, opened it, and swallowed all the liquid at once. Remi then returned the can to the table and gently dragged it closer to her head. He placed his right hand on top of the aluminum can and crushed it against the surface. The noise echoed, and the girl startled, waking up from a dream or perhaps a nightmare.

She raised her head, still sleepy, orienting herself slowly. Remi waited for the girl to notice him. Her hair flew away from her face, revealing her appearance. They exchanged glances. Her face still seemed sleepy; he felt reluctant to question her. Irresponsible, how can someone put themselves in danger like this?

For no reason, the dark gaze still staring at him caused him a certain strangeness. It was as if the sparkling spheres that looked at him—so different from his own—didn't deserve his indignation, didn't deserve screams or words that could hurt. It was a peaceful look, with not much to say. Almost stunned, hidden. A gaze in flight and unusually profound. How could he feel like this for someone he didn't even know?

Again, Remi imagined that women were innate conquerors. However, it didn't matter. He didn't care about the rudeness. Remi looked indifferent to the sky, seeing that the day was about to dawn.

Since she didn't say anything, he declared first aloud:

"Are you out of your mind? What kind of person puts themselves in danger like this?! Don't you know it's dangerous for a girl to wander around here alone?"

She swallowed his words, absorbing them slowly. It had been harsh, but it was necessary.

"We've met before?" she asked. The tone of her voice was low, like a whisper. The boy could understand that question.

"No," Remi replied.

"Why did you talk to me as if we knew each other?" Her words sounded like genuine doubt. She seemed afraid, even if she didn't show it.

You're right, he concluded in his thoughts. I don't know you.

A silence lingered between them for a few seconds. She glanced around as if trying to understand the situation. Straightening where she was, she brought her arms closer to her body. The girl didn't remove the strands of hair that obstructed her vision and said, "I didn't mean to put myself in danger. I just fell asleep." There was little confidence and hoarseness in her voice, as if her throat was dry. From the embarrassed look she maintained, it didn't seem like she was lying. "It wasn't on purpose."

Remi ran his hands over his jeans, thinking about his next move. He was sleepy, tired. He wanted to go home. He shouldn't be there; it wasn't his concern.

A small noise interrupted the quietude. It was a low growl coming from the girl. She shrank when a cold wind passed.

"Are you hungry?" he inquired. He observed her in a curious way, waiting for an answer that didn't come. "Come with me."

"Uh, I..." the girl tried to say when she saw him stand up. Remi walked ahead, not allowing her to finish her sentence.

"Aren't you coming?"

The guy noticed the hesitation shining on her face. He also saw when she put the medicine bottle back into the pocket of her coat. The bottle she held even while sleeping, apparently. That reminded him of his short past and how much he hated seeing someone take a pill.

Remi only moved forward after seeing her stand up. Inside the convenience store, the guy walked with a basket in hand. Sideways, he watched as the girl entered too. The boy at the cash register greeted her, as if it wasn't the first time he spoke to her. Maybe she had been there earlier.

Only when he finished filling the basket with products did Remi approach the cashier. The three in the space said nothing. The teenager, the store employee, scanned the entire purchase and waited for payment. Then, Remi turned his feet on the floor, facing the girl still standing near the door.

With bags in hand, he passed by her, calling her, "Come."

Outside, the two stood close to the curb. In a swift move, the guy handed her the bags, intrusive. Afterward, he took the cellphone from his pocket, calling someone. Meanwhile, even though silent, the girl in front cast indiscreet glances. Occasionally, she let her head tilt in protective reflexes.

However, she didn't speak. She was like a tomb.

"Listen to what I'm going to say," Remi began speaking, surprising her. "Don't live like this. Go home, don't stay out late, eat, and forget..." He paused in his speech. Without delay, he put his hand into her pocket and pulled out the medicine bottle with a slight aversion on his face. "...these things."

A taxi pulled up near them. She still remained quiet, blinking her eyelids as if a heavy sleep was approaching.

"Mr. Sawel is a friend of mine. Tell him where you live, and he'll take you there." Remi nodded to the man in the car. "Get in."

The girl did as he asked. With bags in hand, she entered the back seat of the car. Remi closed the door and stepped away from the curb. The vehicle drove off into the dark avenue, disappearing on the horizon.

The guy still stared at the void left behind. He still had the medicine bottle in his hand. He read the name engraved on it again:

"Allegra." He started walking, tossing the object into a trash can. "How could I have dreamed about you?"