Chapter Five

It was a pleasant morning; Leonard is outside the mansion with Maximus. Leonard is playing with the dog, throwing a stick as far as he could and Maximus will fetch it and bring it back to him. He was just enjoying it when the dog jumped over him suddenly to fetch the stick he had just thrown and caught it midair. Leonard was shocked and covered his head, he thought that Maximus has gone mad and tried to attack him. Maximus is a large dog, a crossbreed of a Mastiff and a Pitbull, and yes, it is so startling to look at this enormous and ferocious-looking dog, but it is well-trained and will not attack familiar people, well at least as long as it recognizes you.

When Leonard realizes that he is still complete and was not hurt, he uncovers his head and looked around. He sees Maximus holding the stick within his mouth. “You’ve almost given me a heart attack Maximus,” he tells the dog as he reaches for the stick and decided to stop playing with Maximus. This dog is just one year old but it already has gigantic features, it is treated as a family member in this Mansion.

Rio was at the balcony smoking another Cuban cigar, watching his friend, and seems to laugh a bit at what has just happened to his friend. Leonard saw him smiling. The latter approaches Rio and was kind of embarrassed, “what are you laughing at Mr. Perfect? Do you think that is funny?” he too seems to laugh a bit. Rio just shook his head smiling. He puts down his cigar in a crystal ashtray and went inside his room, put on a white shirt that fitted his masculine-built body. He then went downstairs to meet Leonard outside.

As Rio walks outside going in the direction of where the Gazebo is, he was followed by one of their servants who is carrying dish trolly. Leonard and Rio are looking at each other smiling until Rio reaches the Gazebo. Rio sat down and the servant starts to prepare a coffee for two.

“Come here now Mr. Scaredy, I believe you do not want to have a cold premium roasted coffee, do you?” Rio invited him to come.

Leonard went and sat down with his buddy, took the other cup of coffee Rio had handed over to him. They both took a sip, this coffee tastes perfect, roasted properly into perfection, not to sweet and you can really smell that kind of aroma, the scent that awakens all the sleeping soul that smells it. Leonard watches Rio but did not utter a word as the lad took a newspaper and started reading. Leonard remembers from when he first met Rio back when they were younger.

Both were orphans, his Aunt Petra introduced him to Rio, the young master of her aunt. This boy does not talk much and does not want to be asked a lot of questions either. Although Leonard lost his parent and was separated from his siblings, his jolliness did not diminish. He lends his hand to have a handshake but Rio ignored him.

“Silly boy, I know you are rich but please have the decency to respect another person’s courtesy," he then reached the right hand of Rio and shook it.

Yes, the two boys did not get along instantly, but through the years, they would end up having each other as best of friends and treat each other as brothers. There was once a time when a group of six boys in the school ganged up against Leonard, and Rio stood beside him. They were both beaten badly but not as badly as their opponents who were confined in the hospital for a week. Aunt Petra became so angry when she learned about what happened to them, they were punished and were spanked with a broomstick in their butt, funny thing is, they both laughed at each other after the beating they have just received.

These two buddies may differ in their respective traits but they sure know when to back up each other in the nick of time. Leonard knew that Rio is being bothered by those nightmares more often now than before. What is more troubling is that Rio started seeing someone stalking him. At first, he too thought that maybe Rio was just hallucinating and that these things that are happening to him right now are side effects caused by the medications being given to him to help him calm down whenever he needed. Is it just because of the medicine, or is it because of something else? Leonard thought to himself as he takes another sip of that finely brewed coffee.

Leonard’s jolliness seems to have faded a bit as he contemplates that thought, he knew his buddy is experiencing anxiety and he could not do anything about it. Even having casual drinks at Trifler’s seems to have less effect on Rio’s heavily bothered mind. To other people’s eyes, Rio may look normal, the manner is still there, perfectly projected by this young man, but in Leonard’s eyes, Rio cannot hide the truth. Even Aunt Petra as well as Uncle Ferdie have noticed the sudden mood swings and behavior of their young master. Leonard feels that besides the things Rio is experiencing, Aunt Petra and Uncle Ferdie had been engaging in small arguments about something only they knew what is that all about.

“Really?” Leonard murmurs to himself out of frustration asking himself why is everyone trying to hide something thinking that they are not being obvious?

He could not take it anymore and decided that he should act and acted he did by directly asking Rio a question that has been bothering him also for a week now.

“You know you cannot stay silent about it forever, especially now…” he takes a pause for a moment as Rio folds the newspaper and sighs. Leonard looked at him and continued, “I am always right here and I will not leave your side buddy, give me at least a hint of what really is going on with you lately.”

Rio stayed silent and stood, he turns his back at Leonard and went near the edge of the Gazebo. He silently stared at those white roses bathing in the warm sunlight. What a perfect scene, until he notices a mouse emerged from beneath the roses’ thick base. It took a glance and quickly entered the hole again but did not totally hide, as if this creature is investigating its surrounding.

From behind the thick bushes below the roses, a cat sneaks, patiently inching its’ way near the mouse who is not aware of the danger that was coming. A butterfly flew by around the mouse as if it is giving a warning to the prey. Poor careless mouse, went outside the whole thinking that there is no danger and, in any instance, the cat jumped quickly catching the tiny mouse in the back with its sharp claws. Rio did not move and looked frozen, watching every detail. The mouse screeched helplessly and tried to fight back but, there is no escaping this predator now, it is too late, the mouse gave all its strength but to no avail. It has weakened so quickly as the cat started pounding its head with its other paw. Rio wants to do something but he feels that it is the way of nature, where the prey is to be eaten by the predator.

What a tragic scene it has turned out when the cat devoured the mouse by starting to gnaw its head. This scene seems so familiar but Rio cannot remember where he saw this. The next thing he knew is that the white beautiful Roses are now stained with blood. All the purity was gone, and what is left is bloody scenery.

Rio just stood there and stayed silent, and Leonard knew that only at the right time, all will be revealed, maybe Rio is not just ready to talk about it yet.