The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

159 An Unexpected Call

“Looks like the war has started, Rachel. We need to move quickly before things fall apart.” Emma said.

The two girls were in the silent campus library. They deliberately sat at the most secluded and corner table which was far enough from a row of bookshelves, so that no one heard their conversation which was still carried on in whispers.

“The problem now is that we don’t have much time to spy on both groups’ areas at the same time. If entering the Creeper’s main base, we could still do it. But that’s a different story for their base on Greenvalley Street. I’ve checked that in the area, there aren’t any active shops that would allow us to disguise as customers.” Rachel propped her chin on her palm.

Emma couldn’t help but sigh at the fact that Rachel told her. Making a plan was easy, but putting it into action was difficult. Emma could say that she was going to pit Lee Mu Fei against Oscar, but still didn’t know how.

“Emma,”

The light brown-eyed girl woke up from her muse and immediately looked at Rachel who was sitting opposite her, “Yes?”

“Back then, you said that we had the same mission as Marcel Douglas, didn’t you?” Rachel asked.

Emma nodded. Then her eyes narrowed, staring at Rachel suspiciously.

Looking at Emma’s face, she seemed to understand where Rachel was talking at. Thus, the blue-eyed girl nodded, “You get my point,”

.....

“But.. I think it’s too risky, Rachel,” Emma muttered.

Rachel nodded, “In my opinion, everything has its risks. Even if we take the safest steps, we won’t be able to escape if fate has spoken.”

“Do you think it would work?” Emma gave a doubtful face.

Rachel shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know. This is something I think is better than trying to do everything by ourselves even though we don’t have enough experience. Sometimes the risky opportunity has a huge reward. If you want bigger fish, then you have to be brave enough to throw bigger bait. Isn’t that the rule of the game?”

“You’re right, Rachel. I think I was too coward..” Emma mumbled as her shoulders dropped.

Rachel took Emma’s hand and held it, “You’re risking a lot, Emma. Being careful doesn’t mean being a coward. I can tell the difference and I’m sure you can too.” When Emma finally looked up and smiled, Rachel continued, “But this time we don’t have much choice, Emma. We can either play it safe but be late or take a risk but save things in time.”

Emma nodded, then she cleared her throat as she pulled her hand from Rachel’s grip, “Rachel.. Actually, there’s something you should know. This idea of ??yours isn’t just a point we had just written down in the ‘Planning List’. When I defeated the Creeper’s men together with Marcel, that guy actually offered Black to work with them.”

Emma’s statement raised Rachel’s eyebrows, “Are you serious?”

Emma nodded.

“That.. is a shortcut that...” Rachel cleared her throat, “would be a shame if we didn’t go through it,”

Emma smiled faintly, “You think so?” there was no light in her eyes.

Rachel understood that Emma actually objected. It seemed like Emma still had a lot of things she didn’t want to say to anyone including her. There was something that makes the girl so afraid that people find out that she was a strong woman.

It was true that this world was too judgmental. But a person would easily feel afraid because s/he had a trauma, right? Could it be that Emma Hilland had a trauma, just like her? Rachel thought to herself. If indeed what she thought about Emma was true, she better not force her.

“In the end, it all depends on your decision, Emma. I believe, our mission would succeed in one way or another. Maybe the way would be different, but I’m sure you can guide this mission to completion.” Rachel said, then she smiled with a guilty face, “Sorry if I pressured you too much. I know you have a lot of important things to consider. What a shame of me,”

Emma immediately shook her head, “No, Rachel. You have nothing wrong to apologize to me. Actually, this is a personal matter that I have to resolve on my own. I shouldn’t have let this matter affect our mission. But...”

Rachel nodded. Now her lips turned into a warm smile that made her warm charm radiate, “It’s okay, Emma. If you need time to think, of course, you should have it. Just like you, I also don’t want to bring my personal problems into this mission. I don’t want you to force yourself because you wanted to help me. Just imagine that right now we are not two friends helping each other, but a team that has to succeed in the mission.”

***

A laptop screen emitted its blue light. In the darkness, it lighted up the face of a girl who was sitting in front of it with her chin resting on her knees that she was hugging.

Emma should be doing her coursework, but her mind was too distracted to concentrate. She had absolutely no passion or the slightest desire to study. She was contemplating a decision she had to make.

“Shouldn’t Jonas call me today?” She muttered as she stared at her cell phone screen which was always quiet. Reluctantly, she placed the object at random beside her laptop on the study desk, facing the bedroom window that showed the round moon that was shining alone in the night sky.

But like a coincidence, suddenly, an incoming call on her cellphone rang. Emma grabbed her phone right away. She thought it was Jonas as it should be. But she was wrong. The person who called her wasn’t Jonas, but someone she didn’t expect to call.

Emma slapped her forehead. She forgot something very important. She forgot that she had a responsibility. She forgot that a few days ago, she had hit a car that turned out to be Levi Wargos’s. But until this moment, she had not called him again after promising to come to his house to take his car to the repair shop.

Emma touched the wavy green logo while her phone kept vibrating, “H-Hello?”

“Hm.. I think I saw a released criminal.” A deep and somewhat hoarse voice sang lightly from the opposite line. Emma was very familiar with this distinctive way of speaking. Levi Wargos’ annoying way of talking.

“Levi, I’m really sorry. I totally forgot to call you. I was just about to call you, actually. But it seems that you called me first.” Emma said hastily. She gave some sparks of lies in it. She felt guilty and ashamed because it seemed like she was running away from responsibility. She unintentionally did something very unlike her usual self.

“That’s what people who run away from responsibility but get caught, usually say,” Levi said casually. “So, when do you think you’ll be coming here?”

Hearing Levi’s words, Emma couldn’t help but swear silently, “I’ll go there, of course. But.. I have a lot of work right now,” she let out a long sigh as she put her phone away so the caller wouldn’t hear it, “I’m sorry, Levi. I don’t think I have enough time to come to your house right away. But if you’re really in a hurry, do you mind helping me bring the car yourself to a repair shop and give me the bill later? I really am sorry..” she asked carefully.

The silence sounded from there. Emma waited anxiously for his answer. Normally, Levi would probably be angry now. Not only people who had a bad personality like him. Even ordinary people would definitely be disappointed if they were in Levi’s position. The problem was that Emma had promised to take the car to the repair shop directly and bear the costs. However, she instead ordered the victim to take the car himself to the repair shop now.

The longer Emma was in Handway City, the more she learned about one thing. She realized that the environment and circumstances could even change a person’s principles. Because, the many problems that come together would make a person forced to choose which one she should prioritize. For Emma, ??who since childhood had the principle to be a perfect person and always put her good name and ego first, this reality really hurt her self-esteem as a human being.

There was a faint sigh from the opposite line, “What else happened to you?” Levi asked.

“What?” Emma frowned in confusion.

“You’re not good at hiding your feelings. Your voice is the same as the time when you let your body be covered in snow on the riverbank that time.” He laughed.

“It’s very audible, huh?” Emma smiled faintly. “At least, it looks like this thing can distract you from your anger.”

“Why should I be angry?” Levi asked.

“Of course, because I hit your car, promised to take responsibility and forgot about it. This is really embarrassing, isn’t it?” Emma answered slowly.

“Hmm,” Subconsciously, Levi nodded his head, “That indeed is a lowly behaviour. But you don’t need to worry. I was kind enough to have fixed it myself for you. You better thank me for that.”

“What?” Emma straightened her back immediately, “Are you kidding me? Why didn’t you wait for me or at least let me know?”

“Hei, weepy girl. So you think I’d be willing to drive a dented car for days just to wait for you to come which I don’t even know when?”

Emma paused then shook her head weakly, “Of course not, Levi. Sorry that I made you uncomfortable and get you troubled.”

“I’m feeling done to hear your apology. Can’t you show it with action?” He asked.

“Thanks for helping me, Levi. Please send me the repair shop bill and I’ll pay for it right now.” Emma answered, trying to be patient. She knew that she was at the fault now, that she couldn’t be tough.

“Didn’t I say apologies? Not accountability? Replacing it is a responsibility, but I think apologies have other meanings.” Levi replied.

Emma frowned, “Are you trying to extort me?”

“I am.”