Go, August, Go! FS2 ENGLISH

two: innocent

It was too much. I involved an innocent man in covering up for myself and my boyfriend. There was no way I could erase that cold look of the man in my head. He hardly put up a fight. He watched me as though it wasn’t surprising. Like he had expected such… insane act on me. Or the likes of me.

“How are you, Miss Roxette? You were with that thug again, weren’t you? Where is he?”

I crossed my arms over my chest as Sandro started his cold interrogation. He was standing outside the car and quickly scanned my body for injuries. I couldn’t help but glare. Shouting at him for addressing Levi like that when I clearly informed him of my boyfriend’s name infuriated me. But I controlled myself as I was aware I was wrong. And they just caught me in a local inn. If my parents hear this…

“I’ll call Monsignore and—”

“N-No,” my lips trembled as I pleadingly met his frowning face. “Don’t, Sandro. Please.”

He pursed his lips and put the phone away from his ear before bringing it to his pocket. No assurance given. He simply closed the car door and faced the other guards with us. Randy got behind the wheel but my eyes were fixated on Sandro talking to his men. I knew he would not listen to me. I knew he would tell my parents this. To my Mom first, if not to Dad. There was no way he would listen to me. I had expected the worst of my rendezvous with Levi but I never expected him to tell me to go home! He gave me choices but going back home was literally the option left of me! What's worse, we involved someone innocent—I involved him out of fear and panic.

Sandro was already on the passenger seat when the establishment guards were holding the guy, August, in his arms. I gasped and moved closer to the window to witness how they dragged him. His head was cast down to the floor, lost in his thoughts, and as though he was not being dragged for something he obviously didn’t do. There was not an ounce of protest on his face. But there was definitely danger in his eyes and it was vivid despite the distance. We were on the other side of the road, but when our car engine roared to life, his head expectantly lifted to us. My gasp was audible when I confirmed the scowl on his face. His brows furrowed with confusion for a while before his expression hardened again. He squinted his eyes to our car, to the backseat specifically where I was seated, as if he could see me through the tinted window. For a moment, I doubted if it was indeed tinted because his glare made me believe he could actually see me.

My skin crawled with fear. I felt it more than regret.

His gaze was only cut when a police car pulled onto the driveway before them. Our car began to move, too. But August darted his eyes back at us, and I had to look away when the police stepped out of their car to take him.

Tears pricked my eyes. I lowered my head and watched my fisted hands on my thighs. How could I be this cruel?

I couldn’t forget it. A week passed quickly. It was a blessing that my parents were gone for a business trip, and Sandro decided to wait for their arrival to tell them what had happened. I was still thinking about how to convince them not to tell my parents but I couldn’t think of another way. My mind was corrupted by the sin I had just committed. I couldn’t get it off my head. Especially the image of that August being taken by the police.

I cleared my throat and pinched on my fingertips as I glanced outside the window. It’s been exactly a week since it happened and I never tried to escape my guards again. Levi hasn’t contacted me yet either but I assumed he was fine since Sandro didn’t find him. They were still looking for him to prove he was indeed at the scene but he was nowhere. I knew Levi. He would only show up again once it all died down.

“What will happen to him now, Sandro?” I asked in a soft voice. He took a long time to answer so I looked up at him. He kept his head straight on the road and didn’t spare me a glance.

“Where’s still looking for your friend? I'm sure he was there, too—”

“Not Levi,” I shook my head and wiped away the tears. Sighing as he still didn't acknowledge Levi as my boyfriend. I was at least open with him about it because I couldn't be that brave to my parents. “That man, Sandro. August. What happened to him after the police got him? Is he… home now?" My heart pounded with the reluctance dripping in my tone. Even I was uncertain he was home.

His forehead creased when he glanced at me. “Home? He's still in the police station."

I would have stood if we weren't inside the car. My eyes grew wide as I mentally counted the time. I was right. "I-It's been a week, Sandro! How come he's still in the police station?"

His frown deepened. Then he shook his head disappointedly and faced the road again. Randy was silently listening to us behind the wheel.

"Sandro?"

"Why, Miss Roxette?" he asked coldly. "We saw you in that state with him in the room. I saw the fear in your eyes… But I have a feeling now he's innocent. Is he?"

A large stone was in my throat. Of course, Sandro would have noticed. I could even tell he had that guess a week ago already. I pursed my lips tight and failed to give a reply. Randy glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

"Why can't he get himself out there if he's… innocent?" He could just tell that to the police! Or… "Is he bailable?"

"Apparently, it's not his first time in prison. He had been… charged with the same count."

My mouth ran dry. "W-What do you mean?"

He shifted in his seat. "You're indeed used to making friends with people who have good records." It was full of sarcasm of course.

I winced and leaned back on my seat and crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm not friends with August. He is… really innocent."

"Caught in the crossfire, are you saying?"

I sighed. "Something like that. He… delivered the pizza and obviously he's in his uniform that day. I… let's meet him, Sandro. Let's help him get out."

The car pulled on the sideroad as Sandro signaled Randy to. He turned back to me. "You cannot meet with him. The public is keeping an eye on him. They didn't know who took him behind bars this time and showing up there to bail him out—"

"You will bail him out," I cut him off.

His forehead creased. He narrowed his eyes at me as though he couldn't understand me but I knew he did. He straightened back on his seat. "We cannot do that. Your parents might want to meet with him."

"Come on, Sandro. We both know my parents won't spare him time. If anything, they'll only bring him to a brink. I'm admitting now he's innocent. That he's caught up to this cluelessly because I dragged him to. It stressed me that he didn't even fight for his innocence. I'm sure there are CCTVs in the building he can use. He didn't even put up a fight!"

"Do you really want that? Do you want him to put up a fight?"

It halted me for a while. But then… "It'd cause me trouble but I know you'll work for it for me. The real villain is willing to fight back. Why can't he? He's the innocent and the victim. He should have more reason to fight back!"

"I told you, he's been in the same situation. He just got released from prison. Do you think he would have the courage to prove his innocence when everyone was ready to judge him with his old records? I'm sure he's still on probation, too… Still, I'm glad you're aware of what you did. I hope you learn your lessons from it. You've gone too far this time."

"It's not enough that I'm in regret now, Sandro, when he's still there. We need to do something."

He jerked his head at Randy and we began to move again. "You didn't file an official complaint. He could always bail himself out anytime."

"Sandro!" I exclaimed in frustration. "He obviously has no money! You said it: he's been there. Do you think he wanted to stay there for long if he had other means to get out? You must bail him out."

"We're going home, Miss Roxette." There was finality in his tone that I didn't like. I stomped my feet on the car floor.

"We'll bail him out first, Sandro! I've been a good girl this whole week. I promise I'll continue this if you bail him out right now. Besides, what do you think my dad would think if he realized how I got there in the first place? Yes, I sneaked out on you, but how? You'll have an earful from him again."

"Are you threatening me, Miss Roxette?" he coldly asked as he stared at the window. I shifted on my seat. "I won't mind hearing an earful. Would you?"

I pursed my lips and rolled my eyes at my own window, annoyed at the threatening tears caused by frustration. I almost could see that scene outside the inn from a week ago.

"Take the next U-turn," he ordered at Randy. "We'll stop over at the police station."

My heart hammered in anticipation. I blinked as Randy did, turned to the other road and drove back.

"Your promise, Miss Roxette," Sandro recalled as he felt my excitement without having to glance at me. "You broke lots of them in the past but I'm eager to know how much this lesson taught you."

"I'll keep it." I nodded to myself and leaned at the seat again, both glad and anxious that we were on our way to the station. "I promise."