The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 59
Mikail walked through the door of Izmaylovskiy park, where Cheri lived with Rafael. He poked his feet on the carpet in front of the entrance to remove water from his shoes and pants, before entering the elevator. Then rub her hair.
In front of the room door, he lowered the suitcase in his hand and stripped his long coat. Then start pressing the bell and waiting.
Silent.
There was no sign of Cheri opening the door.
Hasn't Cheri come home yet? thought.
Then he decided to use the spare key that Rafael had given him, and sure enough. The apartment is empty.
Cherry has not returned.
And Rafael…
According to his estimates, Rafael should have arrived in Moscow since this afternoon. But there's no sign that he's here.
Does he not intend to return here?
Mikail stepped inside and inspected each room, trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the two once again.
He let out a short sigh and went back to the door to stuff his suitcase, and hung his long coat in the jacket storage area, opened his shoes and pushed him into a corner. Then hurry to the phone table.
As soon as his hand grabbed the phone plane, Mikail was stunned and thought hard. Trying to cradle before lifting the phone to the ear.
He sighed once more, massaging the base of his nose in a helpless manner. Suddenly he felt bad.
What he's about to do is really evil.
Cheri and Rafael would probably hate him if they found out.
But Mikail had little choice.
With a heavy heart, he picked up the phone, dialed some numbers and waited.
"Moscovich Corporation, can anyone help?" A female voice greeted him from the phone line.
Mikail cleared his throat and gulped, "I want to talk to President Moscovich" he said. "Please tell him, Mikail Volkov wants to talk about his son, Rafael."
.
.
.
"Come here! I'll tell you why I disappeared" Rafael let go of his arms and led Cheri to a church not far from where they were standing.
Cheri started shivering and sneezing.
"Are you okay?" Rafael asked worriedly.
"I'm fine" replied Cheri quickly. "You're soaking wet yourself."
Raphael sped up his pace and removed his long coat as soon as they reached the terrace of the church, then wrapped it in Cheri's body.
Cheri followed the man into the prayer hall, passing by rows of wooden benches along the room.
"I deliberately brought you here because there will be no one to hear our conversation here" Rafael said after choosing a seat on the front row of the bench. "Again we can take shelter. Come closer, so it's warmer!"
Instantly Cheri's face blushed hearing the man's offer—actually sounded more like an order. But Cheri likes it.
Rafael stretched out his hand at Cheri and pulled him closer. Cheri sat tight beside her while the man hugged her tightly.
It would be nice if we could continue like this, Cheri thought. Heart's pounding.
Rafael tilted his body, aligned his face with Cheri's, then pressed their cheeks.
Cheri's body warmed up again. Their soft kisses under the rain simultaneously reflected in the eye sockets, making him tremble again.
Rafael raises his fingers to the side of Cheri's head and pulls him closer, taps his temple and inserts the girl's face in the recess of his neck. Then suddenly silence.
"Why silence?" ask Cheri. "I'm confused" he whispered.
Rafael rubbed the girl's head, "Not silent," she replied in a whisper. "I'm thinking of a way to tell you this story."
"Tell me what it is," urged Cheri gently.
Rafael let out a short sigh and again rubbed Cheri's head. "By reason of wanting to find material for my drama, I visited all my acquaintances while I was in school in Washington. Those are the times I don't have in my memory."
Cheri gulped and glanced at Rafael.
Cheri screeched restrained and smothered his mouth.
Rafael rubbed his head again. "Then I traced the time I was thirteen until I left for Washington. There. I found an awkwardness."
"Congruity?"
"I don't remember at all the three months before I was sent abroad, whereas a thirteen-year-old boy sent abroad alone should experience inner struggles and feel various things. But not a single memory I can recall in those three months."
"There is absolutely nothing?" Cheri pulled his face from Rafael's neck and looked at the man's face with round eyes.
Rafael flicked his shoulders.
"Then?" Cheri was curious.
"Then I tried to investigate the three empty moons down to their roots. And.." Rafael suddenly frowned and tightened his jaw.
Cheri stuttered and asked worriedly, "Are you ok?"
Rafael clenched his eyes tightly, inhaling a lot of air and exhaling slowly. Then opened his eyes again and continued, "I found an old article that contained.." Rafael frowned again.
"Rafael!" Cheri scooped Rafael's face and shook it.
The man's face paled. His eyelids were shaking and squeezing.
What the hell's going on? thought Cheri was worried.
Rafael blinked and shook his head, like trying to wake himself up.
Cheri stuttered at him.
Rafael smiled faintly and touched the back of Cheri's hand cupped to his face, then pulled it slightly into his mouth and kissed him.
The worried look on Cheri's face instantly vanished.
Rafael continues his story. "On my thirteenth birthday, there was a fire, my house was on fire, and a boy died in the fire."
Cheri gulped and opened his mouth. But I dare not interrupt.
"The boy was the same age as me and.." Rafael hung up his sentence for a moment before continuing, "his face was similar to mine."
Cheri's eyes spontaneously widened.
Rafael frowned again, this time until massaging his two temples.
"Rafael—"
"It's Valentin.." Rafael added. "But I don't know him," his his hiss faltered. "I think he must have something to do with me."
Cheri touched Rafael's arm with an anxious look on his face.
The man's face was now burning, like enduring pain. "It could have been that time I was also burned to death like that child," his his hiss grew weaker. His voice sank with his breathless breathing.
Cheri was confused. Why is he, actually? he thought it was starting to get upset.
Rafael's eyes closed for a moment. Then it shook and reopened.
Cheri watched the man's face in confusion.
Rafael blinked and smiled faintly, then kissed her again. "I went to visit one of the elders of my family whom I have not seen for the past ten years" he whispered in Cheri's ear, propping his chin on the girl's shoulder. "Although his disposition is harsh, but he is very honest. I'm sure he must have known me since childhood, but when he saw me he blatantly showed a dislike face." Rafael smiled bitterly as he stroked Cheri's cheek with his knuckle.
Cheri blinked and blushed. But could not take his eyes off Rafael.
The man frowned again, then kissed her again, as if that was the way he fought-anything that tormented her from earlier. Makes Cheri want to tear it up.
Cheri wrapped his arms around Rafael's neck and returned his kiss.
Rafael let go of his kiss slowly and went back to telling him, "With the look of his eyes as if he was looking at a stranger, he said, for what you came here, this is not your place," he said while chuckling thinly between amused and bitter. "After I insisted on asking about the fire, he finally started to ride the apoplexy, then told me something difficult to believe. In short…"
Cheri frowned.
Rafael suddenly drooped and his head slumped on Cheri's shoulder.
Cheri stuttered and gulped.
Silent.
The man did not move anymore.