122 Black Aura 1

(Alexandra's POV)

About two weeks, I will stay in Cambridge, England. After my review being a lecturer before was successful, Prof. Matsushima was asking me another favor to come to University C. The people there invited me to teach once again. Of course, it was an honor so I accepted it. While this time, Prof. Matsushima accompanying me to go.

After landing safely, at the London International Airport, we quickly went to the train station to catch up on the schedules. Due to our ticket which we booked before, we dashed inside the train! We didn't want to be late! So we must hurry!

...

In the train from London heading to Cambridge City, I sat on the comfy seat while across me was Prof. Matsushima, he was eating his lunch box. Today he wore his ir*nman mask, red-wine coat, and a white t-shirt. If you noticed his head, his coiled hair was cut nicely to cropped fringe style. How unusual for him to have a haircut, I silently thought inside.

I turned my head back to the scenery outside the window. I could see the vast yellow field and cloudy sky. Was it going to rain?

Suddenly a voice reached my ears and I glanced at the person. It was the ticket collector man. He said, "Pardon me, your ticket, please?"

"Ah, yes, here." I took out the ticket and gave it to him. It was the same for Prof. Matshushima too.

The ticket collector man took the tickets from our hands and marked it with his red pen. He said, "You'll arrive at Cambridge in forty-five minutes. I hope you'll have a good journey." He said with his polite smile. Before he left us, he glanced slightly to Prof. Matsushima and couldn't help to say excitedly, "Nice mask, Sir. Are you one of the fans of the Ir*nman series as well? Since I was a kid until now, I love watching those shows too!"

Prof. Matsushima indifferently said, "No."

"??"

"I'm not a fan of the Ir*n man series. I just enjoy watching it."

"Wait, isn't that mean you are a fan, Sir?"

"No. As I said, I love watching it, but it doesn't mean I'm infatuated with it. So you think every person in this world when they enjoy something they like, they will become a fan?"

"...uh, yes?"

"Well, not me." He finished his lunch box as he replied short. He shook his head and advised, "You should search the definition of 'fans', then you can continue your arguments with me. If you were asking why I wore this mark as I'm not a fan of ir*nman? Merely, I just want to wear it. Now, please, you should go back to your work." Prof. Matsushima remarked about his statement as he pointed out his fact. He indirectly trying to chase away the man to leave.

Dumfounded.

"..."

Intercepting them, "Sorry, you can go now. Please ignored him." I said with a helpless tone. The ticket collector reluctantly nodded, he closed the sliding door and left us. I noticed from the looks of his face, he still couldn't believe Prof. Matsushima was not a fan of an ir*nman series. His answer was making him hold his tongue.

No matter you looked at it, he was one of the fans!

The ticket collector shook his head and left a certain annoying person behind, as he resumed his daily works. I looked at Prof. Matsushima with a troubled expression. I said while lifting one of my eyebrows, "You are a fan of the series, right? Why did you lie to him?"

"Longer explanation takes more energy, which I don't want to do it. From his look, I noticed he was staring at my mask from the start. His voice was raised when he talked about the series. This meant he like the show and if we talked about our hobby a while ago, he would neglect his duty and delayed his work. It would be a disaster if he did that. That's why I diverted his attention back." He elaborated as he closed the box lid and rinsed his mouth with cold tea.

I smiled helplessly how this professor was smart, yet eccentric. The ticket collector man was only sharing the same interest to him. What was wrong with it? He was a professional, he knew when the time he will work or not.

Sighing, I knew Prof. Matsushima was right, but I couldn't help to feel sorry for his social relationship with others. No one could understand his thoughts. Including myself. He was too random.

Speaking of random, suddenly he asked me with his question, which I never thought he would be interested in my affairs.

He felt suffocated from the train, while he released one his first button t-shirt, he asked me, "Are you still dating that man?"

"..."

What did he just said?

I was startled and blinked my eyes looking at him, he asked me one more time. "Are you still dating that man?"

Stevan?

"Why are you so curious of him?" I asked him back and didn't answer his first question. "Are you going to say because 'you just want to ask'?"

"You know me so well." He chuckled and folded his arms in front of him. He said, "Unfortunately, now I have a proper reason, I want to warn you. Stay away from that man or you will not end up nicely."

I creased my brows and stared fixedly to his eyes. He looked serious. I asked him again, but this time with questions that I had been buried inside my mind all this time.

Why he wore that mask? Was there a special reason for it?

Why did he warn me about Stevan last time and this time too? Did he know about him before?

I was wondering why he suddenly showed interest to me? Did he like me?

"No, I don't like you. Stop thinking useless stuff." He answered my inward question flatly.

What? Did he read my mind?

"No, I didn't read your mind, your face was too conspicuous. I studied psychology before, so I could guess from your reaction. Was I correct?" He stated his explanation while shrugging.

I nodded and waited for him to answer my question, he said, "You have a lot of questions. But, I'll say it in short." He reached his hand to his mask and slowly took it off.

Meanwhile, I heartly looked at the process. This was the first time he took the initiative to uncover his face. 'Isn't it mean that he trusts me now?' I hoped inwardly.

After he took off his mask, I could see his usual firm handsome face which I saw twice before. He looked at me and lifted his eyebrows. "Were you looking at me fascinating?"

I snorted and shook my head like I didn't hear his overconfident personality. He smirked and continued to answer my questions, he pointed his fingers back and forth to himself and then to me, "I knew about it due to my eyes and you." He stated.

"Huh?" Well, that was a short ambiguous answer indeed.

Now, what?

He continued with a calm voice as he squinted his eyes, "I was born a little different than a normal baby. I can see people's aura as I grew up, to be precisely it was the black aura. From that, I could determine whether she or he was a bad or good person. In this current case, that man of yours is not good."

"..."

Black aura?

"I know it sounds ludicrous, like some kind of supernatural power without scientific explanation or theoretical. But, it's veracity. I wore this mask to conceal my sight from seeing people's black aura barefaced. It didn't help much but it slightly reduced. Now, it's up to you to believe it or not."

I looked at him agape. Speechless, I didn't know what reaction should I show it now. Laugh it off? Take it seriously?

I looked at his 'no joke' expression and two-minute silence came between us. I was struggling to organize my own thoughts as I asked curiously, "If you are telling me the truth. What is a black aura? Is it a bad thing? Does this mean Stevan is a bad person?"

"You believe me?"

"I don't know. I never see a black aura before, so I don't know. For now, I'll believe what you said because I have another reason why I should trust you." His thought about Stevan.

"Hm, it's hard for ordinary people, so I don't recommend you to ask me if you want to see it someday. Because I can't do that, I don't have the power."

I shook my head and said, "No. I will not do that. I just want you to answer my recent questions."

"Alright." He showed his fingers to her as he began to clarify. "So, first, black aura usually related to bad traits of a human such as hatred, evilness or bad deeds. Usually, the black aura appeared when the heart has an intention to harm someone or anyone. This black aura only shows the current situation they felt or experience in the present, the people who got black aura could turn to normal again if they can finish their matters or simply forget about it."

I opened my eyes widened slightly, with a quivering voice, I said, "So, is that mean? Stevan..."

He nodded and replied, "Perhaps. Have you ever feel uncomfortable, I mean insecure when beside him recently?"

"Back then I didn't, but now..." I bit my lips as my head looked down. My rosy face turned to pale. I recalled the recent memories I got from the last two months.

After that night, when I severed my relationship to Stevan. He began to act weirder and creepy. He didn't want to show up in front of me, instead, he watched from distant.

I got a sudden chill when I once saw him was waiting, in front of my house, at two o'clock in the night. He was standing outside looking to my window from his position. He stood there as if he knew I was still awake.

In truth, I really couldn't sleep that night. When I tried to feel the fresh air outside, I halted my balcony door and peeked behind the curtain. I saw him in front of his car. He was gazing fixedly to my room and abruptly, he turned slightly his head, looking at me with those eyes.

Silently goosebumps through my skin, I felt my hands shivered and hurriedly close the curtain. I dashed to the bed, buried myself inside the blanket as I forced my eyes to sleep. I didn't want to think about it! I didn't want to think about it!

He was grinning. He was grinning madly at me!!

'How many times is it already? Do I need to wait like this and do nothing?' I asked myself.

...

...

[Next stop, Cambridge Station, Next stop, Cambridge Station.]

"Let's continue this topic when we arrived in our homestay." Prof. Matsushima stated. I slightly bowed my head, understanding his words.

As I grabbed my small suitcase above my head, down to the ground. I turned my attention to the city scenery outside the window.