[Leilu Modern AU] Scarlet World

Father Charlie Comrun did not expect that the green-eyed young man would come to visit again after six years.

"Remember me, Father Commran?"

Louis smiled and stepped forward.

"It was a surprise to meet you, Mr. Pudula," said the priest.

Louis looked at the priest.

It’s been six years, just as Louis himself has gradually faded from his 19-year-old innocence and turned into a 25-year-old youth between a boy and a man, the priest is also getting older.He is in his 60s, tall, with a slightly protruding abdomen; his nose bridge is high, his eyes are bloodshot and cloudy yellow, and he wears a pair of thin-frame glasses; he has M-shaped baldness, and his beard is white and curly; There are a lot of wrinkles at the beginning, and there is also the redness characteristic of middle-aged and elderly men.

After greeting Louis, he closed the book in his hand and took off the glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"How is it going?"

"It's okay, as usual, pray to the Lord, and enlighten the world."

"Yes, people often need to unravel." Louis echoed.

"Yes."

At this time, the handsome and pale young man beside Pudula caught the attention of Father Comron.

"Who is this?"

"My..." Louis thought about his wording, "My friend, I'll take him here to have a look."

"Oh I got it."

They followed Father Comrun to the edge of the pews outside the church.

This was the first time that Louis took a serious look at the exterior of the church.Not far from it is a street park built by the municipal government, which may have been intentionally built together out of people's belief and rest needs.This makes the greening condition of this area very good. Looking from the church until the sight is hidden in the park, there are dense green trees and vegetation exuding earthy fragrance everywhere.

Autumn mornings are just the right temperature, without the chill of night or the heat of midsummer, a cool time for a walk in the park.

The sunlight scattered sparsely through the lush trees, casting jagged spots of light on the ground, on the benches, and on the cars parked by the side of the road.

Louis sat down slowly, and Father Camron straightened his robes, and sat down next to this handsome young man as a listener.

Lester walked out of the church following the two talking in front of him, but he didn't intend to disturb the conversation between the priest and Louis.When he saw Louis and Father Comeron sitting and exchanging pleasantries, he began to walk around silently, looking at the St. Bernard's Church.

It is neither big nor new. There are at least a dozen such ordinary churches in this metropolis.It is not uncommon for believers from this area to gather here for mass, but it is difficult to understand why it attracted Vanna Pudula.

Because it is located in the southwest of York City, Pudula Manor is in the suburbs to the east of the city.It takes more than an hour and a half to drive from Pudula. If it is public transportation, it will take more time including transfers, detours, and waiting time.

Why did Faner, whose family property was so rich that he could build dozens of churches like this, insist on coming here for mass?

......

"It never occurred to me that I would come here again, Father."

"I know, boy. None of us want to talk about that."

"Losing him is my greatest pain."

"Believe me, I was in a lot of pain too. He was a good boy."

"Yeah, everyone says that."

"Because that's what it is."

"He left us for six years."

"It's been six years before I know it."

"Do you remember what he looked like?"

Louis Pudula asked, does Father Charlie Commelon remember what Vanna Pudula looked like?Of course Father Commran remembered.

He looked at Louis in front of him. The two brothers with the same father and mother looked very similar. They both had unique beauty, the same green eyes, the same long black hair, and the same calm expression.If there was any difference, it would be that Louis' expression was gentler, while Vanner's, he recalled in his mind...Vanner was more fragile, yes, much more fragile.

This similar comparison made Father Comron couldn't help thinking, what would it be like if that slender and fragile beautiful boy could live to be an adult with the facial bones and body shape of an adult?Could it be his brother?Or leaner?No, in fact Louie is skinny enough.

With a long sigh, he said, "I won't forget that kid."

"Do you know? In the past six years, I have thought of him repeatedly, and I can't sleep at night."

"Oh...my poor child."

"I believe more and more in the Lord, Father, that pain is my punishment."

Louis didn't see it. At this moment, not far away, Lester's right hand clenched a little.

"Yes, we were born sinful, and we have to atone."

"Does he think so too? My younger brother, my... Vanner..."

"Yes," said Father Comeron, "on weekdays he often comes to me, but he rarely asks me to confess, but when he comes to me, he is always very painful. He thinks he is a sinner and wants to ask the Lord for forgiveness."

"No...he's so kind, generous, selfless. He's not a sinner."

"Yes, we all know that."

"He shouldn't...he shouldn't have done that..."

"I think the Lord will forgive him."

"How I wish it was as you said...Father. May the Lord forgive him."

Louis fell into a sob of grief, and Father Commran patted him kindly on the shoulder.

Lester, who was standing in front of the church gate, looked at Louis with concern, but before Father Comeron noticed his gaze, he turned his head away as if nothing had happened.

So, it was the blond man who was observing the brick pattern on the outer wall of the church that finally fell into the eyes of Father Comron.

He turned his eyes back and looked at the sad young man in front of him again.

"Can you tell me more about his past?" Louis asked after a moment of silence.

"Of course. What do you want to know?"

"My family has faith, but I don't understand why he's suddenly so . . . devout. I wasn't in York at the time. Did he tell you?"

"No...he's been like this since the first time I saw him, I thought he'd always been so pious."

"Oh."

"Maybe it was because he suddenly realized that he was guilty and should ask the Lord for forgiveness, but not everyone wakes up in time ... I'm glad he realized it in time."

"I don't understand why he suddenly has this awareness when he is only 14 years old. We used to do volunteer work and donate money together, and everyone would say he is a good boy."

"I don't know, young man...Maybe sometimes, in such a sudden moment, the Lord gives us a revelation. It's good."

"He comes every day, right?"

"Yes, almost every day, unless the weather is particularly bad, thunderstorms, heavy rains and the like, sometimes he will come in heavy rains and get soaked."

"But he doesn't live around here."

"He hasn't told me where he lives, it's too personal."

"Yes, I understand."

"Is your residence far from here?"

"Not at all, Father, and it takes a lot of trouble for him to come every day."

"Maybe it's the Lord's will. That's why he is so devout and tireless."

"Perhaps," said Louis. "You know my name is Pudula."

"Yes, young man, after he left us . . . I know you are very rich."

"Did he tell you about his family? Me, and our parents, or the housekeeper who raised us?"

"He only said he had a brother."

"What did he say about me?"

"All he mentioned about you was praise, saying that you are beautiful, selfless, generous, and a perfect person."

Louie sighed and leaned back on the bench.

"You never knew he was a Pudula?"

"Yes, as I said, I didn't know he was a boy of high society until after he left us. He never revealed that he was a member of the famous Pudula family."

"Actually, he doesn't care about that."

"Yes."

"Do you know?"

"Ok?"

"I once suggested that a church be built for him near his home so that if he wanted to go to mass, he didn't need to come here, but he refused."

"why?"

"No one knows why, he even lost his temper."

"Oh! This..." Father Comron showed doubts on his face.

"This matter has troubled me for a long time, Father. I don't understand why he wants to go far."

"No one knows, we can never fully understand other people, only the Lord can."

"...Perhaps, because of that...remember?"

"Um......"

"The devil that destroyed him."

"...drugs." The priest paused, using a less blunt statement.

"No, I don't want to back off, Father," Louis said. "That's not a drug. It's poison. It's heroin."

Father Commran was silent.Louis saw tears glistening in his cloudy eyes.The old man seemed to think of something sad, and he choked up a little.Louis saw the Adam's apple rolling in Father Comeron's old, dry neck, which meant he was swallowing for calm.

"...Yes," the elderly priest said after a while, "that's heroin."

After finally facing this fact in front of the priest, Louis let out a dull breath.

Father Commran wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his hand, and fell silent.

For a long time, no one spoke.

He only broke the silence when a breeze blew past, blowing Louis's loose black long hair into the air slightly.

"Do you remember the man you described to me?"

"You mean—"

"You said you saw the man talking with Vanner near here." Louis reminded.

"...Ah," Father Commron tried to remember, "you mean that strangely dressed man?"

"Correct."

"I remember I told you at the time, this man... I only saw it occasionally, and I didn't care at all. I really can't remember what he looks like."

"How much do you remember?"

"He wears a bucket hat and sunglasses."

"what about others?"

"for example?"

"Height, build, things like that."

"I can't remember, it's just like getting old." Father Comeron thought for a long time, and finally replied in frustration, "He's a little taller than Vanner...Of course, because he It's an adult man, and his body shape is also that of an ordinary adult. I really can't remember the rest, but he turned his face halfway to me. I only saw it two or three times.  … I'm really sorry, I can't help you."

"It's okay," Louis reassured him calmly, "You did your best. Thank you."

When Louis got up and was about to say goodbye to Father Comron, the kind old man hesitated for a moment, but still told him: "The past is in the past, young man, and things should look forward."

"You're right, things should look forward." Louis nodded and stood up.

Father Comron also stood up, and their eyes turned to Leicester who had just returned after circling the church.

"Excuse me, but actually, is that gentleman your boyfriend?" Father Comron asked, turning to look at Louis, as if he couldn't hold back his curiosity.

"..." Louis looked at the blond man walking towards him not far away, with soft eyes, "Yes."

TBC.

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