It was bitter for Kevin, who had been slaving away the past few weeks to hand over his pay. "Here, and don't bother with any more drops; I'm no longer your customer." His tone bitter as he handed over the negligible stack of cash to Ace. "Hmm…What's with this new resolve you have? Watch a quitting video or something?! I know you, Kevin, well, this side of you. I know you'll come crawling back like the pathetic little trash that you are."
A cascade of laughs emanating from his lackeys followed Ace's words. "It's a shame, Kevin," Ace added as he put the money away, his tone almost somber as a malicious grin rested on his lips. "I wanted you to resist." The distance between the two men now inches away.
Kevin took in Ace's features: a scar on his left brow, his breath rank from using his own goods. A face that easily shifted, fitting for such a scumbag like him, wearing a black hoodie and blue shorts. One arm in his pocket and the other wrapping around Kevin's shoulder as if they were brothers. "Get your hands off me. I'll pay you the rest of the money when I get it."
Brushing Ace's arm off his shoulder, Kevin made his departure. "Heh! You come back again, you better be on your knees, trash." Facing Kevin's back, Ace gestured at his goons to take their leave deeper into the alleyway.
'I can't believe that I let myself fall so low,' Kevin thought inwardly as he tightened his jaw in rage before letting out a sigh. He looked to the side as if waiting for something before it hit him. "Oh yeah, that little shit left." A smile formed as he kept on making his way home.
. . .
Andrew glided through the streets, his presence easily melting into the background. It was hard to notice him unless you really looked at him. He went on unnoticed before entering a mundane-looking shop. The title outside the place was already succumbing to wear as the paint had worn off.
Freddie's Dinner spelt to the people that droned on the sidewalk. He found an empty seat in the diner before a server took notice of him. "What will you be ordering?" Their tone dripping with exhausted enthusiasm. "I'll have a cup of regular coffee, hold the sugar." His words flat as the server scribbled on his notepad before asking for anything else.
A shake from Andrew was enough to send the man back to the kitchen.
*Ding*
The door opened with a faint chime, and a striking figure walked through, catching the attention of everyone inside. He had smooth gold hair, which the man didn't seem to care how it fell, striking crimson eyes, and a carefree demeanor around him as if the world was nothing more than background noise for him to ignore.
Of course, if Kevin were here, his heart would drop as he would identify the man as the same person from eight years ago. Strangely enough, he didn't seem a day younger despite the passage of time. The man with his lazy smile made his way to Andrew before shooting a look at one server, imitating a kiss which seemed to make the lady look to the side.
"Andrew, so have you identified that he is the one? After all, it would be a shame if you were to start-" Andrew cut the man off, his words ever monotone. "I'm sure Charles of my decision; you know me better than anyone." Before Charles could respond, the server came with Andrew's order, this time not the man but the lady who had taken an interest in Andrew.
"Your coffee." She said weakly as she placed the coffee on Andrew's side of the table, Andrew and Charles seated opposite each other. "Don't you think it would be a shame to waste your beauty in a rundown place like this?" Charles mused, taking an interest in the server.
"Haha, as much as I appreciate the flattery, I'm still on my shift." The server giggled as she took in Charles's features. 'What is a person like him doing in a place like this? He looks like one of those models on magazines.' Charles let out a low, playful laugh. "Now why bother yourself with such menial work when you could come with me."
The deal lingered in the air, the lady unsure of what to say before an agitated voice shot through the diner. "Olivia! Get back to your post for any more customers!" The source from a man dressed in a chef's apron and hat, pot-bellied with a deep voice and an impatient look on his face. "Of-of course, boss." Excusing herself, Olivia scurried back to the kitchen.
"You really should try to improve your taste. What are you drinking?" Charles inquired, shooting a look of disgust at Andrew's cup, only to be met with silence. "You were never any fun." Seeing no reaction from Andrew, he beckoned for a server who turned out to be the same man who had served Andrew. "Can you call Olivia? I have some words to share with her."
The other server hesitated before storming into the kitchen, and Olivia came out. She stood facing the two gentlemen, one of them indifferent to her presence and the other shooting her playful smirks. "I'm here to give you the deal of a lifetime, Olivia. How about you come with me and have your fantasies fulfilled?"
Charles gestured for her to take a seat, only to be met with rejection. "Thanks to you, my boss is going to scold me to death. As for your lies, I'm sure you could do better." Andrew placed his cup down, now empty, as he looked at Olivia.
'What is wrong with him? Looking at me like that.' Andrew's gaze was blunt, as if looking at someone unsure of what they had in mind. "Andrew, I'd like to introduce you to Olivia."The handshake between the two was awkward for Olivia. Charles scooted over, gesturing to Olivia to take a seat. "I'm not trying to lose my job, sir."
Charles, however, didn't seem to care as he playfully pulled Olivia to sit next to him. "Server." He beckoned once more only to be met by the man from before, who shot a perplexed look at Olivia before focusing on Charles. "I'll have what she's having." Olivia was stunned by Charles's words as she looked at her colleague.
"Please don't tell the boss about this. Give us regular coffee." The man narrowed his eyes as he took the order and left, on his way back taking Andrew's empty cup. "Is that all?" Andrew inquired, ready to leave. "Here, to help with troubles on your end." A thud echoed on the table as a fat wad of cash slid towards Andrew's end. The amount Charles seemed to have on him inwardly as she kept her nervous smile on the outside took Olivia aback .
Andrew didn't bother with gratitude, let alone a goodbye, as he took the cash and left. "Here, your drinks." Two cups of coffee were presented to the two. 'It would seem he's quite rich and handsome; maybe I could kiss this shitty job goodbye and be with him. However, I doubt a person like him wouldn't have other ladies he plays with.'
Olivia thought as she sipped her coffee away before the loud voice boomed through the diner once more. "Olivia?! Get your butt over here right now!!" The man serving the two had a playful smile while Charles sipped his coffee. "I have to get back to work." Olivia scantily stood, taking her cup. "Does that mean you're not taking my offer?"
Olivia bit her tongue, inwardly wishing that what she wished was true, but living a life that was full of disappointments, she played it safe. "As much as I appreciate your thoughtfulness, I have to decline." Charles didn't seem bothered; the smile he walked in with was still present on his face. "The offer of greatness is in your hands, and yet you let it slip through your fingers. I doubt whether you'll be able to live with the guilt."
His words turned cryptic, which bothered Olivia, but another order from her boss jolted her back to the situation. "Olivia, I've had enough of you. Stop flirting with the customer and get back to your job." This time the chef from earlier made his way to the front, rage embedded on his face with his chest heaving. "Is this a date or your job?!" Charles reached for his glasses, golden-rimmed pilot glasses with a red tint to them, and placed them on Olivia's forehead.
"It's a date, isn't it, dear?" His devilish smile further invoked rage from the boss of the diner. 'Is he trying to get me fired?! Doesn't he know that this is the only job I have, I can't afford to lose this.' Olivia screamed inwardly as she reached for the glasses placed on her forehead and returned them back to Charles.
"I'm certain of my choice; please, I have to get back to work." Unnervingly enough, the smile had yet to fade as Charles took back his glasses and rested them on the bridge of his nose, hanging low for him to see the scene unfold. "Alright, you've made your choice, dear…" He reached into his custom-tailored red shirt and produced a black credit card and placed it in Olivia's hands, his words lowering to a whisper.
"... But when guilt consumes you, please don't hesitate and end your life." His words appearing a threat, and the boss picking up on Olivia's unnerved state, butted in to separate the two. "We appreciate your services here, but I'm forced to ask you to leave." Charles gave a light chuckle, pushing his glasses further up his nose before taking his leave.
"What a weird guy." The other server said as he took Charles's cup and made his way to the kitchen. "I can walk you home if you'd like, Olivia." The boss softened his tone, his face etched with concern as he looked at Olivia, now her attention fixed on the card in her hands. The ridges were smooth, and the design screamed luxury.
'Did I make a mistake?' She asked herself before recalling Charles's words, which sent a shiver down her spine. 'But turning me into a trick is something that I can't allow. I'm not some toy he can use and prod as he pleases. Just because he thinks he has money.' Tightening her jaw, she reassured herself that she had made the right choice.
"I'm fine, I'll get back to work." The diner fell back into its usual state, the day burning slowly before coming to a close.
. . .
'I've had a long day at work, hopefully I can just get to relax and-' The air was wrong the moment Clara walked in. "Mom, Andrew's gone!" The words from Kevin stunned Clara, her face contorting into that of bewilderment, Lara taking her bags and placing them on the kitchen counter. "What do you mean he's gone?" Her question met with shrugs. 'And here I thought everything would be fine, and something like this happens.'
*Ding*
Lara went to answer the door, only for her gasps to incite curiosity from the mother and son. "What is-" Kevin shocked when he saw Andrew walk in, his silence unmistakable as he made his way to Kevin's bedroom without a word and took a shower. The family was left with startled faces, their minds wondering what had happened.
. . .
"You can't just leave like that Andrew, tell us so that we don't have to worry about losing you again," Clara spoke up during dinner. "Understood." Andrew's reply was underwhelming, lacking the apology or, at the very minimum, the emotion Clara had expected. "By the way, school is coming up, so I hope that you're ready, little brother. Maybe this time you won't fail as badly as the last semester." Lara taunted as she dug into her meal. "What do my studies have to do with you, after all your job is getting laid by Jasper like the whore that you are!"
Lara didn't let that slide; her brows furrowing with rage, her fists clenching her silverware. "Whore?! That's rich coming from a drug addict like you. Did you really think that I wouldn't catch what you are up to? Since Mom is here, you might as well come clean."
Clara, who was about to instill order, let curiosity get the better of her. "Is this true, Kevin?"