It was bitter for Kevin who had been slaving the past few weeks away 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."
Ace's words followed with a shower of laughs emanating from his lackeys. "It's a shame Kevin." Ace added as he put the money away, his tone almost somber as a malicious grin rest 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 of his 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 began to make 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 alley way.
'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 for the place already succumbing to wear as the paint had began to wear.
Freddie's Dinner spelt to the people that droned on the sidewalk. He found an empty seat in the diner before a waiter 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 waiter 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 was 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 flow of time. The man with his lazy smile made his way to Andrew before shooting a look at one of the waiters, 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 waiter came with Andrew's order, this time not the man but rather 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 to one another. "Don't you think that it would be a sham to waste your beauty in a run down place like this?" Charles mused, taking interest in the waiter.
"Haha, as much as I appreciate the flattery, I'm still on my shift." The waiter 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 with 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 as he shot 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 waiter 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 male waiter hesitated before storming into the kitchen and Olivia came out. She stood facing the two gentlemen, one of them indifferent about her presence and the other shooting her playful smirks. "I'm here to give you the deal of a life time 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 a 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 now looked at Olivia.
'What is wrong with him? Looking at me like that.' Andrew's gaze was blunt, the gaze as if looking at someone unsure of what they had in mind. "Andrew, how introduce yourself to Olivia."The handshake between the two awkward for Olivia. Charles scooted over, gesturing at 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 seat next to him. "Waiter." He beckoned once more only to be met with the man from before who shot a perplexed look at Olivia before focusing on Charles. "I'll have what she's having." Olivia stunned with 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 band of cash slid towards Andrew's end. Olivia stunned with the amount Charles seemed to have on him inwardly as she kept her nervous smile on the outside.
Andrew didn't bother with gratitude let alone a good bye as he took the cash and left. "Here, your drinks." Two cups of coffee presented to the two. 'It would seem he's quite rich as well as handsome, maybe I could kiss this shitty job good bye 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 that 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 chose to play it safe. "As much as I appreciate your thoughtfulness, I have to decline." Charles didn't seem bothered, the smile he walked in with still present on his face. "The offer of greatness is presented to you and yet you turn it down, I doubt whether you'll be able to live with the guilt."
His words turning cryptic which stunned Olivia but another yell jolted her back to the situation. "Olivia, I've had enough with 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 aviator 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 invoking 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 with my choice sir, 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 cardinal shirt and produced a black credit card and placed it in Olivia's hands, his words lowering to a whisper.
"...But when the guilt consumes you, please don't hesitate and end your life." His words coming off as 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 male waiter 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 who was fixed on the card in her hands. The ridges smooth and the design screamed of 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 boss, I'll get back to work." The diner fell back into it's 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 that 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 was shocked when he saw Andrew walk in, his silence unmistakable as he made his way to Kevin's bed room 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, you have to tell us so that we don't have to worry about losing you again." Clara spoke up during dinner. "Understood." Andrew's reply underwhelming, lacking the apology or at the very minimum emotion Clara had anticipated. "By the way school is coming up so I hope that you're ready little brother. Maybe this time you wpn't fail as bad as the last semister." Lara taunted as she dug into her meal. "What does 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 silver ware. "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?"