There were few customers I served a long with Mina. While they were eating, I started to review for tomorrow’s Physics test. The restaurant atmosphere have always made me calm, with the background music, the tv low noise, and Mina’s occasional small talk.
”Rae, watch the tv for a minute. It’s big news”
I glanced at her annoyed “it better be interesting”
I looked at the TV news banner.
[This morning, A dead body was found near the Rushing Stream in Lavine City]
I frowned. It was certainly big news.
“Lavine city. Isn’t that close to Midzone?” The manager added while he passed by. Our manager, Thomas, was a university student and the owners’ nephew.
”Must be a casualty in some gang war” said Mina “We’re lucky since Midzone is a safe zone”
”Nothing can be taken for granted” Thomas said, glaring at the TV screen “you could lose everything overnight without warning”
Sheesh! What happened to him? It’s rare for the cheerful manager to have such a melancholic expression. Oh, well, it’s not my business but I certainly agree with him, and I bet Spencer does too.
I continued reviewing for my exam. Studying and getting a good job is my only path to a decent life.
After an hour or so, it started raining heavily. Few people came in, probably to shelter from the rain, but some did order food. I took their orders, and delivered the food like always. One customer in particular stood out, with all black fancy suit and hat. He was really good looking guy with glowing blue eyes and messy black hair.
”One cup of caramel cappuccino, and French fries”
I repeated the order and asked him if he wanted anything else. He didn’t, and I resumed my tasks normally.
when I delivered the order, Mina suddenly held my arm strongly.
“Rae! Did that guy say something to you?!”
”he? What’re you talking about? He just ordered his meal”
”Can’t you see his outfit?!! He’s a gangster!!”
”Seriously?!!” I paused “but it’s not like he’ll cause trouble here, right?”
”just be careful. You never know with these people” Mina said anxiously.
I shrugged. I was really tired already, and I didn’t have much energy to be scared.
I finished my shift an hour later (4 hours in total). They were fruitful, as I finished reviewing most of the Physics lessons. It was still raining, so I took out my small umbrella. Yes, I’ve been keeping an umbrella in my school bag for the past month since it was winter. When I got out of the restaurant, I took out my phone to check the time, when I heard a man’s loud shout.
”Where the hell are you, Paul? I’ve been waiting in this damn restaurant for an hour now. Do you want me to get angry? Is that what you want PAUL?!”
It was the good-looking gangester. I managed to witness him acting his role well.
”I need to get to Majestic on time, or they’ll look down on us! Is that what you want Paul?! You want those trash to look on the Blue Wolves?!”
Was that the gang name? It’s kind of embarrassing to say out loud, but the gangester was fine with it. I better not laugh for my safety.
“I don’t CARE if there is traffic!! You can crash into all the cars and make way for yourself. That’s how Blue wolves do it, you wimp! If there is no path, then YOU make your path yourself!!”
Those are some motivating words in any context, except this one. That would be dangerous, Mr. Gangester. People die in car accidents.
”If you don’t arrive in 10 minutes, I’ll kill you”
A threat! The poor driver just got threatened!! OMG! I was really panicking at that moment, because the gangester admitted he can kill!! Why did I have to finish my shift at that time?!!
I tried not to make eye contact, as I opened a random app on my phone. I heard the sound of turning off the call from the gangester phone.
“Excuse me”
I raised my head to look at him in reflex. I dont know why I did it, maybe I thought that ignoring him was too risky.
He was looking at me. Damn it! So he wasn’t talking to anyone else. Well, we were the only ones outside the Resturant at the time.
“Yes?”
”Do you know the way to Majestic Hotel?”
”N-no, sorry” my voice cracked.
”Is that so...” he stared at me with a dark expression, his hands reaching into his pocket. Damn! He can kill me!! Is he reaching for the gun?!!
”B-but I can try to find out! Please give me a minute!!”
”hmm?”
I quickly opened the Maps App on my phone and searched for the Majestic hotel location and direction. Lucky for me, it wasn’t too far.
”I f-found it, sir!! I can take you there!”
The gangester looked at me in confusion, then asked in hesitation “you really can do that?! I don’t want to trouble you”
”ITS FINE! ITS FINE!! PEOPLE HAVE TO HELP EACH OTHER”
I couldn’t control my speech and didn’t know what I was saying anymore. I heard that being drunk makes you uncontrollable, but isn’t fear the same thing?
”Oh” he paused, then grinned cheerfully “you’re too kind. I would really appreciate this favor”
no im not kind. I just want to live, so I would appreciate it if you don’t pull that gun out.
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc0C5hWWDm
