On his way back home, though Rachel asked him not to think much, Alex had a lot on his mind.
'I guess I need to put a stop to it,' Alex thought and soon stopped in front of a shop. It was a gift shop.
"Hey, Sam. How you doing, buddy?" Alex greeted the man standing by the counter as soon as he walked in.
"Hey, Alex. I am doin' just great, bro. What brings you here?" Wearing a t-shirt with a cute little loli on it, the man had golden hair and a lean built. And he was pleasantly surprised to see Alex.
"Nothing much. I was just passing by, so I thought of dropping by," Alex said as he looked around the shop.
"Neat, isn't it?" the guy asked with pride when he saw Alex checking out his shop.
"Never thought you were going to open a gift shop," Alex said as he smiled, looking at the guy.
"I was never meant to go to college. I only gave it a try because my parents were always nagging me, " Sam said. Then he grabbed his t-shirt and stretched it for Alex to see, "You know where my interests lie."
"I know way too well. You loli fanatic," Alex laughed, looking at Sam's t-shirt, "Who is this now?"
"Hey, don't you give dirty looks to my Ari-chan," Twisting his lips, Sam said, "Isn't she just the cutest thing?"
"Yeah... Yeah... She is," Alex said helplessly.
"So, here to thank me?" Sam asked, "You see, I got the best flowers and chocolates delivered for you. I am sure your girl would have gone bonkers over them. Did she say something?" Sam was eager to know the effects of his hard work.
"We haven't talked yet," Alex said, shaking his head, "You are right, I am here to thank you, but this is the last time I am going to buy them for her," Alex told Sam. Sam was the guy Alex was talking to in the morning. He was all very happy then but things have changed drastically over the morning. Alex now knows that certain things need to take priority in his life, and this was not on the top right now.
"Why? What happened? Did she choose someone else?" Sam asked.
"I don't know, but I don't want to drag it anymore," Alex said, "I have something else, more important to take care of. This is, let's just say, the end of the road for us."
"Bro, don't give up so easily. You have to put in efforts to win her back," Sam, on the other hand, thought that Alex didn't want to take rejection and go through the heartbreak. That's why he was giving up on his own.
"I am not giving up. As I said, I have something more important going on in my life right now." Alex brushed off Sam's words.
"Fair enough," Sam said, throwing his hands, "No need to fret over it. It ain't the end of the world. She ain't no what she is missing on." Sam tried to encourage Alex. He still didn't believe what Alex was saying.
Alex knew that Sam still did not believe him. But he did not have the time and patience to explain it to him, "Get me something good." Alex asked.
Sam nodded and went inside the shop. Minutes later, he was back with a bouquet with a bunch of different flowers nicely arranged together.
"Since it's gonna be the last time. I say you go all out. There are roses, lilies, orchids and tulips. Believe me, my name ain't Sam if she don't get an orgasm from seeing such beautiful flowers," Sam said with a smirk on his face. Giving Alex the dirtiest of smiles, he continued, "As for chocolates, I won't recommend them. Let her know that you ain't a pushover, there to please her. She must know this is her last chance, and you are ready to end things on your part."
"Thanks, bud," Alex nodded in agreement with Sam, "How much is it?"
"This one's on the house," Sam said, and before Alex could refute, he continued, "And after you are done with her, why don't you come, hang out with me and my mates? They would love to meet you."
Alex knew that it was not right to talk about money now, "I will. After I am done getting my shit together." Alex nodded, "I will get going now." Alex said and turned around to leave.
"Yeah, boy. Show her who's the boss." Sam cheered for Alex from behind.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Alex reached home, he found Mrs Flores leaving.
"You are back. That's good. I have prepared the dinner. I am leaving now" Mrs Flores looked in a hurry to leave.
"Wait, why are you in such a hurry?" Alex asked, stopping her from leaving.
"My grandson is waiting for me. I don't have time to waste on you".
"Mrs Flores..." Alex tried to stop her, but she turned around and left.
As Alex watched Mrs Flores sprint away at her age, unknowingly, a smile appeared on his face. This was the life he liked, was content with and very much wanted to be a part of. But why is this he couldn't is something that bothered him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Entering his room, Alex soon washed up and lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling of his room, lost in thoughts.
Rachel asked him to not follow logic and reasoning, but his heart. But what she did not know was the fact that his brain was the one telling him to be content with the life he had. It was his heart that felt hollow and suffocating. Every time he watched the smiling face of his parents, that sweet smile of Karen, that flirtatious and mischievous Margaret made his heart race, but that was always followed by suffocation.
He always felt that though it was nice and comfy, he wanted something else. He always felt that he was searching for someone else.
'I think this will be my last stint at Theation. After I am done helping Daniel, I should think about the father's suggestion. Working with him might be less stressful,' Alex thought. But when Alex thought about his father, he was not that sure anymore.
'I need to think about this more,'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In a large, illuminated room filled with books, a man was sitting on a chair behind his desk with his head turned away from the young man wearing spectacles standing there. The man was leisurely going through a book.
"Where is she?" the man asked in a weak but deep and authoritative tone.
"She is still looking for him," the man wearing the spectacles replied respectfully.
"Silly girl," the man shook his head, "Tell her that I am calling her back. Wherever she is, I want her back."
"Yes, sir," the man nodded.
"And what about my son?" The man asked.
"He..." the man in spectacles was hesitant to reply.
"Where is that bastard this time?" annoyance was evident in the man's voice.
"He was craving vodka yesterday," the young man replied calmly.
"And?" the man knew it could never be this simple with his son.
"He flew to Russia yesterday night," the man replied in his usual calm and monotonic manner.
"Is that so?" The man closed the book slowly after hearing the young man.
"Send a team to get him back as well," the man said and again got back to his reading, "You can leave now."
The young man did as was asked. He walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. And the man was left lost in his thoughts, all alone.