"right, what am I saying– old people don't even listen to anyone." He commented unsarcastically.
The aged man's face faltered with annoyance. A sense of frustration flared up inside him, along with his own determination.
"I want you– no, you should come back. The past is the past, forget it alixis–"
"Like hell I'd forget!" He snapped with a glare, "like hell I'd forget what you did to–"
He paused, remembering rinae's presence between the whole chaos.
Silence covered his mouth, his teeth failing to not clench from anger as he ran a palm on his face. He calmed down, swallowing himself and letting his hand drop to his side.
"I'll reason with you later. Get out."
"I'm not waiting for a–"
"I said, get out."
The man's words faltered from his son's pressure. His words before were a facade of honesty, that he'll never follow anything, nor keep a promise to his own father.
The power came back, the lights brighter compared to when it ran with a generator.
The man left without a trace, which didn't surprise him as he turned to rinae. "I'm sorry for tangling you into this." He was apologetic as if he was the main cause of all this. (I'm defo blaming him.)
"It's not. I'm sure it was unexpected, and I won't ask about it."
"Well then I would ask about it to that old man instead." Ryxin spoke up with undefying confidence, which made alixis look reluctantly impressed.
"That confidence is gonna spill out one day, little guy." He ranted.
"Only if I let it." He snarked, huffing all-mighty.
Alixis had no words to speak afterwards, replying with a sigh and looking at rinae. "are you okay?"
she replied with a hum, nodding as well. "inconsiderate of the time, we should head back home." she looked serious as she spoke.
"right, we can't stay here all night." alixis agreed, wearing his coat which he hanged over the chair. ryxin got up from his seat and prepared to move out of the cafe as well, watching his sister turning the lights off.
"it's pretty late, but not too concerning." alixis muttered, checking his phone when the sound of a car horn reached his ears, making him drive his focus from the phone onto the newly approaching car in front.
the driver inside was the co-worker rinae called in for pickup. she stared at the young man with curiousity and recognition, it was the same customer who often visited the cafe for rinae after all.
rinae stepped out of the cafe after turning the lights off, with ryxin following behind. she locked the front door and turned around to see the car arrived on doorstep on perfect timing. she hurried alixis and got in the car, patting ryxin to get inside first while she followed in after.
alixis stared for a good minute before knocking on the glass of the driver's seat. the lady lowered the glass down, nodding her head in a questioning manner.
"i'll drive the car, is it alright?" he asked while keeping his head lowered in the same level as the lady.
"you sure? there are cops around. it wouldn't be such a pleasant experience if they catch a minor driving without a license."
"i doubt i look my age at most."
"alright. don't blame me if the cops are on rounds here." she got out from the driver's seat and moved to the passenger seat next to it. alixis got in and closed the door, waiting for the lady to get in before accelerating the peddle through the thick snow. he had more skill than his experience in driving.
his hand were as steady as his focus on the road. rinae watched him from behind and didn't comment much, besides the lady near to him.
"not bad, young man. you got skill." she commented, visibly impressed.
"i can only drive in empty roads, i suggest not overestimating me in this field."
"still, driving in snow is not a piece of cake. you can handle it pretty well."
"i'll appreciate the comment then." he didn't argue further, his eyes focused on the road.
it didn't take half an hour dodging the cops till they reached rinae's house after she guided alixis on the road. she got down from the car and crouched to look at alixis, waving him goodbye for the day.
Alixis smiled at her, not taking his hands off the steering wheel. The lady besides him was giving a knowing smile as well, since he was a regular customer there.
He watched rinae as she goes inside the house, till the lights in her room flashed on. He started the engine and drove away, paying attention to the road.
The lady started with a sense of curiousity, "you like the girl?"
Alixis stopped the car, trying to not spill a flushed face all over his nonchalant expression. it was enough of an answer for the lady as she suppressed a chuckle.
"my, you're quite beat red, i must say." she remarked, not pressing such an embarrasing moment any further.
"n-no, i-i'm not!" he tried to convince himself, his grip on the wheel tightening. he took a deep breath, but his expression was still lingering with awkwardness, then kept driving.
the journey was no longer than 10 minutes, the atmosphere inside the car quiet after the short banter. alixis drove to his apartment, and got off the car. the lady got off as well and returned to her driver seat. she waved him back and drove away, leaving alixis frozen in place. he snapped back and covered his face with both his hands for a good minute, thinking about the comment and how he was too obvious.
"how do i even face myself over there..." he sulked, removing his hands and messed his hair up as he tensed. he laid his head back, watching the sky as he walked, which was somewhat stupid to the point he crashed onto the door. he rubbed his nose and headed inside the building, hands on the elevator buttons and going inside the elevator.
Next day, he took a leave from school all because of his unrelated courage broken. he felt like an idiot, after all this is the same young man who nearly confessed to rinae.