A week has passed, the world was awfully quiet, the passing hours felt like forever, I grieved for the deaths of the people who died before my eyes... Kyoi was there to comfort me, so were Mrs. Clara and Mr. Lim, even my uncle... The accusation between me and the deaths of their loved ones that I have been present on has subsided and has been closed and justified, the truth has unravelled and so has my name been cleaned, my reputation was cleared and business has been running smoothly...
....
January 1, 2030, I graduated college, I took over the businesses my parents left me, and their treasures, I was the eldest even though I was not the child of Ezekiel Ambram...
Me and Kyoi were together, treating each other every dinner time, coming to eachother's places unannounced...
Everything seems normal, our lives are normal, but I feel a pressure right above us, waiting for it to be triggered to just fall on us and completely sweep away the peace we have come to reach...
"Kyoi, you called?" I was on the phone, driving back home... 'Yes, do you wanna grab dinner? Let's go to BlueSea this time' His enthusiastic tone made me smile, "Alright, I'll pick you up, and we'll head there"
The road was smooth to drive by...
The Bugatti Centodieci roared beneath me as I ruled the asphalt at 10 PM, crossing the bridge on an open road. The pressure of speed pressed my chest against my back. Freedom tingled through my spine, intoxicating and raw. I had no control over my desires—but for once, the two halves of me weren't in conflict. They were bonded.
…
I reached my destination. Stepping out of the car, I glanced at the restaurant—KyoiFe, Kyoi's famous Cat Café, with branches even beyond the country. Rain fell softly, tiny droplets kissing the pavement. Inside, he smiled from ear to ear, greeting every customer.
The doorbell jingled as I entered, and I ducked slightly, careful not to strike the vintage bell.
"Felix, coming," he called.
"Take your time," I replied, letting the calm settle.
I sat at a table near the door. Some customers glanced at me, whispered and giggled softly. There was a warmth here I'd never known in high school. I nodded in acknowledgment. Their shy smiles made the room feel alive.
"All right, let's go," he said, smiling as I followed him.
We drove to BlueSea.
"How was today?" I asked calmly.
"Alright. A customer from America called—well, my branch there did. He wanted to buy the limited edition KyoiFe kitchen set. You were supposed to win it, but he offered a huge amount of money."
I furrowed my brows, tilting my head. "Really?"
"Yeah," he said. "I've never encountered a customer like him. He must really be a huge fan. I couldn't refuse his enthusiasm."
I sighed, averting my gaze back to the road. He chuckled at my reaction.
"Come on, that's so cliché," he teased, making me smile despite myself.
Dinner followed—lobster buttered and seasoned, paired with wine to ease the heaviness. The night lingered in warmth and laughter, a rare normalcy I cherished.
Afterward, I drove him home, then returned to my place. My phone rang—an unknown number. I ignored it. It rang three times. Frustrated, I prepared for bed. Then it rang again.
Finally, I answered, silent on the line. A deep scoff echoed through the receiver. A man's voice. Then—click. Hung up. A shiver ran through me. I deleted the number and blocked it, trying to shake the uneasy feeling.
Sleep came, and I thought I had forgotten it.
I glanced at the key Devian had given me, tucked in the casing of my phone. That day, I had resisted opening his office or the safe, afraid it might ruin everything I had built. Still… the curiosity lingered, sharp and unrelenting, every time I looked at it.