[Location: Outside Xellene]
'Weren't we going to discuss something important?', Liam thought as he watched Blake sip his coffee without any care in the world. Earlier before, while Liam was on his way to the cafeteria, his lines of thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing. 'It must be Max, did something happen?', he thought picking up the call. "Liam?", a familiar voice asked, "This is Blake calling". 'Was I taking too long?', he thought, glancing at his watch, it was almost noon. "I'm sorry I'm late", he apologised, "I'm almost at the entrance so-". "Ah, about that", Blake interrupted, "I'm at the parking lot. I've decided we're having lunch somewhere else".
"May I ask why exactly?", Liam asked as he starts sprinting back the way he came from. "Well, there wasn't anything I fancied on the menu", he replied with a carefree laugh, "You better hurry up Liam, you know I'm sensitive when it comes to food". "I'm on my way Blake", Liam answered hastily before hanging up. And now Liam found himself inside a small diner situated in the middle of nowhere, great. Although he was glad that the car ride was over, he felt uncomfortable yet again as there was no one except themselves inside the outlet. 'I know it's been awhile since we met but... I didn't know it'd be this awkward', he thought at he turned towards the breath taking view.
The small yet well kept diner was oddly located in the middle of the wildness, right next to a small lake. Despite it being a peculiar place to make business, Liam wasn't complaining as the tranquil atmosphere was almost therapeutic after the hectic morning he endured. The calm was momentarily interrupted by a waiter arriving with their orders. Both Liam and Blake thanked the worker before claiming their own foods but Liam didn't feel like eating right away so he continued marvelling the scenery. "You're not eating?", Blake's deep voice startled Liam but he remained calm and replied, "Let me catch my breath first, today has been quite, chaotic".
"Max can be quite reckless I'll admit", Blake said laughing, "But I never thought he was that fond of you". Liam said nothing and just smiled, 'It was your assistant that tired me out, not Maxwell', he wanted to say but kept quiet. "Aren't you trying too hard beating around the bush?", Liam asked suddenly in a serious tone, "I know you brought me here to talk about Hel". "Hmm, I was hoping we could after eating but I believe that is now out of the window", he grunted as he set down his utensils. "My decision has not changed Blake", Liam began, "You of all people should understand". "My decision has not changed as well", Blake countered, "I want you to handle Hel, no one else".
"Even after what happened to her?", Liam whispered, lowering his volume drastically, "And yet despite that, you're still willing to risk it?". There was an intense silence between the two until, "I know you're not dumb enough to repeat those mistakes Liam", Blake said calmly intertwining his hands. Liam couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, "I wish I had the same confidence as you right now". "The job is simple Liam", Blake explained, "You just have to do what you're best at, listen and report". 'It's not as simple as you think', Liam thought frowning slightly at how ignorant Blake was being, 'She's different'. "I understand your fear after what happened", Blake said signing, "But you can't just keep ignoring your job like this".
"I can't fathom how much pain you had to deal with when it happened", Blake said softly, "But I won't let you waste your talents because of it". "Think it through Liam. I can promise you that it'll get better", Blake insisted, "But for now, let's enjoy our lunch shall we?". 'You've already ruined mine', Liam thought messaging his temples but he replied, "Yeah, sure". Liam finally took the utensils off the table and took a bite, it tasted bland. 'He's right', Liam realised, 'I have to stop grieving for someone that's gone'. "I'll do it", Liam said out loud, "I'll take the offer". He wasn't sure but he could've sworn that he saw his mentor's face lit up in joy for a second and back to his usual blank expression, "I'm glad the real Liam is back".
[Location: Outside Xellene]
"How much for the whole container?", Celia asked the shocked employee. "The whole container? You mean all of this?", the young man asked pointing at the mint chocolate. "Yes", she replied crudely, "Now how much was it?". 'She's so straight forward', I thought smiling discreetly watching her tap the counter impatiently as the worker excused himself somewhere. There were no other customers besides the two of us inside the cute little shop so there wasn't really any reason to feel hurried. 'Although there are many other reasons to hurry', I thought recalling the pile of work I had 'responsibly' abandoned, Xellene will surely be the death of me. Not to brag but based on the salary I was getting, the workload should've been way worse so I wasn't in the position to complain.
'I can just work overtime next week', I assured myself, heaving a heavy sign. "Maxwell!", Celia's voice brought me back to reality, "Help me with these will you?". I assumed that she had finished paying for the ice cream as the previous worker was having trouble packing it up. I walked towards the counter and thanked the worker with a bright smile, "Thank you, I take it from here". "Your girlfriend's really sweet man", the worker complimented, "I've never seen someone buy this much ice cream for their lover before". "Excuse me?", Celia interfered after overhearing what he said, "We are not lov-". Her sentence was cut short after I covered her little mouth with my much bigger hand, 'Her temper is no joke', I thought.
"Oh, so you're not a couple?", the worker asked cautiously looking at the two of us. "What she was trying to say", I explained glancing at her for her reaction, "Was that we're actually engaged". "Hwhwat?!", she said through her covered mouth trying desperately to escape my clutch but failing at the end. "Wow dude", the worker exclaimed smiling, "Congrats, you've got a keeper I'll tell ya that". "I know right?", I replied with my hand still around her mouth, "Feisty but still charming nonetheless, she's a rare one". "Hoew yo caelin fiesti", Celia said still attempting to break free from my grasp. "We should probably get on our way", I said to the worker, "She can't wait to have that ice cream together". "Of course man, drive back safely and come again anytime", the worker said smiling, "Enjoy the ice cream ma'am!".
"Now let me take that", I said carrying the ice cream container the worker was struggling with before with only one hand, "Could you get the door for me dude? My hands are kinda full". After we got out of the shop, I finally let go of Celia who grasped for air as soon as my hands left her mouth. "What the fuck was that?!", she screamed so loud I was certain my ears were gone but I replied sweetly, "What was what?". "Who the fuck said we were lovers?", she shouted, "And who the fuck allowed you to touch my face like tha-?". "You mean this?", I replied, showing her my hand that was covered in spots of saliva and lipstick stains. "I-", she tried saying something, "Why is it like that?".
"They give out special discounts to couples", I explained rationally as I placed the ice cream inside the car, "That's why I said that we were a couple, so that we'll have discounts in the future". "B-But still!", she said stuttering, "Who said that I was gonna come back here with you?". "Well, you never know right?", I replied casually, "So, what are you gonna do about this?". I showed her my 'damaged' hand and she said nothing except, "It was your fault! You were clamping so hard I had trouble breathing". I suddenly broke into laughter after her silly way of defending herself, how could someone be this cute?
"Relax", I said through laughs, "I was just messing with you". "I'm sorry if I made you upset", I said looking at her grow red, "I was just having fun". "Whatever", she replied quietly but I could see that she was smiling faintly, "You're driving as a result". "What?", I replied jokingly, "Man, I'm getting punished for messing with my senior". "Have it your way", she replied sarcastically, "Drive or get back on your own I guess". "Okay, okay", I gave in as I walked to the passenger's seat up front, "Get in Mrs. Celia". "Hm, at least you've got manners", she said as I closed the door after she got in. "I have some wet tissue at the back", she told me as she searched for it while I got in the driver's seat, "Here, wipe that shit off before you grab my steering wheel".
[Location: Unit 4, Cell Room Of T.S No. 0604]
"I'm not going", I replied coldly to the voice speaking through the speakers. "We have several more tests to conduct on you before you're done Hel", the youthful voice explained, Hel could tell that he was nervous. "They can wait", I said staring into the hidden camera next to me, this one was already the third one I found today, 'They're trying too hard'. "Please cooperate 0604", the voice said sternly, "Or else we have no choice but to use brute force". 'Why are there so many cameras?', I questioned, looking for more, 'They don't usually do this unless it's absolutely necessary'. 'It's not safe to go', I thought feeling that something was amiss, 'Something's wrong'. "Go ahead then", I replied smiling menacingly, "Let's see what you can do to a monster like me".