I need a drink, a strong one as this is giving me an unpleasant taste, an intuitive feeling of 'Danger.' I'm not sure, but this whole affair is like a premonition of something much worse.
I notice that it already is nighttime, so I can go and get that desperately drink that I need. Carefully I hid the painting in a spare cloth and went to my room to change into something more comfortable to get a decent drink in the bar on the other side of the city; an inconspicuous place with few customers but a quiet and carefree atmosphere.
I instantly take the car keys and drive, putting on the radio trying to not distract myself while driving. I pass a school; it makes me glad to see the kids play, pass a shopping mall; it's my favourite as they provide a store for artists, and my supplies are never short.
As I get on the principal avenue, the news on the radio get quite ominous, I focus on what they say.
"There have been several murders on the resent month...They couldn't discover evidence of who was responsible...The police speculate a dangerous assailant that passed the borders is the cause...we recommend taking all the necessary precautions, lock the doors, don't engage with strange people and if you see anything suspicious please contact your local police immediately."
As I continue hearing the news, I recall one significant phrase that echoes in my mind.
"...you wouldn't give a name so easily to a Hitman."
I can't put into words what I was thinking now, but I regretted telling Adelard my name so easily. Still, as they wisely say 'It's no use crying over spilt milk.' I continue driving while my heart thumps considerably loud.
After some more minutes, I pull over a car park in front of the luminescent sign that reads 'Apollo's lyre Bar' the name had nothing to do with a bar however, it was appealing for some reason it invited you to explore it, but only if you notice it.
Pushing open the heavy door the bell chimes, announcing a new customer; the guy with light brunette hair and tan skin notices me, he smiles, hurriedly goes out the bar table and hugs me, squeezing the air out of my lungs.
"Czarina...I missed you so much, are you alright, what happened?"
Jin Walsh is the nephew of the owner. He's a kind guy that tries to lend an ear to anyone that needs it; plus he is an old-time friend, well from the moment I had amnesia he became like a brother that has taken care of me.
"Don't worry Jin; I'm OK, although a drink can't go a miss." I try to stray away from that topic, I can't take the excessive overprotection that he shows if he knows about my stay in the hospital.
"That's good to hear, but you know, you can contact me for anything, right?"
"Absolutely, but my drink if you will?"
"Right away, please sit down dear customer."
"Pft...Haha, I understand, then what is your recommendation master?" I joke with Jin knowing his dream is to become the master of the bar if his uncle lets him; but for now, he's only the apprentice.
"Well of course our most expensive bottle of wine, I will charge you only $1000 for being a friend" he replies winking
"Hahaha, that's not cheap, you horrible friend." My laugh makes Jin smile wickedly.
I sit on the barstool and take a look around while Jin is preparing another costumers cocktail; there are some recognisable faces, others are new, but for a single moment I could have sworn that a white-haired man was on the corner, I tensed up.
"What's wrong, is there something bothering you?"
Jin took notice of my state but at this point, I don't care anymore so I answer easily.
"No, just that I don't want to meet someone."
"Ooh...Is that someone a guy by any chance?"
Jin looked quite mischievous, well more like accomplished.
"Well...Yes, but why the sudden interest?"
"Yes!...at last, my dear friend has gotten herself the attention of a man. You have no idea how much I have been waiting for this moment. Wait this deserves a celebration, the best cocktail is on the way!"
"Wait-"
I tried to stop him but Jin was the type that once something is on his head nobody could change it, I laugh a little behind my hand. This is good, I haven't felt this great for a long time.
"Here it is a special French 75 just for the special lady."
"Haha, you already knew this is my favourite so that's cheating."
"If it is on the house then, no, is not cheating."
I only smile and take a sip, is fizzy and refreshing, with the smallest amount of sweetness that touches the tongue. The slow jazz tempo in the background, the chattering and the low blue light make for a comfortable ambience.
"Soo...Tell me about your man, is he hot,? perhaps rich, well you need a guy that pampers you with gifts, where does he work? or maybe-"
"Stop, first let me tell you he is not my man, and to answer your questions, yes he is sexy I say too much, I don't know for I only met him one time and well, is complicated I guess."
Then out of nowhere a rich voice approaches us, at first I thought that it was Adelard and I felt a blush covering my whole face to my ears.
"Hi, Czarina my dear, I heard you found a man? How romantic." It was Mama Violet, her real name is Stephen Whitestone but she became transexual also her abilities to console, care and talk about love stories made her the Mama of everyone in the district.
"Hello, Mama Violet, I don't have a man, please don't tell anyone else I beg you." I use my puppy eyes and pouty mouth as they had the perfect response.
"Don't worry my dear, my lips are sealed but promise me that you'll tell me every single detail. Well, I leave you to this handsome young boy to continue talking, bye-bye."
"PFT!...Hehe! now you will have Mama coming after you and no, I will not help, sorry not sorry?"
I hit my head on the counter as I growl lowly, Jin only laughs harder at my misery.
"Ugh...You're the most horrible friend, ever."
"Yes, yes I'm so kind that I let you mope on the table, staining it with your tears and snot. So can I go to your house tonight to chat about the man that is not your man?" He asks tilting his head like a cute dog trying to manipulate me.
"And if I say no, what are you gonna do?"
"Bribe you, I will cook dinner and that wonderful dessert that you love. See aren't I a genius?" He replies with an easy-going smile that makes me start to do the same, Jin is one of the few that I care about.
Strange enough is that lately, I feel more at ease; even though there has been bad news and I have this weird feeling around, it is like a peace that I never knew before and this happened from the moment I met Adelard, just like a puzzle that has completed all of its missing pieces.
Nock! nock!...
"Hey! planet to Czarina, are you still here? don't tell me that you won't eat my dessert." Jin knocks on the counter a few times bringing me back from those thoughts.
"Sorry, wait how can you say that?! that cake is safe heaven to all who taste it, how can you even suggest that I won't eat it, you are crazy." I tried to punch him on the arm but he got to a safe distance from me.
"Hahaha good to know that my secret recipe is so admired. Well just wait until my shift ends and we get going."
So I nodded and waited for an hour or so until his uncle comes to take his place in the bar. While waiting I did make small talk with some of the customers that I knew, (I prefer deeper conversation but once in a while, this isn't bad either.)
"My uncle just came so let's go before he can say something and make me stay."
"Hehe, are you afraid of your uncle? better I ask him why are you so scared." I could see uncle Ash looking this way, with a benign smile under the moustache while shaking his head, likely because of our antics and that we joke this way sometimes.
"¡No, no no! better to get going. Bye, uncle!" he says while pushing me out the door onto the street to my car.
"Goodbye, uncle Ash." I waved and took my car keys from my handbag and suddenly Jin takes them.
"I drive today."
"Please don't hit anything, I know how you drive."
"I drive perfectly well." I look at his face for a while and he smiles embarrassed. "OK, maybe not that well but I'm getting better so don't look at me like that." He tries to get the car started while I laugh under my hand seeing his ears red.
"Well to my house."
"Nope, to the super first, haha revenge is sweet after all."
This does make me laugh harder; I can't wait to pass a good time like this, this is what I thought I was missing in my life, but why do I feel so confident after I meet with Adelard? I think of that while we drive on the busy streets at night.