"Shove it up your ass you sarcastic cunt." The feminine voice on the line immediately retorted back.
Malachi touched his chest as if her words touched him to his very core. "Ah you have such a way with words my friend!"
There was a fit of giggles on the other line before the woman responded. "How you been bastard?"
Malachi couldn't help but smile as they conversed.
He was unspeakably grateful fame hadn't changed her.
The woman currently on the phone was his oldest friend and closest confidant Aisha.
They'd grown up together since they were babies because their parents were classmates in high school.
Honestly she was a lot like a sister to him as well.
Three years ago, Aisha received two blessings from gods and her life changed considerably.
She received the blessing of beauty from Aphrodite, and the blessing of war from Ares.
These simple but monumental facts turned her into a superstar among superstars.
With her exquisitely beautiful yet fearsome demeanor, she easily captivated the attention of the people and was famous overnight.
And as one of the few people alive with a dual blessing, she was just as deadly as she was beautiful, clearing out dungeons in record time was no difficult task for her and she soon became something of a living goddess.
With her talents, it was no wonder her rating was SS.
"So… how's your sister?"
"No." Malachi immediately shut the conversation down.
"I-I'm just asking a simple question shit for brains!"
"You've had a crush on her for forever do you think I don't know you?" Malachi rolled his eyes.
An audible gasp was heard over the phone.
'She honestly can't believe she's been found out this dumbass!'
This was a SS ranker?
If he was a scummy person he would've sold this story to the tabloids for a nice buck.
"H-how did you find out.." her voice was almost a whisper.
"You've been looking at her like you've wanted to eat her ever since her boobs got bigger than yours."
"I have not!"
"What would all your fans think if they knew their warrior goddess was such a pervert?"
"Whose the pervert?! Don't think I don't remember that time I found that milf porn under your bed when we were nine!!"
"I told you that was my dad's!"
The two continued to argue over the subject until Malachi arrived at work and it was time to say goodbye.
"You know.. you don't have to work so hard. Please let me help-"
"I won't take any money from you Aisha. I know what you're trying to do but it just wouldn't feel right."
"Tsk… stubborn fuck."
"You wouldn't have me any other way."
The beep signaling the end of the phone call also signaled Malachi's victory in rejecting Aisha's handouts yet again.
Ever since she'd first come into her money, she'd been offering to take care of them.
While he appreciated the gesture and knew it would make their lives much easier, his pride just wouldn't allow him to take money from his friend especially if he knew he had no chance of paying her back.
With a sigh, the young man got out of the car and prepared to walk into the restaurant only to see a pair he recognized all too well.
His boss who was only a few years older than him, was standing next to an attractive young woman with gray hair and black eyes.
Upon seeing the pair Malachi let out an impressed whistle. "You sure move on fast huh Melanie?"
The woman looked slightly embarrassed before the man next to her decided to speak for her.
"You know Mal I've been sleeping with this little beauty for about two months. "
"But imagine my surprise when she told me she actually used to be with somebody like you. "
"Two months huh.. "Malachi showed a bitter smile as he realized that he'd not only been dumped for someone else but he'd also been cheated on.
"Mal I - " Melanie began.
"You don't have to pretend to care about him Melanie!" The man named Derrick once again interrupted.
"Weren't you telling me how he couldn't afford to buy you anything nice and you only went out with him in the first place because you felt bad for him?"
Malachi showed no real reaction to this.
Deep inside he knew.
He always knew.
There was no way a girl as pretty as Melanie should've ever said yes to him.
She was one of the most popular girls at his college.
What did he even have to offer a woman of such caliber?
Even if he was attentive, kind, and loving was that not something that any person could do?
Derrick owned multiple chain restaurants just like the one Malachi worked at and his cousin was even rumored to be a Blessed.
It was no wonder she chose him in the end.
He wasn't even certain what possessed him to confess to her in the first place.
"Look Mal you were a half decent worker but I just don't feel comfortable having you around. "
Derrick walked forward and took out an envelope from his pocket. "This is your last paycheck, don't come around anymore."
Faced with such humiliation Malachi could not resist a final sarcastic retort. "Damn Derrick.. didn't think you'd be so threatened by little ole me. You really know how to give a guy some confidence huh?"
Derrick smiled and chuckled.
Truthfully he always did find Malachi pretty funny.
But now was the time to set an example.
POW!
Derrick played football in high school and still kept himself in decent shape.
So naturally when Malachi received his overgrown fist directly in his jaw, there was only one way for the situation to play out.
Thunk!
Malachi's body hit the ground and he slipped into the realm of unconsciousness.