Adrian sneezes.
He rubs his nose with a frown etch on his face. Eyes welling up with tears because of how hard he had sneezed.
"Someone is talking shit about me." Adrian grumbles under his breath.
An apron wrapped around his body, he looks back at his aunt, who by the way is looking at him with sheer amusement.
"Aunt?" He calls out.
Adrian moves forward slightly to grab the last thing needed in making a coffee.
"Why are you looking so mischievous today? Are you thinking of selling me off again?" Adrian questions, concentrating in pouring the brewed coffee on the cup.
"How dare you think of that." His aunt rolls her eyes at him.
"Then what's up with that look?" Adrian turns around, serving the finished coffee to one of the baristas.
He made a gesture and the barista received the sign. The barista nods in understanding.
Adrian wipes his dirty hands on his apron as he approaches his aunt.
Instead of a serious answer, he received laughter.
"Aunt, you're making me nervous. Are you not really selling me off?"
Untying the string on his back, the apron loosens and he removes it as his work is done for today.
A pat on his shoulder, he looks down on his Aunt who is a bit shorter than him. A stinging pain jolt into his nerves when his ear was pinched.
"AW AW AW AW. AUNT!" He exclaims painfully.
"Now now. Isn't this the consequence of your actions nephew? What did I said before?"
Adrian cries out more hoarsely.
He could not utter a coherent word!
Palm rubbing together in a form of a prayer, he pleads.
"Have mercy Aunt! Have mercy!" He sobs outright.
The loud interaction they made had catch the attention of the customers. Whispers broke out around. Various gossipy eyes are directed on them waiting for more drama.
Violet being sensitive, pulls his nephew by the ear towards the staff room. They side step an incoming barista leaning by the door. Adrian tearfully directs a look to his co-worker seemingly asking for help in that fraction of time. As if conveying to pull him away from her.
Grazing the skin, the co-worker almost tugs however, as though clutching a burning surface ,he backs away. He flashes a flattering smile.
Sharp knife gaze on him averts.
Click. The door closes.
He locks the door thoughtfully. Back drench with cold sweat, he threads through his co-baristas. Praying and hoping his master will forgive him for not saving him.
Aunt Violet really is built different. A strong willed single woman. Even though she is at her late thirties, the way she behaves and her looks radiates youthfulness.
Stubborness engraved onto their bones, a thousand mull could not budge them. That's how they are.
Adrian huffs. The iron hand leaving his ear, he rubs it soothing the stinging pain. What was left was a reddish color from the forceful pull.
Adrian bows his head, he looks at the floor. Finding the white marble more interesting than his aunt.
"You never learn do you?"
He lifts his head. An evident smile on the side of his face, two shallow dimples in full view.
"Hehehehehe. You know me already Aunt."
"You disrespectful nephew." Violet scolds however, the grin on her face says otherwise.
No one could resist his nephew. Really.
"Right You need to prepare well today."
Prepare? Adrian ponders. The engine in his mind begins to rotate, trying to remember why he needed to prepare well today.
Did he forget something? His parent's anniversary was already done last month. Then, what is she pertaining to?
Head slightly tilting, he looks with a question mark apparent on his face.
"Tsk tsk tsk." Three succeeding tsks left from her mouth.
"Why is that when it comes to math problems, you always can easily recall all the formulas but this you could not?" Violet asks exasperated.
She taps her pockets. The front and the back. A bulge on her back pocket. She pulls out her phone. Unlocking with her fingerprint, she swipes and became preoccupied with it.
Adrian waits. And then, a phone screen had been shove into his face without any warning, smacking right on his nose.
"My dear nephew, does this announcement rings a bell?"
"Aunt, how can I see when it's right on my face literally?" Adrian complains, moving the object far from his face.
To a distance he could see, he squints to read.
Then, he replies dumbfoundedly, " Huh?"
"Huh." Violet repeats the word in a mockery tone.
Adrian pulls his gaze away from the screen, scratching his hair.
"This is unexpected." He lets out after a moment of processing the information.
"I— This. What— Eh?"
"Speak human."
"I cannot wrap this in my head right now, Aunt. After scuffling with that school, we will just shake our hands with them?" A stinky expression emerges.
"That's why you need to prepare. Especially that lad." Emphasizing the word lad in a tone of disdain.
Adrian blinks. Lad? Is she pertaining to that person? That person, of course, the rivalry between the two families. He had known who she is speaking of.
This. It happened one time. As a young prodigy, it was normal to know each other in a circle especially, both of them are sons of wealthy households.
Someone had sent a picture to him of the person who shall not be named outloud. He got curious who he was. Of course, naive. He ran to his Aunt, asking if she knows him.
He got a whole day lecture because of his curiousity. Traumatized, he did not mention him ever again. He even by pass pictures involving him afraid of his aunt catching him looking at the picture.
Adrian can even feel the emity radiating from their rival. The feeling was mutual.
Thus, he really needs to prepare.
He heard a lot of things about him. It might be they are at the same level.
Adrian can finally meet Lucas face to face.
"I gotta go Aunt. I really need to prepare for the battle."