I was at the store, picking up groceries for my mother. Engrossed in reading the back of a spaghetti package, my annoyance grew as my phone suddenly began to ring. I hastily returned the spaghetti to the shelf and retrieved my phone from my pocket, glancing at the caller ID. To my surprise, it was Adem calling.
Without wasting any time, I answered the call and casually strolled around the store, now multitasking between shopping and conversing.
"Hello, how are you?" I asked, trying to sound serious amidst the bustling store environment.
"Good, just wanted to call you to let you know, that tomorrow, the so called party will be held in Koper. I'll send you the location right away, Oh and don't bring any men with you since this party is strictly for big shots, an opportunity for them to forge connections," Adem explained.
"Alright, I'll be there."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the phone call came to an end.
Glancing at the list of items I still needed to buy, I resumed my shopping expedition. Once I had gathered all the necessary groceries, I made my way to the checkout counter, paid for my purchases, and went home. My hands were burdened with plastic bags filled to the brim with groceries. The scorching sun beat down on me mercilessly as I trudged up the hill towards my block.
Upon reaching home, my mother greeted me at the door, her eyes filled with warmth and affection. I let go of the heavy bags, dropping them unceremoniously on the floor before collapsing onto the couch, relieved to have completed the arduous task.
"The sun is so strong these days," I remarked, my voice laden with fatigue.
"Of course, it's spring after all. Soon you'll be on summer break, and I'm sure you're excited about that," my mother replied, her tone filled with maternal care, as she began to transfer the bags to the kitchen one by one.
"Oh, Mom, wait. Let me help you with that," I quickly stood up from the couch, determined to lend a hand. Gathering the remaining bags, I carried them to the kitchen.
As I exited the kitchen, having completed my task, my mother suddenly stopped and looked at me with proud eyes. She held my cheeks and gazed at me for a moment, her voice filled with love, "Son, you've grown so much. It's hard to recognize you."
I couldn't help but smile, a tinge of shyness creeping into my expression. "Hihihi, puberty hit me hard, I guess," I replied, scratching the back of my head.
Sitting back down on the couch, I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of quietness enveloping me. I turned on the television, intending to relax for a while. However, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the upcoming party. "Tomorrow, I really need to consider how I should act. Should I be arrogant? No, that might annoy the bosses. Maybe I should be humble. But then again, they might think I'm weak. Damn it, I'll just stick with Adem throughout the entire party and hope he talks with prestigious people. That's when my opportunity will come," I contemplated, my mind lost in deep thought. Slowly, as I analyzed every aspect of the situation, exhaustion took hold, and I unknowingly drifted off to sleep on the couch.
Hours passed, and when I finally stirred from my slumber, darkness had descended upon the world outside. Blinking away the remnants of sleep from my eyes, I found my father sitting calmly beside me, his attention fixated on the television screen. "Umm, Dad, what's the time?" I asked, rubbing my eyes in an attempt to shake off the drowsiness.
He turned his head towards me, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Oh, Dionis, look!" he exclaimed, pointing towards the television. "Real is playing against Barça, and I bet on Barça to win, and they're actually winning!"
Confused, I responded, "Huh? Dad, I asked for the time, I don't really care about your betting."
"It's 9 PM. You should go to your room and continue sleeping, or else you won't be able to attend school without proper rest," he advised, his focus still on the thrilling football match.
"Ugh, all you think about is school," I retorted, a hint of frustration creeping into my voice.
"Well, what do you think allowed me to leave Kosovo and come to Slovenia. Without working my ass off and finishing school, I wouldn't have been able to find a job here, and would be stuck in that shitty country." he explained, a hint of accomplishment filled his tone.
"Yeah, yeah, maybe you needed it, but I don't. Nowadays, people make a lot of money doing stupid shit," I commented in a groggy tone, still lying in the couch.
"No, you need school Dionis!" He exclaimed, starting to get irritated.
"Ok, dad you're right, I need school" I agreed, even though I pay multiple men his salary. And guess fucking what? Not one of my men has yet completed school, neither have I, but we are still making more 10 times more money than him.
Dad completely forgot about me. He just quickly refocused his attention on the television, his excitement reignited as he hoped to win his bet.
I in the other hand, still drowsy ate a banana and continued my sleep in my room till morning arrived.
I slept for more than fifteen hours, my parents thought it was due to my 'depression' but I thought differently, it was due to the high level stress I face each day and the sleep lose I have experience because of overthinking.
The next morning, as I awoke from my long rest, I felt a sense of rejuvenation, as if reborn into the world. It had been a while since I experienced such a refreshing and restful sleep.
As usual, I skipped school. Honestly, it became almost like a routine. Then I ate the leftovers from dinner. While munching on the cold meat and potatoes, I glanced at my trap phone and noticed a text from Adem.
"The Nameless. At 11 AM, my personal driver and I shall come to pick you up. Please choose the location where we should meet you."
I was planning to go there by train, but that saves me the trouble.
"Sure, please await me at the bus stop near the market square."
Almost instantaneously, I received a reply. "Alright, we shall await you there."
I remembered Adem mentioning that he had someone else handling his online communications, so it wasn't Adem himself texting me but rather his subordinate, using Adem's name.
After slowly eating breakfast, I proceeded to my closet and retrieved the cheap Chinese suit I had purchased. I carefully ironed it before adorning myself in its simple elegance. Moving to the bathroom, I applied a touch of fragrance and meticulously styled my hair using gel. "Hmm, damn, I look fresh," I mused, admiring my own reflection in the mirror and playfully finger-gunning myself.
After spending a good ten minutes indulging in self-admiration, I grabbed my mask, donned it, and left my apartment block, starting the journey towards the market square.
As I arrived at the loud location, I took a seat on a bench at the bus stop, awaiting Adem's arrival. At exactly 11AM, a matte black, sleek Mercedes S-Class pulled up, resembling a mafia car straight out of the movies.
The window of the back seat glided down gracefully, revealing Adem's face adorned with a smile. "Come inside, friend," he beckoned.
The driver swiftly stepped out of the car and opened the door for me. With a mix of excitement and anticipation, I entered the vehicle, inhaling deeply to calm my nerves.
The driver revved the loud engine, and the car began its journey.
Glancing at Adem, I couldn't help but be impressed by his distinguished appearance. He wore a watch completely covered with diamonds, shimmering with luxury, complemented by his Brioni white suit and a slick red tie. His white hair and beard added an air of elegance, transforming him into a classy old man.
Suddenly, Adem turned his head towards me, breaking the silence. "Hmm, what's wrong? Do I have something on my face?"
Chuckling, I reassured him, "No, hahaha, I was just admiring your outfit."
"Is that so? Hahaha, thanks. I like your outfit as well. It's clean and not over-the-top. The simple suit you're wearing looks nice. What's the brand name?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Oh umm... Oh yea right, Actually, it doesn't have a brand because one of the best tailors in the world personally made it for me." I lied trying to impress him.
Impressed, Adem responded, "That's truly impressive. No wonder it looks so good."
Suppressing the urge to reveal the truth, I refrained from uttering the words "No you dumbass hahaha it's just a Chinese fucking suit!"
"By the way," Adem continued, "did you come here on foot?"
"Hahahaha, no, of course not. My personal driver drove me to the bus station," I replied, enjoying the fanciful narrative.
"Hahaha, of course. Oh, and please don't cause a ruckus like you did when we first met,"
"As long as they're respectful, I won't," I assured him
"Good," he said, and with that, our conversation came to an end. The remainder of the two-hour car ride transpired in silence, well only the loud ass music that Adem order his driver to put on. It was some old music that came out before even he was born.
As time passed, I caught sight of the sea through the car window, signaling our proximity to our destination. Koper, a city situated by the sea, beckoned us with its picturesque charm.
As we entered the city, I couldn't help but marvel at the architectural beauty that surrounded us. However, the driver suddenly stopped the car in front of a massive white mansion. Immediately, I knew we arrived, and so I became serious.
The driver opened the door for both of us, and we stood side by side in the garden of a grand white mansion, ready to make some fucking connections!