My days are pretty simple. In the morning, after I woke up, I would do some housework and go to the restaurant. After having breakfast, I will resume my work and, in the evening, go back to my apartment. On the weekend, I would be at David's house, or the pub, or with some guy whom I met through the app—a simple life with no complications or commitments. I intend to stay this way. This time, I am going to take care of my heart dam seriously.
It was a hectic day at the restaurant. I was exhausted by evening. By carrying the leftovers for dinner, I made my way to my apartment. I was scrolling through my phone when I heard the sound of a ding indicating that I had reached my floor. I came out of the elevator and was shocked. I never wanted my wish regarding this bastard to come true. Never ever.
Joshua was standing near my flat, wearing a blue blazer, his hands in the respective pants pockets, and his back resting against the wall. For a special effect, he was wearing the glass, which only made him more mature and outstanding. His appearance was captivating. He looks worn out, which is not affecting his charm.
I was stuck on the spot. Every memory started flooding into my mind. Most of my suffering days. My breathing was heavy and heated. The urge to rip him off was overflowing. After contemplating for a few seconds, I gained control over my emotions. My impulse act is never going to take me anywhere; damages are done, and I am going through the consequences alone. At this point, I didn't want to pinpoint anyone.
I made my way towards my flat. Joshua was closing his eyes; my presence snapped him out. He was facing me, and I was searching for the keys to my flat. "How the hell is this one left off my list? I thought I snatched everything and made sure you guys ended up on the street." The compulsion act to hold his collar and to throw him out was really flowing within like anything. "I got lucky, I guess." Chuckling, "Indeed." I entered my flat, and I was closing the door in his face. His hand was on the door and his foot in between, stopping me from closing. "Won't you invite me in?" "Hell no, take your dam foot out." "It's been five years; common, let's catch up on things." "Are you fucking for real? Get lost, and I mean it." "I promise I need only five minutes. I missed you." "Zip it; don't fucking try to play again." "Ok, as I said only five minutes, please, don't you think I deserve this?" "Why the hell do you deserve it? Care to explain?" "Well, for starters, we were a thing for a few years." "As you fucking said, that was fucking past, and not to forget you were using me, so we were technically not anything." "My acting was real. You didn't doubt it until I sprouted everything. So, for old times' sake, only five minutes." "When the hell did you turn into a shameless one?" "I don't mind being anything until I get what I want. Gray, common five minutes, and I deserve it." "Don't fucking say the same thing.
I was facing him. He was smiling, but I was not able to point out the meaning behind that smile. Was it the satisfaction of the way I was leading my life, or was he mocking or sneering at me?
Still, my hold on the door was strong enough not to let him, in any case. "Common, I will take only five minutes; it's been a long time. Let me in Gray."
I left the door, went inside, and sat on the couch. Joshua entered and started observing the flat. "This flat is not even 1/4th of your previous mansion, right?" "Maybe. I didn't measure; I needed a roof, and I got one. That's enough," "Well, you weren't exactly in a position to choose anything. You have to accept whatever is thrown."
It was fucking true, but I don't think I should hear it from him in his mocking tone. Joshua sat on the table that was in front of the couch. Now we were facing each other.
"Whatever. If you are done with your mocking, you can leave; I need to rest." "It's going to be five years; didn't you miss me? So how is life, Gray?" "Good, I am happy as I got rid of every creature responsible for ruining my life. New and more welcoming," Chuckling "Good to hear and you are still optimistic. Good change," "Well, I was forced to have no option other than to welcome with open arms." "Please don't hold me responsible for the life you are leading." "It was not my fucking mistake." "Neither mine nor my family, Gray. What you are going through is nothing compared to what I have gone through in the past, trust me. It's fucking nothing. Everyone's lives in your family are still intact, and as a bonus, you people still end up having a roof over your head. After committing such a crime, in a way, you people are still lucky, right? You people never went through the agony and suffering like my family. I never took the step that was taken by your dad, or else your family would have completely vanished without a terrace. Don't you think, Gray, I am capable of doing such things?
We were facing each other, and the smile he was wearing was replaced by a rage. His whole demeanor changed in a second. I gulped down. From this whole conversation, I could grasp something that he was still not satisfied with after doing so much in the past. He wanted to do much more. This Joshua was cold-blooded, merciless, and heartless, with more power and money. What the hell does he want? I fucking don't get anything else other than this flat.
"Well, you are speechless. You can't come back on that; every fucking word that I spoke is true, right?" "Are you done? I really need to rest." "Am I done? Not yet. I will never be satisfied if I remember my family's suffering." "You took your revenge for my dad's doing. What else is left? We left with nothing, and I am not going to let you snatch this flat in any case." "Trust me; if I want, I will get it. You can keep this flat. I am not interested in this tiny thing." "Your time is up; you should leave now." "Common, as I said, we didn't catch up. There is this urge, Gray, that is still not satisfied. When I see something related to you or your family, it will fucking erupt like a volcano. I want to burn every fucking thing related to your family on the spot. If it happens, would I be satisfied? This is my biggest fucking question. Would I be?"
I am not liking this. I am not liking anything. His intensive behavior is only making my throat go dry. He was a completely new version with a lot of updates. Words were not coming out, and I was not getting how to get back to him. If it were only related to me, I would have. For my dad, I was a victim once, and again, I need to go through the same thing. Why the hell me? My parents escaped; my sister was secured. Was I only an easy target for his wrath? Why the hell was he back? He was not satisfied with planning for more.
"Gray, are you with me?" "I need to sleep. Get the hell out this time, I mean it." "OK, and I will keep in touch with you. I need to know how you are doing with your shitty life." "Get out." This time, it came in a high-pitched, angry tone. By chuckling, he was out of my flat.
It took a few minutes to digest everything completely, and I started sweating. His words started haunting me. He had alarmed me with something. What can he do more of? I have gone through worse. Darn with it. Fuck with my life.
I came out of Gray's flat and was making my way to where my car was parked. If I am not wrong, he has become feisty, and this version was damn pleasing.
I was making my way to one of the top clubs in the city. Once my college friends were aware of my arrival, they started contacting me. I never kept in contact with anyone after I left the country. Tristian was the first person to contact, followed by others; when they came up with the idea of meeting, all of us together couldn't say no to them.
When I entered the pub, Tristian was waiting, and we made our way to the VIP section. Once, they were Gray's friends. Now I don't know how many of them bother to keep in contact with Gray or his family. When I entered the room, everyone at once started approaching and hugging; overall, they were squeezing me. Everyone was thrilled to see me. It was a very long time, and for me too, I guess.
We took our respective seats, and Tristian served me my drinks. Tristian took his seat beside me. From my college days, I don't know why he was obsessed with me. I took notice many times, and I didn't bother to question him. Patrick, "How are you, Josh? It's been five years. You didn't bother to keep in contact with any one of us, and we are sorry about your family." "I am sorry; that's all I could say and thank you." Chris: "When I saw the news, I was in shock. Can anyone go to that extreme level to get status and money? Unbelievable." Jack: "Like seriously, Gray's parents, how the hell could they do something like that? That's why they fucking lost everything; served them best." David, "Your incident hit us very hard. We couldn't digest it for a few days." Murphy: "We tried to reach out, but you were long gone. We are really sorry; we weren't there when you needed us." "It's ok; guys' sh*t happens. It was long ago. Now at least everyone is at peace in my home."
We were sipping our drinks silently, and I was so immersed in my thoughts. Who is right? Who is wrong? Why the hell did we have to go through every fucking thing? Why the hell, my parents? My dad was leading a robotic life, only for our sake. Why us?
Tristian, "Karma is a bitch, that bit back in such a bloody way. Every fucking member deserved what they were going through. His fucking parents were eloped due to shame, I guess, and Gray is working in a small restaurant and a part-time hooker. Just great." I was in shock. "What, come again?" "I thought you had investigated everything about Gray and his family before you came here; you didn't?" "Is he a hooker?" "Yes, for money, he is still whoring his body." Chris: "He could have gotten any job based on his bloody certificate. Why the hell did he end up on that path? God knows." Patrick, "If not at least in any big company, he could have gotten some job in the small company too. Why the hell he is working in that small restaurant beyond my thinking?" David, "I never thought he would end up this way. Whoring like seriously," Tristian, "The person who owns the restaurant is a fucking playboy. Maybe his influence," Murphy, "Whatever, he could have chosen any other path other than whoring, I guess. Josh, you were not aware of anything." "Nope, I was not; this is shocking." Tristian: "Well, for everyone, when we get to know about this news later on."
We started discussing about random things. They started sharing about their lives and careers. I was barely listening; my thoughts were lingering on Gray. A fucking whore, like, seriously? Wow, what a bloody piece of information, only making my blood boil.