There was something suspicious about William that Terrence couldn't point out.
"Was I just overthinking?" Terrence shook his head.
The last time he felt this way, something happened to his family. He didn't die in the past just to repeat the same mistake of ignoring his feelings.
'Well, I'll see what would happen before deciding on something,' Terrence sighed.
It would be too early for him to do something he was still trying to figure out.
"Oh my! Is this really free?" A woman exclaimed, which interrupted Terrence's thoughts.
Terrence nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."
The woman covered her mouth in excitement. She repeatedly clapped her hands.
"Wait here, Sir." The woman uttered before running to the grocery store's other side.
When the woman came back, she was with her two sons.
"Go, kids! This kind sir told me that this is free." The woman smiled widely at her kids. She encouraged them to get something from the box in front of Terrence.
Terrence saw that the kids looked at him with doubt in their eyes. When he saw it, he smiled and nodded. "This is free, guys. Don't worry, and get what you like."
When the kids heard what Terrence said, they looked at each other. After a few seconds, they reluctantly reached out to the brown box and got some items. Both of them took toy cars.
Terrence saw the kids' eyes twinkle. They were smiling in all ears as they both showed their toys to each other.
"Thank you, Sir!"
"Thank you for this, Sir!"
Both kids said their gratitude before running to their father, who was left alone shopping.
When the woman was left alone, she couldn't help but be teary-eyed. "Thank you for this, Sir." She uttered in a low voice.
Terrence smiled, even though it was awkward for him. "It's nothing, Ma'am." He uttered. "I hope you have a good shopping experience with us."
The woman nodded and smiled before leaving Terrence alone.
Terrence looked at the items inside the box. That's when he thought that he was becoming emotionally attached to the grocery store.
He didn't know why.
It must be because this was the only way he could atone for his sins in his past life. For killing people, especially his own kind.
'Am I becoming a hero or something?' Terrence chuckled when he thought of it.
That wasn't even part of his dreams when he was a child.
'Oh well. I can pay back to them by doing this, but I shouldn't get attached any further.' Terrence tilted his head to the side.
He didn't want his past to lock him in the present.
Yes, he will do this to pay back all his sins, but that doesn't mean that this was the only thing he would do in his life.
His second life was too precious for all of that.
This was just a bonus. He would treat this as a way for him to gain money from his system. It was like hitting 2 birds with one stone.
He gets to help the people in his area and becomes rich at the same time.
Terrence went back to his work after setting up the box near the door. He made sure to put up a sign that says the items are free in the box and they may take what they need.
Terrence went around, helping the customers with their grocery shopping. He would see William occasionally, but they haven't shared a word with each other.
"Terrence?!"
Hearing Edwin's voice on the side, Terrence immediately went to him.
"What happened?" Terrence looked at Edwin with curiosity.
Edwin scratched the back of his head. "I got a call from my wife saying that I must pick her up from work. Will it be fine if I leave you to manage the store today?"
"For the whole day? You won't come back?" Terrence asked.
Edwin nodded. "Yup. It's already 2 in the afternoon, and it would take me an hour of travel to get to where my wife is. It would be late if I still come back here."
"Oh, alright." Terrence shrugged his shoulders.
"I trust you. That's why I'm making you handle the store for a while. You already know what to do, right?" Edwin worriedly asked.
"Yup. No worries. I will double-check if everything is locked before leaving." Terrence nodded. After a few days of staying here in the grocery store, he noticed how Edwin made sure that everything was locked before going away.
"Thank goodness!" Edwin sighed out of relief. "I will entrust William to you, then. I hope that you'll be kind to him."
Edwin nodded. He was sure he could do everything Edwin said except for the last one. "I'll try."
Edwin chuckled. "I'll get going now, then." He waved his hands at Terrence before going to William to also say his goodbye.
When Edwin left, Terrence was the one who replaced his work as a cashier.
"William, come here," Terrence called out to William.
William immediately went to Terrence. However, he doesn't look as happy as he was when Edwin called his name.
Terrence could already sense that William doesn't like him just based on his actions.
"Make sure to assist all the customers properly. Put a smile on your face, too, and don't slack just because Edwin is not here." Terrence ordered.
William scoffed. "And who are you to tell me that? We're both just workers here." He looked at Terrence before continuing to talk. "And don't order me with that tone. For I know you're already scared because I'm about to replace you. Must be why you don't like me, huh?"
Terrence saw the domineering look that William was giving to him. Terrence laughed and stared at William.
"Edwin just gave me the authority here. It's not even a few minutes since Edwin left, and you're already acting like an asshole?" Terrence scoffed.
This just proved his suspicion to William.
The man can't even keep his shit down.