"Hop on?" Pablo asked. Although he got what the man was trying to say, he still asked.
"Yeah. Hop on. I'll give you a ride to the City." The man said. He turned his head behind and gave a smile to Pablo.
"So sweet." Cupid commented at the man's gesture.
"No thankyou." But Pablo refused instantly.
"Why?" The man asked, surprised that Pablo refused his offer.
"You are asking why? I just met you. Why are you being so generous to give me a ride? Anyone will refuse."
"Wait. So you are suspicious of me?" The man asked and he stood up as well. Now he wasn't in a questionable bend down position in front of Pablo.
"Of course I am suspicious. We just met and you are willing to give me a ride on your back. This doesn't make sense." Pablo spoke his mind.
"I see. Well, let me introduce myself. My name is Flashy Rail and I arrived in Desper just five days earlier. Today is my sixth day here."
"Just six days? And you haven't eaten anything for five days. Which means, you weren't able to find food since you came here. That's pretty pathetic if you ask me." Pablo remarked.
"Haha. I know. My dad sent me here to learn about struggle. But it's really hard. No one cares about anyone here. Not that city is any better." Flashy said, laughing off Pablo's remark.
"I understand. So it must be like this. Your dad is a wealthy man and you must be one of his sons. But you stay holed up in your room, and one day your dad got angry and threw you out to grow up. Am I right?" Pablo guessed and saw Flashy's reaction.
"Your face tells me I am right."
Flashy had his mouth wide open as he stared at Pablo with equally wide eyes.
"That was really accurate. Are you a spy or something? How do you know all that?" He asked.
Pablo smiled. "The fact that you can't get food here shows you are not used to doing such things. You come from a prestigious background and you don't know many things. I just added one and one and guessed all that."
"Wow. You really are smart. No wonder you are going to the City. You are wasted here." Flashy praised Pablo.
"Yeah. Now move. No need to carry me. You learn about hardships here and I am going." Pablo shoved Flashy aside and started walking again.
"Wait."
"Now what?" Pablo was annoyed now.
"I will go with you." Flashy said.
"Why?" Pablo asked.
"I have a feeling if I stay with you, my father will recognise me and I'll learn more if I stay with you."
"I am literally the same age as you. What can you learn from me?"
At this, Flashy turned serious and answered :
"Murder."
Pablo's lips curled up. "So you are not a complete idiot."
"Heh. You have killed people, right?" Flashy asked.
Pablo nodded. "Yes."
"Wait. Why are you telling him that?" Cupid asked.
Pablo ignored her as he couldn't answer her in front of Flashy.
"Your clothes are covered with blood. It has dried up but it's still there. You must have been in a fight and you killed your opponent. I want to learn the art of killing as well." Flashy revealed.
"Do you want to kill your father?" Pablo asked but Flashy shook his head.
"Not my father. I want to kill my brothers and sisters."
"Oh. Why is that?"
"I'll tell you later. But please take me with you. I have no experience of this world. You were born in this doomed place and survived this long, you will be fine in the city too."
"But what if you betrayed me? You and I are technically strangers to each other."
"I won't betray. I don't have the guts to do that." Flashy said with pride.
"That's not something you should say with pride. But whatever. Fine. You can come with me."
"What? You agreed?" Cupid exclaimed.
"What? I can? Really?" Flashy exclaimed as well. He was not sure if Pablo really said it.
"Yes. But know that I am doing you a favor. You owe me." Pablo confirmed in a stern manner.
"Yeah. I owe you big time. Let's just go." Flashy was all smiles as he again came in front of Pablo and bent down.
"Why are you so eager to bend down? I don't swing that way."
"Come on. Don't say it like that. I am asking you to sit on my back and we'll reach the city pretty fast."
"Why do I even need to sit on your back? You haven't eaten for six days, you must be weak. What if you drop dead midway? What is wrong with you?" Pablo threw a barrage of questions.
Flashy sighed. "I will manage. Just sit on my back and you will see what I am talking about. I will make you reach the City faster. If you don't like it, I'll stop following you myself."
"It's no harm in trying. He is saying it so nicely too." Cupid sided with Flashy on this.
"Hah. Fine. No point in wasting time here." Pablo finally agreed and sat on Flashy's back.
He put his arms around Flashy's neck and crossed his legs on Flashy's waist.
"You are quite burly for a guy who stays holed up in his room." Pablo commented as he could feel Flashy's muscles and all.
"Heh. Well, it's my hobby to do bodybuilding. Nothing much. It's not that helpful. As you saw earlier, I can't even snatch a dried fish from a cat."
"Makes sense. Anyway, what are you waiting for? Start walking."
"Oh. Right. Hold tightly." Flashy said and bent his knees.
Pablo frowned. "Are you planning to jump?"
"Not planning. I am going to jump."
WHOOSH!
FLashy really took off in the air and Pablo this time was really surprised.
He looked around and saw the ground being very far from him.
"You can jump this high? Wait. Don't tell me…"
"Haha. Took you long enough. Yes…" Flashy laughed as he completed Pablo's words.
"It's my Ego."