Jason stepped into the premises of his apartment building, expecting the usual state but this time he saw something different. He was met with the sight that made him feel a frustration that he could not control. It also gave him a simmering disgust that began to build up inside him.
What was this chaos? Right there, as if they owned the place, a group of guys he knew all too well from the lower floors were rifling through his belongings. These were the same guys who were known for loitering in the park. They would booze, make noise and generally cause trouble.
Even more annoyingly, Thomas Grayson was with them. He had hired them. That meant that he was a part of it too. Did he not know that they were lusting after his daughter behind his back? No… That was not true.
It would have been worse if his daughter was lusting after them just like she was after Jason. They may have gotten kicked out a long time ago. But since his target was Jason right now, then Jason was on the firing line.
However, because all they did was loiter and not do anything else, he allowed them to exist over there. All he did was give them alcohol and cigarettes to do whatever they wanted to do, accepting anything for some grunt work.
Jason's blood boiled somewhat, as he watched one of them handling his meagre possessions with dirty hands. He was on them in some seconds. His steps were quick and silent too. As he reached them, his voice cut through the scene.
"Back off!" he said pushing them away from his things, and even making them slide on the floor. Everyone could not believe what they were seeing. This scrawny guy who was coming from the hospital was able to push them away like that? What had he eaten? Spinach?
Jason on the other hand looked at his things in wonder, growing even more. He wasn't happy with this. His life, his very little wealth, and everything he had gathered in the last few months were all strewn about in his very small apartment.
He had worked tirelessly to get all this stuff. And the fact that these lowlives had touched everything was something that made his stomach turn. There was a money pouch that was lying on the floor and it made his feelings sink even more.
After all, this was the purse that he used to store his next month's resent. And now, when he picked it up only to see that nothing but dust was falling from it when he shook it, and therefore his next month's rent was nowhere to be found, Jason turned to Mr Grayson, who was watching him with a slight smirk on his face.
"What happened to my money?" Jason asked, his voice low, and controlled, but every word was like a knife.
Grayson shrugged, feigning ignorance. "We found the place like this. I'm afraid we didn't touch anything." He had a slight smile on his face that was telling Jason that everything was not what he said though.
He had planned everything it was obvious. Jason clenched his fists. Was he being too nice? Was that the problem? Was it because he had been so tolerant of their behaviour before, offering no reaction to their provocations?
He had done nothing. And yet there he was having to bear this kind of humiliation. Jason understood now… They had stolen the cash. Grayson had set this up to make sure that he was evicted. Whether he liked it or not.
Taking a deep breath, Jason took a moment to decide to not allow these goons and Mr Grayson to see him break. He stood still there, his heaving chest calming to a standstill in the next moment as he imagined a moment in which he was at his calmest.
And then he managed to calm himself down. He would love nothing more than to break these idiots, wiping the smug look off their faces, but he held back. Violence was not the answer. Whether it was mental or physical.
At least not for now.
After forcing his body to relax, Jason stepped forward under the watch of the three goons who were clearing his room out along with the other neighbours who had come to watch a good show.
Jason soon arrived next to the man, and before he could say anything, he offered his hand to him, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Grayson. I cannot say that this stay was the best I have ever had… But I have learned so much under your care. So thank you."
Mr Grayson could not even smile when he heard that. It should have been him laughing but there this guy was shaking his hand. How annoying.
The landlord chuckled sarcastically, somehow managing to let it out. "I'm glad to hear it. Though… seems like you are in a bit of trouble. Didn't you realise you were going back to school to learn how to live rough?"
Jason gave a small cold smile. "Goodbye, Thomas."
As he gathered his belongings, Mr. Grayson's eyes narrowed as he watched him. He had just been called by his first name. That was also the first time. How dare this… Bastard!! It was a shame he couldn't do more... Humiliating him this much was enough though. He would never raise his head in his presence ever again.
After thinking this far, he left, and as he did, the others left too. Jason got to work, picking up and packaging his stuff. He carried it down the stairs and as he did, he caught sight of Emily, Thomas Grayson's daughter. She was peeking at him from the door of her apartment.