Sunny walked over to Alex, who was still seated at the dining table, his eyes fixed on his phone. "Call me when you need me," Sunny said, his voice low and casual. "I'll be in my room."
Alex, engrossed in his phone, gave Sunny an absent-minded nod, his eyes never leaving the screen. Sunny shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.
He turned and walked away, heading towards his room. As he entered, he fell lazily onto his bed, letting out a deep sigh. He thought about the discussion he had with Big Uncle, and his mind began to wander.
He thought about his mom, and how she would be leaving soon. He thought about Alex, and how he would have to take care of him while their mom was away. And he thought about himself, and the dangers that lay ahead.
As he lay there, lost in thought, Sunny suddenly remembered that he needed to shave. He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
"Well, it's time to get a proper shave," he said to himself, standing up and walking towards the bathroom.
As he entered the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His hair was messy, and his stubble was getting longer. He smiled wryly, shaking his head.
"Time to clean up," he said, turning on the faucet and preparing to shave.
A few moments later, Sunny emerged from the bathroom, his transformation complete. His beard was shaved cleanly, and his mustache was gone. He walked out of the bathroom and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror that hung on the wall near his bed. He smiled, running his hand over his smooth jawline.
"Life of a personnel, uhh," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. As a soldier, he had to maintain a clean and neat appearance. No more rugged beard or stylish mustache.
He sat down on his bed, looking around the room. It was a simple space, with a bed, a dresser, and a window. But it was home, at least for now.
As he sat there, he realized that he hadn't been out since his arrival. He had been so caught up in his thoughts and his conversations with Big Uncle and his cousin Alex that he hadn't had a chance to explore.
"I guess I'll go have a drink," he said to himself, standing up and walking over to his bag. He pulled out a shirt and began to put it on, his movements smooth and efficient.
But as he was buttoning up his shirt, it dawned on him that he didn't know any bars around. He hadn't been stationed in this area before, and he didn't have any friends or acquaintances who could recommend a good spot.
"Well, I'll ask Alex," he said, smiling to himself. Alex was always good for information, and he was sure that his cousin would know of a good bar or two.
Sunny finished getting dressed and walked out of his room, heading downstairs to find Alex. He hoped that his cousin was in a talkative mood, and that he would be able to recommend a good spot for a drink.
Sunny walked downstairs, his footsteps quiet on the stairs. He entered the living room, where he found Alex still busy surfing the internet on his phone. Alex was seated on the couch, his eyes fixed on the screen as his thumbs flew across the keyboard.
"Hey Alex, do you know any bars around here?" Sunny asked, walking over to the couch.
Alex glanced up, a mischievous smile spreading over his face. "Yh, I know one," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "It's the only one around, since most of the bars have closed due to the war."
Sunny raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? Just one?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Alex nodded, his smile growing wider. "Yeah, really. But the place will be quite stuffed, because of no bars around. It's like the only oasis in the desert," he explained, his voice dripping with drama.
Sunny chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm okay with that, as long as I can get a good drink," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Alex grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Trust me, they have the best drinks in town. And the best company," he added, winking at Sunny.
Sunny rolled his eyes, laughing. "You're such a troublemaker, Alex," he said, shaking his head.
Alex shrugged, his grin still plastered on his face. "Hey, someone's got to keep things interesting around here," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Sunny chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Give me the address of this bar, and I'll go check it out," he said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Alex nodded, his grin still wide on his face. "I'll give you the address, but don't say I didn't warn you," he said, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Sunny raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Warn me? What do you mean?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Alex just chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You'll see," he said, his voice dripping with drama.
Sunny walked on the street, his feet carrying him forward with a sense of purpose. But his face was scrunched up in a grimace, his eyes squinting against the hot afternoon sun. The sun's rays beat down on him, making his skin feel warm and sticky.
"Should have stayed till evening," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. He had left the house earlier than he needed to, and now he was paying the price.
But he didn't let the heat deter him. He followed Alex's instructions, turning into a sharp left at the next corner. The street was quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of a generator in the distance.
As he walked, Sunny noticed that the street was quieter than usual. There were no children playing, no vendors calling out to passersby. The only people he saw were a few scattered individuals, all of whom seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere.
Sunny's eyes scanned the street, taking in the sights and sounds. And then, he saw it. A sign that read "The War Bar" in bold, black letters. Sunny chuckled, shaking his head.
"What kind of name is this?" he asked himself, his voice low and amused. He walked towards the bar, his curiosity piqued.
As he pushed open the door and stepped inside, Sunny was immediately struck by the cool, dim atmosphere. The bar was a welcome respite from the hot sun outside, and Sunny felt a sense of relief wash over him.
He looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of the bar. The decor was simple, with plain wooden tables and chairs scattered throughout the room. The bar itself was a long, wooden counter, behind which stood a bartender polishing a glass with a white cloth.
The patrons of the bar were a rough-looking bunch, with scars and tattoos aplenty. But they all seemed to be in high spirits, laughing and chatting with each other as they nursed their drinks.
Sunny made his way to the bar, his eyes scanning the rows of bottles behind the counter. He spotted a familiar brand of whiskey, and his eyes lit up.
"Whiskey, please," he said to the bartender, his voice firm and confident.
The bartender looked up at him, a hint of a smile on his face. "Coming right up," he said, reaching for the bottle.