"No, I don't want the words to go out this early." Simon emphasized.
Maybe checking the CCTV footage wasn't that bad of an idea considering the situation they are in currently. It'll be easier and save them some time, but it's also easy for the words to go out .
Simon knows that everything will be shown on the stage, but as the leading actors they aren't ready yet. They have barely scratched the surface, and more than anything else Simon would rather take more time to keep this matter personal .
Simon knew, that Paul wouldn't want skeletons from his past rattling in public.
"…yeah." Julian knew, Simon would reject the idea, but still better than busting your head alone.
Paul was walking down streets. Now that he got bail from the jail. The Sun hung high above his head, observing him with his curious rays, trying to read his thoughts.
Walking alone like this has become his routine now, but still something keeps bugging him. Which he can't shake off.
The chick follows him 15 steps behind. Even though Paul mostly prefers to be left alone, but seriously…. Who likes being stalked ? If she really wants to tag along, why not walk with him ? He wouldn't mind too much, but ohh well… he can do nothing about it.
"This Sunday." Paul murmured to himself.
That's what she had said, but recalling what day it was…
"She knows —"Paul's thoughts quickly vanished as he saw a figure a few metres ahead, causally leaning against the wall.
Roxy.
"He came." Paul knew Roxy would show up, but sooner than he expected.
Analyzing Roxy's characters. He doesn't look like a guy who would care much about what happened last night, or would he ?? It's time to find out .
Paul kept his pace steady, walking up to Roxy. Standing beside him in silence, looking in the same direction.
"Wether looks fine today ." Roxy murmured under his breath, but Paul heard it, and chooses to keep his silent.
Seconds passed and there's only silence. Maybe Roxy was expecting something in reply, but seeing that Paul wasn't saying anything, he retracted his gaze and said, "Say something mate, I've been waiting here for decades ."
"I know it's on me " Paul replied, his tone friendly like they've known each other for years, "still though, can't expect to see you this early ."
"I heard you were in a hurry ?"
"Nah, not really. By the way how much did you hear from them ?" Paul inquired slightly .
"Oh… like how you baited them in their own coffin ? I would love to see that show. Still mofos didn't tell much. Only the guy from the previous night wants to meet you. After looking at their body language. I guess you really need some medicine. I'm right, aren't I ?
"Too much credit, it was a self – defense act by the way, and anyone with some training can pull off something like that ."
"I missed a good show ."
"I can show you again, if you really wanna ."
"Nah.. chill out , I was just kidding. I would rather dip my wick on some smelly bitch and call it a good night than be a part of that shit, and you should too— try to keep your hands clean and just watch the play from the sidelines ." Roxy suggested gently. "You know the world is a big place right ? There's always someone standing behind someone . Take this as free advice . I don't wanna go to paradise this young and meet with my ancestors ."
"Yeah I know," Paul nodded in understanding, "I just got lucky this time, that's all ." As he said this, his gaze caught the sight of Mia passing, opposite the street. She tried looking with corner of eyes, her behaviour looked suspicious.
"Well at least she knows how to keep her mouth shut ."
"Yeah." Roxy said, shifting to his nonchalant tone "you free this evening, right ?"
"This evening…" Paul touched his chin, and went on a deep thought. Well there's nothing to think about it honestly, but something keeps ringing in his head and he can't let it go .
"I don't know about you, but there's something missing. it all started from there, right ? You saw it too didn't you ? After that… one by one, don't you think this is too much of—"
"What's there to think about ? We can roll all night, and start the new week ."
"Yeah, but I've got stuff to do. How about tomorrow evening ?"
"Stuff ?" Roxy gestured towards the school .
"Nah.. some personal work and shit."
"Well… I guess it settles then, tomorrow eve."
"Yeah," Paul nodded slightly, that Roxy was quick to understand.
"oh. By the way slide your contact," Roxy pulled out it his smartphone. "how the fuck we'll be in touch ?"
Paul nodded slightly, agreeing and took Roxy's phone, and gave it back after typing his number.
"Alright then, we'll be done here ."
"Yeah , I'll hit the road too."
And both departed their ways. Roxy turned in the left direction and Paul straight. Though after a few seconds he heard Roxy's voice again .
"Hey wait. I forgot to give you something ."
"To give me something ?" Paul turned around quickly, and saw Roxy taking out something from the back of his jeans pocket .
"What is it ?" Paul asked slightly, wondering to himself .
"Heh.." Roxy took out a small plastic pouch and put it inside Paul's blazer . "It ain't much, but still enough for not cracking up your head ."
"You don't have to ." Paul put the hand inside his blazer's pocket. "At least tell me how much ."
"Nah… we can settle all of this tomorrow. Whatcha you say ?"
"Alright then." Paul agreed , and they both parted ways again .
"Don't ditch me, my friend ."
The curtain silently danced behind him, and he once again found himself standing in the balcony to get some fresh air, after he finished making his dinner. Looking at the night city at like this, without any meaning or anything, was probably best time of day.
Slowly his hand reached the pocket and pulled out a plastic pouch from earlier Roxy had given him.
He lifted his hand slightly and examined the material inside. The white powder, which everyone loves when they need escape something.
"What I'm gonna do with this ?"
Paul obviously hadn't tried this, and never wants to . He thought of sending this examined it, but looking form the quantity which is barely above 20 grams. It's easy to guess that this is just a local stuff and it would be a waste of time.
He slipped the pouch back into his pocket, then reached for something else, but it wasn't there. He checked the other pocket; only a lighter.
"*Shit ."* He peered down at the street below. The convenience store was still open.
Under the watchful gaze of stars , his footsteps touched the cold streets, with nothing much in his mind, his thoughts wondered to Baldy's case . How much Simon has discovered and when he'll get know. He thought maybe Simon had probably gotten some solid leads now, which he can't even speculate.
As thinking of this and that, hee reached the convincing store. He caught the sight of figures, rambling nonsense. But it wasn't his problem in the least , he thought and entered the convincing store. And there she was standing at counter, paying for the accessories she brought.
Varsha.
Another coincidence ? No, it'll be more weird if he doesn't see her. They are next door neighbours after all .
Stop overthinking .
As Paul reached the counter. Varsha was done paying for the things and turned around. She felt a little startled but then she quickly realised that Paul lives next door.
Her previous conversation with Paul suddenly *clicked*, but she quickly suppressed the thought. She hurried out of the convenience store, not noticing the guy in front of her. *Oops!* She bumped right into him .
"Sorry," she apologized slightly and quickly tried to leave, but her hand was caught by force.
"Ya think you can walk away just like that, haa??" The guy she bumped into said, his tone all time drunken .
"The fck you doing ?" Another guy standing beside the drunken guy , his friend. "Sorry, he had too much today." And tried to separate the hand, griping Varsha.
"Hey hey ." The drunken guy babbled some nonsense as his hand let go of Varsha .
Varsha felt little nervous but as the matter didn't escalate much, she quickly turned around and rushed towards her apartment .
Then she heard the slight murmured of the drunken guy, her instinct told her to look behind, but she didn't . Then she heard the approaching footsteps behind her, right beside him and that same drunken guy stood in front her, blocking her path .
"Where ya goin missy , ain't chyaa think you owe me somethin ?"
Varsha was startled for a second as tired to walk away from the situation. But wherever she tried to walk , the drunken guy stood there, blocking her path with his arms open wide and a creepy smile playing in his face.
"This ain't good Idea I'm telling ya ." His friend called out from behind, with slowly footsteps.
The drunken guy slowly closed the between him and Varsha, as he responded to his friend, "shut you are ass up Rico, I know you want a part of this to."
He got closed to Varsha , as she her legs moved backwards, but it soon stopped. The wall . She was cornered back in the wall.
"Say somethin missy , don't cha think we'll be a good match ?"
"Why , why is this happening to me ?" As her mind went into deep overthinking, she remembered the words of her father. But this is not the time to overthink, she raised her spirit and locked gaze with the guy.
"Can you let go of me ?"
"Oh, you got killer's eyes Missy ." He pressed his both against the wall. "But that's totally in my taste ." His face got closer to her delicate neck and smelled her, like a hunter checking his pray before eating.
Varsha pushed the guy and crouched down slightly, trying to escape but as soon as she left the cage , the threads tighten once again around her hand, stopping her from getting away.
"Let go ." Varsha persisted .
"Oh. Don't be like that. It'll not even take an hour."
"I'm telling you let go or I'm—" her sentence stopped mid way, when she saw him getting out of convincing store.
PAUL.
Her mind raced more quickly, she wanted to scream — no, called out to Paul, or just took notice of her and help her out or something like that.
Though she wasn't excepting much from Paul but still… Two is always gonna bigger then one . Even if the drunken guy's friend who was just watching from side-lines joined in, they can still manage it somehow. Just hurry up and look at me , here .
Why is he just…. standing there ???
"Don't ignore me , ma queen." As the drunken guy followed the eyes of Varsha, he saw it . Rico watching the play from side-lines also wondered and followed their gazes.
A random guy standing at the entrance of convincing store , tapping the cigarette against his hand .
Paul turned his head, slowly cigarette reaching his lips, then he noticed .