Chapter - 27 - Caught by cops..
With nothing better to do, Wine went out and borrowed some books from the book rental shop. Book rental shops were shops renting novels, magazines and cartoons. Cartoons were 50 per book, novels were 100 and magazines were 200 each.
Each book cost a piece of meat. His heart started to ache again. Ugh….
He was left alone in the dorm since everyone had something to do or somewhere to go. Anawar was also missing. Did he go to the knowledge bank with seniors? Wine didn't know..
*******
Anawar was meeting with his followers in the teashop. There were two followers sitting in Front of him who he called last week, Aung Gyi and Chin Nge.
"Boss.."
They greeted him in unison. They came as soon as they got the call. The motorcycle they rode was covered in dust.
"What are you doing now?"
"Us? Oh, we are selling balloons in the temple fairs and festivals. This season is just right to follow the hawkers and food stalls.."
Aung Gyi replied with a smile, showing his red teeth that were dyed by chewing betel nuts.
"Oh, business must be good.."
"Umm…aha..ha..ha.."
Aung Gyi's laugh was very fake. Anawar turned his eyes towards Chin Nge, let him explain what that meant..
"The business is good. We sold balloons very well. But… the profit was used by Aung Gyi to buy alcohol. Let alone profit, even the principle was gone."
"As if you didn't drink a sip.."
As usual, the two got into the verbal fight very quickly. Aung Gyi never touched his money when they worked together as was scared of him. However, his own money was never saved. He was an out and out drunkard.
"I called you.. to restart the business."
"Didn't you say you stopped doing this kind of business, Boss? What now?"
Aung Gyi took a sip of tea and asked the Boss of their small group, Anawar. Before going to attend the College, Anawar said he wanted to stop. So … they were trying to change to another business as the Boss was gone.
"I want to do it again. So what? If you don't want to do it, I don't mind replacing you."
"Do it. Grandpa! We will do it…"
Aung Gyi nodded in a hurry. Are you kidding me? Can't I say a few words? Of course, he will do it. Without the Boss clearing the way, what could a follower like him do… He didn't have an official father like the Boss.
"Go fetch a batch this week. I'll call the guards on duty and clear the way. Just do as usual.."
"Ok, Boss. Will you send the snack boxes to the guards or…?"
"You send them. I'll call and make an appointment with their family members to meet with you. I'm not free.."
"What about the quantity? Still the same?"
"I already contacted the merchant. We won't take 110 this time. 125, a hundred. Enough to send to two dealers."
Anawar didn't have much money on him. All his money was sent to the bank after he decided to stop the business. So, he had to let them come and fetch the snack boxes on Monday evening.
"By the way, Boss… We are very curious. You never went back on your words but you did it this time.What happened, aren't you already rich?"
"Tch… What do you old bachelors know? My lover's allowance is too low. I'm distressed when I see him being too frugal."
Anawar didn't realise it himself, that his tone was a little cocky and full of doting complaints. He left, making his two followers' jaws drop, behind.
"Did the boss say he had a lover?"
"Him? That man who wanted to punch anyone who touched him?"
"They won't go platonic, right?"
It was very unbelievable for the two followers. So unbelievable that they missed the word "him" which pointed to the gender of the boss's lover.
Aung Gyi was beaten because he thought he was familiar with Anawar and hooked his arms around Anawar's neck. Chin Nge was also beaten after using Anawar's belongings casually. They had psychological shadows and didn't dare to stay close to him whenever they were around Anawar.
Anawar left the two followers and headed towards the snack shop. He wanted to choose the snacks Wine would like as he only needs the packaging and boxes of the snacks to send to the gate guards.
He noticed that Wine liked fruity snacks, jelly and milk flavour snacks. He didn't like biscuits, cream filled cakes and cookies. But there wasn't much to choose from. He chose soft cookies with fruit jams and some soft candies.
The packaging was unsatisfactory to send to the guards' house as they were paper boxes unlike some cookies boxes made of iron. But, it doesn't matter. The packaging was not the key, the thing that was filled inside was.
Giving Wine the snacks he didn't like to eat would be the real sin. Wine won't feel it since it was free food for him but he himself would feel like he wronged Wine.
Pulling the big and small snack boxes in both hands, he returned to the dorm with full load. He was in such a good mood that his steps were brisk.
"I'm back.."
Like a man returning home, he greeted his sweetheart who was waiting for him. Well, in his thoughts…
Wine's eyes were filled with worries and he looked behind him with anxiety but when he saw him come back alone, he sighed in relief..
"You're back. That's good.. that's good.."
Wine patted his heart and made the sound "Phew..". It was obvious that something happened and Wine thought he was also in it. Anawar masked his worries and asked..
"What happened?"
"Ugh.."
Wine's face turned red when he was asked. Not because the content was shameful for him but because he doubted Anawar was also in it.
"Is it inconvenient to say? It's okay. I won't ask.."
Anawar wanted to know what happened. However, seeing Wine acting so awkward, he swallowed his desire to know.
"Ah, no. You will know it later anyway. I will say it.. ugh.."
"It's okay. Take your time.."
"The thing is… the group that went to see 18+ movies was caught.."
"Caught? By who?"
"The cops… they are caught by the cops.."
"Awww.. I see."
Anawar was also invited by the seniors last night but he rejected the offer. If he ever wanted to see it, he would only look at his sweetheart. He thought so…
"And.. they are in even bigger trouble. The cops are cracking down on prostitution and 18+ movies. To release them, the guardian needs to sign. So, our headmaster was called to the police station. As you know, she is an old spinster. Only god knows what this group will face after being bailed out by her. Tsk..tsk.."
"Haha.."
They felt it was a pity but also felt it was funny. They laughed together thinking about this.
"By the way, why are you finding it difficult to say this to me? Your face even turned red."
"Ah.. because.. I thought you were also caught. I didn't see you this afternoon. So.."
"So you thought I was going to see that kind of action movie?"
"I'm sorry.."