Today is going to be a good day. It's a Saturday, the air is cool and not dry, and we're having a nice dinner for Max's birthday.
"Clarissa… we've all unanimously agreed that you should quietly step down from your position."
"What?"
The board of directors are all nodding, like they all want this.
"But I'm the CEO-"
"I'm sure the original founders of the company wouldn't want mindless rumors tarnishing its name due to someone working here."
I founded this damn company! I'd slap him in the face, but clearly he's not the only one thinking this. He's just their spokesperson.
"I see."
So that's all I've been reduced to? Someone working here? I built this thing on my own blood, sweat, and tears. But I guess after so long I can't prove it.
I don't yet step down, though. I'll wait until Max's birthday to break the news to Genesis7.
"Happy birthday, Max!"
I've gotten him an ice cream maker, thanks to Dylan's input. We all sit at the table and order, and the boys are all talking about their own things.
"Everything okay?"
Dylan somehow notices the tension in my body, and places a hand on my shoulder.
"I think I've been fired, but please don't tell anyone."
"Actually?"
He seems speechless, and in all honesty so was I, so I can't blame him.
We eat and laugh, until the dinner is over and the boys spend the night out, doing whatever. I'm not overbearing and my mind is too preoccupied to care.
If only the night ended there. I'm walking home alone, when one of the shareholders of Kassel sees me.
"Clarissa? Is that you? Sorry we had to fire you, I wish there was a better way to just throw this all under the rug, you know?"
"Yeah, me too."
"But maybe there is…"
"Huh?"
His hand latches onto my wrist, and my hand jerks away.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh, come on darling… are you really so naive? It's okay, I don't blame you. You're quite young, you know?"
I'm literally older than him. And if he says "you know" one more time, I'm going to lose it.
"No, I don't know."
"Why are you being so picky? Is something wrong with you?"
He tries to reach for me again, but someone shoves him aside.
"Dyl- Alphonse?"
He hovers over the shareholder he's pushed to the floor, and mumbles.
"Get away from her, you disgusting pervert."
The creepy man does exactly that, grumbling and giving us the finger.
Though, my thoughts drift to the man standing next to me, looking fierce.
"You're Jeremiah's father, right? Have you been running errands this late?"
"Kind of."
"Oh."
It's definitely a little awkward between us, but I should at least thank him, right?
"Thanks for dealing with that guy back there. I really appreciate it."
"It's no problem."
We walk in the same direction for a while, before a colorful claw machine illuminates the wall it's in front of.
There's a giraffe plushie inside, that looks adorable…
"Which one do you want?"
"Hmm?"
"From the claw machine. I saw you looking at it."
Was I really that obvious? It almost seems childish of me.
"The… giraffe one?"
"Alright."
He walks up to the machine, and I remember that time Dylan won me a goldfish plushie from the carnival.
Though it takes Alphonse several tries on the claw machine before he successfully retrieves it.
"Sorry it took a while, here you go."
"Thanks. Again."
"You're welcome."
Despite looking intimidating, Alphonse is actually really generous.
"Goodnight, Clarissa."
"Goodnight."
This entire day has been weird. But it can't get worse than this, right?
It didn't, since I immediately slept once I got home so nothing else could hurt me.
But clearly something happened that day. I check my phone the next morning to see a text from Dylan.
"Do you know what Max did with the others late last night? He was pretty quiet when I called him, and didn't want to come over."
"I'm not sure, sorry."
It'd probably be too invasive to ask. I shouldn't, right?
But what if something did happen?
Maybe he's just tired.
I scroll through my texts, and am able to retrieve Alphonse's phone number from the group chat of Genesis7 parents.
"Hi. It's me, Clarissa."
"I know."
Reading his words in my head, he sounds very monotone. It's almost comical.
"Do you know where Max went last night?"
"They went to the arcade, then karaoke."
"That's it?"
"He slept over with Jeremiah at my house after."
Those are all normal things, so I think again. I go back to Dylan's text.
"Isn't Max usually reserved and quiet?"
"Not with me, though."
Huh. I don't think it could be anything very serious, though.
"Are you at work?"
"I'm walking there right now."
"You walk to school?"
"No. I parked my car, picked up my phone to text you, and have just gotten out."
"How about a photo of the studious teacher at work?"
"You wanna see me grading papers?"
"Well, I have some free time since I'm unemployed."
"Sure."
A few minutes pass, and I receive a photo of Dylan- in glasses?! I did not expect this rare yet much needed sight.
"I didn't know you wore glasses!"
"They're blue light glasses."
"Ah."
"Are the kids cute?"
"At the beginning of the year they were definitely troublemakers, but with some discipline they're learning every day."
"Don't tell me you're a strict teacher."
"Eh, I'd say I'm more on the fun side. These children are only in first grade, so I'm not hard on them. I don't yell, either."
"Can you text me at lunch?"
"If you want me to."
I spend the time walking around, doing a bit of shopping (definitely not retail therapy) and thinking about what I can do next.
It's not like I need a job, but I'm one of those people who get antsy doing nothing all day. If only my actual duty required much effort.
I've used my powers on almost a hundred couples just today- which is the usual number before noon. So yes, I'm still bored…
Until my phone rings, and it's a photo from Dylan- looking more charming than usual. Or maybe I'm somehow deprived with nothing to do. I text back.
"You eat salad for lunch? Really?"
"It's how I keep myself in shape."
"Are you a gym bro or something?"
"I go five times a week, so I'd say so."
"How is it my first time hearing about this ?"
"I don't like to brag."
My jaw almost drops as he sends me another photo of him flexing his muscles in the classroom. Oh wow.
"Sure seems like you're bragging to me."
A while later I'm at a cat café, petting some fuzzy little creatures to get my mind off things. These kitties are so adorable!
I witness two people on a date, getting along quite well, so I use my powers and send flowers their way.
However, my gaze shifts further and I look out the window. Odd.
It's almost as if Max is staring at me. Now I'm staring back, so he looks away and starts walking in the other direction.
"Are you not allowed to interact with the previous CEO of Kassel or something? I don't bite, haha."
The text sends without much thought. A cat is still purring beside me, and I scratch its back softly.
"They didn't say anything. Sorry, I was just walking around."
Something feels… off with him. But is it really my place to intervene anymore?
As his former manager, no. Yet I think as his mother, it's a different story.
"Well, even though I don't work for Kassel anymore, you can always text me or whatever. Like an occasional mentor perhaps?"
A minute later, my phone dings.
"Thanks, Clarissa. I think I just ate something weird last night, and it's been making me feel different from my usual self."
Ah, so that's what it was. At least it was nothing serious. I go back to Dylan in the message app.
"I think Max just got sick from the dinner last night. Other than that, he's fine."
"Thank goodness, I was seriously worried."
He really just gets protective instincts like that, doesn't he? Something I could never have.
Maybe I could use the break to work on my priorities, then.