The small group of six of ours sat together in the back of the arcade along with the old lady, Mrs. Benson, Emily said her name was.
Eric and Emily sat close to Mrs. Benson, Lia and Anna were bringing out some snacks from her kitchen alongside tea and Sebastian sat on a chair. I watched the entire scenery from a distance, my hands crossed as I leaned on a wall.
This was annoying. I felt sad for Mrs. Benson, sure, but I also knew that one can only help a person so much. It would be best if we could wrap things up here.
"You must have been very scared," Eric said to Mrs. Benson, and the old lady wiped her tears and nodded while holding the handsome boy's hands.
"They were more violent than ever today…" said Mrs. Benson.
At that very time, Lia and Anna entered the room with trays in their hands. They placed the tea and some snacks for everyone on the table, with Anna handing it personally to the old lady.
"I can understand… it must have been very rough. Please, take some tea."
"Oh, I am sorry you have to do this for this old lady—"
"Not at all. Emily, tell her."
"Yes, Anna is right. Don't worry and just relax, Mrs. Benson."
Lia, on the other hand, grabbed two cups and brought it over to me. In a low voice she said.
"That was very quick witted of you, great work."
I nodded and took a cup from her. Lia seemed to be waiting for a response, when she didn't get one she stood next to me and sipped on her tea.
It was quick witted, sure, but it was not going to solve anything for anyone.
"This much should be enough to write a story," said Lia. "Quite the experience."
"You think?" I asked.
Lia smirked. "Nah."
"Right."
"These are all very nosy people. Everybody will want to do something to help the lady."
I looked ahead again, and sure enough, Sebastian had stood up and posed the question on all of our minds to her.
"Who were those men and what did they want, Mrs. Benson? You have to tell us if we are to help you a little."
"Oh…" Mrs. Benson covered her mouth and lowered her gaze a little. "That is… those people are apparently from a new arcade business around here. They want me to sell this place to them so they can repurpose it into a different business."
My ears perked at those words.
An arcade company?
"That… are they not offering you good money?" Asked Sebastian.
The lady shook her head. "That's not it. I think it is more than what a dusty place like this deserves. It's just that… this place meant too much to my husband to just sell it out. Moreover, the arcades that they run are very different from a place children like you can enjoy at."
"Ah…" Eric said. "Like one of those shady adult businesses?"
The others also nodded while my eyes narrowed. I glanced to my side, Lia was staring at me.
Suspicious. Everyone here was suspicious.
Ding. A notification rang out on my phone.
"Alright," dusting her hands, Emily stood upright and placed her hands on her waist. "I think Mrs. Benson, you should rest for today. Tomorrow we will all pit our heads together and think about this."
I looked at my phone. It was a message from Anna, an invitation to a group on the messenger app. When I joined, it added me into a group titled English Group Project (Arcade Days!)
What the hell?
In there was a message from Emily, pinned to the top of the chat.
[Emily: Guys. We will need to look into this. I know Mrs. Benson from a long time, there is more to this story. Will tell all of you outside]
[Eric121: Yes, great. I don't want to just sit here after seeing all this.]
[Emily: Sorry for dragging you into this @~]
The ~ was my username. It seemed I was tagged in the group.
[: No worries. Happy to help.]
[Lialicious: Lol.]
[Sebastian: Yes, we are all in this together guys. Fun story for English.]
[Anna: Bet!]
Hah…
I guess I was involved in something annoying.
After talking a little more and saying our goodbyes, we stepped out of the store.
Before anyone could say anything, I raised my hand and pointed back.
"I am sorry, but I need to rush now. Update me on whatever, I'll be on chat," I said, pointing at my phone.
"Oh, sure. Don't worry at all, and sorry about this again."
I shook my head.
"You were very smart with things, Abel," Eric said.
"If not for him we would have been in trouble."
"Yeah, this hothead Sebastian would have gotten us in a pinch."
I smiled and lightly nodded my head at them.
"Alright then," I said and stepped away.
It was a sticky situation at the end of the day.