Luck favoured Neal this time, as the automatic doors at the cafe's entrance, opened exactly on time, he leapt through them into the arms of freedom, landed near a man's boots. The ghost behind him had already vanished.
He looked up and saw a tall man staring down at him with a puzzled face.
It was Allen D'angerio the owner of the netcafe. "Why did you do that? Just what is the reason for you to be diving like a rugby player."
Allen crossed his arms, and he eagerly waited for a response. Neal quickly thought about some things, tried to find some excuse, when he couldn't, he just said the first thing that came to his mind.
"I tripped near the entrance and fell inside. I admit, I admit it's my fault, just like those perky idiots in horror movies, I tripped on air."
Neal's calm reply didn't satisfy Allen's curiosity, who sighed and muttered under his breath. 'Another boring day it is.'
"You should be more careful my brother."
Allen offered him a hand, Neal took it, it was quite warm, and instantly he got up.
"Do you need more help?"
"No I don't think so."
"There's some dust on your jacket."
"Where?"
"On the both shoulder regions."
Neal brushed the dust off his jacket.
"Is this cafe open all the time? Like twenty-four seven, every day of the week?"
"That's what the sign says?"
"That's great."
"Why are you happy about that?"
"It's nothing. I'm just happy that finally I can play all the games I like."
Neal let out a long breath of relief. He had found a place that would help him survive. Even though he had super-healing powers, he wasn't sure that they would work all the time, and if a ghost snapped his neck, then it would be game over for him.
Immediately he made up his mind. He walked towards the counter with Allen, paid his rent for the next ten hours. The boss was way too happy about receiving a customer this late in the night. Allen gave him the receipt, and offered a coke for free, which Neal accepted, thanked the owner for his generosity.
Alled led him to a computer station. Turned it on, typed in a password, and connected the wi-fi by inputting another password with the keyboard.
"There you go."
"The internet is now your home."
"No it isn't. I'm still a tenant."
"Keep paying off your dues. And soon you'll become an official resident."
"I don't want to become an addict."
"That's what they all say on the first day."
"But after two weeks, their demeanor's change, and they are here all the time."
"No one is here right now."
"Their parents dragged them back home."
"Adults don't come here."
"Nah... They are too busy with charming the pants off their dates."
Allen was about to leave him after saying these things, but he decided to sit beside Neal for a bit. As fear was still visible on his face.
"Why aren't you playing games?"
"I'm waiting for you to leave."
"Ouch."
"Don't say it like that. I'm just sitting here for some small talk. Then I'll leave. No one is here, and I'm bored."
"What do you wanna talk about?"
"My son is falling behind on his schoolwork."
"Then send him to a cram school."
"I can't do that. I don't have the money."
"He comes here to study. But most of the time, he usually plays games."
"You can tell him to stop."
"I don't want to come off as a strict dad. I want my son to like me."
"You're spoiling him."
"He'll end up fine in the end. He's a good kid."
"Yeah... Yeah... Whatever you say."
"My right leg hurts badly these days. Just like a lazy bum it refuses to move."
"Go to the doctor."
"I will one day. But not right now."
"Don't you have laptops here?"
"No we recieved too many complaints about them."