Chapter 82 — Everyone Has Their Own Problems
The next day, Razan returned from a meeting in the City of Healing and entered the hotel through a portal. As soon as he arrived in the living room, he noticed that everyone had gathered in front of the television, watching something.
Curious, he approached with a relaxed smile.
"Oh, are you guys watching something interesting? Let me see, too!"
Razan positioned himself beside the others and looked at the television. The next instant, his eyes widened when he realized they were watching one of Angel's pornographic films.
He immediately covered his eyes with his hands and began writhing dramatically.
"Ah! My eyes are burning! Why are you watching gay porn in the middle of the hotel's living room?! My eyes! Why did I have to have magical eyes?!"
Angel, who was sprawled across the couch, turned his head toward him with an expression of pure indignation.
"Stop being so dramatic! That performance earned me an award in the porn industry!"
Charlie, who also seemed rather embarrassed by the situation, tried to find an excuse for what was happening.
"Well, Razan... Look on the bright side. Maybe there's some artistic value in it."
Vaggie let out a tired sigh and massaged her forehead.
"I told you it wasn't a good idea to show this stuff in the hotel's living room."
"But we need to get to know our guests so we can help and save them! So, it's only natural to learn about Angel's work!" Charlie replied, trying to defend her decision.
Meanwhile, Razan continued rolling around on the floor with his hands covering his eyes.
"I didn't want to get to know his work so intimately! My eyes are burning! I'm going to have nightmares about this! I'm a normal heterosexual! Some things are just too much for my little mind to handle!"
Niffty, who had been watching the scene with sparkling eyes, burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha! The bad thing feels pain! I want to feel pain, too!"
She then jumped onto the floor and started rolling around with Razan, turning the living room into an even bigger mess.
Husk, who already seemed to regret being in that place, picked up a bottle of liquor and took a sip before grumbling:
"You're all a bunch of lunatics. Seriously, where the hell did I end up?"
He looked back at the television, watching the interrogation scene in the film.
"And this interrogation scene is terrible."
Angel partially sat up on the couch, staring at Husk as if he had just heard the greatest insult of his life.
"Ah, what the hell are you talking about?! That's my best work! What makes you think you can criticize it?!"
Husk raised an eyebrow and took another sip.
"Are you going to act all tough and deny that your scripts are shit?"
Razan opened his eyes with difficulty, moving his hands away from his face a little.
"I don't think someone who gets with other guys can act all tough, but keep going. I'm loving this argument!"
Charlie immediately turned her head toward him.
"Razan! Stop encouraging them to fight!"
Angel ignored their comments and pointed an accusing finger at Husk.
"My scripts are good, you piece of shit! This is pure art!"
"Art, my ass!" Husk retorted, showing absolutely no respect for the other man's outrage. "You get drunk and throw tantrums about your career. Everyone comes crying to the bartender, so I already know all your problems. Everyone's, except that freak over there!"
He pointed at Razan, who was still sitting on the floor.
"That menace doesn't drink alcohol, doesn't complain, and seems like he never has a bad day! What kind of lunatic are you?!"
Razan blinked several times, unsure how to respond to that description.
However, Husk wasn't finished yet.
He pointed at Sir Pentious, who was nearby.
"And that guy is a cheerful idiot who wants to watch you all sleeping just so he doesn't feel lonely."
Razan's eyes widened.
"Wait a minute! He watches me sleeping while I'm cuddling with the girls? Then he knows I get kicked in the face every night because I move around too much?!"
Before he could continue, a pillow flew toward him and hit him in the face.
Vaggie crossed her arms, looking at him with an irritated expression.
"Stop talking about our private life, you idiot!"
Razan pulled the pillow away from his face and gave her an offended look, but decided not to respond.
Husk let out a dry laugh and turned his attention back to the others.
"And the princess over there has a huge heart and wants to solve everyone's problems except her own."
He then pointed at Vaggie.
"And that one judges everyone and everything because, deep down, she hates herself."
Upon hearing that, Razan moved closer to Vaggie and sat beside her. Without saying anything, he rested his head on her shoulder, as if offering her silent support.
Husk noticed the gesture but soon shifted his gaze toward Niffty.
"As for Niffty... Honestly, I don't even want to know."
Angel, who had been busy arguing with Husk until then, finally seemed to realize that the bartender had more to say than he had expected.
"Wow! You weren't kidding. The kitty has claws!"
Husk slowly turned his head toward him, giving him a threatening glare.
"Don't provoke me, Angel. I know your little games, your bullshit, and just how fake you are."
Angel flashed a provocative smile, although his expression suggested that those words had struck a sensitive spot.
"Maybe that's why I'm a porn actress!"
Before Husk could respond, Angel's phone began to ring.
Angel glanced at the screen, answered the call, and moved a little farther away to talk. After a few moments, he ended the call and put his phone away.
"Well, it's time for me to go. I have to leave."
Husk took another sip of his drink.
"Sure..."
Angel gave him one last look and straightened his posture.
"I'm not paid to deal with you, you miserable bartender. I'm out!"
With that, he left the hotel.
Charlie watched him leave and, as soon as the door closed, seemed to remember something.
"But what about our activity?"
Razan, who had already gotten up from the floor, smiled and looked at Husk.
"If you're curious about what my problem is, Husk, I can tell you."
The bartender turned his eyes toward him, keeping the bottle in his hand.
Razan put his hands in his pockets and began speaking with a calm expression, although his words were more serious than usual.
"My problem is different from most of yours. Many of you suffer because you're weak and have to survive in this terrible, hopeless world. My problem is fighting against everything in this world that says someone with my power should be an asshole who does whatever he wants."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"My problem is trying to be myself, a normal person, in a world that tries to turn you into a piece of shit. If I had to sum it up, I'd say my problem is staying true to who I am, even while living in a place that seems determined to turn me into someone completely different."
Husk and the others fell silent, listening to his words.
Razan let out a sigh and shrugged.
"In the end, there are no people without problems. There are only people with different problems. It's impossible to become stronger without encountering new problems. You can solve the old ones, but they eventually get replaced by new ones. I just try to live peacefully and not think too much about all this bullshit."
As soon as he finished speaking, Charlie, visibly moved, rushed toward him and hugged him tightly, clinging to his body.
"You need hugs! Let me give you a thousand hugs until you feel better!"
Razan was surprised for a moment, but soon returned the hug, wrapping his arms around Charlie.
"That's why I like you so much. You're so cheerful that you end up making me happy, too."
Vaggie watched the two of them and smiled discreetly.
"Who would've thought you had problems, too, Razan?"
He let out a tired laugh and sighed.
"I never said I didn't."
Husk looked at him for a few seconds before turning his attention back to the bottle in his hand.
"Well, thanks for the information. Now I know everyone in this place is full of problems. How encouraging..."
Grumbling, he took another sip of his drink.