Drake Wayne honked at slow moving vehicles as he drove through the flooded streets in his 2007 Honda Civic. his wind screen wipers move back and forth barely able to keep up with the heavy rain falling on them.
beside him sat the pizza he was supposed to deliver 15 minutes ago, which was already getting cold.
Just as he got to a traffic light, his car stopped working.
"you piece of crap, come on. Drake muttered in frustration, as he hurriedly tried to restart it. He glanced at the dashboard clock in his car that now tells him, he was twenty minutes later now.
He had left the Jacky pizzeria 45 minutes ago and the app strictly says delivery should not take more than 15 minutes top, but unluckily his car has been giving him troubles, offing every now and then due to how floody the streets were.
Just as the car manages to start back up, Drake's phone buzzes. He didn't need to look to know it was the 7th message from one of the customers he was supposed to deliver to, asking where's their food.
Drake's jaw tightened
Five minutes later. he finally arrived at the destination. He stood outside a big house with two garages containing cars that cost more than Drake would ever or have ever made in his entire life.
When he knocked, a woman wearing a pink gown that hugged her curly frame opened the door, she took a conscious glance at her Apple Watch.
"you are 40 fucking...minutes late, she muttered in annoyance.
"I'm really sorry about that mam, the rain was just too—
"I don't give a fuck about your stupid excuse, weres my food you moron!. she said, cutting him off.
Drake handed her the pizza.
She snatched it from his hand, examined it as if checking for any defect. "Here, she said as she finally handed him the money. She didn't even tip, just slammed the door hard to his face.
He walked back to his car and stared at his small cup holder. in it contained all his tips for today. $1.47 for seven hours of working, how disappointing. Drake sighed as he started up his engine and drove back to the main road heading to his next delivery.
Along the way a bright red Porsche parked beside him while waiting for the traffic lights to turn green. Drake kept his focus on the road, but he could feel the attention of the car beside him.
The window slid down, and a teenage boy leaned his head out. One hand dangled over the edge of the door, the other still gripping the steering wheel.
"hey yo pizza boy.
the teenage boy said grinning at his friends who were seated at the back. "that honda is old as my grandpa's ass, I bet it has what, 1,000,000 miles on it?"
They all burst into laughter, but Drake paid no attention to them; he just kept staring straight.
"I'm talking to you, dom fuck. yeah....keep quiet. I bet the reason why you can't hear me is because of that stupid rattling engine of yours? the teenage kid said as he revved his engine, which made a deep purr sound that made Drake's car sound like a lawn mower in comparison.
With that, the traffic light turned green and the teenager shot off with speed while putting out his middle finger for Drake to see.
Morons! He muttered under his breath, pressed his gas pedal slowly, while feeling disgusted by the teenager's gesture.
His next delivery was to a huge mansion that was five times bigger than the last house he delivered to. He pulled up into the Circular drive way, parking behind a sleek black range Rover that could buy his crappy Honda Civic a hundred times over. he grabbed the pizza and two-liters bottle of coke, then got out of his car and jogged through the rain to the covered entrance that held the massive front door of the mansion.
he rang the door bell and patiently waited, hoping this time he might actually get a tip unlike the last.
When the door finally opened, a man in his fifties putting on a cashmere sweater steps out while holding a cell phone to his ear. He gave Drake a judgmental look up and down with barely concealed disdain.
....give me one moment Jeff. Some delivery kid just showed up at my door step." He said into the phone. The man glanced at his watch. " You were supposed to be here with my package 35 minutes ago."
"Yes sir, sorry, the road....
Hold on, Jeff. I will call you back. The man said while lowering the phone from his ear. "Do you have any idea how much I paid for delivery? I paid for fast service and you bring me this.... This is unacceptable.
"I know sir, and I am sincerely sorry. "My car couldn't keep up on the road because of the rain..."
"I don't want to hear anything you have to say. That's your problem. He said while taking the pizza and soda from Drake's hands with annoyance. "How much?"
"That will be twenty-eight fifty, sir. Drake replied.
The man pulled out his wallet, counted out the exact change, and dropped it into Drake's palm. Then he stepped back and shut the door.
Drake stood there for a while, looking down at the crumpled bills in his hand in disappointment. No tip again. Not even a "thank you. geez. he whispered to himself before turning to walk away.
However, getting halfway back to his car, his phone suddenly rang out loudly in his pocket. He pulled it out quickly. When he saw his boss's name flash on the screen, his stomach twisted. But still, he forced himself to answer the call.
"Hello?"
"DRAKE! His boss's loud voice came through the speaker. "What the Hell did you do to Mr. Johnson, the customer you just delivered to?"
"Sir, listen, my car... "
"No, you shut up and listen! I just got off the phone with him. He said you showed up late with a cold order, giving him an attitude. Do you have any idea who that man is? He's on the city Council! He can shut us down with one phone call!"
"What?. I didn't give him any attitude. My car kept stalling, and...
"Zip it Drake, I don't want to hear any of it! This is the eighteen complaints this month and I am tired. It's enough, Drake. You're fired. You can leave the car topper at the shop tomorrow."
with that the line went dead.
Drake stood completely still in the rain with his phone still pressed against his ear, clearly listening to nothing. The soft, steady rain soaked through his jacket as he just stood there, frozen in place.
Finally, he lowered his hand and walked back to his car. He sat inside with the engine off, watching the rain slide down his windshield.
He can't still believe he just got fired from his pizza delivery job.
He pulled up his phone and opened his banking app, even though he knew what he'd see. The numbers glowed on the screen: $243.83.
Rent was due in three days. Which is $650 for his half.
He let his head fall back against the headrest with the rain hitting the roof of his car softly, as if counting down the seconds of his failure.
At least I still have Jenna.
That thought came to him as he turned on the car. It gave him a small warm feeling, even though his chest still felt tight and heavy. He was supposed to work until midnight, but now… now he could go home early. Maybe that was the only good thing about being fired. He could surprise her with some takeout before breaking the bad news to her.
On the way home, Drake stopped at Chen's kitchen and used some part of his remaining funds to buy Jenna's favorite - orange chicken, pork fried rice, and crab Rangoon which cost him $28 in total.
He soon arrived in front of his apartment complex, which was an old three - story building in a neighborhood people call "up-and-coming," which really meant it was still rough, but the rent was too high anyway. Drake climbed the stairs to the second floor, holding the takeout bag carefully. He got to his apartment door which was number 236.
He was reaching for his keys when he heard a sound of murmuring and screening coming from inside.
Drake froze instantly, with his hand halfway to the lock.
It couldn't be what it sounded like. Maybe Jenna was watching TV. Or maybe she had music playing. Drake thought to himself as he went ahead and slid his key into the lock, opening the door.
When he stepped in, the living room was dim, lit only by the ambient glow from the bedroom doorway. The muffled sounds he heard from outside came again, more clearer and persistent.
Unmistakable. Drake's feet moved on autopilot, carrying him forward even as his mind screamed at him to turn around and leave.
But it was impossible, because what he saw next was inevitable.
The bedroom door was half open. Through it, he saw two figures tangled in the sheets. In which one of it was Jenna lying on the bed with her dark hair spilled across the pillow and above her was Marcus.
His best friend since high school. The one guy who had helped him moved into this apartment. The guy who he would always have a long conversation with about their dreams, about everything they planned to achieve in life someday.
Drake froze, he felt the takeout bag slipping from his fingers. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Jenna, who was making morning sounds from the pleasure, finally opened her eyes as they found Drake standing at the bedroom-door.
"DRAKE!" She screamed his name in shock, scrambling backwards while dragging the bed sheets up to cover herself. "Oh my God, Drake!. you...you are back, I...."
Marcus rolled to the side, with his face also filled with shock, and fear. "Bro, wait , this isn't..."
Drake said nothing. He just stood there, staring. His face felt numb, as if all the muscles had forgotten how to work. The takeout bag had already hit the floor, but he didn't remember dropping it.
"it just happened, it's not what you think!" Jenna said with tears already pouring from her eyes. I'm so sorry, baby, it just happened, we didn't mean...."
"How long?" Drake finally spoke. His voice sounded low and flat.
Jenna and Marcus exchanged looks at each other.
"HOW. FUCKING. LONG!." Drake asked again but this time screaming so loud that the whole neighbors could hear.
"Two months," Jenna whispered in fear, due to this being the first time she has actually seen Drake angry.
Two months. Drake repeated the words in his head. Two months of "I love you." Two months of coming home to her smile. Two months of believing they truly had something special.
He stepped fully into the bedroom, walking past them to pick up his backpack that was on the side of the bed. He opened the closet and grabbed an armful of clothes, stuffing them into the bag.
"Drake, please, can we just talk about this?" Jenna said, holding the sheet around herself, while standing now. "It's complicated, okay? you're never here, you're always working, and I just felt so lonely.... "
Drake didn't respond. He unplugged his phone charger from the side of the wall, coiled the cord around it, and added it to the backpack.
"Bro," Marcus said, pulling up his jeans. "Bro, I didn't mean for this to happen. You gotta believe me, men, it's just..."
"Don't." Drake's hand paused on the zipper of his backpack. "Don't ever call me bro again."
He shouldered the bag, walked past the both of them and the takeout laying on the floor.
Jenna followed behind him to the leaving room still crying, while saying something about talking things through.
but drake couldn't care less, he slammed the door behind him to her face, leaving the drama behind.
*****
Drake's hands were shaking as he pushed the key into the car's ignition. The engine coughed once, twice, then finally started with its usual rattling noise.
"Fuck!" Drake shouted in the empty car, letting out his rage by slamming his fist against the steering wheel. "FUCK!"
With that, he threw the car into reverse and pulled out of the parking spot too fast, almost hitting the bumper of a old pickup truck behind him. He didn't care. He switched into drive and pressed down on the gas pedal, feeling the crappy Car struggle to accelerate as he left the complex behind.
He drove with no destination in mind. making any random turns until he eventually ended up at the waterfront, stopping in a gravel parking lot that overlooked the docks. A few cargo ships were tied up in the distance, with their lights reflecting on the black water.
Drake turned off the engine and sat in silence, watching the boats sway with the water's current.
He glanced at his phone in the cup holder. Seven missed calls from Jenna. Three from Marcus.
He picked up the phone, blocked both numbers, and shoved it inside his pocket.
He got out of his car, the rain was still falling but Drake didn't care. He needed to clear his mind and taking a stroll is what he needed right now. He left his car in the lot and started walking, letting the rain soak him completely.
He walked through downtown. He passed restaurants where people laughed and ate expensive food. He passed bars where friends drank and celebrated whatever people celebrate on a Tuesday night. Ahead of him, the financial district rose into the sky—tall glass buildings and shiny metal structures, all symbols of success. To Drake, they felt like they belonged to another world completely.
Twenty three years old dropped out from college just because i couldn't afford tuition.
Geez! I couldn't even keep my job, or my girlfriend. i have no skill, not even any family to support me. The thought of all this made him realize he is the true definition of failure.
He checked his banking app again, which now showed. $215.83. reduced slightly because of the expensive takeout he decided to get for Jenna, which he was regretting now.
"Where am I supposed to go now? judging from the look of things I barely have enough money to get a new apartment. He thought to himself.
Drake stepped into a pedestrian crosswalk, with his mind lost in thoughts, replaying everything. the image of Jenna and Marcus, him being fired. But just when he thought everything couldn't get worse, it actually did.
Just as he got half way through the cross walk, a sudden screeching sound came that snapped him back to the present.
When he looked up, bright headlights filled his sight, blinding him.
At this point it was like time froze.
Drake witnessed the raindrops suspended in the air, he saw the horrified face of a woman on the sidewalk with her hand over her mouth, he saw the silver Mercedes symbol shining on the hood of the car that was inches away from him.
The next thing, Drake felt his body lift off the ground, floating for a split second before gravity remembered him and slammed him back down onto the pavement. His head hit the concrete hard. His ribs explode with sudden pain making the tasted blood fill his mouth.
The impact he took from the car was brutal.
Voices sounded distant, like they were coming from a long tunnel. People started screaming. Someone shouting "Call 9,1,1." he heard the squealing of the Mercedes tires as it sped away without stopping.
Hit and run.
Drake lay on his back, rain falling into his open eyes. His vision was blurring, darkening at the edges. People gathered around him with their faces distorted, their voices muffled like he was underwater.
" is....is this really how it ends?
the final thought rose up in his already fading mind before everything completely went dark.
****
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The constant beeping sound dragged Drake from his unconsciousness. By the time he opened his eyes, he found himself lying still on a hospital bed with every part of his body burning in pain, especially his chest. It felt like someone had hit him there with a baseball bat.
"Am alive. That was the first thought that came to Drake's mind.
A nurse appeared at his side. The expression on her face brightened when she saw his open eyes. "Doctor! He's awake!"
A man in a white coat rushed over, shining a penlight into Drake's eyes. "Drake Wayne? Can you hear me? I'm doctor. Petel. You're at venison hospital. you were in an accident."
"How... how bad is it?" Drake asked, with his voice sounding rough and weak.
"You were very lucky. Dr. Petel said. "You suffered from a concussion, one broken rib, and a lot of bruising. But nothing life - threatening. you will be in pain for a while, but you will make a full recovery in no time."
Lucky. Drake almost laughed, but the pain in his chest restrained him from doing so.
"My.... My bill—" Drake tried to sit up, fear of having to worry about paying the hospital bills over took him. He had no insurance. This would destroy him.
Dr. Petel gently pushed him back onto the bed.
"Relax, Mr. Wayne. The bills is already taken care of. An anonymous benefactor paid for everything — the ambulance, the treatment, everything. You don't owe a cent."
"What? Who?"
"We don't know. The payment came through with instructions not to reveal the identity. Just rest now. You're safe."
With that, the doctor left the room leaving Drake to lay there confused. Why would a stranger pay for him or could it be the person who hit him with the car in the first place, trying to hide his identity so he won't get into trouble?
The thought was rising through Drake's mind when his vision suddenly glitched.
Drake blinked hard, thinking something was wrong with his eyes. But then it happened again— his entire vision started glitching like a computer screen freezing. Thin lines of static flashed across his gaze.
"What the.... "
A glowing screen suddenly appeared in the air in front of him, glowing with a soft blue light. It looked like something out of a video game or a sci-fi movie, hovering about two feet in front of his face. He could see through it to the hospital room behind it, but the interface itself was still clearly visible.
Words began typing across the screen, one letter at a time:
[System initialization complete.... ]
[Welcome, Drake Wayne.
The Luxurious-Tech System has selected you as it knew host.
Your journey to unlimited prosperity begins now. ]