Chapter Two

Brian blinked. "Pardon?"

"I said get on your knees, kiss my shoes, and apologize," Raymond repeated impatiently.

Brian stared at Raymond with deep hatred, wishing he could throw him out through the window. It's one thing to apologize to Raymond, now he was expected to kneel and kiss his shoes?

"If you don't, you can leave," His boss added. 

Brian pondered on this. If he didn't do it, he would lose his job. But the thought of kneeling before Raymond alone irked him a lot. But his job was at stake. 

Brian's knees buckled slowly. Raymond smiled, thinking his plan worked well. 

Meanwhile, unknown to anyone except her, Patricia was getting the whole moment on video. She bit her lips in anticipation. If she caught this embarrassing moment on camera and posted it on her I*******m account, she could get a lot of likes and new followers.

However, to the disappointment of everyone except Melanie and Charlene, Brian straightened before his knees could touch the ground.

"No. No way. I can't do this." He said, shaking his head. Just because he was poor doesn't mean he would stoop so low to kiss someone's feet. 

Raymond's smile wavered. "You reject the condition for my mercy?"

"I don't need your mercy, douchebag."

*SLAP*

Another slap landed on Brian's cheek so sudden to the surprise of everyone. Brian turned and looked at his boss who was fuming in anger. 

"Kneel, and apologize now." She screamed.

"Never. You can never embarrass me to that extent."

"Then I guess you are ready to lose your job."

"Yes. In fact, I quit. Here's your apron." He removed his apron and threw it at his boss's face. "Let me just tell you this before I leave. This attitude of yours won't end well." 

Brian walked to the door. He stopped and turned back at Alexia.

"You will regret this day, Alexia. You chose Raymond over me after everything I've done for you. No problem. It's your life after all. But karma is real, Alexia. Just remember this." 

This was his last words before storming out of the cafe. Alexia only snorted, not feeling any tinge of guilt.

"Brian, wait," Melanie called and ran after Brian. Charlene followed. 

Raymond laughed. "Such a loser."

"I know, right?" added Alexia. "Anyway, all this drama only made me hungrier."

"Sorry babe. Let's go somewhere else to eat."

"Oh, you are leaving?" The boss asked, agitated. 

Raymond replied. "Yes. Give me your bank account. I'll send you fifty thousand dollars for your troubles." 

The boss's face beamed with glee, thankful for today. "Thank you so much, sir."

As Raymond sent the money, Patricia saved the video on her phone while discussing what just happened with her friends. After cropping out some parts, the video should go viral in school.

Meanwhile, Brian stomped farther away from the cafe in anger, ignoring Melanie and Charlene as they called him.

"Brian, we are talking to you," Melanie said as she got closer.

"Why can't you two just leave me alone?" Brian turned and yelled at them. "Let me be."

Melanie flinched. "We just wanted to check if you are alright."

"I'm fine, thanks for caring. You can go back to work." 

He turned and continued walking. 

"Brian..."

"I'm fine." He interrupted Charlene and took to his heels. 

As it was night, the streetlights and outdoor bulbs of buildings illuminated the city. Brian ran past people and didn't stop until he reached an alley in between two abandoned warehouses, where gangs were known to hang out. Brian needed somewhere quiet to sit and think and the alley was perfect. He didn't think of the dangers that could await him there before entering.

He went in, far from the entrance, and sat on a little platform, gazing at the stickers, newspapers, and drawings pasted on the walls.

He bursted into tears after some minutes. All of his guard and anger melted suddenly now that he was alone, and the vulnerable part of him surfaced with sadness. He let out all the tears of hurt and betrayal he had been holding.

How could Alexia do this to him after all he had done for her? He sacrificed his savings sometimes to get some things for her or to take her out. He sacrificed a lot and did all he could to make her happy, only for her to shatter him completely.

Tears streamed down his face as he recalled the moments they had together.

His heart ached.

Why did this heartbreak hit him so hard? Maybe because this was his first relationship and he thought they were the perfect couple. He thought he had found someone who loved him for who he was. Turns out he was wrong and Alexia was right. He was worthless.

That aside, what is he going to do now that he is jobless? He wasn't sure if his mother's income would sustain them for long. Their rent is due. Could his life get any worse? 

Being poor was very horrible.

This was all his father's fault. His father left his mother when she was pregnant and then died in an accident, according to his mother. If he hadn't left them, maybe his life would have been better. His father would have still been alive and they would be a complete family. They wouldn't have to suffer. 

But no. His father had to be such a jerk and leave his mother to suffer. And he died, leaving both of them to suffer for what he was responsible for. He never knew his father but he hated him already. 

Brian cried harder. Why can't he be happy for once in his life?

"Well, well, well. Look we have here." A familiar voice echoed in the alley, causing Brian to look up. 

A group of four boys were approaching. Brian wiped his tears quickly. He didn't want them to see him crying but they had noticed already. 

"Wait, are you crying?" The one with an afro hairstyle asked and laughed with his friends. He was Gabe. "I wish Patricia was here to video this moment." 

Gabe was Patricia's boyfriend. He and his friends were another set of people who derived joy in oppressing Brian. 

Brian stood up. "What do you want?" 

Before Gabe could respond, Brian added. "You know what? I don't care. The alley is all yours."

He tried to walk past them but Gabe placed his hand on Brian's chest and pushed him back forcefully. 

Brian landed on his bum. His glasses shook at the impact.

"You are going nowhere until we are done with you," Gabe said. 

"What do you mean?" asked Brian. 

He had barely gotten up when he was pushed again and he fell back. This time, his glasses fell from his face and his eyesight blurred. 

This was another thing Brian hated in his life. His astigmatism.

"Search his pockets and take anything valuable." He heard Gabe order. 

Before he could get up, they surrounded him. One of them placed his feet on Brian's chest, preventing him from getting up, while the others searched him. The only things on Brian were his wallet and phone. 

"Give that back." Brian protested when he felt them take his phone and wallet from his pocket. 

Gabe chortled at Brian's phone whose screen was badly cracked. "You call this a phone?"

He tossed it away. Brian nearly screamed when he heard the screen crack. 

"Give me his wallet," Gabe said. He opened the wallet and removed everything in it. 

"Only fifty dollars?" Gabe nagged after counting the dollar bills in the wallet. "You carry a wallet around only to keep fifty dollars? Are you so broke, Brian?"

Brian grunted. "Let me go."

Gabe clicked his tongue. "We can't just leave without getting up to a hundred dollars. You must have some money in your bank account. Your debit card isn't here, unfortunately. But your phone is."

Gabe picked up his phone and switched it on. "So this is what you'll do to get your freedom. You tell us your bank transfer PIN." 

"Do you think I'm stupid? You want to steal all of my money. Not gonna happen." 

Gabe bent down towards him. "Tell me the PIN now that I'm being nice." 

"Nice, my foot. I'd rather..." Brian didn't finish his statement before Gabe kicked his side. He howled in pain.

At the Gabe's signal, the guy who had his feet on Brian removed it. Brian tried to get up but got another kick and fell back. 

"That should get you to talk. Are you going to tell us now?" Gabe asked. 

Brian groaned and turned on the ground, clutching his abdomen. 

"I'll take that as a no." 

Gabe raised his legs to kick Brian again.

"Hey, what are you doing there?" A deep voice boomed in the alley.

Gabe yelped and dashed out of the alley with his friends. Brian's hand hit his glasses and he picked it.

Still clutching his gut, he managed to stand up after putting on his glasses, thanking his stars for the people who helped him. Who knew what else Gabe would have done?

"Thanks so much for..."

Brian stopped talking when he saw his savior. He now understood why Gabe ran away and wished he had followed him.