Jason turned off the television that had been ceaselessly giving nothing but bad news since he woke up. He heard a knock on the door and opened it.
A young man, dressed in the hotel's black and white uniform bowed slightly before going to pack the plates that Jason had used to eat.He closed the door after the man had left.Feeling bored, he lay on the bed and took his phone. He checked the group chat for something to keep his mind busy.He saw a picture that had just been dropped some seconds back. He enlarged the picture.He could recognize Elizabeth fast. Who was she hugging? He scrolled up to have a better view of the person."Harlan?" He muttered to himself.He looked at the picture well. There was someone with the two of them. The blue hair made him realize who the person was. Roger.Too bold, isn't it? Harlan is hugging Elizabeth in the full glare of everyone. ThWhen Harlan opened his eyes, he found he wasn't in his room. He felt some heaviness in his leg. He stifled a groan as he tried to lift the heavy leg.He looked around and saw that he was in a hospital.He closed his eyes and tried to remember what happened. The memory came flooding into his head.The door opened and he saw Jack come in."You are awake, young Master?" Jack's voice was full of anxiety."Did you get the person?" Harlan asked.Jack nodded his head."How are you feeling now?""I feel as if my body is on strike. My head hurts a lot. What is the smell in this place?""Smell?""Everything here is disgusting. Geez.""You will soon get out here. You feel a lot of pain?""Yeah. The pain in my leg is the worst."Someone knocked on the door and it opened.Elizabeth entered.
"Someone from the Alberts?""Yes. They are the only ones I know who can be after you this way.""The only person from the Alberts who could send him to me is Jason, but I am not sure he wants me dead.""Do you trust him?"Harlan glanced at Jack, "not that much."Jack nodded, "I promise to get to the root of this, Sir."****Harlan had just come out from the examination Hall. As usual, Roger had not come for the exam. Jason had come into the exam hall five minutes before it was over. Cecilia had walked around the hall while everyone was busy writing away, even with the invigilators' warning that she should sit quietly, she hadn't stayed in a position for more than five minutes.Elizabeth, when Harlan glanced at her, had been busy with exam papers. The exam, just as always, was a work over for Harlan. Sometimes, he wondered if those who set the exam
When Harlan got home, he read the Alberts cases that Jack had sent to him since all these days. There was a case where a mother had filed against the Alberts claiming they killed her son in a car accident but didn't take responsibility for it but the Albert involved had claimed that the woman's son was on drugs and the Albert had gotten away with it.There were a lot more worst case. Harlan called Jack."Those things you sent to me, can you help me get more information? Especially from the victims?""Sure. All of them?""Expect for the case of the woman who had lost her child.""I get that, Sir.""By the way, do you have a girlfriend?""No.""Ever gone on a date?""No.""You are of no help then.""What's it?""I need to think of a place where I can go on a date with my girlfriend.""You co
Harlan opened the door leading to the Marsha's sitting room and got inside. He coughed repeatedly when he got inside. Apart from the smoke, there was a funny smell coming from the room."Are..." He coughed again, "are you burning fossil fuels here?" "You crept in again?""I am going to suffocate if you don't put this thing out, man," Harlan said, looking at Kelvin seated on the floor and smoking away.He grinned at Harlan and threw the cigar in his hand on the ash tray."Kelvin, what is happening?" "Just trying things out. You know, trying to be a real man."Harlan looked at him in surprise."Is this what makes you a man?"Kelvin took a gulp from the bottle beside him. He hit the CD player. The place sounded mad."Kelvin, I am talking to you," Harlan had to yell for his voice to be loud enough over the blaring music."I'm listeni
Harlan watched Kelvin storm to the bathroom. He wondered what got into his friend. All attempt to have a conversation with Kelvin when he came back from the bathroom proved abortive. He ignored him totally."I am going out and I can't leave the door open. Should I lock you in?" Kelvin asked."I am sorry if I have done something wrong," Harlan tried again to get Kelvin in a conversation."I already told you what you did wrong. Mind your business. Are you going to come out or should I lock you in?"Harlan went out. He decided to give Kelvin a little more time to sort things out himself."As much as I would love to know what is going on in your life right now, I won't be too persistent. I am sure you will tell me everything when you are ready. I will wait till then.""Nothing pisses me off more than people who think they know everything about other people," Kelvin said and got into his car.
"Why will I be jealous of someone I barely know?" Harlan defended sharply."I like the way he called me. Queen. I like the way he pronounced it," Elizabeth said, deliberately teasing Harlan."What? You like the man that almost killed us?""I didn't say I like him, I said I liked the way he called me 'queen'.""What's special about it? Queen? It makes me think of boring old days with boring people. Sounds disgusting too.""I really like it. Queen. Queen. Queen!"Harlan took off his hand from the handkerchief he had been holding on her head. "You are really annoying.""But I like what he called me."Harlan rolled his eyes on her, "I can call you more great names than that."Elizabeth held her hand on the handkerchief, "I doubt that.""Beauty."Elizabeth busted into laughter."Wait, that was just a trial.
"There is nothing wrong with him, he will get over the drinking soon.""You only saw him drink?""Yes. Does he do something else?""He do drugs too.""Dad, he will be fine, he just needs a little more time alone," Harlan said, hoping he was right. Mr Marsha sighed at the other end."I will tell you anything he tells me. He is just being stubborn. He will open up to me soon.""I hope so," Mr Marsha said at the other end.****Harlan's group was announced as the group that came up with the best research in the research topic. There were a lot of rumours going around that the group was announced the best because most of the influential students in the college were there. But Harlan knew that was not true, he and Elizabeth had worked on the topic so he cared less about what other students said.Harlan got a message from Roger telling him
Harlan looked at Adrian in surprise."I promise that from now on, I will never say anything bad to you. I will keep your back too. Please forgive me," Adrian added.Jason and Cecilia stared at Adrian in shock."Please, accept my apology.""Adrian?" Cecilia called but Adrian didn't look at her, he kept his eyes fixed on Harlan.Jason folded his arms around his chest and stared at Adrian in surprise. Is Adrian running out of his mind?"Harlan, I am really sorry."Harlan cleared his throat. He almost forgot that he already told Adrian that he is Harlan Smith."Well, I have forgiven you, but on one condition.""What condition? I am ready to do whatever you want," Adrian said desperately.Harlan thought about what condition to give Adrian. He could have forgiven him without any string attached, but he wanted to show those two people watching that he