7 | My Alexander?

Stepping off the train, Alex and Emma were welcomed with the blaring of car horns that emitted an unpleasant noise. Slow, sweet melodies mingled with the unpleasant noise as Alex looked up at the street performers.

“Finally, we are here, Emma,” Alex cooed and a smile formed on Emma’s face. She eagerly walked away from the train as she sniffed the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

“Hmm, the rich aroma...“ Emma mumbled quietly and Alex chuckled at her dramatic excited self. He turned around to gaze at the crowds on the sidewalk who rushed toward their destination, and he sighted Jack.

“We can't continue to stand under this hot sun just for you to admire the city. It's very hot out here, you know?” Jack spoke quickly and Emma looked up at him as she studied his facial expression. He looked tired and sweat dripped from his forehead like it was raining sweat.

Emma nodded sweetly and she obeyed him. They continued to walk down the lane until Jack stopped.

“Dad, are you alright?” Alex exclaimed as he rushed toward Jack with a lot of concern in his heart.

“Yes, I’m fine. Don't worry about me. We are almost there,” Jack responded, and he gently walked toward a quiet street with Emma and Alex following him. He pulled a picture from his pocket and he checked the image on it.

“Yes, this is the right location,” Jack muttered as a slight grin appeared on his face. Emma’s face brightened up immediately she sighted the magnificent, tall building before her which looked very expensive. A big smile formed on her face and she rushed towards Jack. “Dad, is this the one you rented? It's beautiful,”

She jumped around her father excitedly as she imagined playing around the garden. A slight tap jolted her up from her imagination.

“Uhmm… Dear, that is not the house I rented,” Jack sighed and he turned Emma’s head in another direction as he made her gaze fall on a small-sized house that was next to the magnificent building. The smile on Emma’s face slowly disappeared as she sighted the house her father rented. It was very small compared to their house back in town and it was nothing compared to what she had imagined, though it was the same house in the picture she didn't see.

Emma slowly made her way towards the small house Jack rented and she gazed at it. “It looks like it's been abandoned for a long time. Looks dirty, with cobwebs,”

“But your father bought it at a very cheap rate,” A male voice rasped. Emma turned her head and she sighted an old man who had an incredible amount of wrinkles. Immediately she recognized him, she rolled her eyes.

“Wow, I didn't know I would see you again.” Emma responded tartly and the old man chuckled weakly, “Well, you did, and you are very lucky. Turns out I'm your landlord.”

“Ugh, how can this get worse?” Emma narrowed her eyes and Jack involved himself. He greeted the old man respectfully as he didn't want Emma to argue with him.

“Aigoo,” The old man curled his upper lip as he sneered at Emma, “you should be happy I'm your landlord, you ungrateful child,”

“Well, she is happy.” Jack responded quickly and the old man glared at him, “Well, I don't care if she is happy or not, but there is this thing you should keep in mind… I only gave the discount because you are my brother’s friend and it won't be nice for an old man like me to not have sympathy for you since you begged me a lot, so don’t think that I won’t increase the payments next month.”

“I will certainly pay the amount you agree to,” Jack responded with a bow and the old man handed a key to Jack before he turned to leave.

His gaze fell on Alex and he squinted his eyes to try to recognize him, “Ah, isn't this Robin? I thought he died many years ago-” The old man exclaimed and Jack interrupted him immediately.

“No, sir. My son's name is Alex, not Robin, and my son never died. He is alive and healthy,“ Jack responded with tightened lips.

“Oh, then it must have been my brain. It feels very old and weak already even though I’m just eighty-nine,” The old man chuckled as he walked away from them.

He managed to walk a little and he paused to rest. Jack glanced at him for a while, as he noticed that his legs were very weak.

“Should I board a taxi for you?” Jack questioned, and the old man shook his head quickly. “No, no. I'm not even sure you can afford your breakfast. My rich daughter will come to pick me up. I heard she recently bought an expensive car.” The old man replied as his words hit Jack’s heart like a sharp blade, reminding Jack of his status.

“Oh, you mean your daughter who duped her ex-husband before she could afford to buy an underwear? I guess she duped another man to get that car.” Emma muttered and Alex covered her mouth. “Uhmm, Emma is sweaty. She needs to bathe and also brush her teeth,” He spoke quickly before unlocking the door while he dragged Emma along.

“Jeez, that man is older than you, you shouldn't speak to an elder like that” Alex spoke and Emma crossed her arms. “Yes, he is old and an elderly person but he doesn't act like one. He was trying to rub it on our faces that we were poor but you didn't see that, right? I can't blame you, you took after Dad‘s licking rich men‘s shoes.”

“Forget about that, open the windows and change your clothes. I and dad will clean here and unpack the food,”

“Suit yourself,” Emma walked away. The door opened slowly and Jack walked inside the house. “The nice landlord told me about a job vacancy. I'm sure you will be good for that,”

“Oh, that's great, but what about you?”

“There is a nearby hotel which needs cleaning services. So I will be working there while you work in that company. The landlord mentioned that the job would be very easy to get if you get there early tomorrow,”

“What about Emma’s school?”

“I’ve settled that, it's a small school but the teachers there are incredible even though the fees are a little neck-hooking. But I'm sure I will be able to pay it with my cleaning job.”

“Yes, we will,”

(~~~ Next day

Jack admitted Emma to her new school while Alex hurried to the telecommunication company he was going to work for.

Sitting on a cozy chair, Alex almost fell asleep as the air conditioner made him feel relaxed.

“Mr. Alex,” the receptionist called and Alex jolted from his short nap.

“You are next,” the receptionist spoke and Alex quickly adjusted his shirt that he managed to iron with a hot kettle. He walked into the manager’s office before admiring the beautiful flowers and tidy office with no chickens, unlike the food canteen he worked for in the town where chickens went loose from their poultry farms.

“Hello! Will you quit looking around and focus on the interview?” A husky voice spoke and Alex glanced at a short man seated on a chair with a cigarette in his mouth. Alex recalled seeing a plaster on the wall with a sign of no smoking yet the manager was smoking.

“I am Alex,” Alex muttered, feeling a little frightened as he knew he didn't have the qualities or even the chance of getting the job he seemed for. The job was that of a security guard but Alex was thin and not muscular compared to the appearance of a guard.

The short man pressed his lips together, he looked down at Alex's neat shoes and shirt then he smirked, “You are hired!”

“What?” Alex exclaimed, surprised at the short man’s response.

“I said you are hired,” The short man responded and Alex beamed.

“Wow! Thank you, sir! I'm grateful!” Alex spoke quickly and the short man snapped his fingers, “You can leave now, there is some cleaning to do.”

“Cleaning?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I think the job vacancy was that of a guard,” Alex uttered and the short man laughed.

“Yes, and a guard can do a lot of things. Like cleaning everywhere. I can't afford to pay someone who would just stand around and check every visitor. No way! You will clean and guard, or don't you want the job?“

“I do!” Alex exclaimed and the short man responded, “The receptionist will get you some guard clothes, so change and start cleaning,”

“Yes sir!” Alex exclaimed respectfully and the short man dismissed him. The receptionist gave Alex some clothes and Alex was quick to change into them in the bathroom before keeping his shirt inside a bag.

Alex was ordered to start working from the bathroom and he obeyed. He made it tidy and clean in a jiffy and he walked out to return to the guard post. “Paatt!”

“Swoosh!”

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the receptionist area. Alex’s ear rang at those sounds and he rushed over to the receptionist to check what was happening.

Alex paused immediately he reached there. His jaw dropped at the sight of huge muscular men thrashing the computers and shredding the documents. He sighted the manager, hiding beneath a table as he shivered like a leaf being blown by the wind.

“Where is the fucking guard I hired?!” The manager exclaimed, as his voice echoed loudly.

“Thud!”

The door fell loudly on the floor as more men barged in before pushing the table off the manager. They dragged the manager away from his hiding spot, as they beat him mercilessly.

Alex rushed toward them since it was his duty as a guard to protect the things they were damaging. At first, he didn't know what to do since he knew his strength was nothing compared to theirs. After much thought, he spoke loudly, “Please leave before I call the police!”

“Call the police?” One of the thugs spoke, “We are from the loan sharks, this asshole called manager borrowed money and he refused to pay the interest! Who should involve the police here if not us?!“

Alex got a little frightened at their harsh voice as he realized he also made himself vulnerable to being beaten. A man in black jackets walked in slowly and the thugs bowed before the man strode inside.

“Who dare to interrupt my men?“ The man in the black jacket spoke, who seemed to be their leader.

“It’s that man over there, in a guard cloth...” a thug whispered and the man who seem like the leader confidently walked towards Alex as he removed his sunglasses. He staggered upon seeing Alex’s face and he stammered, “Alexander?”

“Boss you know this man?” A thug asked and the leader coughed before whispering to the thugs, “He is big boss’s son.”

“Huh?" The thugs exclaimed while Alex watched in wonder as he could not hear what they were whispering to each other

“But big boss is rich, his son is supposed to be rich, not a guard,“ Another thug exclaimed and the leader smacked his head, “Fool! He is big boss's long-lost heir,” he whispered and then he fell on his knees before pressing his head to the floor, “Forgive us, boss. We shouldn't have disturbed you!” The leader spoke and the other thugs bowed too.

“Huh?“ Alex watched them in shock. “I’m sorry but you must have mistaken me for someone else. My father is a fisherman, and his name is Jack. I'm not anyone's boss” Alex spoke quickly and the leader raised his head, before scratching it confusedly. “Perhaps I made a mistake with the resemblance.“

“Haha, I and my gang will leave you now,” the leader spoke quickly and he ordered his thugs to leave. They left the area immediately and the manager turned to Alex, as a fake smile appeared on his face.

“What kind of magic was that? You made them leave in a minute. You truly deserve this job,” The manager spoke and he pats Alex's shoulder gently. Alex blushed at the thought and the manager’s face flushed in anger, “To be honest, you are fired!!” he yelled, before walking away.

Alex froze, shocked by the manager’s words as he felt the world tremble beneath him. He was hired just a few minutes ago and now, he is fired. He felt life was against him as he walked home, disappointed.

Behind him were the thug’s vans that trailed him till he reached home. The leader of the thugs smirked as he reached out for his phone before dialing a phone number.

“Boss?” The leader spoke as the recipient answered the call.

“I found him. I found your son” The leader spoke and the call recipient stammered. “You mean Alex? My Alexander?”

“Yes, boss. I'm currently next to his house,”

Author’s note: Smoking should not be practiced.