Carlos woke up, and as usual, earlier than Daniel. He got up and went through his routine—washing his face, brushing his teeth, combing his hair, making coffee, and anything edible.
Surprisingly, Daniel woke up not long after, wearing a green shirt and white shorts.
"Don't worry, I didn't spill wine on your bed," he said as soon as he saw Carlos. "Just on the floor, hahaha!"
"Cleaned it?" Carlos asked, concerned.
"Of course," he said, sitting at the table. "Or you'd kill me."
Carlos turned on the kitchen's tube TV and tuned in to the morning news.
"Good morning, citizens of Hellenz. The police are still trying to find ways to combat drug trafficking in the East Zone community. Some suspects have been identified and are already in custody, but some remain at large-..."
"This doesn't even make sense," said Daniel.
"How so?"
"Wouldn't it be better if they just conducted an operation in the communities and ended this?"
Carlos felt obligated to explain the obvious to his ignorant friend.
"You know it doesn't work that way. To even pull off such an operation, they need resources, authorization, confirmation of where the criminals are, not to mention finding the locations of drug production and distribution."
"Tsk..." Daniel responded after being refuted.
They continued to eat, silently watching the news.
"As for the weather forecast, yesterday's rain seems to continue in Hellenz until the end of the month. The climate situation in the southern part of the region-"
"At least we'll get out of the drought," Daniel asserted.
"You talk as if we're always short of water."
"We don't have hot water."
"Yeah, but that's an electrical issue, not hydraulic."
"Okay, enough, damn it," Daniel said, irritated.
"Daniel?"
"Hn."
"How's your job going?"
Daniel sighed.
"Badly. Idiot Sergio still wants me to cover up his mess. I can't spend 1 MINUTE at lunch without him bugging the hell out of me about it!" he said, mimicking hammering his head.
"But haven't you sent a complaint? It's hard to believe no one has notified him."
"The boss receives the notes. Think that jerk will do anything? Especially with Sergio being a 'friend's son'?" He said, air quoting the last part.
"True. Hadn't thought about that."
"That's probably why he fucking couldn't care less about me."
"Let's tone down the language, okay?"
"Fine, fine, fine, fine..." he said in an irritated tone.
"If I can get in touch with the right people, I might join a 'club,' then I won't have to work with any idiots."
"Hope it works out. I want out of this studio apartment."
Daniel took a final sip of coffee, put on his boots, and headed for the door.
"I'm off."
"Safe travels."
Carlos looked at his kitchen wall clock. It was almost time for his job. He cleaned up and went straight to get ready. He wore a black suit and a blue tie, heading towards his private office.
----------------------------------------
It was a 5-story building, relatively well-painted with some parts in white marble, exuding an air of integrity and professionalism. He entered the elevator and pressed the button for the 5th floor.
Carlos Henrique Law Office. (506)
As he passed the entrance, the secretary waved to Carlos.
"Good morning, Mr. Carlos. I have good news about your current case," he said without taking his eyes off the computer.
"Great, what's it about?"
"Security camera footage from the location. I think your client won't be arrested."
"Does the prosecution know about this footage?"
"Hehe, they handed it over themselves. They were very angry about the face they made when they arrived here," he said, emphasizing the "very."
"I think I'll have another successful case to add to the resume. Where's the copy of the footage?"
"I left it on your desk."
"Thank you."
He didn't waste any time. He opened his laptop and the drawer, rummaged through some things, and took out some papers and a pen. The USB drive with the copy of the footage was there. He connected it and started watching.
The footage began with people leaving a convenience store, leaving the cashier alone. Two people entered, one heading straight to the household goods section, and the other staying near the door. Clearly, they were observing to make sure no more people were present. When they had the chance, they announced the robbery. The video had no audio, but it was possible to imagine the cashier asking them to stay calm, as he didn't want trouble.
Suddenly, a police officer appeared from the back of the store, announcing the arrest. One of the robbers pulled a gun, but the officer managed to shoot before anything more serious could happen. The other guy also pulled a gun, but the officer shot before he could react.
And that's when it hit him.
The defendant, Philip Rivers, a newly graduated police officer, was accused of homicide and abuse of power, which seemed plausible. However, Philip swore that both subjects had firearms. When Philip shot the robber, he tossed his gun, which ended up falling on top of the freezer. As the weapon wasn't found in the initial investigation, Philip was arrested and sought a private lawyer, leading him to Carlos for help.
Looks like Philip will be a seeing his family sooner than expected…
----------------------------------------
"...and that's why my client shouldn't even be here, Your Honor," Carlos concluded.
"Indeed.", The judge said.
"Therefore, the Prosecution withdraws the charges against the defendant."
The prosecutor seemed calm, but inside, he was furious. Carlos didn't know, and he didn't care, but the Prosecutor was on the verge of being fired for failing to succeed in his cases.
"I declare the Defendant, Philip Rivers, Innocent of the charges of Homicide and Abuse of Power."
With the gavel confirming his order, everyone on the defendant's side celebrated.
Philip was pleased with how things were turning out.
"Carlos, if you need anything, just let me know! I owe you a lot!" he said in a very cheerful tone.
"Aren't you going to pay me?" Carlos laughed.
"I'm serious! You not only saved me from being arrested but also saved my career! Kind of showing the incompetence of the investigators, but..." He hesitated to say the last part.
"I understand that feeling. Don't worry; if anything comes up, I'll let you know."
----------------------------------------
On the other side, Daniel takes a bus, surrounded by the same people following the same routine every single day.
Work.
Daniel didn't exactly have a job he could call "cushy." He's a Trainee Mechanic at an engine factory. He always enjoyed tinkering with gadgets in childhood but never imagined himself dealing with engines.
The place itself was dreadful. Malfunctioning machines led to constant maintenance. Few clean areas. The place and the employees were always dirty. Along with the lousy pay and the gossip that only made Daniel want to return to the drinking and brawling at the bars.
He was performing maintenance on some machinery, sweaty and hungry, almost lunchtime.
"¡Danielo! Amigo, aren't you going to lunch?"
"Just a moment, Sergio..."
He sighed heavily, releasing the air through his nose. Sergio came from Mexico to Hellenz, not because he wanted to but because he received an "irresistible" offer. What made Daniel even angrier was that he insisted on speaking "Mexican" with him.
"Entonces, estaba paseando por la plaza en el centro y vi a Denise, esa hermosa florecilla, increíblemente hermosa y exuberante. Comencé mi encanto, hice todo lo posible para traer a la mujer a mi casa. ¿Pero crees lo que dijo la madre vagabunda?"
"No, Sergio... What did she say...?" Daniel said, trying his best not to punch Sergio.
"¡Dijo que nunca estaría interesado en la escoria! ¿Tú lo crees? ¿Yo, con mi humilde cochecito, tengo que ser humillado por la puta que es? ¡No joder! ¡Le dije mucho! ¡Va a pensar días antes de hablar así con Sergio Harbelloa!"
At this moment, Daniel thought of various ways to punch Sergio in the face as quickly and strongly as possible. But...
"Daniel!" shouted the establishment's boss.
"My office! Now!"
"Fucking hell…"
He headed to the boss's office, climbed the stairs to his eucalyptus desk that overlooked the entire place. Glass windows, glass door... He entered the room, stared at the boss before sitting in front of the desk.
"Boss?"
The man who looked to be 50 or older turned. He was staring out the window, contemplating what to say.
"You see, Jung (Young)...", he said in a strong German accent, "We have a problem. You weren't the only one to receive this news this Morgan (morning)."
"What news, boss? Is the company closing?"
The man was surprised by the guessing attempt. It would be the case if it weren't for another factor.
"Nicht (No), we have budget problems indeed, but it's another issue. We are..."
The man debated whether to say it. Daniel worked at the factory for a short time, just over 2 months.
"We're inviting you to leave our factory."
Daniel didn't react initially, thinking it was a joke or something. But as soon as he saw that the boss's face didn't change...
"No! Wait... what do you mean? Are they going to fire us—ME?!? But where would I go?"
"I can't answer that, Jung (young). Your resume is yours, and my job is to deliver the news." Sadness was audible in his voice.
"Your job??? Aren't you the boss of this shit??"
"Not anymore. The company has been bought. I'm just temporaly working here until the next general management takes over."
"But... I... Argh!"
He said nothing, just slammed the door before storming out. He was outraged. Of all people, him? Why? He always met his target, always did his job correctly. Did they find out about his drinking habit? Or the fights? No. Maybe they tricked him. But he didn't care. He had to go to HR as soon as possible to collect his fragmented payment..
----------------------------------------
On the way, he began to reflect. His boss, well... ex-boss, wasn't happy to deliver that news. And as he said, he wasn't the only one receiving the "pleasant farewells." He was still irritated. "Damn bureaucrats." That's what he thought. He didn't even know if it was a bureaucratic matter, but thinking that helped him channel his frustration.
Daniel went to HR. He received the news that his hard-earned $1,476.69 would be available for withdrawal in the next 5 business days. Ridiculous. He'd get it in a minimum of 2 weeks. What would he eat in the meantime? How would he pay the bills? They didn't care.
He grabbed a can of beer at one bar and went to Hellenz cemetery. The reason? To visit an old friend. He walked through the cemetery for a short time. People who saw him didn't know if he was a beggar because of the dirt or a gravedigger. He reached the intended tomb.
He opened the can, took a sip, and spat it out. The drink was bad, but he spent R$8, so he would drink. He glanced at the tomb.
"Here lies a man who lived not for the city but for his family. Eternal Hero, Jack Ashman. 1967 - 202X."
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
The last digit was illegible, just as he remembered on the day of the burial.
"Well, Grandpa."
He took a sip of his drink.
"I got fired today. He said it was because of the budget, hahaha..."
...
"I... wish I could go back and change everything. But I can't."
He took another sip of his beer.
"Life is life, unfortunately. It won't give a second of rest. But you know that better than I do, right?"
...
"War hero, decorated, rewarded, government position... The perfect example of our family."
...
"..."
...
"I miss you."
----------------------------------------
Carlos was driving his car, following his usual route back home. The rain was picking up once again, just as the weather forecast had predicted. His car was jerking a bit, but a good push on the accelerator helped. He parked in the usual spot, looking at his house with an empty expression. Checked the mailbox, nothing new. He entered and got ready, prepared dinner this time instead of a snack. He was happy and slightly tense. Something was on his mind, making him restless. Conflicting, as if hesitating to make an important decision.
His sister was on his mind. It would soon be 2 months since she fell into a coma. He knew that, in comparison, it was still a short coma, but it didn't calm him. Besides, overdue bills were necessary to cover his sister's hospital stay.
His thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on the door.
It was Philip.
"Good evening, Carlos, you know that favor you asked me and my cousin for?"
Carlos became serious for a moment. His face, mood, tone, or whatever it was, became darker.
"I remember," he said, leaning against the wall.
"I think we can do it. But it has to be tonight."
"Tonight?"
"Yes. Even if it's in the middle of the night, but only tonight."
"Why?"
"Because my cousin is working tomorrow in the south of the country. Kind of like he can only do it tonight, and it'll be tight for a few weeks."
Carlos thought about it. It could be done. But it would go against some of his plans. He would have to do better than ever for it to work.
"It will be after 'work,' at the usual bar."
"The one with the bets?"
"That's the one."
"Alright. I'll meet you there; then we'll talk."
"If anything happens, I'll call you, Philip."
----------------------------------------
Daniel headed to the fight bar. He stopped by home before nightfall to change. He took off his dirty work clothes and threw them away. Went straight to the closet, grabbed a white tank top, black sweatpants, and any sneakers. Gave a light touch to his wounds and bleeding. Nothing alarming, enough to fool at first glance. Went to the bar.
Greeted Terris, the owner. They talked about the usual: women, drinks, bets, fights, women, the losses Daniel caused him, women...
Until Daniel asked:
"But anyway, who's the Telemarketing guy?"
"Ah yes. The lad you're facing. He's a good guy. Came from Argentina. Don't worry; he doesn't speak Spanish."
"Good." Noticing the last part of what was said, Daniel becomes a bit confused, "Wait, but how can the Argentine not speak Spanish?"
"He was born there, but that doesn't oblige him to speak the language there, right?"
"But didn't his parents speak Spanish at home?"
Terris shrugged.
They continued talking for a bit. The Argentine arrived at the bar. Tall, around 1.90 meters, dark-skinned with short, curly, well-groomed hair. Wore a jacket that said "Rochaz" on the back.
"I admit I didn't expect him to be THIS way," Daniel admitted.
Well-mannered and charismatic, Telemarketing approached Daniel.
"Greetings, friend."
"'Greetings'?" Daniel found it strange.
"Nice to meet you." He said. Obviously not noticing the question, "I hope we can have a friendly fight, even if it's for money."
"Tsk, go with the flow, buddy. But I won't go easy on you, not at all."
"Didn't expect anything else. You only have one draw; it must be tough trying to stay undefeated."
"Look, I'm having a chat with Terris here. Go ahead; we'll settle it later."
"Alright. We'll talk soon."
Telemarketing withdrew to talk to his team.
"I didn't expect so much kindness," Terris said.
Daniel just nodded, agreeing with Terris.
20 minutes passed. It was almost time for the fight. Phillip arrived with a hefty package. Carlos wasted no time and called him to a more private area; after all, people were already crowding the center of the bar.
"So?" Carlos inquired.
"Here it is."
He handed over a hefty and heavy package.
"The model isn't one of the best, but it's calibrated and with plenty of 'tests.'"
"Thank you."
"I'll wait outside. I'll make some calls, and then I'll come back to pick you up."
"Hn."
Philip put his hand on Carlos's shoulder.
"Relax; everything will be fine, okay?"
Carlos removed his hand from his shoulder and looked directly into Philip's eyes.
"Do your part. I'll do mine."
----------------------------------------
The atmosphere in the venue was intense. They were about to witness the raw and surreal street brawl in a bar, yet the feeling was the same. Many people placed their bets, some for Daniel and others for Telemarketing. But undoubtedly, they were going to fight. No one was going to let it not happen. Over 60 people showed up, each with at least $500. It was more than $30,000, so the opportunity was perfect.
The crowd formed a circle in the center of the bar, where the fight would take place. Both fighters went to the center and faced each other. Daniel maintained his look, just putting on a black glove on his hands. Telemarketing took off his coat. His attire was a black shirt, faded blue jeans, and brand-name sneakers. Nothing flashy, but he stood out in that setting.
The "referee" called for silence from the crowd, grabbed a microphone, and began to speak:
"Very well, very well! We've been waiting for this moment for days. But finally, we're here. I didn't explain before, but we'll have rules! Nothing that will spoil the fun for our fans, right?"
The crowd cheers in approval.
"Great, here's how it's going to be. The fight won't be in rounds; it'll be until one of the two is eating solids through a metal straw, hahaha! Another thing, if one falls, he'll have a maximum of 5 seconds to get up because there's no second chance here! Finally, any punch, kick, or headbutt counts! Except in the groin, let's be sensible at least about that."
The fighters faced each other for a moment and nodded.
"Any questions?"
"Can we have a timeout?" Telemarketing asked.
"Sure, one for each, but only one! And you'll have to choose who will help you in those moments. Besides that, IT'S BRAWL!"
Everyone screamed intensely, as if relying on the testosterone emanating from the place.
Telemarketing extended his hands to greet his opponent. Daniel looked at this gesture with disdain. He spat on the ground and went to his side of the "arena."
"BETS CLOSED!"
With that, everything was ready for the fight.
It began.
Daniel approaches his opponent, delivering quick but restrained blows, studying the movements before going all out. Telemarketing responds in the same way. The exchange isn't frantic; it's tactical.
Telemarketing responds more aggressively, landing a powerful left hook after dodging a few punches. The impact is strong, like diving into a pool and sinking for a few seconds.
Daniel regains composure but becomes more cautious. Telemarketing continues to deliver rapid blows, leaving no opening for his opponent.
Daniel can only defend against these attacks but uses the clinch to throw him into the crowd, sending him back to the center, where his face meets Daniel's shoe. A solid hit.
Telemarketing quickly gets up, takes some distance. Daniel now goes on the offensive, landing punches on his arms and twisting his body to make the most impact.
Telemarketing dodges one and lands a knee to Daniel's right rib, an unexpected blow, followed by an elbow to the cheek, spinning him, taking a kick to the left ribs, knocking the air out of Daniel's lungs.
Daniel falls to the ground but can't get up right away.
The count begins. Telemarketing, instead of celebrating or boasting, approaches his opponent. To everyone's surprise, he helps Daniel up to recover faster. Daniel just pushes him away. Telemarketing slaps his face a few times to bring him fully back. The fight resumes with the count still at 2.
Daniel is irritated; he's never been knocked down, at most, he's been shaken, but never like this. His ribs hurt. A lot. But he can't dwell on it; he has to focus on the fight.
Telemarketing tries to kick Daniel's leg, but Daniel avoids it in time. However, the kicks keep coming, a phenomenal sequence, but once they end, he needs to catch his breath. Telemarketing is also exhausted from this flurry of blows but can't stop. He goes for the clinch, grabs Daniel's waist, and lifts him. Daniel desperately tries to punch his opponent, unsuccessfully.
Telemarketing throws Daniel to the ground, hitting his back, head, and ribs. Daniel felt a sharp pain. Unfazed, he kicks Telemarketing's face while still being held. He gets up.
Quick punches defended. Kicks and knee strikes dodged. Attempted clinch, to no avail. Receives a left overhead, falls to the ground once again. The anger makes him want to scream, but the pain doesn't afford him that luxury.
The count is initiated once again. The pain is immense; he wants to get up more than anything. He wants to finish off this strange guy with a ridiculous nickname. He was contemplating when Telemarketing said:
"TIME!"
The fight was stopped; they had only 1 minute to rest.
Daniel went to his side, Telemarketing to the other.
"So?" said Telemarketing's companion.
"He'll kill himself if he keeps going. He doesn't give up."
"Look, I don't know this guy's story, but you can't have pity for your opponent! You have to finish him!"
"I'm not like that, Uncle, you know that. I'm not going to send this guy to the grave just like that!"
"It doesn't matter! You have to win here; we're going to the United States, we're going to a professional league, and that's how we make a living!"
"If we go, it will be my way! Trust me!"
Time was up. It was time to go back.
Telemarketing extended his hand again, which was met with a straight right to the face. The fight was going nowhere. Daniel's face was visibly horrible, cuts and bruises all over his body, especially on his torso. He was very injured, maybe even fractured.
Daniel continued his relentless fury, and Telemarketing kept defending or dodging. He decided to put an end to it.
He dodged, pushed, ran, and jumped. A beautiful Superman punch. Unconscious immediately. Daniel faced defeat once again.
And this time, it was the last he would face.
The opposing group was celebrating the victory with gusto, but Telemarketing still had time to show respect to his opponent, extending his hand to help him up. Daniel just slapped Telemarketing's hand.
Daniel walked away from the scene, going to the alley on the side, stopping along the way to grab a whisky. He kicked the back door. Sat on a crate. Rubbed his face, looked at his blood-covered hand. Wiped his hand on his shirt. Opened the bottle and started drinking.
Spit the whisky on the ground. There was too much blood in his mouth to enjoy the drink. Threw the bottle at the wall. Stood up and started punching the alley wall.
"WHAT THE HELL! WHY?!" He shouted with all his strength.
Daniel sat on the cold ground, almost crying. Sweaty hands in his hair. Stressed, frustrated, and disappointed. Carlos opened the door.
"You look terrible." Said Carlos.
"..."
"People are already leaving. Even Terris left."
Daniel lets out a long sigh. He stared at Carlos for a few seconds.
The rain starts to drizzle.
"Look... I'm sorry."
"For what?" Daniel questioned.
"It's just that I didn't tell you the truth about Telemarketing. He actually has a perfect record of 10 consecutive wins, no draws, and no losses."
"Huh?" Said Daniel, confused and disbelieving.
"You were supposed to lose this fight. I set it up for you to lose."
Daniel stands up. His gaze was filled with hatred. He couldn't believe his best friend had done this. Him? But for what reason? They were making money, they were succeeding! They were going to pay for Serenity's treatment!
He ran towards Carlos with a prepared punch.
Daniel heard a loud bang and a very strong sting in his left chest. He turned slowly to see more pointed, turned into pain, which increased and increased until it became impossible to ignore.
He took a shot.
Daniel's mind became strange. Very strange. He could only think of one thing at the moment. And it was pain.
Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain.
"..ni.."
…
"..niel"
…
"DANIEL!"
----------------------------------------
Daniel startles for a moment. He was on the bench at the gym. It was somewhat crowded, with just the right amount of people. He looked to the side and saw Serenity. He was very happy. The girl with smooth skin, who used moisturizer, her blonde hair that resembled a sunset, the round cheeks, and her green eyes.
"You fell asleep sitting on the bench. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a bit tired. I'm training a lot for my Semi-professional fight."
"If I'm not mistaken, your grandfather arranged the fight, right?"
"Yeah. The old man is a bit crazy sometimes, but he always keeps his word!"
"That's good! So, have you finished working out?"
"Yeah. I'm going to take a shower, and then we can meet at home."
"Okay, hehe~!" She said laughing.
Daniel took his shower, put on some fresh clothes. A jacket, sweatpants, and socks. It was cold. He enjoyed his afternoon coffee.
Grandpa Jack went to bed a bit earlier, claiming he was tired. Daniel, in turn, watched some series about "jungle survival." Things that made him want to travel to strange places and come back with a great story. He stayed like that for an hour. He grabbed his phone and called Serenity.
"Hello?" Daniel said.
"Hey, love. What's up?"
"Nothing, just calling to see how you're doing."
"Yeah, right! This is the most basic cliché when a guy wants to ask a girl out!"
"Or when a man thinks he's being cheated on." Daniel added.
"Or those times when a serial killer calls it's victim, and the killer is actually a friend of the protagonist".
"You think I'm a serial killer?"
Both started laughing.
"In my case, the "cliché" is to find out if you're on your way." Daniel concluded.
"Oohh, got offended?"
"A little."
"Pff, whatever."
"Wow, subtle." Daniel said, a bit surprised.
"Relax, I'm bringing some pastries. Tomorrow is cheat day."
"Tomorrow is my fight. And do you really think you can buy me with a pastry after saying that to me?"
"..."
— "Yeah, you probably can."
"I knew~." Serenity said in a musical tone.
"Okay, I'll prepare a movie for us to watch together."
"What kind?"
"I don't know... drama?"
"Uuhh. Sure, I'll be there in 10 minutes~!"
"Haha! Okay, bye."
"Love you."
"Love you too."
But despite this beautiful part, it won't happen. Never again. That was and always will be Daniel's last happy memory of this life.
On that rainy night. At that moment.
Daniel Ashman.
Died.