Chapter 2: Mr. Lee Part 1

Seasons passed and Chris was still uncertain on what to do. His plans to finish college went down the drain the moment he used his savings to support his unemployed ass. Even waking up early morning to stay fit had been a chore; a mountain so high that Chris had no intention of hiking.

Every time he closed his eyes the unwanted images repeatedly flashed in his head, preventing Chris to build strength and moved on. He found comfort in his illusions about them being together forever, building a home, and making a family.

Though he didn’t care to imagine it, even their first meeting appeared like a movie in his head. Chris met her in community college when he was eighteen. Jasmine Reeds was that plain glasses girl nobody paid much attention to, not even Chris. But because of a wrong book he borrowed by accident, he found love.

Over the course of time, Chris couldn’t even believe how gorgeous she’d become. But despite her drastic change in appearance her sweet, innocent smile remained, just like that cute, little bookworm he met in the library. And it wasn’t after Chris took her virginity that he found out she was his three-year senior. An event in his life that he couldn’t seem to forget.

Her life was already in the hands of a different man, and his was here. There wasn’t anything keeping them connected. Their link was severed that night; when Jasmine Reeds properly ended his four year hardship.

Still, he was glad to know that she found happiness. That much he could accept. But why did she have to be so nice? If she could’ve dumped him so harshly like before, Chris was positive he could’ve used that to crawl out of depression.

If not for that small little thing, it would be perfect. She wasn’t obliged to love him back, but those lingering feelings she had gave him hope he shouldn’t have. In the end, whatever he put or took out into the situation was his own undoing.

Chris covered his eyes as tears began to swell again. All he could do was pressed his fingers into his eyes until the images went away. For the second time he lost her again. However this time, it was the end.

Chris took a deep breath, and another to calm his mind. As he thought about it, he now had two choices. Stay here in his apartment until he rots in his bed, or find a job that would sustain him for the next month.  

This month was the last he could pay his rent. Though surviving on instant noodles did wonders on his budget, he couldn’t survive like that forever. Why did he suddenly wanted to live?

Nothing, he thought, was set in stone in this world. Not that he wished it, but what would happen if Jasmine would need his help? What would happen if she needed a place to run away in case her marriage didn’t work out?

Considering this, Chris stood up from his shackles and opened his laptop. He saw the document of his novel untouched for several weeks now. He ignored that and went on the internet to search for jobs.

As he scrolled down jobs after jobs, he noticed the small white box on his side table. Chris took the box and stared at it with spectral nostalgia. Popping it open with his thumb, he saw a pair of beaded earrings.

Jasmine had always loved to wear beaded earrings. Did that cute characteristic disappeared as she matured? As always, whenever he found little strength to stand, it was used on something else.

Chris was about to roll back on the bed again when a certain advertisement caught his weary eyes.

“Earn over a million dollars a year? Who would believe this shit?”

No one would be desperate enough to click on something so retarded… except for Chris.

Do you believe in the existence of magic?

Chris snorted as he clicked yes. “I guess my credit card information is next then?”

As an author, Chris referred to himself as an open minded person. That was why when he read the next series of questions, his eyes squinted in absolute seriousness. The advertisement needed two things from him. Not his phone number, not his credit card, not his name and address, but how many people would remember him if he disappeared so suddenly. The other was a detailed summary on why he was alone.

He cursed and laughed in front of his screen. His father went to prison four years ago after shooting a hole through his mother's head, leaving Chris with so many unanswered questions. All of his relatives lived far away, and he wasn’t really the type of guy to associate with them. His last friend, Carter, was also put behind bars last month due to being caught in drugs.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

They want an essay about his life? Then they shall have it! His answer to the first question was obviously zero, but it was still enough to unnerve him. What about Jasmine?

As soon as he thought about it, Chris had the answer.

* * *

Chris curled up and rocked in bed as another nightmare about a successful future bothered his sleep. As he woke up dry-heaving and out of breath, his phone under the pillow rang on vibrate.

He reached to his phone and stared at the number on-screen. “Who the hell?”

Whoever it was, he didn’t know them so Chris decided to ignore the call. He padded down to his fridge and managed to scavenge an apple and a bottle of water. He took a bite and opened his drink then threw the cap on his sink filled of unwashed dishes.

As he satisfied his thirst, the phone in his pocket rang one more time.

“Hello?” He answered out of annoyance, but still kept his tone down.

“Mr. Collins, I presume?” a female’s voice asked. She sounded so professional it made Chris frown.

“Yes, this is him speaking. Who is this?”

“Agent Kera from—”

His patience running out, Chris interjected. “Sorry, I’m not interested in answering any surveys for you.”  

“No, this is not about any surveys at all,” she said in her defense. “You filled out our application last night so we’re here to talk about the job. If you’re interested in knowing more, please meet us outside your apartment within fifteen minutes.”

Chris felt his heart hammering in alarm. What kind of automatic machines did they have to track him down like this? He didn’t give out his phone number, his address, or even his name, and yet they were here to ask him about the job? He knew right away he was threading onto something dangerous. However, shady as they may have appeared, Chris had already decided to try the unknown.

He peeked an eye through his blinds over his sink and saw a black sedan, with black tinted windows, parked outside his place. A young woman in black suit and pants was scanning the area while holding a phone on her right ear. Who the hell were these people indeed?

“Alright, I’ll be outside in fifteen,” said Chris.

“Understood, but no later than fifteen, sir.”

“I understand, I’ll be there as soon as I’m done.”

“Great! We’ll be waiting.”

Chris decided for a five minute shower. He left his bath as quick as he entered then looked at his face in the mirror. His black hair was rumpled, dark bags under his eyes, and a month beyond a shave.

He grabbed his one-dollar razor and shaved his beard then his mustache, and suddenly Chris looked like he was twenty again. He smiled in front of the mirror, mocking himself with his full-toothed, all-american-boy smile.

“Damn, that’s me, right?”

Continuing on after drying himself, he tucked his white long sleeve under his slim pants rendered in a stretch wool blend, donned his 200-dollar suit, and slipped his feet inside his black leather shoes. He left his collar unbuttoned for a more casual look and ran both hands through his hair.

Gazing at his figure in the mirror made him laugh this time. If there was one good thing that expensive dinner did to his cheap ass, it was to dress in something fancy.

Ready to greet this menacing employer, Chris went outside of his apartment for who-knows how long. The beaming sun was like a sharp blade stabbing his eyes, but he appreciated the breath of fresh air.

"Seems like spring has arrived," Chris murmured at the sky.

The same woman came out of the driver seat. She had to be still in her twenties, he thought. She had long brown hair tied in a ponytail and green eyes and a heart shaped face. The woman gave him a welcoming smile and offered a handshake.

“Christian Collins? I’m agent Kera.”

Chris accepted her hand, and was then surprised by her firm grip. He took a few seconds to respond. “Just Chris is fine. Nice to meet you, Miss Kera.”

“Nice to meet you as well, Chris. Come, Mr. Lee would like to have a word with you.”

“Mr. Lee?”

“Yes, he’s inside,” she said as she opened the door for him. Chris narrowed his eyes at the man’s silhouette then ducked his head inside the Benz.

It was time to jump into the fire.