MASON WILLIAMS AND THE CELESTIAL SYSTEM

THE BANK

Mason entered the South Aleric Bank. It was one of the prestigious banks in Aleric City. He joined the queue, which was moving fast considering the large number of workers available at the bank, and Mason patiently waited his turn. The curious eyes that passed glanced at him, some minding their business while others did otherwise, but Mason wasn't bothered by it as the only thing that concerned him was a confirmation from the bank that he wasn't going crazy.

After some minutes, it was his turn, and he walked to the Lady behind the transparent counter.

"Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you?" the fair, slender Lady greeted with a warm smile, adjusting her glasses before returning to her computer.

"Good afternoon. I'm here to collect my ATM card," Mason responded. The queue behind Mason was murmuring, and Mason knew they were gossiping about him, but he paid them no attention.

"Oh my, since when do security allow such people into the bank!" a woman scoffed in her friend's ear, but Mason ignored them. He was used to people throwing comments at him. He knew they looked down on him due to his clothes, but he didn't care.

"Let's go to the other queue," her friend said, glaring at Mason.

"You name, please," the Lady asked, typing at her keyboard. And Mason returned his gaze to the receptionist.

"Mason W-"

"Excuse me," a masculine voice interrupted him. "You need to attend to me first," he said with authority as his footsteps halted next to Mason.

Mason turned to stare at the man who had just entered the bank and approached him. At first glance, Mason knew he was rich. The man wore an expensive black suit, and the expensive cologne made Mason mentally smell himself. Mason doesn't own a Rolex, but he recognizes it on the man's left wrist.

"Good Afternoon, sir," the Lady at the counter greeted, but the man didn't take his eye off Mason, who was still standing before him.

"Didn't you hear me the first time? I said excuse me!" the man increased his voice, and anyone from a distance stopped to stare at them.

Mason heard him the first time, but he didn't expect this man to be serious. Everyone who enters the banks has to wait their turn, but this man demands to attend even when it isn't his turn.

"I'm sorry, but you have to wait your turn," Mason replied, and his response hardened the man's face.

"Do you know who you're talking to!" the man growled, attracting more eyes. "How insolent!" The man glared, but for some reason, Mason didn't flinch.

"Sorry, sir, but you have to wait your turn," the receptionist attending to Mason said, earning both Mason and the man's eyes.

"So you're telling me you're going to attend to this lowlife before me!" The man retorted. "Do you know I can get you fired!" he said, clenching his fist.

His words only made Mason angry. He was tired of people showing off their wealth and connections to intimidate those they felt superior to.

"Mrs.Anna, Don't you know who that is?" The other receptionist next to her colleague whispered. "That's Mr.Bubble, our VIP client."

"I see you are new here," Mr.Bubble glared at Mrs.Anna, who didn't reply to his comment. "Are you even qualified to work at such a prestigious bank?" he spat.

Mrs.Anna adjusted her glass and then stared at the man, who stood angrily. "Please wait for your turn, sir; I will attend to you as soon as possible," the Lady replied respectfully.

Mr.Bubble, who wasn't taking no for an answer, said. "I want to see your Secretary?"

A few seconds after those words, a lady who seemed to be in charge as the Secretary exited her office with a frown.

"What seems to be all the commotion?" She asked.

Mason turns to the Lady dressed in formal attire, her pick-sleeve tok into her black skirt, which was a knee length. Her long legs are assisted with her heels, echoing as she approaches them, and her frown is replaced with a smile when she sees Mr.Bubble.

"Mr.Bubbles, It's good to see you again. What seems to be the problem?" She asked with a smile that Mr.Bubble refused to reciprocate.

"Do you know how long this insolent thing whose account isn't up to the worth of my suit has been wasting my time!" Mr.Bubbles frowned, and Mason felt irritated by his comments but didn't utter a word.

Mrs.Jules, the bank Secretary, seized Mason with her eyes and then turned to her employee. She enters the transparent counter, slapping Mrs. Anna's face. "Are you stupid, Mrs.Anna? Don't you know Mr.Bubble is our VIP client and needs attention?" The Lady scolded.

Mrs.Anna, who bowed her head, didn't say anything; instead, she stood and received the insult from her superior.

Mason tightened his jaw at the violation in front of him. Mr.Bubble stood with his hands folded across his chest and a smile pasted on his lip. He was pleased with Mrs. Jules's action, and this only made Mason's blood boil. Mason wanted to intervene, but he knew if he did, it would just create more problems for Mrs.Anna. He wished Emoji words were true because, in this word, money is power.

"We are very sorry, Mr.Bubbles," Mrs.Jules said. "If you don't mind, would you please follow me so I can attend to you properly," she placed her palm on Mr. Bubble's arm and glanced at Mason with irritation before the two walked away.

"Sorry about that," Mrs. Anna's voice dragged Mason's gaze from the two figures walking away. Mason knows too well how it feels to be humiliated by her boss. It was a feeling he had experienced countless times.

"I should be the one to apologize. I'm sorry I caused you trouble," Mason replied with sincerity.

Mrs.Anna smiled. "It's alright, it's not your fault."

The smile she wore even after getting scolded only made Mason admire her. She wasn't just hard-working but also had the spirit of endurance even when she wasn't at fault. It was something only a few people were capable of these days.

"What is your name?"

"Mason Williams," he replied as she typed away on her keyboard. She brought out a fingerprint scanner and scanned Mason's prints for verification. After some seconds, she stares back at Mason.

"What kind of card would you like, Mr.Williams?"

Mason scratched the back of his head, "I am not sure," he replied.

Mason didn't care about the card; all he wanted to do was check his account details and confirm if the Emoji words were valid and not a mere illusion he was going through, considering his accident.

"Could you do me a favor and check the worth of my account and tell me what kind of card I would need?"

"Of course, one minute," she replied and returned to her keyboard.

Mason watched her as she typed away. Mrs. Anna's beauty reminds Mason of his girlfriend, Natalia. Since he had been dating her, he had never considered another girl to be beautiful except her, but now everything has changed, and the only memory he has of her was her cheating. Even when Mason tried not to think about it, he couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal.

Mrs. Anna's head snapped at Mason in surprise. Her gaze constantly switched from her computer screen to Mason's face.

"What is the matter?" he asked.