Zero Point

Vincent ran with all his might from his flat to the coffee shop opposite the office where Emma worked. This afternoon, Emma suddenly wanted to see him. Vincent hurried to meet her. He was worried that his girlfriend would be alone for too long while waiting for him to arrive.

"Damn, I'm late!" grunted Vincent somewhat irritably. He quickened his pace again.

Arriving at the coffee shop, Vincent was surprised to see Emma with another man. 

"Emma," Vincent approached her. He briefly glanced at the man sitting next to Emma. It felt familiar to Vincent. He recognised the man very well.

"Edward?" Vincent was surprised to see Emma and Edward chatting, so close.

Not only were they close, Emma and Edward also looked very intimate. What was going on? Vincent was confused about the current situation.

"Hi, Vin!" greeted Edward, distracting him. Vincent didn't return the greeting.

Edward looked at Vincent from head to toe. Vincent's appearance looked shabby and dishevelled. Then, the man smiled sarcastically at Vincent. It was as if he was having fun laughing at his unfortunate fate.

"Emma said that you're still unemployed, right? Judging by your appearance, it looks like she was right," guessed Edward in a mocking tone. Vincent only gave Edward a glance.

Vincent didn't care what Edward said. He just wanted to know why Emma suddenly wanted to meet him. And why did he have to find Emma and Edward, his rival in college, together in that coffee shop.

"Vin, listen to me!" Emma stood up from her seat. She was now standing with her head up in front of Vincent. "We broke up," she said.

"Broke up?" repeated Vincent, confused. "Why?" he asked Emma.

"I'm tired of you," said Emma. "You haven't changed at all, Vin."

Vincent was surprised to hear Emma's decision to break off the relationship unilaterally. Emma said that Vincent was hopeless. He wasn't the future for Emma. She didn't want to have anything to do with a lowly unemployed man who couldn't make her happy in the future.

" Hold on, Emma!" prevented Vincent. When Emma was about to leave his presence.

"Is it because I'm poor that you just broke up with me and chose Edward over me?" protested Vincent.

"Yes. That's true. Edward is a hundred times better than you. He has a steady job and comes from a wealthy family. Unlike you, whose origins are unclear." Emma compared Vincent with Edward.

Emma's words were scathing and hurtful to Vincent. He never thought that his girlfriend would say such inappropriate things to an educated woman like Emma. She was so rude.

"Let's break up. Don't you dare contact me or see me again, Vin! I've had enough of this relationship. I'm happy with Edward now. You'd better go away and disappear from my life," said Emma, who chased Vincent away and warned him. She quickly walked away leaving Vincent with a grunt of annoyance.

"Emma!" Vincent wanted to persuade her again. He hoped she would change her mind. However, Emma brushed off his arm and didn't care about him anymore.

Edward was furious to see Vincent trying to chase Emma. Suddenly, the man landed a hard punch right on Vincent's cheek. The corner of his lip was bleeding. Damn Edward!

'How dare he beat me up,' Vincent thought. He was starting to get angry.

Not only was Emma mocking and insulting Vincent at that moment, but Edward was also responding to Emma's words.

"That punch deserved you! Let you think. Who told you to be poor? Sorry, Emma is for me only. A beautiful woman like Emma is a waste of time," Edward taunted while chuckling in front of Vincent. After that, the man who looked great in an office suit quickly left after Emma.

"Damn it!" Vincent clenched his fist. He was so annoyed by Edward's words just now. Vincent looked around him. Many people were now watching him in the coffee shop.

Vincent felt like his world was about to collapse. After knowing, the love of his life broke up with him. Even worse, it happened right on his 28th birthday. It was really sad.

***

Returning from the coffee shop on foot, Vincent arrived at his apartment breathless. Before he had even reached his apartment, he was suddenly confronted by the landlady.

"When are you going to pay the rent, Vin? Isn't it the fifth month already?" the landlady asked fiercely. Her face looked like a market thug. Ah, no. In fact, it was more fierce than that. The landlady looked like a debt collector who was more fierce than the neighbourhood herder.

"Sorry, madam. Can I ask for a few more days? I promise to pay the rent soon," Vincent said regretfully.

"What did you say? Time?" The madam wrinkled her forehead into folds. She wagged her finger at Vincent's forehead.

"You're unemployed, Vin! Where are you going to get the money to pay your monthly rent arrears? You're already five months in arrears," the lady warned Vincent.

"You'd better get out of here. Go away! Don't come back. But, you must pay your rent immediately. Understood?" the lady chided in her characteristic shrill voice.

"But, madam! My things are still inside," said Vincent, deliberately buying time. However, the old lady ignored Vincent's words and ruthlessly threw the poor man out onto the street. Without mercy.

"I will confiscate your belongings and use them as collateral. If you don't bring me the money soon, I'll sell your junk computer to a flea market," the lady said.

"Oh my God!" Vincent could only stroke his chest as he lamented his unfortunate fate.

Now, Vincent didn't know where to go. He had no place to stay, no money, and he hadn't eaten all day. He looked so desperate and continued to walk along with his steps unsteadily.

When he was about to cross the road, Vincent was not paying attention to his left and right. He was almost hit by a car that was travelling in front of him.

TIIIIIDDD!

Vincent immediately apologised to the driver politely. Not long after, someone in the back seat opened the door of his luxury car. An old man in his sixties approached him. Vincent kept his distance from the man. He was reluctant to be approached by such a wealthy man.

"Vincent William," the old man called. Vincent turned his head in surprise. How did the old man know his name?