The General's Forgotten Son

Chapter 5

The next morning came with the amber glow of the sunlight casting through the blind to the floor of Benjamin's cramped apartment. He didn't sleep throughout the night, his mind still contemplating if everything that happened that night was an illusion.

He pushed his body up from the bed and pulled out the old drawer adjacent to the wall. The supreme card sat there, a quick reminder and confirmation that everything was real.

A smile spread across his face.

Benjamin pulled out his old phone and decided to call Desmond. Immediately the line connected, he could hear loud voices in the background. Desmond's voice distorted, engaging in frantic conversations with someone or some people.

"Hello, Desmond...Hey..speak to me..."

Concern plastered across his face. Benjamin grabbed his old shirt and slid it on his body. Without waiting, he dashed out of the apartment with curiosity, wondering what was happening at Desmond's end.

Benjamin burst into the compound where Desmond was living. He paused instantly in shock.

"What the heck is going on here?" He whispered.

The air was filled with chatters from tenants gathered around something at the centre. Some were laughing, some hurling insults while a few shook their heads with pitiful expressions.

Benjamin pushed through the crowd, his heart racing with curiosity. Immediately he got to the front, his blood ran cold.

Desmond was at the centre, on his knees, pleading with a man with a fat stomach who was the caretaker. Desmond's bags and some other properties were already being scattered across the floor.

"Please, Sir..I promise I'll pay you tomorrow. Please have mercy. I will renew the full rent tomorrow." Desmond pleaded, his palms folded in front, the air around him buzzing with embarrassing comments.

"What the heck is this?"

Benjamin became angry instantly. He dashed forward to pull Desmond up to his feet. "Desmond, why are you kneeling? Stand up."

Desmond resisted, turning to Benjamin. "Benjamin, please help me beg him. Help me beg him to allow me to stay for today. I will pay him tomorrow."

"Get the heck up, Desmond!" Benjamin's voice hardened. "You're not going to kneel before anyone!"

The caretaker, a bald headed man like a vulture with dirty teeth and a mouth that trapped a smell of alcohol, stepped forward with anger and irritation glinting in his eyes.

"And who the heck are you young man? You just walked in here and started yapping shit in my affair? Do you think I am the manager of this whole place?"

Benjamin pulled Desmond behind him, staring at the fat man with a cold expression.

"Repeat that again and I promise you that I will deal with you in the way you least expected!" Benjamin's voice was threatening and dangerous. He allowed his words to take effect before he continued. "... I'll make sure you lose your job."

The caretaker smirked, his dirty teeth displaying a condescending smile.

"What are you talking about, you little rat?" His voice was loud. He chuckled while the tenants laughed. He closed the gap between him and Benjamin. "Do you know how long I have been working with Mr. Armando, the landlord? Ten years, kid! I am like the caretaker of this place even Mr. Armando had promised he'll give me this property as a loyalty reward."

The caretaker laughed and it sounded ugly and maniacal.

“You want to embarrass yourself to protect your friend because looking at you, you're not even worth the cost of a basket of fruit for my monkey."

The tenants burst into laughter. Some doubled over, some planted their palm on the wall out of sheer amusement, their shoulders shaking with laughter.

"This young man is going to embarrass himself." One of the other tenants muttered.

"Don't mind the confident foolish young man." The caretaker said.

Benjamin smiled faintly— cold and sharp, allowing their comments to breeze past him.

"You think so?" His head tilted slightly. A slow smile crossed his expression.

The caretaker's expression went mixed with anger and irritation. His finger snapped to the floor.

"You two pieces of shit are messing up my yard." The corner of his lips twitched mockingly. "Maybe I can allow him to sleep in my monkey's shelter if both of you are sensible enough to crawl from here to there and beg at my feet."

Desmond's rent had just expired today and this heartless man was throwing him out already.

"Benjamin.. please.. let's leave.. I'll just leave.." Desmond pulled his shoulder, his voice cracked as he urged them to leave.

"You're not leaving." Benjamin said firmly, standing his ground.

"You want us to crawl? Huh? You'll be the one crawling today." Benjamin stepped closer one step. His finger snapped to the floor as he challenged the caretaker's words.

"You'll go on your knees now and apologize to my friend for this insult. Secondly, you'll pack his properties back inside if you're sensible and still want to retain your duty here."

"Dude, what the heck are you doing?" Desmond gasped. "We should be begging him."

"No, Desmond,’’ he retorted with confidence.

The caretaker burst into hysterical laughter. He doubled over, clutching his belly in sheer amusement. The tenants laughed harder.

"What a joke, young man.. make me lose my duty? You're insane..Mr. Armando married my sister. I am his brother-in-law. You know what he'll do if he hears I'm insulted? You're dead, kid. He'll break your bones and feed you to his dogs."

The tension in the air flared, the mockery comments coming in waves.

"Is this kid crazy? He'll make Mr. Pay-or-leave lose his duty?" Another tenant addressed the caretaker with his nickname.

"Maybe he hit his head on something before coming here." Another said.

"This dude looks miserable." Another pointed out, tears bouncing off his eyes. "Oh, God take a look at his sandal. They're crying for retirement."

Mr. Pay or leave took one step closer to Benjamin, his smirk gone now.

"Fall to your knees and apologize like a good kid," His voice hardened and filled with authority of someone who has entitlement over the tenants. "I'll allow you to walk away with your body intact—"

He took another step closer, his expression turning grim and threatening.

"—Otherwise, I will have men break your bones and feed your remains to Mr. Armando's dogs."

Benjamin was unfazed. The tenants stared at him. They expected him to crumble already. Mr. Pay or leave never go back on his words, and those dogs barking at the distance haven't been fed today.

Benjamin turned to Desmond and the tenants misunderstood his intentions.

"I assume you have Mr. Armando's number. Give me. I'm about to deal with this arrogant fat man."

Meanwhile, the tenants whispered among themselves.

"Look at him. He's begging Desmond to help him apologize to Mr. Pay or leave." One commented.

"All the big words for nothing. Look at him unable to speak again. Braggart!"

Benjamin stepped away to the side, placed the phone to his ear as he engaged in conversation with someone that would shock the entire house.

Seeing Benjamin step aside, the insults doubled, the laughter rippled in the air.

"He's running away now." One tenant laughed.

"He's calling who? His daddy?" Another burst into jeering laughter.

Mr. Pay or leave smirked.

"The idiot is finally coming to his senses." He muttered, promising to humiliate Benjamin even more.

Slam!

The gate of the compound suddenly burst open.