II.II The Morning After
last update2020-07-28 13:00:54

Eremes strode with purpose as he made his way to the hotel's cafe lounge. It's breakfast time after all, and some of the cafe's most popular items would already be out of stock if he took his merry time to get there. Especially the Star Bagels..

Those sweet, juicy bagels.

Just the thought of them made his mouth water. The Green Star Cafe made them fresh every six in the morning and they only made fifty every day, making them a hot commodity for employees, guests, and tenants alike. He grimaced as he spared a glance at his wristwatch. It was almost seven in the morning. The hungry head just hoped he wasn't too late.

He opened the cafe doors, dignity almost being forgotten as he made a beeline for the bar where an assortment of pastries and delectables can be seen through the lit glass cabinet. The repairman can barely stop himself from sprinting across the cafe to the line as he saw the handful of people queuing up to place their order. With only a few more people at the line.. He can make it! He tapped his foot impatiently as the line grew shorter and shorter.

After a few short minutes, he finally reached the bar to place his order. He made it, hopefully. He greeted the cafe staff as he made his order.

"Uhm.. Do you have any Star Bagels left?" He asked with apprehension.

"I'm sorry sir, but we're sold out." The staff stated with a bit of dismay. "But there's always tomorrow's batch to look forward to." She said as she flashed him with a smile.

The disappointment that he was feeling cannot be described with mere words. 

"...."

"Sir? What would you like to order?"

"....One croissant and solo espresso please."

⬛⬛⬛

Eremes couldn't believe his luck since last night. 

First of all, the cell tower broke in the middle of a storm, then he had to console a suicidal tenant. Topping it all off, Mr. Basco nearly ripped him a new one all while leaving him with a nigh-impossible task of refurbishing the main auditorium...

And just now he didn't make it on time to order a Star Bagle! Curse that phone call for taking so long. Certainly, Lady Luck would give him a break today, right?

With food in tow, he tried to find an empty table to eat his breakfast in peace. The amount of planning he needed to do required his utmost attention.

The cafe was packed, as per usual for the morning rush. The smell of coffee filled the air as tables filled with patrons went about their morning routines. The head of maintenance found himself searching hard for an empty table, as most of the tenants were already awake during that time of day-

Eremes found himself pausing at the sight in front of him, a multitude of feelings welling up as what was either apprehension or envy welled up inside him. For lazily taking glances at him from across the cafe lounge was the girl from last night, holding a half-eaten bagel and looking a lot better since he last saw her that early morning. She was wearing a blue sweater and her hair was no longer flat from the water, now having a bit more volume since the last time he saw her. Athena was her name, if he recalled correctly. And judging from the glances the girl threw at him, he knew that she was struggling to recognize his face.  

Screw eating at the lounge, might as well eat at the office. He was a busy man today, can't afford to slack off, or get distracted with a girl. 

He immediately turned the other way in a weird attempt to avoid the girl. She was seated at the window just beside the door, a look of half-hearted concentration adorning her face. Should he-

Nope, he's not trusting his judgment there.

The repairman tried to avoid eye contact as he tried to pass her by. Perhaps she won't recognize him, and she's also clearly preoccupied with something if the laptop in front of her said anything. He can't afford to have a sit-down chat with Athena, not today.

He reached for the door as he made an att-

"I know it's you Mr. Repairman.

He heard Athena speak as he neared the exit. Hesitation grabbed hold of him as his hand was left hovering above the doorknob. Could he afford to do it? He's only got a week to accomplish the job order. He needed to get things moving immediately. 

"You're avoiding me, aren't you..." She spoke jokingly, though he found that hard to believe.

Eremes now looked at his would-be obstacle. She was still chewing on a half-eaten bagel, all while her other hand is typing furiously on a small silver laptop. The woman haven't even graced a glance unlike her previous attempts before. He removed himself from the exit door and slowly made his way to her table, unsure of what to say in response. It was true though, what she said. The repairman was on a tight schedule and he'd needed all the time he could spare just to make the deadline. 

"I- Uhh...."

"...Right. I forgot you can't think fast enough." She stated with a confident tinge in her tone.

"I resent that statement, Miss 'I want to jump off a building." Ouch. That came out wrong. 

Athena turned to him, showing her amused smile. He felt himself take a breath as he can't help but notice her beauty; her green eyes glinting with mischief, no longer red from crying. Her face was devoid of tear marks and was a lot less pale than before. Truly last night didn't do her justice. Though the bags under her eyes tell a different story-

"Are you just gonna gawk at me?" She asked, tilting her head with faux curiosity.

"...Oh! Sorry 'bout that." He replied sheepishly.

"I mean- I get if I'm disappointing to look at right now.." The woman in front of him stifled a yawn. "I haven't slept since last night." Athena replied, her tone suggesting that she didn't really care.

"You mean you haven't slept yet!?"

"Just know that I owe you an explanation or something." She chuckled as her hands continued to work on her keyboard.

"Thanks.. I guess? Wait, get some rest already." He chastised.

The sound of tapping keys ceased for a beat.

"I can't. Not yet.." The tired woman replied with finality in her voice.

With his previous goal of getting out of dodge and doing work forgotten, Eremes made to sit on the other side of her table, electing to eat breakfast with the nominal novelist. He took out his croissant and began chewing, though his mind was far from savoring the sweet taste of it, rather focusing on the thought of the enigmatic girl in front of him.

"Why not?" He asked.

"Don't you have a job to do? I need to focus." Athena spat back, clearly annoyed by his advance.

"Hey. I was just asking. No need to get angry." He chuckled.

Her hands stopped their frenetic pace. Eremes now sat face to face with a furious Athena, her emerald eyes wide with an anger men can't truly comprehend.

"You haven't seen. Me. Angry. Yet. Eremes." 

"Jeez Athena I'm sorry-"

"Go. Away...please.." What?

"...I'm behind schedule and I need to to make the deadline." Her tone exuded a panic that he's very familiar with. He may be dense but he can read the situation all to clear. 

She needs to get shit done

"And so do you. Don't think I didn't see you running around like a headless chicken just a few minutes ago." He paled, his daunting task now once again at the forefront of his mind. Guess he said that thought out loud. With his half-eaten breakfast in hand, he stood up from the table and made a last glance with the girl, their eyes meeting as they made their last greetings.

"Well, I guess I'll be off then." 

"See ya." She replied dismissively.

Eremes reluctantly left the typing woman to her devices, not really being able to fault Athena for her behavior. Quite frankly, he was being a bit rude, more so than normal now that he thought about it. Why? 

He turned the knob on the door, gentle chimes signaling his impending exit from the establishment. He stole one last look at her form, contemplating the events that just happened- 

"T..nk y.u..." Did he hear something? Is he hearing things now?

Eremes shook his head before finally leaving the premises.

⬛⬛⬛

"Thank you..." She mouthed at him, hoping that the man heard her before he left the cafe.

There's no way he heard you, you know?

No matter. Athena had other things to attend to anyway.

You just blew it big time, girly.

He's clearly busy if he left instead of being the nosy man that he is.

The novelist let out a big yawn before turning her focus back on her laptop. "Just a little bit more.." She muttered to herself.

Sleep you fool. You can write tomorrow morning.

Her fingers paused. Wasn't that a tempting thought.

Saving her work, Athena closed her laptop. She hasn't slept in over twenty-four hours now. Stifling another yawn, the novelist stretched her back, feeling some of her bones crack with relief. After one last stretch, she left the cafe lounge and made her way to her room. She could write in the morning. Her bed was practically calling her name at that point.

"...Sleeeep..." She found herself droning as the elevator signaled her arrival at her floor.

After a few more steps, she found herself in front of her door and welcomed herself inside.

See? I do care.

The sight of a disheveled bed shouldn't fill her with so much anticipation, especially since a good night's sleep had eluded her more times than she could count. But today?

Athena can't help but drop cold dead on to it. 

And thus she slept the day away. Leaving tomorrow's problems to her future self.

⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

The tale continues...

Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Latest Chapter

  • Extra: A Collection of Poems

    Extra I: No MotiveWracked with fear, I stood still,Gazing endlessly into the void.Eyes dull and uninterested,Contemplating what I will.I fear my own mind, question my sanity.Am I insane or merely delusional?You may know, but I never will.I'll never escape my vanity.Staring down the precipice of darkness,Swarmed by thoughts of ending it all.I fought valiantly for what seemed like an eternity,Clinging to whatever shred of reason for happiness.Dangling on the edge of my limit,My conviction

  • The Flow of Time

    A vision from the distant past, an intrepid detective and her unlikely partner...A tale of crime and wits, Project Name: Noire⬛⬛⬛A beige coated woman walked the dimly lit concrete ports of the city, a flashlight in hand as brown eyes scanned her surroundings. The damp docks of Riverside surely stank with seawater, but it was where she was based, and thus she had to live with it."Heeeyy~ Found anything, Liz?~" A young woman in a white coat waved at her from the other side of the pier, her childish tone hiding what was undoubtedly the most intelligent mind she had ever come across. "I want to have some fun already~"Sadistic brat.With the same annoyed expression she sported ever since her reluctant return to active duty, the detective waved back at the black-haired woman. With her flashlight, Liz motioned the youngest coroner to ever work in this city to her location, her lips parting as if she still had the ability to speak."Okaaayyy~ Be right there in a sec!~"Sighing to herself,

  • XIII Epilogue

    Time moves forward. And while this tale slowly comes to an end, their story continues to unfold behind the scenes...⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛It's been a month and a half since that fateful day. A month and a half since that unassuming maintenance guy saved her from her own demise. Ever since then, Aletheia has begun to acclimatize once more to a rather, lavish lifestyle than the year and a half that she spent on the run.Not only have you acclimatized, you've already excelled~Oh shut up. She can still live off of instant ramen and chump change just fine should the need arise.Says the girl that now spends over a thousand drachma a day on food alone~The novelist chuckled to herself at the thought as she saved another word document on her laptop. Well, she was quite a hefty spender back then no? You blew a whole talent for every arcade session. You're more than a hefty spender~Come now.. Well, she did do that back in the day huh.You're clearly cut out for a lavish lifestyle~She stifled a yawn as

  • XII.II Ending Ceremony

    "Lady Mendel, I propose one more bid."Hoho~ What does he have up his sleeve to be this bold?~Aletheia's eyes widened as Eremes began his opening gambit, his left hand holding his smartphone as he stared at Mother dead in the eye. What was he planning?"An interesting proposal Mr. Patillo." Mother humored, her tone clearly not taking his offer seriously. "While we both know that you have nothing in terms of bargaining power, I'll humor you, just this once." A dangerous game, he's playing, no?Far too dangerous for her liking. Sweat trickled down her lightly make-upped cheek as Mother leaned closer to the repairman, both hands clasped under her chin as a sickly sweet smile masked the malice hidden underneath. The novelist's hands trembled in her lap as she hoped to god that Eremes knew what he was doing."Okay.." The man in front of them began as he fiddled with the phone in his hand. "I have here, a recording of everything that happened here on this rooftop that Wednesday night." Wh

  • XII.I Ending Ceremony

    Time moves forward...⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛"Where do you think you're going, Patillo?!" A deep booming voice shouted at him as he buttoned up his brown rented suit. "I've already told you-""I need to go to the rooftop now, Boss." Eremes ground out, his one hand already on the elevator panel as his boss refused to let him go. "After that, I'll be out of your hair forever.""You no longer have the authority to even board this elevator, Patillo!" Basco shouted as his one hand stopped the elevator door from closing. "I want you out of my hotel, right now!"Unemployment was the least of his worries as he took another glance at his wristwatch. Damn it, he needed to be on that rooftop by eight or he'll miss his last chance to get Athena back! "C'mon, boss!" Eremes pleaded, trying to avoid things getting a tad too physical. "Just this once-""One last chance, Patillo." The burly man spat, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Leave the premises, before I throw you out myself."Taking another glance at hi

  • XI.V Midnight Auction

    "Athena?"Peeking behind her disheveled hair, the hunched-up daughter struggled to hide her surprise as a familiar voice called out to her old name. Hopeless eyes feasted as the comforting familiarity of the repairman's visage eased the threatening abyss inside her. Eremes? What was he still doing here?Don't get your hopes up."Take us to the ground floor, Mr. Patillo." Mother stated still in front of her, anger audibly bubbling beneath the faux politeness. "I do expect that you won't fail even that.""Yes ma'am."The elevator lurched, before slowly beginning its descent back down towards the cold unforgiving ground. Aletheia merely kept to herself, hoping that if she made herself small enough, Mother wouldn't notice her presence. Useless."H-Hey-""Don't you dare talk to me, Mr. Patillo." The frightened child recoiled at her mother's tone, learned instincts taking over rationality as the older woman berated his once companion. "You had but a single order, and yet you chose to disob

More Chapter
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App