The Zenith System

Chapter 007

“You are a fucking disgrace!” Zack’s boss scolds him again a day after the robbing event. “Can’t you even handle a few lowlifes without making a mess of my store!?!”

Zack purses his lips and wishes that his boss’ voice cannot be heard outside. Thankfully, when he came home last night, Celeste was still out and when he left for work, she was still sleeping. Hopefully, that setup will continue until his wounds heal.

“Just one more mistake, and I will fire you!”

Zack nods, checking his emotions, and ensures that he won’t make that mistake very soon.

“For all these damages, I will take them off your salary!”

Zack raises his head at him. He can’t do that! He needs the money for his sisters’ educational needs. That’s the reason he stopped studying. If they deduct every damage that happens in the store from his salary, then he will never earn a dime! Dropping out of college will be useless!

“But sir, my monthly salary cannot even cover for all the damages yesterday.”

“Then I will take it from the next few months!”

He pales. “Please, sir, I don’t think that’s legal—”

“What now?! You think you’re so smart just because you passed that prestigious university’s admission exam?! Let me remind you that you dropped out because you only got lucky during the exam!”

He swallows hard. Celeste, Mason and him are from the same university. They live near it. Celeste is an alumni, Mason is graduating soon, and he’ll stay as a college dropout.

“Look at you,” the manager sneers, his gaze as unforgiving as the harsh fluorescent lights above. “Once a loser, always a loser. Even if you are given a single opportunity in your entire life, you cannot handle it and now you are here.”

Zack clenches his fists as Mr. Thompson’s contemptuous laughter echoes in the cramped space, a stark reminder of how far he has fallen — or perhaps, how little he has ever risen.

He should have been more selfish. He should have focused on his own dreams instead of sacrificing everything for his sisters.

One of his sisters is studying in an unknown college, and another sister is currently in high school but has dreams of studying at the same university that he drops out of. Maybe he shouldn’t have given way to his sisters. Maybe he won’t beg for Celeste’s pity, and he won’t envy Mason’s life.

Zack bows his head in submission as Mr. Thompson’s voice echoes in the small stock room. He feels worthless at every harsh word thrown at him.

“Just fucking leave my sight!” Mr. Thompson screams, his face contorted with anger. “I don’t want to look at your face anymore!”

With a heavy heart and defeated spirit, Zack turns around and walks out of the stockroom. As he steps into the brightly lit store, he can feel eyes on him. He’s been scolded by his boss again, and it seems like everyone in the store knows about it.

He tries to put on a brave face as he makes his way towards the counter where he usually stands, but deep down, he feels more and more of a failure. This isn’t how he imagined his life would turn out after dropping out of college.

“Hey man, what happened there?” Mason asks as soon as Zack reaches the counter.

Zack blinks. He didn’t even notice Mason. Since when is he here? “You heard that?” he asks.

“Well,” he starts, scratching his head. “We all heard that.”

He frowns and then his heart rate skyrockets as his high school crush, Sophia, appears from behind Mason. He can feel the heat rising to his cheeks as she flashes him a dazzling smile.

“Hi, Zack,” she says, her voice sweet and melodic. “It’s been a while.”

“H—hi Sophia,” he stammers as he glares at Mason.

“Sorry, man, I didn’t expect for you to get scolded the instant we come in,” Mason whispers. “She insisted on coming.”

“What happened back there?” Sophia asks, gesturing towards the stock room with her perfectly manicured hand.

He takes a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. “Just another bad day at the job,” he replies nonchalantly.

“Oh,” Sophia says, her brown eyes full of pity. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Mason clears his throat, breaking the tension. “So Sophia,” he starts, flashing her his signature grin. “Tell my friend, Zack, on the reason you are around the area.”

“My boyfriend will be speaking during the graduation ceremony, so we decided to visit early,” she explains. “You know, to check the campus out.”

“Bo-boyfriend?” Zack manages to stammer out. He feels a pang of disappointment in his chest. He had hoped that maybe, just maybe, she was single and interested in him, too.

“Yes, we’ve been together for almost a year now,” Sophia responds. “So, I’m wondering if you’d like to meet for dinner tonight?” she asks.

“Oh, okay...” he says. “I think… i-it will be n-nice.”

“Great! I will come here at around eight. Be ready then!”

“S-sure.” D-did his crush just ask him for a date?!

“Oh! Since I am here now, let me just get some items that I need.”

As she walks away to look for the items she needs, Mason leans closer and whispers in Zack’s ear, “Don’t tell me you still like the girl?”

Zack rolls his eyes at Mason’s teasing tone. “It’s just a dinner,” he defends. “And I am just being friendly.”

But deep down, he knows that it’s not entirely true. Seeing Sophia again after all these years has stirred up old feelings inside him.

“Oh, really? The way you look at her doesn’t suggest that.”

“Mason, I am just looking at her. She is still pretty.”

“Well, she is part-timing as a model, and her boyfriend is in politics.”

“See? She’s just easy on the eyes.”

“But Zack, she doesn’t deserve it,” Mason whispers again. “The girl’s a cheater, so I’d advise you to say no to a slut like her. She will devour you and throw you away afterward.”

Zack’s mind is in overdrive as he processes Mason’s words. Sophia, the sweet angel, his high school crush… is a cheater and a slut? It’s hard for him to believe it.

“What are you talking about?” Zack asks, his anger flaring up. “I didn’t know that you are fond of rumors!”

Mason lowers his voice even further. “I tell you that she is.”

“That’s not true!”

Mason scratches his head. “Fine, I will show you that I am correct.”