Chapter 3: Lunch
"Ouch! Stop it old lady!" demands Lucas.
but the old lady did not obey him and instead continued to beat Lucas with a stick made of cardboard. Lucas blocked the stick from hitting him with his arm.
"Who are you! Are you a bad person who tries to pick on Noah?" said the old lady while keeping hitting Lucas.
"NO. NO. NO. I'm his friend. Please stop hitting me while I'm still asking nicely, old lady!"
"But you don't look like a nice person either!" replied the old lady.
Finally when Lucas saw Noah coming from a distance, he shouted at Noah. "YOU! Run faster and help me stop this crazy old lady!"
Noah looks shocked seeing Grandma is hitting Lucas with her cardboard stick made by his oldest grandson. He ran as fast as he could and stopped her hands from hitting Lucas any further. Upon seeing Noah come, Lucas quickly hides behind Noah's back.
"Grandma, Stop. He's my boss. I don't wanna lose my job from this." said Noah with a pale face.
"Really? Don't lie to me. If he really picks on you, I will hit him until he won't dare to come back again!"
"It's true grandma. I won't lie to you." Noah lifts the corner of his trembling lips to try to convince the old lady.
The old lady sighed in unsatisfaction and turned around to go inside her apartment without saying anything.
"What took you so long? I've been here for ten minute and got suspected as a bad guy by that old lady."
"Ah. I'm really sorry. I was with the kids earlier. They said there was something they wanted to buy so I brought them along."
"Who?" Suddenly something solid was poking at Lucas leg, making his heart skip a beat. He thought the lady was back with her stick.
"We are here!"
A five year old boy glared at Lucas, behind him stood two more children, a girl and a boy. They are three years old twins hiding behind their big brother shyly.
"What the !" Lucas exclaimed.
The boys then tugged at Noah's pants making him move away from Lucas while pointing his toy sword at Lucas.
"Begone bad guy!" shouted the boy.
Lucas laughed slightly at the little boy. "Oh? Are you trying to pick a fight with me? You're too young for that little brat!" Lucas suddenly pulls Noah back to stand beside him.
"We're not leaving Noah to you, ugly! Attack!" They pulled Noah back again.
Noah, who was still confused, just stood still and watched them arguing while reminiscing just how he ended up like this.
Two days ago.
"Noah. Let's have lunch together." said Lucas.
Ever since Lucas started leading the branch company where Noah worked, he always stopped by the workers' office. Whether just to see them work or just relax and drink coffee, it all makes Noah really feel uncomfortable.
'Is it really the way a director should have done their job?' thought Noah.
Lucas' presence also created a stressful atmosphere for the entire staff. They even became more active and more assertive than usual.
That's why when the entire staff heard Lucas ask Noah to have lunch together, their eyes widened. Noah's co-worker, Natalie, immediately got up from the chair and helped pack his bag.
She whispered to Noah, "Don't come back right away. Spare us some time to take a breath." All of them stare at Noah warily.
Noah smiled awkwardly. "I got it."
He got up from his chair and walked briskly straight towards the exit to the elevator while lowering his head. Noah pressed the elevator button and found Lucas already standing beside him.
When the elevator doors opened, they went inside. Noah was about to press the Lobby button but Lucas suddenly spoke. "To the basement."
"Where are we going? Shouldn't we eat at a restaurant around here?"
"There's no restaurant I like around here. Let's have some sushi." Lucas pushed the button to the basement.
When the elevator doors opened, Lucas rushed out. Noah looks hesitant but later follows him.
"Get In." said Lucas.
Noah noticed the car he was driving today was different from the car he used before. It's a black car with four doors.
"Let's go." The car glides at high speed.
It took Noah by surprise because he hadn't had time to put his seatbelt on yet. He then quickly put it on.
Lucas actually drove them to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. And it takes half an hour to reach the place. This leaves Noah wondering how to get back to the office in time with only thirty minute remaining.
"Don't take too much." Noah reminded Lucas.
"It's okay. I usually eat a lot."
"Do you eat here often? I thought you were a fancy foodie. Didn't think you'd prefer the sushi train." Noah chuckled.
"I traveled a lot when I was in college. I tried almost everything from all over the world. And ended up liking sushi."
"Then you must be a supertaster."
"I wouldn't say I did. I just happened to have the chance to taste it all. By the way, I like the soup you make."
Noah was suddenly embarrassed. "It's only because I happen to have those ingredients. Please don't exaggerate it."
"Well. No one ever offered me anything while I was in that kind of state. I'm glad you do."
Noah glanced at Lucas. "I heard from the man in black suit at the banquet, he said that day your car just ran out of gas when I first met you, did you drive until it ran out?" Noah asked in a low voice.
Lucas froze.
Seeing that Lucas didn't answer, Noah immediately said again. "You don't have to answer me if you don't want to."
Lucas let out a long sigh and covered his face with his palms. "Don't look at me like that. That day.. I did."
"Some people have their own way of dealing with adversity on their own. So you don't have to feel bad about it." Noah tried to persuade Lucas.
"Yeah. I didn't. I just feel ashamed about myself."
Lucas was silent for a moment. "Enough for this. Let's talk about something else. What do you usually do on the weekends?"
"I sell used goods at the weekend night market in Chinatown." replied Noah excitedly."
"Ah. I almost forgot. You told me once. You seem to enjoy it. But where did you collect these things from?"
"I usually get them from the side of the road. Garbage bin. Or donations from people."
'Garbage bin?' Lucas imagined Noah looking for trash in it.
"Wait. wait. wait. Did you have to go that far just to get those things?" Lucas asked.
"Of course."
Lucas suddenly has a bad feeling. "You're not collecting scraps, aren't you?"
"Why not?" Noah smiled broadly at Lucas.
Lucas was at a loss for words as he listened to Noah. "Let's go back."
While in the car on the way back, Noah kept glancing at Lucas and starting to think. 'It seems Lucas is calmer today than he was a few days ago at the banquet. 'His temper seems to have died down a bit.'
However, the next day Lucas was absent. Noah is curious and tries to find out but no one knows.
"Well, you know he is a director. He can be present and absent as he pleases. Who knows. right?" said his co-workers.
"You're right." Noah replied.
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