Chapter 2: An Unexpected Visit.
It was a bright sunny wednesday morning, Sizzling sounds occured while Jenna was cooking at the kitchen.
Jasmine who just got up, Immediately went to the toilet as she yawned.
"Honey, It's time to wake up." As Jenna said loudly.
James heard and woke up, "Ugh, What time is it?" And surveyed around as he searched for the Alarm clock.
Then he saw it was already 7:21am, And immediately got up from the bed and went straight to the bathroom.
*Knock* "Jasmine? You in there sweetie?"
"Yes papa!" *Clunk* As the sound of the door being unlocked.
James then went inside as both of them took a bath together, After several minutes they got dressed and went to the dining area, Where Jenna had already prepared their breakfasts and lunchboxes for them to bring.
Then all three of them quietly ate as they had small talks about Trivial things.
.....
....
Time passed, James had finally reached to his store, Robert was silently sitting at the Cashier's booth watching something from his phone.
Robert was the night time employee while Daniel was a part-timer who usually works three times a week and arrives at 10:00am and leaves at 7:00pm when Robert arrives.
"Boss you're here early." Robert said as he was surprised.
"Well, I ought to come early since I'm worried about you being asleep."
"No need to worry about me, I'm a night guy. You already know that."
"I know that ofcourse, Since you've been working here for almost a year and a half as a night shift."
"Hehe, No need for compliments boss." As Robert blushed embarrassingly.
James stared confusingly at Robert, I wasn't complimenting you though. As he thought.
"Anyways Robert, You should go at the back and eat your breakfast. I'll be covering you. Since I'm here early."
"Okay boss." As Robert smiled gently and immediately left the Counter.
While James went in and substituted robert at the Cashier's booth.
*Kringgg* As the sound of the Bell that was placed at the Entrance of the store rang.
"Welcome." James greeted brightly as the Customers slowly went in and looked around at the Isle's.
Yet another busy day arrives as James politely greeted every customer that had went in and out.
Time passed, James looked like he was abit dazed while robert came out from the Personnel's room.
Huh? Why does the boss look like he's out of it today? Did something happen? He wondered and went straight to the Cashier's booth.
"Boss, Is everything alright?" He asked.
"Uh, Yes. Everything's fine." James replied slightly being flustered.
Seeing boss act like this has shown me a new side of him.
His polite yet unwavering personality that many might think that he was a main character from a novel.
His cheerfulness and heartwarming expression that could brighten even the rainiest days.
Dozing off on broad daylight, Slightly responding in a flustered manner is something new. Keke.
"By the way boss, Can I leave early today? I have some minor appointments to attend to."
"Oh sure, Don't worry and leave. I'll handle the rest." James replied as he gently smiled at him.
"Okay boss, I promise I'll be here early later evening."
Then Robert took off his Working uniform and grabbed his things then took off.
Sigh, Being alone here at times like this really reminds me of that time when I just started this business. Heh, Good times.
As James continuously reminisced the old days when he just opened the 24/7 Store.
*Kring*
James turned and politely greeted, "Welcome."
But the politeness and kind demeanor he had instantly vanished after he saw the person who just came inside his store.
"Ashburn, It's been a long time." The man said gently with an accent.
"You can call me james." He replied.
The man that was standing infront of james, Had blonde short hair with slightly spiky ends, Well shaped thick brows, Blue ocean like eyes and pale skin with a good body structure. He was wearing an expensive jet-black suit with tactical layer slightly seen from his neck.
"James is it, Okay. I'll call you by name now James." He said.
"What brings you here in the Outskirts of Los Angeles?" James asked.
The man surveyed the surroundings as he checked the stuffs that the store sells, "Well... I was just here to give an old friend a visit."
James quietly glanced at the window, Surveying the surroundings. He saw several people who looked suspiciously different, Pretending to be some passerby while safely maintaining a certain distance.
"An old friend huh.." James responded.
"Well, After that day. I never got the chance to see my old friend. I've roamed around alot of countries and searched for a certain someone, But unexpectedly, It was all in vain. And here I heard a rumor about a convenient store who's greatly managed by that very certain someone I was searching for several years now." As the man tapped a coin unto the Counter's desk.
A gold coin which had very unique antique design.
An unknown coin which was never been published publicly nor known entirely.
The man looked at the coin and slowly dragged it infront of James, "You know what this is, Right?" He said.
James had an uncomfortable feeling as he stared at the coin the man dragged infront of him, "I know." He said.
The man smiled, "But I'm already retired." James said in a serious demeanor.
The man giggled slightly, "Heh. Retired? You see this coin right?" He said.
James knew that it was useless arguing with the man infront of him holding the golden coin.
The golden coin, Was called a Token of honor.
Every token has a name imprinted at the back to which an individual uses when they want to request an immediate aid from another individual.
And once the Aid is done, The token of the requester will be given to the helper. And in the end, The Requester will be totally indebt to the Helper, And when the Helper asks for help in the future, He'll just show the Token he received to which clears off their debt to one another once the old requester agrees to cooperate.
James stared at the desk as the man flipped the coin, A unique design was seen at the back of the golden coin which had Ashburn imprinted in it.
"Ashburn, Or should I say james... I need your help." The man said.
James stood silently as he stared at the man infront of him.
"You know the consequences if you refuse to my request right?" The man said.
James gulped, "Yes.. I know."
"Good, Then here's my number. I'll be using it here in Los Angeles, So you better call me at 22:00 Sharp." The man placed the Coin back at his pocket and handed a paper on the desk and immediately left the Store. *Kringgg* As the Store door got opened and closed.
James quietly stared at the piece of paper with a detailed number written on it.
Then at the bottom it had note, "Call me - Derrick."
"It seemed that Edwardo knew about Derrick's visit." James mumbled.
As time passed, James gradually ended up dozing as he managed the store. Even when Daniel came, James was wandering in thoughts.
The thoughts of returning to a certain job he wished to leave everything behind.
The Past he had always wanted not to remember, The past he wished that it had never existed.
The past him, The past Ghost of the M Association.
The rumored, Grim reaper of the north, The Doom bringer of the West and the Devil of the East.
The hellish days he had been living, He had endured, And yet now he has to come back once more to repay his old debt.
Returning to his former self, The World's Greatest Legendary Mercenary.
.....
....
Night came, It was already 6:32pm and Robert had finally arrived.
James then bid his goodbyes to Daniel and Robert who was still there and left the Store, As he rode his H-Cbr 150R and wore his helmet, He still had this lingering uncomfortable feeling but james ignored it and took off.
When he reached his house, The bright and warm greetings he received from his daughter Jasmine and his wife Jenna wiped away the uncomfortable feeling he was carrying instantly.
"Papa! Welcome home!"
"Dear, Welcome home."
As Jasmine and Jenna greeted James with a bright smile.
James smiled gently, Staring at the two most important persons in his life, "I'm happy to be home." He said happily.
Then as the sky got enveloped with dazzling shiny stars and a sincerely extravagant crescent moon.
James indulged himself on spending his happy night with his lovely family.
Or so he thought....
It was already late at night, Nearing 10pm with only 3 minutes left.
Jenna and Jasmine were already fast asleep.
As the cold room enveloped with air conditioning slowly darken, James stood up shirtless, The scars from his past were vividly seen throughout his entire body, As he grabbed his touchscreen phone and stared at his wallpaper.
The wallpaper which consisted of Jenna, Jasmine and James happily smiling sitting in a bench while a dazzling bright sunset overshadowed their surroundings.
James then walked out of the room and went to the portrait to grab his flip flop phone.
*Beep* *Beep* As tapping sounds occured.
*Ringggg* *Clunk* Picks up.
"Hey Derrick. It's Ashburn. Now tell me the request." Derrick shivered slightly and grinned mischievously after hearing the original voice of the Ashburn he was looking for.
Chapter End.
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