Jerson examined the whole area. He was anxious. He felt like someone was following them and was planning to kill Vishnu. He roamed his gazes around while his chin leaned on his palm.
There was no one suspicious inside.He looked outside the restaurant. There was a person sitting inside the eatery at the convenience store. It was an ideal spot for a criminal when stalking someone. The man was eating, perhaps, cup noodles. After only a few moments, the guy went outside and left. He scratched his head. There was also no one suspicious outside.He took a deep breath. Maybe he was just anxious and overreacting. There was nothing skeptical among the people outside and inside the restaurant. In his years of working for the Empresarium, he already knew the faces of those mafia residing in the underworld. He rested his back on the backrest and loosened up. He stared at Vishnu, who was grinning at the woman. Seeing it just ticked him off. Vishnu was enjoying himself. He could tell how relaxed Vishnu was and wondered if they were a thing. If they are, he wouldn't be too shocked. The two look good together. In addition, they are male and female, which conform to society’s attribution of the norm ‘the man was made for the woman,’ and thingamabob. Even though Jerson wanted to ask Vishnu about his relationship with her and how he got involved with such dangerous people, he held his tongue and chose to just to leave his curiosity unattended. Vishnu’s personal life was out of his business. He was Vishnu’s bodyguard. For the sake of professionalism and all, he shouldn’t cross the line between a boss and an employee. He took a deep breath and reminded himself again. ‘You’re his bodyguard. You protect him, but you shouldn’t step beyond the bottom line’.He and Noah had an agreement. In fact, he agreed to guard Vishnu because he wanted something in return. The information that Noah was hiding from him might help him in a way or two. Keeping Vishnu safe and sound was the price he’ll pay before he could acquire that data. He should get it no matter what. “Hi…” Crossing his legs and slanting his chin on his hand while he leaned his elbow on the table, Jerson lazily glanced at the girl standing next to him on his right side. The girl smiled widely and stared at Jerson boldly. She had been staring at Jerson from the very moment he entered the place. Seeing how Jerson looked perfect, she almost fell. Jerson’s drowsy eyes were beckoning, alluring. It would make everyone stare at his enchanting grandeur. How could a beautiful man like this exist?The girl tucked her hair behind her ear while her cheeks turned pink. “Uh…” she trailed off. She fiddled with her fingers before she continued, “Are you with someone?” Jerson looked at the girl from head to toe. He found her really beautiful. He was about to answer ‘no’ when Vishnu crossed his mind. He then sighed. “I’m with my boss. He’s currently in a meeting,” he answered while looking at Vishnu’s back. “Well, that means you’re alone at this moment. So, do you mind if I keep you company for a while?” the girl asked. Jerson tilted his head. He contemplated whether he should let the girl accompany him or just wait for Vishnu to finish his métier. The lady was blushing while talking to him. He looked at her amusedly. Only a fool would still be ignorant of what the girl felt for him when the girl was just like an open book.Jerson furrowed his brows. “Why?” The girl smiled seductively. She bit her lip.Jerson faked a cough. His lips drew back in a snarl. Obviously, the girl was seducing him. But there was only one person who could seduce him though, and anyone is just a frantic persuader who’s trying hard to tempt him. The girl chuckled and pointed out a random stranger not too far away from them. “That jerk wouldn’t leave me alone,” the girl mumbled with a bit of irritation.Jerson sighed. He wouldn’t usually give a damn about these kinds of people and just look at them, giving off the vibe ‘do-I-look-like-I-care,’ but surprisingly, he couldn’t shove her off. He was really distracted at the moment. “Conversing when we have nothing to talk about isn’t my thing. I don’t accept useless things as topics,” Jerson murmured. It was an indirect approval and invitation. The girl enthusiastically sat down at the seat just in front of him. She then called the waiter and ordered their food. Jerson didn’t mind. He isn’t a picky eater.“You know… I always knew that you’re almost different from others in some unique ways and I thought it was because of your apathetic expression but now, after some thought, I think I know better,” the girl told him. “It's Mikaela, by the way.”Jerson couldn’t figure out what the girl was talking about, but he could tell that this girl was beyond what was supposed to be ordinary for a girl. He was confused about what lies she was hiding behind her beautiful and enthusiastic smile. There was something hidden. Her lips curved upward but her eyes say otherwise. Jerson gave a lop-sided grin. Everyone has secrets to hide regardless, so he just shrugged it off.“What do you mean?” “Are you gay?” Mikaela asked. Jerson looked at the girl, not even giving her a shred of his emotions. He looked at her with an indifferent face. “I’m a man,” Jerson answered using his tepid voice.“Yes, that’s your sex but as for your sexual orientation? Are you straight or do you swing that way?” Jerson pressed his lips before mumbling something that was drowned together with the music. Vishnu, who had just finished having dinner with someone, looked at Jerson. Mikaela seemed pleased as her complexion had relaxed. Although Vishnu couldn’t see Jerson’s face, he could tell that Jerson had calmed down compared to when Jerson was with him. ‘I thought he was bored to death, so I hastily dismissed the discussion.’ Vishnu complained.‘Oh well, I might as well use this time to rest. I’m beat as fuck’.He glared at the Jerson. Seeing Jerson being comfortable in such a crowded place made him worry about their safety. Some of the people he had offended told their underlings to trace them. He was being watched ever since. They had been tailing him from that day onward. Vishnu wanted to finish this and solve it by slaughtering the group’s leader. But he knew that he shouldn’t. He couldn't even touch the boss’ finger and might as well kill the person behind it. He stood up. He smoothly strode his feet with a reigning clitter-clatter sound made by his Vogue black shoes. He directly goes to Jerson.The ambiance of the restaurant was bright. The music that was breaking the stillness of the restaurant was coming from the instrumentalists at the entrance, breaking the silence in a very remarkable way. Some will find it romantic, but Vishnu didn’t. He finds it irritating. He knitted his brows and clenched his jaw as he stood behind Jerson. “This is your boss?” the girl asked innocently. That arrow-shaped lips made Vishnu irked. “...yeah,” Jerson answered while staring at Vishnu. Vishnu was frowning. He glared at Mikaela and rested his line of sight at Jerson.Once again, Jerson’s curiosity reigned. He wondered how his boss’ date went. From Vishnu’s reactions just now, it doesn’t seem to go very well. Why? Did they discuss something irrelevant that ruined the mood?Leaving such a fine man, what reason could it be?“Blessed motherfuckers,” Mikaela cursed at the two men in front of him, which made Jerson laugh again. Vishnu looked at Mikaela before rolling his eyes. “We’re leaving now,” he murmured with finality in his words. Jerson stood up and followed Vishnu while wondering what made Vishnu this irritated, hoping he wouldn’t get an earful at the car.Jerson got up and walked outside immediately after he heard a rustle outside the mansion. He leaned his back on the wall beside the door, looking for something, perhaps looking for a sign of the disturbance caused by the intruders. He took a short nap in the living room and got up after he noticed noise from the outside. It wasn’t that loud, but it could still be heard by someone who had his guard up. He took out a cigarette and a lighter in his pocket before he lit it and put it in between his lips. Earlier, Vishnu didn’t give him an earful which he thought was acceptable based on Vishnu’s attitude. Giving him the cold shoulder was still normal based on Vishnu’s temperance; however, it still agitates him. Vishnu treats him like he didn’t exist at all. He kept on asking what the problem was, but Vishnu wouldn’t respond, leaving him feeling very conflicted.The fact that Vishnu treats him like that and his nap was disturbed, he couldn’t wait to strangle the intruder and let out his fr
“Please breathe. You’re making me worried.”Vishnu stiffened his body. His muscles tensed. He scratched his head, aiming to make sense of everything. Yet, he couldn’t. He wanted to smack himself. How could he act like that? Ever since he realized why he’d been feeling weird the first time he met Jerson until now, he drew the line. He just met the person for fuck’s sake so why would he feel that way? And to a man, huh?Everything just doesn't add up. There is no freaking way!He knows himself better! He isn’t against the lgbtqi+ community and the projects they had established helping them in battling for their rights over the time, and he’s definitely not homophobic, however, thinking he was one of them was way too absurd. He could never accept that. He’d been straight all his life!Vishnu took a deep breath while Jerson continued fixing his tie. Once again, he found himself attracted to Jerson’s fragrance. He stopped breathing again when he smelled the same fragrance he scented at the
“It’s not like I am wanted or something! You can’t make me cover my face!” Jane hissed. Noah frustratedly massages his temple. “You aren’t but the exact struggles fit with being known by most people. Humanity wags their tails for the so-called white lotus and all that crap,” Noah declared. “What do you want me to do? Cover my face then?” Jane crossed her arms and raised her right brow. “Over my dead gorgeous body! I’ll just sue them for intruding on someone's privacy!” she added.“And you believed you could sue your fan? That’ll ruin your image, idiot!” “I don’t care! I have another job aside from acting goody-two-shoes!” Noah groaned. This woman acts differently when Jerson is around, but when it’s only the two of them, she’s really getting into his nerves. He looked at Jane again, who was acting like a brat. Noah didn’t know why he chose this woman and now he regretted such a reckless decision. She’s giving him a severe headache. “I’ll fire you,” Noah warned but this didn’t star
“What if the boss gets killed on my surveillance? What would be the requital?” Jane inquires. The question was presumed to be innocent by quite a lot of people but Jerson, who knew Jane for years knows that this isn’t just a simple question she had come up with out of curiosity. Jerson suspects that Jane was cautious of the fact that she happens to be inferior compared to Vishnu. Jane, who used to be in the limelight, doesn't want to suffer the same fate as those she tormented. She despised being perceived as incompetent when compared with others. If Vishnu were to join the Empresí, her rank will go down by one and that’ll make her the fifth. She’ll be assigned to an unstable squadron by then. She didn’t want that. With that kind of thought, Jane had her hidden agenda upon signing the contract. If Vishnu decided to get engaged with the Empresí — which is possible if they were to mention his past background — Jane wouldn’t think twice about harming the Prosecutor. Even though she knew
“Spacing out again?” Alec inquired when he saw Jerson had fallen again in his pool thoughts for the fifth time. Alec leaned his back on the couch before he threw the document on the table. “All the documents you ask for are compiled in that folder.” Alec looked Jerson in his eye and continued, “Are you sure you’ll continue? You could just drop out.” Alec examined the whole room and found out that the interior design hadn't changed even one bit. With Jerson’s preferences, this was just as Alec expected it to be. Jerson didn’t like changing the floor plans of his room. Jerson would instead stick at the current than adapt to the new one. He’d say his most used iconic line: “Too troublesome.” Indeed, it is true that adapting to change is problematic yet mandated especially to businesses as they wouldn’t grow and survive if they
"That's not quite achievable," Jerson responded. When Alec heard this, his brows furrowed in concentration. “What? Why?” Alec asked. Jerson sighed contemplating whether to tell the suspicion he has in his senses to his friend. "The Prosecutor had a lot on his plate at the time. Even solving this case wouldn't take long; the prosecutor couldn't possibly fit it into his already overburdened schedule," Jerson asserted confidently as he gazed out the window. As he reflected on Vishnu’s confession from the day before, he was torn between two opinions. Whether they knew each other or they both went insane. It seemed to come out of nowhere. He was taken aback to the point where he simply pushed Vishnu away and walked out of Vishnu's office. Vishnu had agreed to ta
The next few days were a living hell for Jerson. He didn't get a good night's sleep for the next few nights after Alec informed him that Vishnu might join their team for their school's criminal investigation. He looks out of his bedroom window. The sun was setting brightly, but this did nothing to improve his already sour mood. He let out a sigh and decided to continue closing his eyes. He wished that he’ll be able to enjoy peaceful days from this day onward. A loud knock woke him up after a while. It appears that the person who is banging on his apartment door has the intention of ruining it. Jerson's eyes twitched in irritation as his face darkened. He was having a difficult time keeping the irritation from thriving inside him. In the end, he gets out of bed and makes his way to the front door, ready to curse whoever pushed his temperance to the limit.
"What exactly does that mean?" Jerson couldn't contain himself any longer. He hadn't anticipated this. What about his parents? What murder attempt? And what about the funeral of his lover? How did the prosecutor find out about this? He was confident that he had successfully concealed his identity, particularly in light of the incident involving his parents. How could this information have gotten out? Did he fail to conceal it? Furthermore, he was unaware of his lover's funeral. How did Vishnu find out about the funeral when the news had not reached him? Similarly, how does Vishnu know he had a male lover? "It is exactly as I said. Did you not look into your kidnapper and the attempted murder that occurred on that bridge?" Vishnu inquires. Jerson was unable to res