The young man took a slow sip of his Americano, his eyes flicking occasionally to the door. He looked like he was waiting for someone in the cozy cafe, the grey clouds outside hinting at a chill in the air. Dressed in a black hoodie and ripped jeans, he blended into the dim ambiance. Time passed, and when waiting grew tedious, he ordered a dessert just to keep himself occupied.
Forty minutes later, the person he'd been waiting for finally appeared. Another young man stepped into the café, spotted him, and waved with a grin.
"Been waiting long, Sam? Sorry, my old man made me run an errand at his office first."
Sam lifted his empty cup, the dregs of his coffee swirling at the bottom. "You tell me. Look at this—finished my coffee already."
"Yeah, sorry about that," the boy said, settling into the seat opposite him.
"So, what's the deal with her?" He tone turned serious.
"Claire? She's nice… and pretty." Sam gave a small, knowing smile.
"Better not fall for her, man."
"Relax. I'm just doing what you asked—keeping it casual, nothing more."
"But here's what's bugging me—why did she bring up that paper?"
"What paper?"
"My headset was off at the time, so I pretended not to hear her. But then she dropped the subject like it never happened. Makes me wonder if she's suspicious about him." Sam's voice held a trace of doubt.
"You should dig into that. And about her falling down the stairs—did you get the CCTV footage?"
"That's the thing. I couldn't find it. Feels like it was deliberately erased."
"No way. I even got you access through Mr. Morren. He told me the recording was missing when the incident happened."
"Hmm. This is getting complicated."
"You didn't ask your dad about it?" Sam leaned in, suspicion creeping into his voice.
"You think my dad's involved in this? Come on, no way. He wouldn't bother with something so minor."
"Well, if he's the only lead we've got, maybe it's worth a shot. I'm out of options here. I already asked around, but no one knows anything. At least if Claire's doubts are confirmed, she'll be relieved. And hey, wouldn't it make you happy too, seeing the girl you like smile?" Sam teased, popping a spoonful of dessert into his mouth.
"I'll try asking my dad later. Meanwhile, keep an eye on her at school. Make sure nothing else happens."
"Got it, boss."
"I'll transfer the money to your account later."
"Man, you always know when I'm broke." Sam chuckled softly.
"That's our deal, right? By the way, your sister still in the hospital?"
"Yeah," Sam replied, a shadow passing over his face.
"Alright, I'm off. Don't forget—keep watching her."
Sam nodded quietly, watching his friend walk out and drive away.
Sorry, Rand, Sam thought bitterly, I didn't tell you that Claire met with Miko yesterday. I know how much you hate that guy. I didn't want you losing control over this.
As the clock struck six, Sam left the café, heading straight for the hospital to visit his little sister. Visiting hours still had about an hour left.
He entered room 101 and found his sister playing with her doll, her face lighting up with joy the moment she saw him.
"Big bro! You're finally here! I've been waiting!"
Sam smiled, ruffling her hair. "Sorry, kiddo. Traffic was crazy. How's your appetite? You gonna eat well today? Gotta get strong so you can go home soon."
"I will, . I'm feeling better now," she chirped happily.
"That's my brave little girl. Hey, where's Mom?"
"She went to get some food. Said she'd buy something for you too."
"She's been gone a while, huh?"
"Yeah, but she'll be back soon."
Sam couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Mom's always looking out for me, even with everything she's juggling. Dad's been gone since I was twelve, and she's been doing it all alone ever since. Poor Mom...
As he played with Rose, the door creaked open. His mother entered with a smile that melted his heart.
"Sam, you've been here long?"
"Hi, Mom. Just got here about ten minutes ago."
"Sorry for troubling you like this. Everything okay at school?"
"All good, Mom. Oh, and here—this is for Rose's hospital needs." He handed her an envelope.
"Where'd you get this money?"
"You know where."
"You're still dealing with Randy?" she asked, frowning.
"Yeah, Mom. He's been helping us out a lot."
"Just make sure he's not dragging you into anything shady."
"So far, everything's been above board."
"You know what Randy's really like. Calm on the outside, but explosive when angry. I spent ten years working for his family—I know." Her voice trembled slightly, old memories resurfacing.
"That was a long time ago, Mom. Let's not dwell on it." Sam gently patted her back.
"I'm just reminding you, Sam."
"I know, Mom. But we still need the money for Rose. The sewing orders alone won't cover everything."
She sighed, her eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you, Sam."
He pulled her into a hug, holding her as she cried softly. Around nine, Sam finally left the hospital. His mom insisted he go home and get ready for school the next day.
Back home, Sam flopped onto his bed and glanced at his phone. A message from Claire blinked on the screen:
Sam, do you have already any idea who pushed me on the stairs?
Sent two hours ago. He hadn't seen it until now.
Not yet, Claire. He typed back quickly.
Can we meet tomorrow? she replied almost instantly.
Okay. Sam answered, smiling to himself.
There was something different about the way he felt now. Why did Claire's messages make him so happy? He saw her every day, yet this felt… special. For the past two weeks, he'd been secretly watching over her, ever since the accident. At first, it was just to make sure she stayed safe. But somewhere along the line, things had changed. He found himself drawn to her.
Sam shook his head. I can't let this happen. If Randy finds out, he'll cut me off. No more money for Rose. No more support. I can't afford that.
His mind raced, torn between duty and desire.
The next morning, as Sam packed his books, a car horn blared outside. Peeking through the window, he recognized the sleek car parked in front.
Randy? What's he doing here this early? He didn't even tell me he was coming.
Stepping outside, Sam called out, "Rand, what's up? You didn't tell me you were coming."
"Yeah, slipped my mind." Randy leaned out the window. "Got a minute? I need to talk."
"What's going on?" Sam asked, frowning.
"I haven't asked my dad yet—he's overseas and impossible to reach. But I couldn't sleep last night."
"Still thinking about who pushed Claire?"
"Yeah. The whole thing's getting messier. I can't shake it off."
"Chill, Rand. We've got time to figure this out."
"Easy for you to say. You showed me Claire's message—now I can't stop thinking about it."
"Jeez, you're really worked up over this."
"Of course I am. This is serious."
"Look, I'm meeting Claire today. I'll see what I can find out, okay? Just relax."
"Thanks, man. Hey, wanna hitch a ride with me? My school's not far from yours."
"Sure, why not?"
"Your mom's at the hospital with your sister, right? Didn't see her around."
"Yeah, still at the hospital."
"Alright then. Let's roll."
Sam locked the door behind him and slid into Randy's luxury car. The engine purred as they sped off, smooth and fast, the city waking up around them.