I woke up in my bed with sweat streaming down my face. I realized I was back in my home, my room.
The same room with blue walls decorated with old movie posters filled with dirty clothes and a messy desk with an old computer.
"How?" What the fuck just happened? I was right there, standing on the bridge, trying to jump. What the hell just happened?" I thought to myself…
Then I asked myself, why did I go to kill myself in the first place?
Ah yes, to run away from him, to get away from him.
2 days ago…
It was a mundane evening; I went there with my partner and my best friend, Jade.
Today is the day of our first consignment; we have to deliver the product and get the money back to the "manufacturer."
"Will we be alright?" I was sitting behind the bike carrying the bag.
He stopped in front of a small restaurant in the inner city of Worhud.
A large city filled with hope, dreams, and great infrastructure, and behind the curtain, its very core is corrupted and infested with crimes.
"Listen, Daniel, don't chicken out now. I got this opportunity after years of hard work."
He said to me, Daniel.
My name is Daniel Hori, a guy who looks and is just another average dude.
"Now go, I'll wait and look out for any crow; if I get lucky, maybe I can get a cute chick around too!"
Jade, a young guy wearing glasses and short green hair, wore a skull piercing on his ears to look intimidating, which he doesn't.
"Alright, wish me luck then!" I went inside the restaurant and sat at an empty table.
The restaurant was not busy, with a few tables filled with some middle-aged men with their coffee, the chessboard tiles, and the over-the-top decorated counter.
I sat down and put my bag on the table, and a grumpy-looking waiter walked up to me.
"What?" He said in a monotone.
"What?" I said, looking confused,
"What dumbass will you have, dumbass!" He yelled.
"Oh, oh okay, well I'll have some coffee and blueberry waffles." I said, and the waiter looked at me; now I had his attention.
Wait for five minutes." He said and treaded back.
My coffee came with waffles. "Here is your order."
"Take the waffles back; I want some with strawberry jam."
He paused and gave me a faint smile. "Sure, next time be clear, fuckface!" He picked up the waffles and brought some others.
I ate everything and cleaned the plate, and while chewing something stuck in my teeth in a small pouch, I pulled it out, and it was a paper slip. On that there was written:
"Bathroom, 3rd door from left, remove the tile behind the commode."
Everything was good. I said the code and got the slip, and now it was time for delivery. My heart was beating like crazy, and why not? I was doing this for the first time.
I went to the bathroom and found the tile. I pulled out the tile and found a hole under it.
I was afraid, but still I jumped in. If anything happens, it happens.
It was dark, and I walked and walked. After about 200-300 meters, I found an iron door and an iron window.
I walked to the window and knocked on it.
"What is it?"
"Co- cocaine…"
"From whom?"
"Mali," as I said his name, the window opened; it was the same waiter.
"From Mali? Should've said that before I would've taken it from there. There is no one here who would try to interfere with his business." He chuckled.
"But what if I was lying that it was from him?" I said it as a joke, and he stopped chuckling.
"Tell me, boy, is there anyone who can dare to take his name without his permission?" You know what happened to the police commissioner, right? That poor man, I heard—
"Enough! Stop talking nonsense! I don't want any problems, you blabbermouth! Give him the money and close the door." A loud shout came from behind.
"Fine, fine." He closed the window and moments later opened the door.
He was standing in front of me with a bag in his hands.
"Here, tell him it's always a pleasure doing business with him."
He smiled; I swear in my life I've never seen such a disgusting smile.
I took the money and crawled out of another stall. It was a pool parlor, and without looking around, I hurried back.
While going out, I looked around and saw their faces; it was like it was written on them, "Just get out; we don't want to get involved with him."
I ran out and found Jade on his bike.
"Yo! Congrats on completing your first job! I got us some drinks!" He was holding two bottles of alcohol and smiled ear to ear.
"Shut the fuck up! What would you do if someone heard you?" I jumped on his bike with a bag in front and put on the helmet.
Jade pushed the bottle towards me. "You really think anyone will touch it knowing we work for him?"
He smiled, and suddenly the adrenaline rushed into my body; it felt like I was invincible.
I grabbed the bottle and emptied it. I was a heavy drinker starting from the age of delinquency with beers in school and got kicked out.
That was the first time my father slapped me, but today I have more money with me than he ever earned in his life!
I looked at the second bottle. "You won't drink it?"
"I need to take you home, dumbass!" He said, "Give me the bottle."
I drank that too.
I didn't recall much, but he dropped me at my door at midnight. I didn't want to get another side-eye from my parents.
They won't say anything, but it looks like I was some kind of stone in their way of a perfect family.
But the last thing I remember is I dropped on the door and woke up on the floor of my room.
It was already afternoon, and I was late. I had to deliver money to them. I hastily got up but struggled to stand thanks to a hangover. I leaned on my bed and picked up the bag, and it felt light.
The money was gone.