A SIGHT TO BEHOLD

< Athaire Starlight Hotel

UTC+2 0843 AM

Coffee Shop >

After regaining his composure, Jack turned towards the interior and saw a sight that shook him even more than the run-in with One Shot's little girlfriend had: One Shot, looking after his girlfriend like a lovesick fool while she was walking away outside. Since childhood, he had never felt embarrassed but at that moment, he was embarrassed for his fellow agent. He leaned against the bar to his left and took in this sorry sight in front of him. How low could one sink? That boy in love was supposed to be the best candidate, his top rival, someone to look up to and respect, be envious about. But on the other hand, that gave him all the confirmation he needed: One Shot was in love with that girl. She was the perfect target - and he better hustle not to lose her now.

"Great, someone's here." Suddenly, a barista popped out behind the bar and shoved a full plate with steaming cups of coffee and tea in his hands, "Could you take this to table 3?"

Having automatically received it, Jack now was at a loss for words. "I'm not a waiter here. I think there's some sort of misunderstanding -"

"We really don't have time, just help out this time, I'll take your shift another day, alright?" The stressed employee said and turned away not before saying over his shoulder, "now, get moving!"

Jack hesitated just a second too long. The door behind him swung open and pushed him forward, making him lose his grip on the plate. In slow motion, he could see the plate tip over, the contents spilling waterfalls down onto the marble floor and finally the thin and luxurious porcelain cups meeting the stone surface.

CLIRRRR!

In a loud crash, fragments of expensive porcelain covered the floor in a sea of stormy colors, giving off a fragrant scent of morning.

A curse slipped over his tongue before he could stop it, but now his instinct was helping him spin around and escape through the open door out, pushing past the surprised and sorry guests who had just entered, away from a complaining barista and hopefully a still ignorant One Shot.