Chapter 43 (Side Story: Flin 2)

I wake up again. I see the same ceiling, again. I do the same things again and again and again and...But! Today was different. For the first time in a decade, I was ready to meet the world's defiance with my own two fists. For the first time in a long time, my heart began to melt the ice that had imprisoned it. For the first time...in...my life, I am willing to change my ways for a person I had just met. Lily. Lily, Lily, Lily, Lily, Lily. I say my granddaughter's name in my head for as long as I can. I picture her tiny little hands and feet when she was just a baby. Sixteen years. It's been sixteen years since she was born and my son had died. I wonder where all the time goes when you don't want it. I wonder where all the love drains away when you truly need it. I sighed; I was acting a couple of decades younger than I should be acting. But, who the in the fuck cares? Do the walls care? Do the mirrors have eyes that judge? Do the cabinets and clothes gossip? Who in the world would dare judge me? "Ahem! Flin, would you mind putting your clothes on before you do...whatever you were doing?"

I stopped spinning in my room and slowly opened my eyes to see Micheal leaning on the door frame. I put up both my middle fingers and continued to spin. Micheal sighed and continued, "Listen, you can have the day off today. I'm going to buy Angela some lunch."

I was interested and said, "Oh! Do I smell love in the air?"

"Flin? Why are you acting so...differently?"

"I've finally found the only person I love, Micheal!"

His eyes widened a bit, and I stopped spinning. He was wearing gray and white pajamas that looked wrinkled. He still had his toothbrush in his mouth and was pulling it out before he asked, "Who?! What's her age?!"

I grabbed onto a nearby chair as the dizziness caught up to me. I replied, "Her name's Lily, and she's sixteen!"

Micheal frowned a little before saying, "You know that's illegal right?"

I was confused when I asked him, "What is?" Micheal made a circle with his index and thumb and put his toothbrush inside of it. Then, he began to move it back and for--This bastard! I threw a yellow, silk pillow at him and yelled, "No! You piece of shit! She's MY GRANDDAUGHTER!"

Micheal's eyes grew even wider. "Really?" I nodded my head. "Well, good luck in getting acquainted with her. She sure as hell wants a grandpa that has a history with the authorities, not to mention being a decent hitman."

"Fuck you. I was a phenomenal hitman. But, I get your point." I sighed. This was going to be harder than I thought. "How was breakfast with Angela yesterday?" I asked.

Micheal made his lovey-dovey face and said, "Oh...well...it was fuuuuuuuuuuun."

I smirked, "Let's leave it at that."

"I can't wait to go to lunch with her today!"

"is it going to be dinner on the third day?"

"Very funny. But...maybe?"

I laughed, "Whatever it is, go get her. I think she's a good person, Micheal. You don't come around those types of people these days."

Micheal seemed oddly comforted by my encouragement as he said, "Thanks. You try your best too." He left me with that.

***

I was dressed and ready to leave. I prayed for the strings of fate to pull the right one for once in my life. I wore simple clothes: a collared undershirt, a checkered sweater, some old man pants, and loafers. Overall that, I wore a large greyish-blue trench coat. Basically what old people wear on a day-to-day basis.

I walked out of my hotel room and into the elevator. I punched on the ground floor and waited. My eyes kept wandering towards the numbers. Fifty-six, forty-nine, forty-one, thirty-six, twenty-three...Twenty-two! The floor where my granddaughter walked in. Twenty-one. Damn it! Love makes you do stupid things. I was being too hopeful for things I didn't have. Yet. For things, I didn't have yet.

I reached the ground floor and walked the next portion of the way to my car. The old beaut was noticeable from anywhere in the garage. Rusty iron frame, one hundred and twenty-five horsepower. If anyone actually uses horsepower anymore. I, also, fixed the shattered window from last time.

I tucked myself in my car and dragged the seat belt over my chest. *Click* Seat belt on. Keys in the engine. The car sputtered. "C'mon, baby! Just work this one last time!" The car kept sputtering...until the engine started to purr. "Yeah, baby!" I hit the reverse and rolled myself out of there.

***

I drive down the freeway with people's eyes following my bumper. It wasn't unusual to see cars like mine out here in the inner sector, but I was wearing clothes that suggested I was well off. So, it was natural to expect glares from people. The more the citizens looked, the faster I drove. I wasn't keen on people staring at me; Guess I should have thought about that before I picked my baby as my ride.

I finally settle at a small plaza in the outskirts of the inner sector of Arior. There were many people strolling through the white, cement of a park. Surrounding the small park were short but robust buildings. Mom & Pop shops, diners, and insignificant jewelry stores lined the plaza. The smell of good cooking and hearty carbs made my stomach growl. Time for breakfast. I parked my car near a diner. Aromas of breakfast sausages, pancakes and maple syrup and fried chicken lured me in. It's been a long it since I've had such a humble meal like this. I was getting excited.

The diner was named, "Vinny's Diner'. The outside was very superficial. Bright neon signs glowed obnoxiously even during the day. A large purple arrow pointed at the building as if telling newcomers that this was their only option. From the outside, the diner looked big. Probably because they wanted people to come in, and then become too lazy to get out once they realized the looks can truly be deceiving. I know it because it was me. When I walked inside, I instantly regretted it. It was small, cramped, and plain. Just plain. I guess whoever designed the place forgot that the budget was supposed to cover both the interior and the exterior of the place. Besides my dumb luck, the place was actually bustling with people. Maybe the food was...good?

I seated myself on a dull red booth which was juxtaposed to the wall. The table was shiny; it was just cleaned. I middle-aged woman wearing a pink and blue striped apron came to my service. "Hello! Welcome to Vinny's Diner! Would you like me to take your order?"

I stole a glance at her. She had streaks of grey hair in her original red. She had pale skin, really pale. I could see many of her green veins wrapping around her hands and forearms. She had freckles on her cheeks, and dimples when she smiled. I replied, "Well, I don't see anyone else here, do I?"

She laughed. "I'm Elizabeth, but you can call me Beth." She gave me a wink and took out a small notepad.

"Alright, I'll take one of everything you have on the menu. Including any of the drinks."

Beth looked at me surprised, "Are you sure you can pay for all of that, sir? Not to be rude bu-"

I cut her off, "If you want, I can pay now and wait until the food arrives. I promise I won't take off the moment you bring me my stuff. How could I anyway?"

Beth blushed with embarrassment. The red on her body was vividly bright because of her pale skin. She almost looked like an apple. "No! I didn't mean that! It's just that some people -mostly boys- run off with the whole gosh darn menu without even paying for it!"

"Well, I can't help but sympathize, but it's okay, Beth. I won't be going anywhere."

Beth looked at me apologetically and said, "Of course! I promise that you won't be disappointed!" She ran off into the kitchen.

I sat there waiting. The walls of the places were painted in a charming purple, and the ceilings were soft pink. There were individual colored tiles that made up of the floor. Quite honestly it felt peaceful. Something I needed. "Why don't you sit with us?" I heard a loud, gruff voice on the opposite side of the room. "C'mon, you know that I like you, right?" The voice sounded sleazy. I tilted my head to find three teenage boys encircling someone. One wore a bright red shirt, another one wore a blue striped one, the last one wore a solid yellow. I chuckled. Primary colors, really?

I was about to ignore these ruffians, I heard something. "P-please...stop." It was a very low cry. A very soft one too. If I hadn't been taking that audio-enhancing pill for the last decade, I wouldn't even have heard it. "Please, I don't even like you!" It was Lily's voice. It was my granddaughter's voice.