When You Like Drinking

Ages stared at the message and then at Eden, "Cute."

"I know right?" Eden said, unable to stop grinning. "He really is the best."

"Your boyfriend is surprisingly really hard working." The man said, smirking at the man. "And also very efficient."

"Well, what did you expect from him?" Eden asked, picking up his helmet from the tabletop. "He is one of the best in his field, if not the best."

"I am just wondering how someone like him is with someone like you." Ages teased watching Eden's face turn into a pout.

"Hey, I do not plan on letting him take care of everything on his own," Eden said, rolling his eyes at his mentor. "You know I am capable as well."

"I know." Ages laughed, ruffling the man's hair. "You do good work too Eden. That is why we are where we are. Otherwise, this organization would have crumbled to the ground a long time ago."

"That is what you are supposed to be telling me," Eden said, grinning at the man as the two walked out of the building to the parking lot.

"I can't baby you all the time, Eden." Ages said, laughing. "You are a young man now, someone with your own life and your own path to create with people who follow you.

"You are not what you were when you were much younger. People trust your decision and back you up on it." He said, looking at Eden in the eyes. "That is also why Fern accepted Noel, because he has your backing."

"I don't understand where this is going." Eden sat on his bike, looking at Ages intently. "What are you trying to say here, Ages?"

"I am only telling you that you should be careful who you let in. I am sure Noel is a trustworthy person. But I don't know about someone else, you might not be so lucky next time." Ages said, a frown coming on his face.

"I know," Eden said, fiddling with the straps of his helmet. "I know what you are implying too, Ages. I'm careful, don't worry about me too much. You'll grow old really quickly otherwise. Are those wrinkles I see on your face?"

"This brat-"

Eden stuck his tongue out at Ages and placed on his helmet, driving off as he waved at the man staring after him with a tired shake of his head.

________________________

I know what Ages is trying to tell me. Eden thought as he drove back to his house, getting caught in the traffic. We live in a world where one mistake can get hundreds of people killed.

The decisions I make for my life do not affect me alone. In a way, my life is not my own. Eden looked around him, at the city and the people walking back and forth, living their lives with no idea of the darkness that surrounds it. But … I do want a semblance of a normal life.

To have a family. He thought, looking at a boy with a woman and man, probably on their way to the park around the corner.

As vehicles in front of him began to run, Eden turned from the sight and drove off. I know I should just be happy for the life I have now. That even just being alive is a blessing.

But I can't help be a little greedy. I want a little bit more out of life and … I will do whatever I can to make that possible.

Noel's face suddenly appeared in his mind, a small smile creeping up Eden's face.

Well, I may want it a little more right now as compared to before but that doesn't change anything.

"I'm lonely." The automated voice flashed across his mind, a wave of desire washing over him.

Ugh. I want to hold him. I better hurry.

_______________________

Noel stared at his phone blankly, replying to the messages from [Flowerboy].

What the stupid name. Noel thought, remembering the first time the two got acquainted. They instantly started making fun of each other's names.

[Flowerboy: What's with 'Whisper'? Are you a teenager or something? Why use something so cringe?]

[Whisper: Like you have anything say, Flowerboy. Do you think you are some kind of pretty, soft boy or something?]

[Flowerboy: At least I don't sound as stupid as you do. If you ever have children, never name them.]

[Whisper: I could say the same thing to you, your child will have to rename themselves if they ever had a parent with the naming skills as you do.]

Noel chuckled, remembering their interaction. They did not get along with each other immediately but that did not mean they did a bad job.

Other than Kadin, he is one of the only other person who has seen his face. Well, was. Now, at least five people know Noel's identity.

Ten should be the limit. He thought. I can't have too many people know about my identity.

Bzzt.

Noel stared at his phone, seeing a message and an attachment of a video.

[Flowerboy: You owe me big time. I was in the middle of a very important mission and now my work is pushed back because of you!

Whisper: You complain like that but you still got the video for me.

Flowerboy: Whatever. Like I said before, you owe me big time.

Whisper: I will remember that then. Thanks.

Flowerboy: Why do you even need this video anyway? You didn't even tell me to delete it like you normally would have. Is this for … personal reasons?

Whisper: Yes. It's for personal reasons. Also, if you find anything more about those two girls, please tell me immediately.

Flowerboy: Weirdo. Remember to wire transfer me the money I used too.

Whisper: Right. How much was it again?

Flowerboy: 500,000. One of the cheapest transactions I ever made for something so secretly auctioned off. They seemed in such a hurry to sell it off too. They also did a background check on me before I could actually get the video.

Whisper: You used Mr. Bradforth's identity, didn't you?

Flowerboy: I am not telling anything. Hurry and take the video. I will be deleting every trace of this convo in thirty minutes.

Whisper: I will sire transfer the money to you by tonight. Thank you again. Video is already in my possession.

Flowerboy: You owe me, remember. Don't reply after this.]

Noel watched his phone as the chat boxes disappeared one by one and then the name at the very top. Even if he looked in his contacts, that number and that ID does not exist anymore.

It's pretty scary if you think about it. You could be talking to someone and then one day, everything about them disappears. Almost like they never existed in the first place. Noel thought, looking through the web to see the site is gone.

Everything about the two girls and their families are gone as well. From school records to pictures with their friends. Unless someone printed their pictures out, the girls are as good as gone.

Really scary.

Noel tried to distract himself by playing the video, though he was not really able to make much out except the faces of the girls and their fear-filled eyes as the torture commenced.

They were sewn in half while they were still alive. Noel thought, watching as the blood-splattered a little on the screen. Annoying pieces of shits.

They did a good job of hiding their faces. He remarked, duplicating the video and began cutting scenes of it out. I already have everything I need just from the trailer they sent out. So this is not new information for me.

After he was done cutting the video, he walked over to his bag and pulled out two blank disks, which he used to burn the two videos into.

While waiting for the video to burn, Noel, laid back on the bed, blowing the hair out of his face. I'm hungry.

Jumping out of the bed, the man picked up his laptop and carried it with him to the kitchen. Placing it on the countertop, he began looking through Eden's refrigerator for any kind of snacks.

Eden's kitchen is colour coordinated, with black and white all over, including the utensils, hints of silver is everywhere too.

There is an island in the middle of the room with nothing but a silver vase right in the middle.

The lights hung down from the ceiling to a minibar with rows and rows of shelves of all kinds of alcohols. There is even a counter with chairs opposite to it, almost like a real bar itself.

His tastes are … eccentric. Noel thought, walking into the counter and stared at the number of wines in front of him.

Maybe I can make a Cinderella with a little bit of alcohol. No one at works asks for a Cinderella, sad. Oh right, I completely forgot about my other work. I need to tell Eden I have to go back home tonight.

Just like that, the doors burst open and a white-haired man stepped in with a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"Honey, I'm home! And I have reservations for tonight!"

Great.