Chapter 5

I stepped into the air conditioned mall, feeling the sudden blast of cold air. I glanced behind me once more, wondering if Kogen had managed to follow me. The bartender may have held him back, but the bartender was a gentle guy, he would let go of Kogen eventually. I walked within the crowd. Even if it was Kogen, he couldn't simply do whatever he wanted in a crowded place.

I glanced around me.

Nothing seemed out of shape. I was there, and everyone was carrying on with their lives. I checked the time on my phone. I cursed. It was a workday, but it was pretty crowded. But as I walked in, I could tell that people were already walking out. Company workers, who knows who else were there to get lunch, whether a quick lunch or a full blown meal. It was crowded now, but eventually it'll empty out.

I walked towards a restaurant. Right, what was I worried about? With the way Kogen was acting, he was surely to have the police called on him soon enough. He seemed like the kind of guy to get himself in trouble sooner or later.

Actually, what was he mad about? He talked about a prank, but what did I even do? I don't remember doing anything or saying anything to offend Kogen. In fact, I was probably the only one in the Control Department that treated him nicely. Of all people, why me? As I thought about that, I took a seat in the restaurant, realising I hadn't paid for my drinks at the Barto Bar.

"Your order?" Someone asked me.

I looked up. It was a waitress. She wore the uniform of the restaurant, a smile on her face. I stared at the menu for some time before replying, "Um… could you give me some time?"

"Of course. Please take your time deciding your order." She told me before walking away.

I tapped the table, looking out. The restaurant had a window as a wall to the shopping mall. I stared out of it in case I saw Kogen. Hopefully, he wouldn't be able to see me. I glanced at the menu before making eye contact with the waitress. She walked back, pen and paper ready.

"Yes, what will your order be?" She asked me.

"I'm having a pretty hard time deciding." I told her, scratching the back of my head. "Do you have any recommendations?"

"I would recommend the spaghetti and meatballs. We have a special house blended sauce only found here at Dustin's. Everything is made from scratch, and produced from the highest quality ingredients out there."

I nodded, occasionally glancing out the window.

"I'll have that then." I told her.

She politely took the menu away from me and asked, "Would you like water? Or would you prefer to purchase a beverage instead?"

"Water, please." I told her.

I guess I could have a meal. My main purpose was to hide from Kogen, at least, until he calmed down slightly. Before the waitress could walk away, I told her, "Um… if you see an angry guy, you should say 'over there'."

She glanced back, laughing lightly. "I appreciate the advice."

I sat back, somehow feeling like I had forgotten something. I pulled my phone out and swiped through my contacts, which granted, wasn't many. I tapped my sister's name and waited, placing my phone beside my right ear.

I waited for about three seconds.

"Hello?" My sister picked up, talking in a whisper.

"Is this a bad time?" I asked her.

"Not really," She told me. "I'm having lunch right now, why?"

"Later when school ends, don't go home just yet." I told her. "Go hang out with your friends or something."

"Really?" She asked. "I was just about to ask if I could go to karaoke."

"You can go."

"Thanks, but why though? Don't you usually want me to go home immediately?"

I looked around me once again. "Yeah, there's this super angry guy near our place, so I think you should avoid him for now."

"What about you?"

"The police will be on him soon enough."

"Anyways, today I-"

"Call you back." I told her. "Sorry, but I'm in a rush now."

"Oh…" My sister said, her voice dropping slightly. "Okay."

I hung up and tried to look as natural as possible as I stared at my phone. I used the camera app and inverted the camera, looking away from the window. I looked through the phone like a mirror, allowing me to be able to look outside in secret.

Some distance away, I could see him.

He seemed to be walking to every store in the shopping mall. I don't know how he found out I was in the shopping mall to begin with, but I guess he wasn't that much of an idiot either, huh? He eventually reached the restaurant I was in. I looked as someone approached the door to meet Kogen. The waitress who had taken my order.

Even from where I was, I could hear what Kogen was saying.

"Where's he at? Are you hiding him?" He demanded.

The waitress didn't seem the least bit stumped as she pointed away, saying to him, "Over there."

He turned around violently and stomped away. The waitress turned to look at me and winked. I nodded in her direction just as a fresh plate of piping hot pasta was placed in front of me.

Out of nowhere, without any warning, the door flung open. The waitress was roughly pushed aside as Kogen stormed in, his eyes bloodshot and glaring right at me. He scowled, "You think I wouldn't notice you, fucker?"

I stood up, prepared to run. However, he was at the door, where was I even supposed to run to? Luckily, just as that thought crossed my mind, Kogen ran at me. I looked around, not really wanting to injure him. I grabbed the plate and slammed the pasta in his face, which he proceeded to scream in pain. I pushed him down, his body falling onto the table. He swung his arms around violently, trying to hit me, but I ran away before he could. I shouted as I ran out, "I'll be paying next time!"

I ran out of the restaurant, my heart thumping. What was going on? Why was he attacking me anyways? Nothing made sense. Arcosto, Kogen, the Investigation department, none of it made any sense. What the fuck was going on in my life? All I remembered was that I signed a contract to receive a promotion, hell, I haven't even gotten my first paycheque yet.

I turned to look around, seeing the red stained face of Kogen storming after me not too far away. I made a sharp turn and ran into the stairway, closing the door behind me. I pressed my back against the wall, listening. I heard loud footsteps passing by before becoming softer. Surely, the cops must have been called, right?

Just to make sure, I pulled my own phone out and dialled the emergency hotline. I didn't want to do it since he used to be my colleague, but it was far too late, and who knows what else he'll do to me.

My phone rang as I waited in suspense, just hoping he had lost sight of me for the meantime.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"Hello," I whispered, peeking out of the small window of the door. "I'm currently in Barkley Mall… there's this psycho after me, and I don't know what's wrong with him."

"Barkley Mall?" The person asked.

"Yes."

"May I know who this person is exactly?"

I glanced out once more before making my way downstairs, down one flight. This way, if he approached me from either floor, I would be able to run away. I checked the place out before whispering again, "His name is Kogen Taksony. We work in the same company. He's currently mad and has caused some property damage."

"Okay sir, please hold on as we send help your way. Stay calm, stay relaxed, s-"

I made a run for it.

At the bottom of the flight of stairs, the door had opened, and there was the angry face of Kogen. He had gone down a floor and gone to the staircase. How was he finding me so fast?

I bolted up the stairs, opening the door violently before slamming it in Kogen's face. I looked around, not many people around during this time of the day. I just ran off in one direction. I needed to lose Kogen, and delay him enough for the cops to get here.

In fact, where was the security? I swear to god if they were having a break.

"Get over here!" Kogen shouted.

"Bro, we can talk this out!" I shouted back.

"Fuck you!"

"Fuck you too!"

I made a sudden stop and dived beneath Kogen's outstretched hands. I pushed him aside and started running again. He better not not underestimate someone who used to live in poverty, I know how to run away.

I grabbed a corner and spun myself, running into a clothing store.