Self - reflection chapter 3

I was wiping my eyes using a piece of tissue to verify if I was dreaming or not.

I was quite an introvert. I didn't prefer to socialise or to interact much with people.

" Oh, my days! Fred just come here for once!" I kept on murmuring to myself.

I was quite frightened, sitting at a counter table drinking a few shots peacefully all by myself then suddenly two people approached me.

It seemed that they were searching for a person somewhat similar to that.  I could tell you that they were on a mission.

Most of the time, people go to pubs to consume a bit of alcohol and enjoy themselves.  They weren't there for " enjoyment".

The woman suddenly pulled aside and perhaps went to the washroom. The man approached me and sat next to me. Then our conversation began.

" Hello, how are you?" I politely asked him.

He replied without any hesitations.

" I'm glad you are fine!" I acknowledge what he had just said.

Weirdly he asked me whether I wouldn't mind if he purchased for me a cocktail.

I was delighted, I was like seriously craving some cocktail drink. I just couldn't afford it.

Seems like the luck charm was beside me.

" Yeah sure, Thank you!" I replied to his invitation with a grin on my face.

We exchanged for a bit whilst sipping our respective drinks. So far nothing seemed to be off.

Although kept asking me where I was working. I just replied by saying that I started working a part-time job.

" Well, I'm still a uni student, just working to earn a few extra bucks."

" But why are you not studying full-time" the man began inquiring me.

His name was Alexander, didn't bother asking his age.

That would have been insolent on my part.

" Honestly, I no longer live with my parents, I live with my friend in a small house," I replied to him whilst pointing at Frederick so that he could know who he was.

At that exact moment, I knew I over spoke things.

" Stop disclosing your private info dumbo!" I murmured to myself

There was silence for the upcoming few seconds. I thought of asking him the same. But as soon as I attempted to utter a single word, the woman appeared.

We were all looking at her. She was quite good looking.

She came and sat down on my right-hand side. Without any further dew, Alexander introduced her.

" By the way the girl on your right is Nancy."

" Hey, champ, she's around your age, hehe!"

He whispered into my ears.

I was speechless, I tried my very best not to explode with laughter.

Alexander was pure vibes. He seemed like a person who loves a bit of banter here and there.

I talked with Nancy for a bit, meanwhile, Alexander was on a phone call with one of his close mates.

It was a must! I exchanged phone numbers with Nancy. And there he was Alexander came back to the counter

Well, it was getting late, we had to return home.

" Look,  young man, I'm leaving my business card with you. I want you to come to this address after tomorrow. Okay is it clear?" Alexander instructed me.

I will propose you a deal that will be a huge boon for your current situation.

Here! Take this as a small little gift on my part.

They eventually left, there was an envelope and his business card. I didn't have a single clue why would someone approach me and leave me some money. I hope I wasn't doing something that would ruin me even more. We eventually left the place and headed back to Frederick's house.

I had to wake up quite early the next day.

My whole schedule was a complete mess.

I couldn't figure out anything. I had to make sure to work and study at the same time, and then attend this meeting at Alexander's office. The next arose, did my usual studies, finished will all of the necessities and principles then went off to my new workplace.

It was quite decent working there, weirdly I wasn't given as much work as I expected. The responsible manager for recruitment introduced his staff and other employees.

So far, nothing felt to be off.

Later at night on the next day, I rang Alexander, I told him, I couldn't attend the meeting on the next day. He agreed, he told me once I'm free, I shall go and meet him at his office.

Fine! He agreed!

It would have been unfair as he gave me money, paid me for some drinks and I was to deny his rendezvous. I'm a traitor if I did so.

One-week later!

I was quite pleased with my current situation. I was able to cope with my hectic schedule. I was not interested in Alexander's offer as such. However, Frederick wasn't working full time, he just managed to earn from here and there.

Days went by, moreover a week, everything felt to be back to normal.

Sighs!

It all changed. Did I curse it by saying that everything is back to the normal way too early?

I finished my lectures before noon. I was set to go to my workplace. Well, on that day, I decided to pass by Frederick's place.

It wasn't common for me to pass by there at that time of the day.

I safely managed to reach home, I freshened up and had a little snack. I was off on my journey and whilst crossing the road I got hit by a truck.

At that moment, I felt what it meant of being deceased.  The first few seconds were disastrous.

I was completely in a different world, I probably believed that I felt unconscious or something. I promptly commenced getting flashbacks of my life, I best believed that it was the end of my existence in this world. I was a failure, I insisted on saying that in my mind.  For the upcoming minutes, who knows what happened. I woke up in a hospital room with people surrounding me.

I couldn't believe my eyes!

" I'm still alive!"

However I felt lifeless,  perhaps that was my destiny.

Eventually, I dozed off.

I couldn't remember what the time was.

I woke up this time, feeling slightly better than previously. I was able to talk slightly more, there was a young lady who seemed to be the nurse in our room. Indeed, there were several more patients in that exact room.

I wasn't wealthy to afford a whole room for myself only.

Suddenly Frederick appeared out of nowhere. He explained to me how I ended up in hospital with several wounds. He also added that a passerby called him using my phone.

I'm so grateful that someone came to my rescue.

A few days went by, I was gradually recovering from my accident. I was worried, about how would I be able to pay for all of these medical expenses.

The doctor acquainted us that I'll be discharged the next day. However, I was advised to remain at home until I'm completely rehabilitated.

I got discharged, and Frederick was with me.

" Fred, hmm so what are we going to do to pay the bills?" I asked him.

" Just don't worry, someone paid for it."

He assured me by saying so.

" So who paid for it?" I was baffled.

" Well, Alexander paid for it."

He also added

" And boy, it was a lot, he saved you!"

He told me with some contentment.

At that exact moment, I instantly realised that Alexander was the man I must work with.

I maintained silence and eventually reached home. I slept for a bit, I was gradually feeling better and better. I was fully aware that I would be unavailable in the upcoming days. A proper rehabilitation was crucial for me at that time. I had to take my time and be fully fit and perhaps back to my very best. Probably, this accident and wound will make me even stronger than ever before. I already made an apologetic phone call to my university and office.

I could barely understand what the University secretariat was saying on the phone call. Then suddenly the voice fell silent, I acknowledge it as an "okay, get well soon and pay your upcoming tuition fees on time!"

The situation at that time was rather worrying, as I had to pay my upcoming tuition fees and the work I was doing was not remunerating me adequately.

A few days went by, and I kept on looking at the sun rising and setting. I felt so damn useless at that time. Does who have ever been unhealthy or sick can relate to me.

At times, I even thought that Frederick will possibly kick me out of the house as I became a burden to him. I couldn't work or attend classes at that time.

" Enough of me staying home!" I exclaimed, Frederick responded by nodding his head.

" Yeah, but be careful when you are going out, ok?" Frederick warned me with courtesy.

Grabbed my backpack and I was headed toward Alexander's office. I was struggling to walk but

" Hey! I've got to struggle a bit if I wish to succeed in life"

I just got to deal with it!

On my way there, nothing felt off. Just a bit of pain and struggling because but had no other options left. I had a few loose changes and went to a nearby sandwich shop and got myself a sandwich. Off in the bus heading towards Alexander's office place. I was rather familiar with the area where Alexander was located at, however, something felt suspicious.

" It's not a place for an office! "

And I added,

" Should I even trust Alexander that much, Am I getting tricked?"

I had millions of unsolved questions.

I kept on stuttering whilst talking to myself.

" People will think that I am a weirdo or lost in seven heavens something." I was warning myself. Whilst I was nodding my head. 

I remained quiet throughout the whole journey.

"I'll probably give him a call, to actually confirm if it's the right place or not"

As expected, I didn't know that area well.

I made a phone call to Alexander's office.

I best believed that I was talking with his secretary. I couldn't understand what she was even saying. I got a few words from here and there. I just understood that he was in his office and it's just a few blocks away.

A few dark alleyways later, I saw his office. The small path leading there was almost empty. There were a few crushed cans of soda rolling up and down the street and some empty bags of chips.

Suddenly a few stray cats popped out of nowhere and started coming after me for some food. I was terrified and I immediately enter his bureau like an unmannered person.

" They must think that I'm probably clumsy or something. I'm already giving them a bad impression."

Alexander was sitting by the table sipping on some coffee and there were a few people in the background. It felt as if I was in some mafia's office.

"Good afternoon," I said.

We both shook hands like some proper gentlemen.

" Well, you must be tired, aren't you?" He added.

" Look tell me what you wanna drink and feel free"

" I'll just have some coffee with two spoons of sugar, please." I requested him.

" Don't you worry, we will talk, okay?"

" How are you feeling now, quite unlucky you had to go through such things."

Sighs!

"What can you do, it's life!" He told me whilst nodding his head in despair. 

" Yeah true, I'm feeling slightly better now.' I told him.

"That's all nice."

We smoked a few cigarettes beside the table before we started the main conversation.

" I know that you are assumably not in the greatest state of mind for any conversation." He added.

" However, we ain't gonna make your accident an excuse for you not to work with us."

Suddenly I heard a few people screaming for their lives in the background.

" Uhm, is everything alright there?" I asked him.

" Yeah don't worry, such things happen often around these places."

I instantly knew that they are doing some dodgy work for a living. There was no turning back. I was a sheepish person in life and always avoided being involved in such matters. 

" Well, I must pay attention to what he is saying," I murmured to myself.

"Sorry," he asked.

" No, no I often chat to myself and get lost in the blue," I added.

At that stage, he did most of the talking and I just shook my head as an acknowledgement.

" Okay, I think you have understood by now that type of work we do here."

" We aren't any scammers or whatever, we are not trying to embezzle you."

" You caught my attention at the bar, You remember that day we met?" He asked me

"Yes, I do indeed," I responded.

" I was with Lucy on that day,  we also noticed that you are gonna be a major boon to our department."

" You also shared your story and issues you are facing for a few years."

" Especially, after this very unfortunate accident, you look very broken to us."

I lit one cigarette and began smoking. Inhaled and exhaled then began shaking my head.

The conversation got even more interesting.

" I won't waste your time any further, I'm leaving a good deal for you on the table."

" Deal stands as that you shall be given, a house, all of your expenses will be paid and you will also be given a  hefty paycheck at the end of each month," he stated.

For a minute, I thought Alexander had changed. He was definitely not the same Alexander I had met on that night.

He sounded quite posh at the end. The way he spoke and smoked at the same time was just pure classic.

" However, there will be a little twist to this agreement." He added.

" You'll have to live on your own without your fellow mate Frederick."

" Furthermore, concerning your studies, well, it will be on you."

" You may or may not get even time to attend classes."

I was speechless for a solid while. I didn't even get the chance of speaking throughout this conversation. I was absolutely unaware of how I'd respond.

He unexpectedly resumed speaking. This time he was actually standing.

" So young man, are you interested in this offer?"

" Are you up to for this change in your life?"

" Think well ..."

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