Surge of Rage

As they wrapped up their meal, Silas glanced at his phone and realized how late it had gotten. The lively conversation and the pleasure of savoring their food had completely absorbed them, making the hours slip away unnoticed.

With a groan, Silas caught the attention of his best friend, who raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Shaking his head, Silas reassured him, "It's nothing, just really late."

Levi grinned as he finished the last sip of his water, wiping his chin with a napkin, a gesture that would surely attract the attention of any girl in the room.

"I'm heading to the restroom. I'm going to let Chloe know I'm leaving." Silas said.

A knowing smirk spread across Levi's face, his expression teasing. "Oh really? Just a goodbye, huh?"

Silas rolled his eyes, a blush creeping onto his cheeks despite his irritation. "Yes, just a goodbye. Keep your thoughts to yourself."

He stood up, feeling the stiffness in his joints from sitting for so long. Silas could hear Levi chuckling behind him, and he fought to suppress his embarrassment, even as the urge to punch his friend in the nose bubbled beneath the surface.

Though the embarrassment lingered, he pushed it aside, driven by the pressing need to find a restroom. Navigating through the crowd, he maneuvered past elderly patrons who ambled along at a snail's pace.

Finally, he reached the restroom and slipped into a stall, letting out a sigh of relief as he took care of business. Afterward, he turned on the faucet, the water flowing with a gentle whoosh as he lathered his hands with soap.

Suddenly, amidst the din of the restaurant, a loud crash echoed, followed by angry shouts that pierced through the chatter.

Silas switched off the faucet, snatching up paper towels to dry his drenched hands. His pulse quickened at the sound of a familiar voice raised in anger. Frowning at the noise, he tossed the damp towel into the trash can.

With urgency in his stride, Silas exited the restroom, the heated argument echoing throughout the room. Concern etched on his face drew the attention of those nearby, their gazes reflecting the knot of anxiety tightening in his chest.

His best friend, Levi, met his eyes with a look of alarm, rising from his chair with a loud squeak that reverberated through the air. Silas made his way to the back, where the kitchen doors stood, the staff busy preparing meals for the patrons. He pushed the door open, Levi trailing closely behind him.

A whirlwind of astonishment, confusion, disbelief, and a surging fury consumed him, as if every drop of blood in his veins was ready to erupt. Levi gasped audibly behind him, his eyes wide as saucers, speechless in the face of the turmoil unfolding before them.

Silas stormed in, fury igniting in his gaze as he spotted his girlfriend, Chloe, pinned against the wall by a man with broad shoulders and long black hair cascading down his back, clad in a stark white kitchen uniform.

Chloe's fingers were tangled in the man's hair, yanking with such force that it seemed like she might rip the strands from his scalp.

A curse escaped Silas's lips as he charged forward, yanking the heavy-set man away from Chloe. She was gasping for breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly, and the redness around her eyes spoke volumes of her distress. The furious expression on her face was something Silas and Levi had never witnessed before.

The young man, whose presence was unfamiliar to Silas, wrenched his arms free, his own breath coming in heavy gasps, his eyes blazing with anger. Silas and Levi could hear the ragged breaths escaping him as his chest heaved.

Silas turned to Chloe, concern etched on his face, while she fought back tears, shame flickering in her eyes. A surge of rage unlike anything he had ever felt coursed through him, and before he could fully process his next move, he swung his fist.

His punch connected with the man's nose, sending a spray of blood across the floor, his hand, and the man's broken nose. Pain shot through Silas's hand as the man staggered back, clutching his face in agony.