LIMERENCE S1: Easy Does It 0.1

The round grill sizzles as several thinly sliced pieces of lamb are placed on it. A strong sesame aroma fills the air as a sauce-made with shoyu or soy sauce mixed with mirin, sugar, garlic, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds-is drizzled over the meat.

Yakiniku West located at 218 E 9th St, New York. It was about to close when two customers arrived just before midnight. The owner, who was already familiar with the customers, invited them in.

At the corner table, two men of different ages faced each other while cooking yakiniku beef.

The man started the conversation, "I watched your interview on television,"

"Hmmn..." replied the young man. They were the only customers at the Japanese yakiniku restaurant.

In the midst of their busy schedules, the two of them always make time to eat together. They tell stories about their daily activities despite the monotonous flow while exchanging ideas, interspersed with jokes ending in laughter. Usually, Sheira, Janet and a few others join them. However, earlier this year their schedules were busier than usual, so there was only the director and the actors.

"Is it true, you're not ready to act on the big screen yet?" Charlie asked without looking at Joey.

Joey shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he answered briefly.

"I don't know?" Charlie raised one eyebrow, "The decision is yours, and your acting quality is more than enough to be honed for the big screen."

Joey looked at Charlie for a moment, and then back at the half-cooked meat on the grill. "Are you going to ask me to act on the big screen?" His hand picked up the clothespin, waiting for the meat to be ready to flip.

It was Charlie's turn to look at Joey. "In the future? Yes. Now you know, I've got a few television series projects lined up that I haven't finished yet." He was still looking at the young man, seeing the impatience in the blue eyes that continued to wait for the meat to cook evenly. "How about it, do you want it?"

"Now I'm interested. In the future, I can't guarantee that I won't change my mind," Joey said, glancing at Charlie without lifting his face from the meat that was about to be cooked.

"Yuck," A chuckle sounded, from Charlie's side. As soon as the brown meat faded, the man's nimble hands snatched it away from Joey who had been aiming for him to eat it all along.

"My meat!" exclaimed Joey, staring unwillingly as the first morsel was ripe-into Charlie's mouth who flashed a lopsided grin while chewing his meat.

"You're the slow one," the man taunted. A lopsided smile at Joey who was now scowling at him. However, in the next second Charlie's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. There was a slightly bluish red spot around the neck near Joey's left nape. 

Charlie asked, "Did you meet him again?"

Knowing where the man's attention was directed, Joey hurriedly adjusted the collar of the blue sweater-lined shirt he was wearing. Both hands buttoned the top two buttons until the sign was no longer visible under the collar. "He came to my apartment last week," Joey said quietly.

Charlie asked again, "Did he hurt you again?" His tone was firm.

He shook his head first. "No, not really. I started it anyway." Joey looked down, not daring to look Charlie in the face for a moment.

"Do you need an apartment? To move out of there." Charlie felt the need to ask.

"Thanks, Charlie. But, I don't think it's necessary," Joey declined with a faint smile. He continued, "No matter how many times I moved apartments, he always manages to find me. I think, with him saying that there's a chain on my leg that's always connected to his hand, it's true."

"No." Charlie denied. "Cassano has a lot of men, and you're famous, it's not hard for him to find you in a small town called Manhattan."

Joey stared at Charlie while the man explained. "You're free of him. You're not tied down anymore, it's just him-that asshole who doesn't want to let you go. Don't ever think you're still in his shackles, you're no longer his."

The two engaged in a serious conversation, ignoring for a moment the five pieces of yakiniku already cooked on the grill.

"If I were your biological father, I'd make sure Cassano wouldn't even touch you with a finger." Charlie exhaled heavily. "Unfortunately, reality is not on my side."

Joey smiled. "Do you think the name Douglas fits after my name?" he asked, asking Charlie for his opinion.

"Joey Douglas," Charlie referred to the young man he considered his own son by his last name.

"It doesn't sound very suitable," Joey commented.

Charlie added, "What's in a name." Dan asked a question he'd been saving for a while, "I have a question. Is Carter your mom's name?"

"Mom says it's my dad's name," Joey laughed sadly for a moment. "She's not even sure who my dad is."

Not letting the bitter atmosphere creep in, Charlie hurriedly transferred the cooked yakiniku to an empty ceramic plate. "It's almost burnt." He placed the plate and its contents in front of Joey.

"You bought all this, Dad?" asked Joey, taking a bite of the yakiniku, his tongue tasting the savory and sweet sauce.

"That smile again..." mocked Charlie, at a loss for words over Joey's lightning-fast appetite for meat.

"Fine, I'll pay."

A satisfied smile spread across the young man's lips.

--------

The night sky is swarming with clouds, blocking out the moon's starless rays. The asphalt is slippery, hampering the friction of the rubber wheels of every car that crosses the city streets. Midnight at the beginning of the year, the sidewalks are still crowded with warmly dressed pedestrians.

Joey exits the closed yakiniku restaurant with the collar of his sweater-lined shirt and beanie hats pulled up. Charlie caught up with him after paying. The two of them walked to the Mercedes-Benz parked beside the beef restaurant.

The cold air made Charlie feel uncomfortable lingering outside. He immediately got into his car; sat in the driving seat and turned on the car heater.

Charlie opened the right side of the car door. "Joey, come on in!" he pleaded.

Instead of getting in, Joey just stood in front of the car door.

"What's wrong?" Charlie asked, confused by Joey's action who stayed where he was, as if immune to the cold air that pierced to the bones.

"You go ahead, I still have some business to attend to." Joey replied, turning his feet to the right of the road in the opposite direction of Charlie's car.

"What?" The man's brow furrowed, while his mouth puffed out steam.

"Bye, Charlie!" He waved briefly, the smile still not fading from his lips.

"Hey Joey, can I drop you off?" Charlie volunteered as Joey started to walk away.

The young man just shook his head and continued walking under the falling snow towards his destination.

***

Prima neve Miracles stood tall in the center of New York City. It mesmerizes anyone who sees it. Among the elite buildings, it was never quiet. In and out of luxury cars, where people were looking for entertainment.

Across the street, Joey stood. Looking up to the top of the building, his attention monitored the top floor which, from the outside, was still lit.

The young man stood there, his presence enough to catch the attention of pedestrians. Who wouldn't recognize him? Although the beanie hats were enough to cover half the head; leaving the face under the eyebrows, some people might be familiar with his handsome face.

Taking a step forward, Joey headed towards Prima neve Miracles. 

 "Joey!"

A voice called his name from behind—after Joey took the third step.

Joey knew who the voice belonged to. He chuckled, turning around as the sound of steps amongst the traffic could be heard approaching.

"What a coincidence to meet you here." he said, lips quirking into a lopsided smile. It looked so annoying in Joey's eyes.

Joey forced a faint smile to his lips, chose silence and turned his steps to go home. Originally, he had planned to meet Domenico—just to see if he had left for Sicily.

"Hey, don't you want to stop by?" Jacob asked. His arms were folded across his chest, displaying too much arrogance. "What's the rush?"

Joey just shook his head in reply. Avoiding people like Jacob was the best option. Speeding up his steps, Joey's ears caught the sentence that provoked his emotions.

"Going home to your daddy's place?"

Joey's steps stopped, he turned to look at Jacob. The young man stood where he was, a teasing look in his brown eyes. Bringing their eyes together in a sharp gaze.

"That's right, come here and face me." Jacob challenged. A cold wind blew, hitting Joey's body who stepped angrily towards Jacob.

"Tell me Joey, how does it feel to be the mafia boss's pet?" The question he always wanted to ask Joey. Seeing in the young man's blue eyes: there was anger, annoyance and feelings that could not be expressed.

Jacob was surprised, without realizing it-both of Joey's hands were already gripping the collar of his coat. Strong, forceful. There was the sound of molars grinding. Jacob's back hit the wall of a brand-name clothing store that faced Prima neve Miracles and the highway in the middle.

"You'd better shut up, before I tear you apart with both hands!" threatened Joey, holding back his anger before it reached the top of his head.

A black BMW drove off in the distance. Meanwhile, Jacob continued his rant.

"Turns out you're easily provoked, huh..." Jacob teased. There was no fear of Joey's threats. Instead, he doused the fire with oil.

"What do your fans think that Joey Carter is the sex slave of a criminal?"

The left front windshield door opened, revealing the driver to be a man wearing a ski cap, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other holding something. Joey noticed that, while Jacob continued to scoff.

"The boy who opens his legs under..."

DOR

The last few words were muffled by the deafening sound of gunfire. Joey's eyes opened wide, frozen in place. Before his eyes, Jacob's head splashed blood. His gaze was blank, but his mouth spoke silently. One last word of mockery for Joey.

In an instant, Jacob's body was lying on the asphalt after his head was smashed. Far away, the black BMW had disappeared at the intersection.

Trembling, Joey stepped back. A number of people who happened to be not far from the scene suddenly crowded showing various expressions. Visitors to the nightclub who also heard the commotion were curious. Some came out and were treated to the sight of a young man lying on the ground, bleeding from a lead hole in his head.

They knew exactly who it was, Jacob Doyle. And another young man standing not far from his body, Joey Carter. Two actors who often go back and forth on the screen.

It only took a few seconds, this incident galvanized the public.

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