OUT COLD.

CHAPTER 8: OUT COLD

"What?!" Justin gasped at what he heard. His name was the last to be mentioned to not have passed the second phase of the interview. 

The man who had tried to sow a seed of discouragement in him blurted out a laughter, but crossed his hand over his mouth to prevent it from being audible.

"Am sorry, but it's time for you to take your leave," the interviewer who called out the names instructed, unapologetically. 

Disheartened and disappointed at the turn of events, Justin got his bag and walked slowly out of the interview hall. 

Gloominess was written all over his face. He had high hopes, and all of a sudden now, everything seemed bleak.

Mr Frank Alvaro watched Justin as he walked out of the interview hall, walking behind all the other disqualified candidates, heading to the elevator. He shrugged, pursing his lips, and faced the remaining candidates who made it to the third and final phase of the interview.

Justin disappointedly walked out of the building, wondering if that would be the last time he would ever be back there, as there was no other interviews in the nearest foreseeable future.

Feeling down, Justin decided to take a walk to central park. He walked through the park, enjoying the sight of the spring blooming trees. The soft and fresh breeze channeled by the trees grazed his skin. 

He found a spot and sat down, feeling bad. Thoughts of the negative things Joey said to him the day he left the Adams house popped back in his head, tormenting him. 

"Get out!" Justin yelled at those negative thoughts. A passerby was startled, and immediately assumed he was psycho, as she saw that he was speaking to no one but himself.

"Things are gonna be fine. They will be fine," he said. He did his best to fight off those negative thoughts. 

He decided to just explore the park that day before he went home by evening. Passing the restaurant he frequented, he gasped.

"Oh my. I gotta get something to eat," he said to himself.

"You said something?" the taxi driver who was taking him home enquired.

"It's nothing," Justin replied. He got home and got changed into something more casual as he headed back to the restaurant to get something to eat. 

Since he was famished, he ordered a double decker burger with fries. He chose not to eat there since he still felt uneasy about the previous night's alleged stalking of him.

He got to his apartment and ate his meal heartily, savoring every bite, as it was deliciously made to perfection.

Having his fill of his meal, he took a shower and decided to get some rest. As he rested a bit, he heard a knock on his door. He was startled, even though the knock was gentle.

There was a second knock on his door again, so he got up from his bed and got closer to the door.

"Who's there?" he asked, listening intently for who would speak. 

"Sorry to bother you, but I need your help please," a female voice spoke from the other side of the door.

"You need help? Help for what exactly?" he asked, being cautious.

"My door's jammed. I would've asked my next door neighbor to help but he's not around, so I decided to check if you were in, so I could ask for your help. Am really sorry to bother you," she explained.

Justin found her explanation a bit bogus, as he contemplated it. 

"I truly am sorry to bother you. Nevermind," the lady said, walking away from Justin's door. 

He heard her footsteps heading away from his apartment, but didn't move an inch. He heard her struggling with the door. He decided to not help, even it seemed wicked of him if she was actually being sincere.

Not hearing the struggle anymore, he went back to bed. A while after, he heard her cursing at the door, struggling to get it open. She seemed genuinely frustrated, so Justin decided to just help out.

He cautiously unlocked his door, and looked to see if there was anyone else around. Seeing no one else, he walked to where the lady was. 

"Let me try," Justin offered, collecting her key. 

"Thank you," she appreciated, stepping away. "But I don't think it'll work."

Justin went on to give it a try, but it didn't work, like she said. He looked round, to see if there was anything he could use to force the door open. 

He sighted a pry bar at a corner, so he got it. But then, he quickly reasoned within himself saying, 'How convinient that it's just right there when I needed it.' He found it strangely odd.

"Can you lock the door from within?" Justin asked. 

"Yes, I can," she replied, nodding.

"Alright. I'll like to force the door open. I hope you don't mind?" 

"Not at all," she replied.

Justin went on to force the door open with the pry bar. 

"Thank you so so much. Thank you," she appreciated. Justin simply nodded in acknowledgement.

"Why don't you come in and have a drink or something?" the lady proposed.

"Thanks, but am good," Justin declined.

"Come on, that's the least I can do. Or are you scared I'll try to come on to you? Am gay by the way," she tried to convince.

"Oh no! It's not that. It's just-" 

"One drink, and that's all. I promise," the lady pressed.

"Alright," Justin agreed reluctantly. 

"Great," she was excited, as she led Justin into her apartment. 

"Make yourself comfortable, as I grab us some beer," she said heading to he refrigerator. 

Justin briefly looked round the apartment, and complimented, "You have a nice place."

"Well thank you," she appreciated. She returned with two bottles of beer, she had opened and gave Justin one and took the other. 

"Cheers," she toasted, as they clinked their bottles, and gulped some of its content down. 

"So, it seems you're new here, aren't you?" the lady asked. 

"Yeah, I am," Justin replied.

"Never lived around such a neighborhood huh?" she asked. He just shook his head in agreement.

All of a sudden, Justin began feeling drowsy, and more drowsier. 

"Did- What did you pu- Wha-" 

Justin was knocked out cold.