Pathos [Gay/BL]

Chapter II

CHAPTER II: The job is great, Mom

The thing is... It was kind of a shock to start encountering Eric in every single place. First, the "daddy" thing, then talking until morning, then reaching out in school and now... we're co-workers. There were three different explanations I had made up in my mind for it: one, destiny really likes to fuck up with me; two, Eric was trying to get in my way all the time for whatever reason there was; or three, it was all a coincidence and I was making a huge deal out of it. Yeah, the second one seemed fitting.

When we kept our eyes stuck in one another's for more than a minute, both of us confused as heck and trying to figure out what had happened, Mr. Giallo, the manager, cleared his throat and got our attention. He explained how people worked in the establishment, the schedule and all of that. He then left telling me I had the job and that Eric would explain the rest. I hadn't even opened my mouth once, but he hired me anyway. When he disappeared behind the door after the desk, Eric turned his eyes to me with a wide smile.

"You're hired, man!" he said.

"Yeah, I mean... However that happened," I shrugged. Then, Mr. Giallo joined us again and handed me the uniform in a plastic bag.

"You start rightah now, boy," he said with his thick Italian accent. I grabbed the bag with my eyes wide open.

"Wh-what?"

"Ies, ies, boy, get your uniform on and Eric will show you what you havah to do," and disappeared yet again. My eyes met Eric, who was trying too hard not to burst into a laugh.

"Gotta call my mom," I said and, with the bag in my arm, I took out my cell phone and got out of the room.

Honey? she said through the line.

"Hey, Mom. I got the job!" I said.

Really? Oh my God, Noah, that's amazing!

"Yeah, it was kinda easy. Like, literally, I came here and I was already hired."

That's great, baby. When are you starting?

"Right now, actually," I chuckled.

Oh, okay. Wow, that's fast. Okay, I'll wait for you to come and have dinner, okay?

"Yeah, Mom, sure."

Okay, baby, have a good day, she said.

"You too, Mom, bye," and hang up.

It was kind of weird that I had been hired so easily. Mr. Giallo must've had problems hiring people or he was really, really trusting. I shrugged, still outside the establishment. Sure, it was weird, but I paid it no mind. I joined Eric in the building. He was resting his elbows on the counter, one of his hands in his jaw as if he was really bored. When he heard the bell from the door, he instantly stiffened and a polite smile drew in his face, ready to talk with a customer. Instead, when he saw it was me, he got a bit more loose and smiled widely.

"The bathroom is right there," he pointed towards a muddy-orange door at the other side of the shop.

"What?" I asked with a scowl, confused.

"For you to change. Unless you wanna do it in front of me. I'm okay with that too," he joked with a smirk, chuckling.

"Oh, fuck... Yeah, sure, thanks," I said, probably blushing.

The restroom was disgusting, just like every other public restroom there is. It was unisex, with just a half-disjointed lock hanging from the inside of the door, a toilet and a sink. I changed into the uniform, which was kind of awful. It was this pale grey —like sidewalk-grey— shirt with bright wide orange stripes, some trousers that were almost black and a cap that was way too big for my head. I looked like your usual Burger King man, ready to take your order, sir. When I got out of the restroom, Eric was talking to a customer, his bright white teeth showing kindly. His eyes moved to me while still talking and the smile widened.