Breaking the Barriers • BrightWin

Three

Desire

A chill of the cold artificial air swept over them once they entered the restaurant. Win immediately felt out of place when he scanned the place. He could feel the mixture of pure disgust and pity etched against their faces. Everyone was dressed in their designer clothes, looking so decent and divine.

There he was reminded of how dirty he was. He couldn't even remember the last time he had taken a shower. He had been wearing the same pair of clothing for more than a year with soot, dirt, and other assorted stains coating in it.

Brushing his discomfort aside, he watched Off across him as he discussed his orders to the waiter. The waiter returned shortly and a strange feeling built up in his stomach. He felt as though his energy had returned and his mind became more alert when he saw shitloads of food being laid out on their table.

He could feel his mouth water to the sight but gulped the rousing moist when he noticed Off staring contentedly at him. A feeling of self-consciousness, shame, and awkwardness covered his whole being.

Off chuckled lightly at his reaction before he gestured Win a dish that's very foreign to him. Clutching his fingers together, Win just looked straight at his eyes, bewildered by his magnanimity, and kindness.

Although a bit hesitant, he slowly reached for the meal as he was evoked by the aromas. The smell was so immense that he wondered if the aroma of the meal was different from how it tastes. It looked flavorful. It seemed like it created a multi-layered sensory experience. It has an appeal far beyond the average piece of meat. The meat was of good quality.

"Try the broiled steak with mushrooms. That's good." Off began to speak and gently smiled at the lad. His smile just faded when his gaze landed at the shorter man next to Win.

"O-okay." Win said, his voice came off shaky and sounded like barbed wire.

"You eat." Off muttered to Gun in a commanding tone.

As soon as Win had sliced across its still-pink grain open and guided a slice of steak toward his mouth, his eyes immediately enlarged in surprise and sparkled with great pleasure and happiness. Its luscious, savory juices slithered down his stomach. It was tender as beans and the saltiness it gave was reminiscent of the sea.

"This is great!" He subconsciously blurted with his satisfaction.

Off was just staring at him with an affable smile pasted on the corners of his mouth. He and Gun would occasionally glare daggers at each other, hands clenched and jaw tensed.

"By the way," Off started after a moment of silence but paused as he was battling on how to say it without making Win feel uncomfortable. "Your hanky... where did you get that?"

"I mean, was it with you even when you were a kid?" He added, trying to paraphrase it.

"Ah, yes. They saw that in my pocket before."

"They?"

"The orphanage who got me. Why, Mr. Off?"

"Nothing. It's just familiar. I feel like I've seen it before." Off said. So many thoughts cycling inside his head but chose nothing more than to stay silent. He didn't ask further about the orphanage as he felt like he was asking too much about his personal self. "And just call me Off."

"No. It's just right to call you that. Rich people like you need to be respected." Win said while lowering his head down.

Off swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling sorry for the lad's outlook on life. "Everyone deserves to be respected. There's no exemption to the rule."