The Matters of Power

Chapter 27- The Eastside Gang [2]

It doesn't take me long to reach the office of the guy who gave me his card for the model agency. I thought the eccentric middle-aged executive would be lounging around and maybe in the process of taking a drink of a tequila bottle, but it appears he's hard at work on his work laptop with a small hill of snacks piled on the corner of his desk. "Hm? Excuse me, do I know you?" The man was so occupied with his work that he didn't recognize me initially. I introduce myself with a bow, "Uh, hello sir. I'm Marcus, the one who you gave your business card to outside of San Anton High." He gives a blank face, then suddenly remembers and smiles. "Of course, of course! Forgive me for not remembering sooner as you can see, I have been stumped with work for an upcoming project. Please, sit down for now while I get my son to fetch you a snack from the offices." Now that I think about it, I had sensed someone else in the corner of the room by the window standing there lazily. I turn my head to find who I assume is the executive's son, loose collar shirt and an uninterested attitude with him, no doubt he must be around my age, maybe a grade above me from my guess. "...Miles! Mijo!" The father had to shout to get his attention. 'Miles' merely grunts and makes his way to the door and leaves the office for me to finally have a conversation with his father. He grumbles something under his breath that I can barely hear, something about his son needing to be more enthusiastic in the workplace.

Finally, he starts to talk about the purpose of my visit. "So. I assume that you have your response. I do hope you had a good time to think about the benefits of working here with what you can offer." I would hate to deliver him my answer, but I really don't want anything to distract me from my education and potentially harm me with whatever this company would think to take advantage of me. "I'm sorry, sir. I thought about it for a while, but I've decided that I must decline your offer of employment to me." His expression turns depressing from that, "B-but do you not perhaps see the wonderful opportunity that you have been given so early compared to others? Sure, you might be a high schooler right now, but this is a good opportunity to get work experience and-" A knock comes at the door, and Miles enters without any other warnings carrying a bag of chips in one hand. He tosses the chips at me, and I react just in time to catch them to still feel the warm feeling of the bag from his hands, ugh. When he goes back to the spot he was originally in, the father continues his speech. "Anyways, where was I? Right, you can get more opportunities in this kind of field that will certainly be beneficial for a better life. I wish that you would reconsider your answer and think of working as a model in this agency." As much as I want to scream into his ear that I'm sure of my decision, I doubt it would go well with him if I did it should he decide to use some corporate sleazy tactic to make me sign up with them. Besides, I can't guarantee that these powers that give me this perfect body will stay with me for the rest of my life if it's the only thing that gives me this job. Too many things to say, but none of them that can keep my psychic powers safe from powerful eyes.

"I'm sorry. I cannot accept the job offer. I thank you for the consideration to choose me, but I have my reasons to only pursue school." A ton of thoughts go through his head as he stares my down trying to figure out a way to convince me to join at the last second. To no avail, he admits defeat with every scenario and only sighs. "Alright then, I understand. School is certainly an important thing this day and age, so I won't pressure you to change your stance. I do sincerely hope that you think of our agency should you change your mind someday. Miles," he looks at his son and gestures him, "please follow uh..." "Marcus. Marcus Fernandino." "Right. Work on your people skills by walking Mr. Fernandino to our building entrance." He merely nods and ushers me to follow behind him as he opens the door for me and I go with him, a dull expression on him for most of the walk. "...Sorry about that." He spoke softly that I almost didn't hear him. "About what?" He looks at me, "My father is too eager for his own good for an industry like this. Believe me, I know." He seems to have it rough with his father considering that he looks practically dead emotionally. Finally, we arrive at the entrance of the model agency building. "One thing." Miles stops me before I go, "I assume that you are new to this area of San Anton?" I nod truthfully. "Ya might to be careful when you walk around here, I heard some school gang operates around these parts and are rowdy enough to cause trouble to anyone who ain't them. Just a heads up, I guess."

With that sobering advice in mind, I thank Miles and leave the building to see that I have a lot of time on my hands left before I need to go home. Just then my phone starts ringing, and I see that Carl is trying to call me. "Yes, Carl?" "Hey, hey. I just got word from Payton that you were going to a model agency that offered you a job, yeah? Did you go already?" So, it seems that even he wants to know about it too. "Yeah, I just left the building. Sorry to disappoint ya, but I decided to not take the job and focus on school for the time being." "WHAT?" His voice blares through my ears in surprise. "Dude, that blows. But whatever, if that's what you want, it's what you want. What are you doing now?" "I'm heading to V Arcade to play their new selections of arcade games to kill some time, do you want to come by?" "Do I ever! I got nothing to do, and I finished today's homework thanks to ya, so I can get there in about half an hour. Meet ya there, see ya." We hang up and I make my way towards the route that V Arcade is, passing by quite a few crossroads and street criers advertising stores. I spot quite a few shady groups of people my age, mostly in groups of threes or fours and rarely fives that give me a stink eye but nonetheless leave me alone. No doubt what Miles said, this school gang aren't the ones to just bully ya and be done with it, they look ready to do anything to gain a quick dollar. Luckily, the arcade's flashy sign distracts me from worry, and I get ready to enjoy a day of classic arcade games and rigged company machines.

I pay for an arcade card with my money in it and look around for any suitable games that I could play. Suddenly, I sense Carl trying to surprise me from behind and I turn around just as he was about to flick me in the head with his finger. "Damn!" He looks rather disappointed, "How'd you manage to know that I was behind you just then?" I shrug, "Lucky guess?" He hisses but calms down. "Fine, you don't have to lie and not say that my footsteps were loud, okay? Now then," He grabs my neck by over his arm and smiles, "What classic should we play? How about Citizen Evil's Shoot-em-up?" I agree and we ready our card to swipe our play time in.

Just as my card registers my money amount to make me able to play Citizen Evil with Carl, I hear someone forcefully open the arcade's doors wide open.

A few people with smug looks carrying baseball bats and wooden planks enter the arcade with obvious intend to destroy.