Mobius Strip

ch 05

William sat in the little restaurant opposite the office of the city's most important daily-- The Rivervale Tribune.

He had chosen a corner where he wouldn't possibly attract a lots of attention on him and had been sitting there for a while now.

The view outside looked pleasing and he felt relieved and relaxed as he watched all the busy people that walked up and down the streets in a hurry. Vehicles passed by in gusts of wind. The sight was peaceful to him. Because it seemed nothing like how he would see the world from up a suite room in a large hotel.

William's lips curled up into a smile and he shook his head to himself, thinking about why he was even here.

Sure, stuff like last night was something completely random. But it wasn't to be a surprise that it happened and he should have just let it go.

William had indeed troubled a lots of strangers with that reckless character of his. And he wouldn't even think about it anymore.

But for some strange reason, he felt the urge to get close to this certain person. He had done his research and found out the guy worked in the Rivervale Tribune as a reporter. He didn't even know why he bothered to dig up information about the guy-- about Hayden.

Maybe, it was because his face was the first thing that came to his mind when he woke up with a throbbing head ache in the morning. Or maybe, Hayden was just a genuinely interesting person. Anyhow, he found himself out of his door, waiting for him to walk out of his. Just so he could talk to him.

William heaved a sigh. Maybe he should just go wherever his feet carry him.

He sat there for another few minutes fiddling with a pen he had brought along with him, until Hayden finally walked in.

William straightened in his spot and waved at him with a smile, trying to catch the man's attention.

Hayden noticed him and walked over to where he was.

"Sorry, have you been waiting for long?" Hayden asked, pulling out a chair and getting seated with an apologetic look on his face.

"Nah" William spoke, completely switching to his playboy persona, his voice coming out as a low growl, causing Hayden to fluster up a bit.

"So, Mr. Orwell" William started, keeping his arms folded on the table. "About yesterday, I should have kept my incredible cooking skills under my sleeves. Must have saved a lots of trouble for you" he said with a low chuckle and Hayden chuckled as well.

"However, I'd like to thank you for helping me out"

"It's no big deal, really. And I prefer to be called Hayden"

Hayden was being his shy self. He was never good around people whom he was not comfortable with and William somehow managed to make him the most uncomfortable he has ever been in his life. He had to try hard keep it from showing on his face. William had to start a conversation to try and make him speak more.

"Hm. So, you work at the Rivervale Tribune?" William asked with intrigued curiosity, though he already knew the answer to that.

"Yes. I'm a reporter. It's a weary job, really. Tires me out so much" Hayden shrugged.

"Ooh, you say so because you have no idea how it is like to be an enterpreneur" William said, one of his hands waving in the air. "You get a throbbing headache every now and then for no apparent reason, you live with the fear of losing your stock and ah, people think that you live the best life anyone would ever have"

Hayden looked at William with a raised eyebrow. "Er... Sorry, but I thought your dad was the one who managed the company?"

William looked at Hayden with pursed lips and saw him watch him with a face of mixed emotions-- confusion, surprise, amusement-- just like the way he did when he first saw him.

William felt the heat rise to his face. He had been babbling just now and got caught bare handed.

"Uhh. I mean..." he muttered out, earning a chuckle from Hayden. "What I meant was, being the son of an entrepreneur can really tire you out" he finally managed to say.

"You're funny" Hayden said with a shake of his head.

"You think so?"

"I mean, you are not the person I saw in the cover of a magazine. You seem interesting" Hayden shrugged.

"Well, well. I'd like to take that as a compliment. But hey, did you just accuse me of looking like a dork?"

Hayden felt the need to be a little mischevious all of a sudden and nodded his head slightly. "Maybe"

"Argh, Hayden Orwell, you're rude" William made a duck face, earning a heartily chuckle from Hayden.

Soon, they ordered food and was talking like they had known each other for years.

An hour passed and they were still talking.

Until Hayden checked the time.

"Oh, wait, lunch hour is over for us" his eyebrows drew together in a knot as he thought about how Jack was going to roar at him for not turning in the report he was supposed to turn in the last day.

"Guess I'll see you around then" William nodded, silently bidding his friend farewell.

"Sure, Mr. Wolfgang" Hayden said as he stood up and shook hands with William.

"Oh, just call me Will, Hayden Orwell" William said with a mischevious smirk gracing his lips whose meaning Hayden couldn't quiet decipher.

He couldn't help the chill that ran down his body as his name effortlessly slipped through William's lips.

He hated how he was being affected by someone who was technically a stranger whom he just met.

But for the life of him, he couldn't help the feeling of uneasiness in the deepest pit of his stomach everytime he looked at this certain stranger.