If I loved you

Hardship

'Huh! Really? That long!' Phuong shook his head with a laugh. I noticed that there were many empty bottles on the table. It looks like he was drinking for quite some time.

'Yeah.' I need to grab this opportunity.

'Happy to see you Tay......so happy....ha ha.' He drunkenly laughed.

'Me too.' The sofa was big. I leaned back and made myself comfortable.

'Right! How did you get my number?' He was drunk but didn't forget about this.

'Ah! I met Tharn a few months ago and he gave me your number.'

'Ah! Tharn...okay....' He nodded happily.

Tharn was right. I may be able to extract information from him....I just need to ask the right questions.

'So, I heard that New is now the vice president of the Red Dragon group.' I inhaled deeply and started to talk casually.

'Yes. Your best friend is now very powerful. Ha ha.'

I smiled but didn't say anything. Let him talk.

'Yes. You and the young master used to be best friends back in the orphanage. Then the young master came to stay with his family and you got adopted and left the country. Right?' He asked me with a smile.

'Yup. I haven't seen him in ages. How's he doing?' I acted all calm and collected.

'He is doing......great.' He scoffed.

I ignored that tone and continued,

'I was going to meet him too but didn't get the chance yet. By the way, do you have his number? I would like to call him first.'

'What are you saying ha ha! He is the vice president and I am just a bodyguard. He has many guards like me. Do you remember our other friends from the orphanage? They also worked for him. But we all are low level employees. This bar is our den. People of lower grade like us do not have the ability to rise much higher. Only Luke is allowed to stay by his side. He is afterall New's assistant cum bodyguard cum babysitter.'

'Babysitter?' I tried to laugh but only managed to make an awkward sound.

'Oh Tay! Because it's you I am saying this....New's character has completely changed from earlier. How was he before? He was a brilliant student, a polite and helpful boy, a good friend and had a cheerful personality but now.....tsk tsk......only Luke can handle him. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for his help back then. I just hate to see him like this.'

Suddenly two men came running and started to talk in a hurried manner,

'Oi brother! Did you hear the news! The master is back and he summoned the young master....' Then they saw me sitting with Phuong and abruptly stopped talking.

'Sit down, sit down. It's okay. This is an old friend. Don't worry.' Phuong waved his hand and those men sat down opposite us.

'This is Tay, boys. He used to live with me in the orphanage.......now he lives abroad.'

'Hello.'

'Hello, hello.'

'Brother.....we have some important news...' They looked at me with suspicion.

'What important news?'

The other two looked at each other and pressed their lips. What's the matter...?

'Brother..... something happened.'

'What? What happened? Tell me. Ah! Don't mind Tay. He is not our enemy. Or connected to any other parties....right Tay?'