A Taste of Nostalgia

Chapter 4: Rising Temperature

An overwhelming presence sends chills throughout the room—stiffening the air.

The older man's aura was so lethal, it could perish any victim within breathing distance.

"I'm disappointed in you, Akk." Chadok announces, his voice as cold as ice. Just looking into his eyes was enough to turn someone to stone.

Akk stumbled back, his hand flying to his mouth to hide the surprise, but it was too late. Chadok had already caught them, his eyes now dragging daggers across Akk's skin. Shame, hot and unwelcome, erupted in his throat.

"Sir..." Akk stammered, his voice nearing a squeak. He glanced at Ayan, searching for an explanation that wouldn't damage their newly evolving relationship.

Chadok's eyes flickered from Akk to Ayan, his scowl deepening with each passing second. The silence stretched, thick with tension and unspoken accusations.

"Ayan, I think it's time for you to leave. This lesson is over." He moves closer to the two, rage building in his voice. "Along with any future lessons."

"I can't do that, sir." Ayan confidently replies. He refuses to put an end to their relationship, wherever it may lay at the moment, especially when Akk is just starting to focus on his own needs. Ayan fears he'll only sink deeper into despair if Ayan's not here.

He also can't afford to lose him—not after getting a taste for their future together, he needs to resolve things between the uncle and nephew now .

Ayan lets out a puff of air in frustration. "Akk's done nothing wrong. I was the one who flirted with him first."

Chadok continues to ignore his rebuttals. "It doesn't matter. Akk knows he has no time to date. He can't afford to, if he wants our store to survive." Chadok is unamused by Ayan's efforts and his irritation for the animated friend grows. "If you don't leave, I'll have to report you to the cops on the grounds of trespassing."

"Don't you think you're being too harsh on him?" Ayan's anger begins to climb out in increasingly large waves, "work isn't everything. He's allowed to have friends. And he should be allowed to take breaks. Didn't you already give him permission for today?"

"Aye..." Akk pleads for him to stop, grabbing onto his sleeve.

Chadok scoffs at their closeness. "Of course he can have friends. But you, Ayan, are not a friend Akk needs right now. He needs to focus on the bakery. It seems like I've made a mistake letting you two hang out today."

"Do you even care about Akk?" Ayan speaks louder, no longer holding back. He needs Chadok to open his eyes to his own ignorance, "oh wait, that's right. You're too busy thinking about yourself to realize your nephew is suffering ."

"Excuse me?" Chadok utters, offended by Ayan's statement.

Akk freezes in place, pure terror in his expression.

"Are you acting this way... because of Dika? Is this why you're treating Akk like this?" Ayan questions, pointedly. "He would have never wanted this for Akk."

Chadok's expression grows red. He's like a rabid animal, angered with a lack of concern for the consequences.

"What? Who the hell do you think you are to talk about him?" Chadok screams, more of a demand than asking.

Ayan knew there was only one way to support his credibility. So, he takes his hand, uncontrollably shaking in a mixture of anger and fear as he pulls out a silver chain from inside his shirt. Immediately, Chadok's face runs pale at the item.

Ayan knows he recognizes it.

"That necklace..." Chadok choked out, his voice cracking, "where—" he begins to speak but is quickly interrupted by Ayan.