Not a Betrayal

I Cannot Fall in Love

"Do you have delivery services?", Russell asked the cashier of the dessert café.

"We don't, but we can arrange.", the lady cashier said with a business smile, clearly asking for additional charge.

"Okay. I will deliver them myself.", Russell said, and turned around to see Chester standing, his expression unreadable.

"You are not serious, right?", Chester asked.

"I am.", Russell replied, stuffing his hands in the jeans pockets.

"You cannot involve anyone in your life when we ourselves walk on eggshells.", Chester said.

"You chose to handle my work requirements, not my personal life. Also, I kept you by my side because our moms were on good terms with each other. Be thankful.", Russell replied and walked out of the eatery, with the macaron box in his hand.

When Chester started the car, Russell said,

"Drop me off at the restaurant you picked me up from on Sunday morning."

He finished writing something on a sticky note, he found in the car. He was so happy that Bill felt like keeping it and pens even in the car. He stuck it on the macaron box in the bag, smiling to himself.

"It's okay, I can take you to his home. Tell me the address.", Chester said, his eyes still on the road.

Russell turned his head to look at him, shocked at the sudden change of mind. "Seriously?", he asked.

"I am still your guardian. And it's better if I am with you before we find out the person who's after you.", Chester replied, his tone serious.

"Okay, dear guardian, drive straight after taking a right turn from the restaurant. I will tell you to stop.", Russell said, smiling, leaning back comfortably in his seat.

---

When Mason arrived home, after making a stop at the community centre to meet the kids who tested the video games for him before he finalised them, he saw a bag in front of his door. The same bag, a bit bigger, that the scary man was holding in the macaron café. He took out the macaron set box out and saw the sticky note on it. In a almost Comic Sans font style, the following was written,

"I may not know your number, but I know your address, my Maple. In case your appetite returns, since you won't get to see my face this way, I would like to treat you these. I hope you enjoy them."

Mason didn't know how feeling "butterflies in stomach" felt, but he may have felt something similar. Realising he was smiling by himself, he spoke out loud,

"Stop smiling Mason. This is what stalkers would do!"

"Aren't you a stalker too? Professional hackers are stalkers too, you know?", someone said, from behind.

He looked back to see Brian standing with a tote bag full of books and some new stationery. Brian Riggs, was his friend, the one who worked with him in the library and was his agent who brought the game development contracts.

Seeing Mason standing without saying anything, he continued,

"Aren't you getting in? This bag is heavy."

"Oh, yes. Why are you here, though?", Mason said, coming out from his reverie.

"Why, can't I come? They said you won't be coming to the library for a while. So I came to see you. I will be busy from tomorrow as well, I was asked to help you with the field work.", Brian replied, following him through the door.