heart strings♥

chapter 33: Robert

"Alex"

Ignore him. Do not make eye contact. Act as is he doesn't exist. Block his stupid blabbering. It'll make everything more bearable... Alex thought.

"Alex! C'mon pal, I want you to---Hey! Where are you going!?"

Picking up his pace, Alex half ran to the almost closing elevator. At the last second he was able to jump in before the doors closed. Fighting the urge to give a triumphant yell, Alex pursed his lips so as not to smile at Darwin's face when the doors closed. That bastard hasn't shut up since he caught Alex in the building. It was all talk about his recent achievements, his father's business, his boring hobbies, and more arrogant gibberish that Alex kept saying, "I don't give a damn!" But even if he did say it, Darwin wouldn't listen. He never listens. He likes hearing himself talk. And it was about time Alex was able to ditch him.

Giving an exhausted sigh, he leaned back against the wall and linked his hands behind his head. He should probably go back to his room. But there is a great chance that Darwin would check there first. So roaming the building would be best. And once he's found a deserted area to waste time in, he'd stick there.

"Tired my boy?"

Alex blinked and glanced without turning his head. He found the same old man he ran into two hours ago when he was running for his life to hide from his snotty cousin.

The old man smiled and blew a bubble from the gum he had given him as a token of his apology.

"What is your name, boy?" he asked as he shoved a hand in his pocket. His height was at Alex' shoulder. He was a bit round, Alex thought. "Why?" he asked instead of answering.

"Don't worry. I won't report you or anything. I just want to know," he said with that same old smile.

"I know you won't do that," Alex said. "My name is Alex." He didn't include his last name, thinking that the man might treat him differently because his father was the president of the company.

"Ah, pleasure to meet you Alex. My name is Robert," he said. Alex smiled at how Robert didn't say his last name either. "May I ask why you're here in this building? Running around too much might get you in trouble."

Alex shrugged. "My dad brought me here. His boss told him to bring his son for his visiting nephew," he fibbed. "And I was running because I hate the nephew."

He nodded in understanding.

"What about you Rob? What are you doing here?" he asked.

The man chuckled and readjusted his tie. "Like you I am a visitor here."

"You don't work here?"

"No," he said shaking his head of white hair.

Silence followed and the man asked, "Do you have something to do here Alex?"

He shrugged.

"Do you play an instrument?" Robert asked.

Alex blinked and looked at him, "Yes, guitar."

Roberts dark eyes twinkled, "Marvelous, my son plays as well. And he often comes here with me. Sadly today, he had a concert to go to and he left one of his guitars in the room here earlier."

Alex blinked. He badly wanted to play the guitar. It was his only escape to the annoying world around him. If Raysa was here, she'd be remarking about every little detail in this shithole, see good from simple things, and make everything seem so damn interesting when he would have never payed attention to a single thing. She'd laugh that musical laugh of hers, blink those big bright blue eyes of hers and form a sweet smile on her soft rosy lips. She would follow him everywhere, often times would lead him where she wishes, and make him laugh in the most unexpected times.