Wherever I Go

Chapter 2

The humid hair made my clothes feel sticky on my skin. Rain poured down like there was no end to it. My hair and clothes were soaked. Wet hair stuck to my face and my feet felt light. I was running down a pathway. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, like the countryside. But then suddenly I appeared to be in the city, running in a crowded street market. I looked at myself through the reflection of the window. Long dark hair, it looked like I was still in high school. 16 years old at least.

I turned a corner ran down an alley and then was jolted into a brick and cement column. Pinned on the concrete wall. I watched in silence as a group of muscular people ran past me. I looked up at the person who had yanked me to the side and pinned me to the wall.

He was tall, his eyes serious and sharp and his dark brown hair slightly covering his eyes as his head was tilted down towards me. He leaned down and kissed my lips for a few seconds then as we parted. We both laughed and he grabbed my hand. Perfectly fitting my hand with his like a letter in an envelope. We ran down into the busy market place. Hand in hand.

"Val!" I heard as I jerked my head right up. I suddenly realized where I was. It was the break room at my workplace and my break had ended way past five minutes ago.

Whoever this important guest is they probably don't want their waiter making them wait. I got up and stretched then went into the restroom to wash my face. I looked drowsy and I was drowsy.

I moved to the entrance of the restaurant. I looked down at the post it's that we had used for the hosts to know the reservations. The special guest had 20ish people apparently. It would be hard to fit that many people in with other people who were dining. Coming in and out of the place. But since they were "important" they probably reserved the whole restaurant.

It said that they would arrive at 7:30 and it was 7 now. I had thirty minutes to myself. I walked back to the employee break room and pulled out a book. It was one that my brother read over and over again. It was the type of book you would read for high school required reading.

Thirty minutes went by more quickly than I could comprehend. And before I knew it the hostess came into the break room telling me that the important customers are here.

At that I got up grabbed my pad and pen and stuffed it in my waiter apron as I headed out. The group all had suits on, well most of them did. But overall they dressed very formally. And seemed very buff as their build towered over me as I walked towards their table. I could tell that they had tattoos covering their bodies. And not just one tattoo but delicately designed. As it showed on the necks out from their suits of most of the customers. I wasn't frightened but it gave me a sense of nostalgia.

I introduced myself as their waiter and they all just ordered their food by telling the people at the end of the table. It was efficient and I didn't have to go around the 20 something people one by one asking them what they wanted.

The group of people was surprisingly easy. They didn't request anything other than water refills and the check. And they gave me a hefty tip even though I barely did anything. I opened the door for them as they left the restaurant. Thanking them for coming. And I caught a glimpse of the full glory of the tattoo on one of the customer's backs as they took off their vest and it showed through their white button-up shirt. It was a colorful detailed design of the lion and tiger.

It was from the Raiga Clan, they were a strong gang and were well known in their community. It's said that they were the union of the lion and tiger clan. Which would make sense because that's their clan symbol.

My shift finally ended and I called up Cass.

"Wanna come over for a drink," I asked her.

"Sure, I'll bring the snacks," she answered.

I headed home and changed out of my work clothes and into more comfortable clothes. I wanted to take a shower after I drank though so I decided to wear more everyday wear rather than pajamas. I grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge and set them on the coffee table of my apartment.

The doorbell rang and someone started knocking on my door. Sure enough, it was Cass with her hands full with plastic Walmart bags. I let her in and she dumped all the remains of the bags onto the coffee table.

Leave it to Cass to get the snacks. She always goes overboard. And it's nice whenever we do road trips.

"So what's up?" She asked as she popped open a beer.

"Nothin..," I said immediately.

"Well, that doesn't sound like nothing."

"Well, what about you?" I retaliated.

"Well, lover boy dumped me." She said with no hesitation.

I looked at her a little shocked that she was handling it very calmly as she wasn't complaining or crying about it like I thought she would. She leaned on my shoulder her face straight with no sight of any tears.

"It was long overdue anyway," she added.

I sighed and grabbed a bag of chips from the pile of snacks. As I began to binge on them and Cass joined after chuckling a little at me.