Mercenary

Chapter 3.

"So what's the job now?" Jimmy asks as they eat at the dinner table. It was weird to have anyone else other than the two of them. Tommy and Win sits on the chair, just staring at their food. It was obvious that they were afraid to take a bite.

"Some cleaning up." Bright vaguely explains. Then he turns to Win who is sitting beside him. "Are you going to eat or not? Your food is getting cold." He asks in a slightly harsher tone than Jimmy would like.

"Can you be nicer?" Jimmy scolds Bright. "Just eat Win and Tommy. We cooked extra for you guys."

Bright rolls his eyes at Jimmy words. The two other boys warily reach for the utensil. It was obvious that they weren't used to holding such things with the way they were holding it. Jimmy reaches for Tommy's hands and corrected his grip on the spoon. "This is how you hold it." Jimmy teaches him. Win follows Tommy's grip and the two starts digging into the food.

Despite them eating their food way later than Jimmy and Bright, they finished their food first. Jimmy and Bright couldn't even believe at the speed. It was even more obvious that they are used to being starved. "Would you like some more?" Jimmy asks.

Tommy looks at Jimmy with wide eyes. He was afraid to ask for more but he was still hungry. Jimmy lets out a tired breath and smile. "I'll get you more." Jimmy takes Tommy's plate and stands up from the chair. "Come. You might want to follow me so you'll know how to take seconds on your own." Tommy's lips curl up into a smile and he follows Jimmy down the hallway and into the kitchen.

Bright looks at Win with his hand so his lap and a grain of rice stuck on the corner of his lips. Bright takes the cup of water on the table and puts it in front of him. "Drink up. You're probably thirsty now." Bright says.

Win glances at Bright before accepting the cup. He gulps down the water as if it was nothing. "So how long were you a slave?"

"All my life." Win answer with his eyes glued to the floor.

"Look at me when you're talking. It's rude to not make eye contact with the person you're talking to." Bright says in a monotonous voice. He knows that if he were to revert back to his old tone, Win would take it the wrong way.

Win lifts his head and looks at Bright in the eyes. "Why did you buy us? I-I don't know how to clean an apartment. I don't know where to throw the trash. T-This place is unfamiliar." Win asks with stutters, fearing the worst possible outcome after all the nice things that they have done for him and Tommy.

"Don't think so much of it. I just bought your freedom. That's it." Bright answers honestly. "If you would like to leave this place, I'll let you do so as well."

Win looks at Bright's eyes to search any hints of him lying but he couldn't find any. Bright looks away when Jimmy and Tommy comes back with another plate. Tommy's smile widely as he sits back on his chair. "Thank you." He thanks the taller boy.

Jimmy smiles back at him. "No problem. Just make sure the two of you eat." Then Jimmy turns his attention back to Bright. "When are you leaving?" He asks.

"Tonight." Bright answers. "Win can crash on my bed if he wants to."

Win keeps silent as he hears the conversation between the two of them. "Is this going to be one of those times where you come home in a few days or you'll be back by sunrise?"

"Sunrise. Hopefully." Bright answers.

"I guess I shouldn't worry considering that you're one of the best mercenary I know." Jimmy says as he swallows down his food. "Sharp shooter and proficient with a knife."

"My training was hell compared to yours." Bright says.

"I am a medic. Of course yours was harder." Jimmy answers. "Compared to your combat training, mine is like a walk in the park."