The restaurant was just a few walks away from the train station, and it was a local one. Before stepping in, Charles decided to ask first. Who knows? This might not be the man’s taste.
"This is the only restaurant I can afford, so I can’t possibly go higher. And I know your taste is grand, so we can leave if you don’t like it."
Charles stared at the man, already positioning himself to leave imdiately if Angelo agreed, but to his disappointnt, Angelo said the utter opposite.
"Oh, this is fine! It’s perfect for the discussion we are about to have."
Angelo smiled a little and stepped through the front door, ringing the bell before entering the establishnt. Charles followed behind him.
There were lots of empty seats around, and there weren’t many custors that day, so they picked a random table, one specifically chosen by Charles.
Once they were both seated, Charles glanced at the man and noticed the tired look in his eyes. Just when last had he eaten a proper al? And what really happened that resulted in him looking so wretched? It wasn’t funny at all.
"Waiter!"
Charles called for the person ant to serve them, and a slender woman walked up to their table smiling. Passing the nu that was already on the table, Charles motioned for Angelo to choose what he wanted.
Angelo looked confused, glanced at the prices, and his eyes widened. For a local restaurant, it was still so expensive for just a plate, and in order not to be greedy, he went with the cheapest thing he saw.
"I will take the number five..."
Angelo requested, and the nu was passed to Charles, who cross-checked what he had asked for and grimaced.
Holy hell, what the fuck did he ask for??
"Why are you asking for that? Don’t you want to eat properly? Just look at yourself, you’re too malnourished, so eat well and definitely not that. So waiter, that order for him is cancelled. Give him exactly what I ask for and make sure you dish it out well."
Charles inford the waiter, and after that, she left their table to prepare the al.
With them now alone, Angelo decided to start.
"You look good, Charles... so beautiful."
His eyes were softly fixed on him as he tucked his hair away from his eyes, and that made Charles giggle.
"Yeah, thanks so much for the complint. Or weren’t you expecting to look good after you rejected ? Was that your plan?"
Charles went straight to the point, and Angelo, shocked at where Charles’ mind went, quickly denied it.
"That’s not it, Charles. Why would I harbor such evil thoughts?"
Angelo asked, and Charles shrugged.
Who knows? n can surprise you anyti, and this one wouldn’t be shocking.
"Maybe because you disgraced and made look like a fool, a nonentity, and a nobody. That was how you made feel that day. What if I had low confidence? Do you know so people commit suicide because of things like that? Like, that was totally stupid of you."
Charles wasn’t sure he was forgetting that incident anyti soon, and he felt it was valid for him not to because who even says such things?
Like in their generation??
But n in power always felt like they could utter just anything and get away with it.
"I know, I know, Charles, and that’s why I am here to commit myself fully by apologizing. I can’t rewind ti and go back to change what I did. All I can say is that I am truly sorry, and I would like us not to hate each other... please."
Angelo was practically begging now, his eyes already looking sad.
Charles wore an expressionless look and didn’t reply. He just kept silent, looking at his phone and checking the ti. To him, sitting down right there was just wasting ti.
He wanted to leave, and once the waiter ca, maybe then he would rush off.
"Say sothing, Charles... don’t leave stranded..."
Angelo pleaded further, but nothing ca out of it as Charles still refused to speak.
Angelo face-pald himself.
What would he do now?
Just as he was lost in thought, the waiter returned with a tray of food and arranged it on the table with her usual smile.
"So this is what you ordered, and I served it well as I promised."
She stated, and the magnificent scent of the al penetrated Angelo’s nose imdiately. His stomach rumbled so badly, and it was utterly shaful to him, but he was starving.
Charles brought out his ATM card and paid for the food. And right after the paynt, he stood up.
This dinner was over.
He needed to head out and find Daniel. That was his utmost priority.
Seeing him stand, Angelo began to panic. He rushed up after him, confused about why he was suddenly leaving.
"What did I do wrong? I made you uncomfortable, is that it?"
Angelo was suddenly becoming too emotional and clingy, and Charles didn’t know if it annoyed him or irritated him. All the sa, it was agonizing.
"My friend. I want to help him. Daniel needs my help, and I can’t stand here talking when he might be in danger."
Charles explained and turned completely, leaving the restaurant.
Angelo, now rooted there, could only gasp.
Was he talking about Daniel Lancaster... his brother??
Do they know each other?
Or was there another Daniel he was referring to? Because that possibility was slim.
He rushed back to the table, quickly packed all the food into a nylon bag, arranged it safely inside the bag hanging over his neck, then hurried off. He ran all the way to where Charles was about to enter a cab and dragged him to a stop.
Charles, already angry at that mont, turned in rage and was about to land a slap on the guy’s face when Angelo caught his hand midair and explained—
"Before you do what you’re about to do, know that Daniel Lancaster is my brother, and we are of the sa family."
That alone made Charles’ eyes widen even more.
He stepped back in shock, staring at Angelo as he tried to piece together what he was saying.
Brothers??
That didn’t make sense.
But sohow... it actually would, because he had never set eyes on any of Daniel’s siblings before, so it was possible.
But wasn’t his family rich?
And Angelo too had once been rich.
And now that he was looking poor...
Oh goodness.
Daniel did sothing, didn’t he?
"Was he the one...? The one that made you like this?"
Charles asked, expecting a negative answer, but he wasn’t disappointed.
"Yes. Daniel and his companions ca to our house and just scattered everything. Now we no longer have access to our mansion for so reason, so we are all out there separated. My grandma is with my sister, but the two of them just left behind and alone. So I was working as a cleaner and sleeping outside when I saw you."
Angelo’s story of his fall from grace didn’t gladden Charles the way he thought it would.
Charles had expected to be happy that he was finally suffering, but instead of that, he felt sad for him.
Pain too.
This wasn’t the kind of life he would wish on anyone, and Angelo wasn’t his enemy to that extent.
"That’s bad... well, I haven’t heard from him, and his line isn’t going through, so I am heading to the hotel where he and his husband are lodged to see what’s going on."
Charles explained, then stopped a speeding cab and motioned for Angelo to follow him.
"You can co... but don’t distract ."
And Angelo, relieved and happy, followed suit.
While they were driving, he used that opportunity to eat the food he had packed, while Charles stared at him secretly, making sure he wasn’t caught.
Then a small smile slipped onto his lips.
Cute...
Minutes passed, and finally the cab stopped right in front of the hotel.
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