Because You Are Here

 Altairen looks down at his empty soda can, unable to hold eye contact with her.    “Um… so… what brings you here? More importantly, how did you get my number? Or… you know, know where I am? I… uh… kinda went no contact with everyone after graduation… so…”     He sneaks a glance at her attire.   Does she live around here?   She slips her phone back into her pocket.   “Hmm? Oh yeah, about that…”     She steps in front of him. Altairen looks up, and his expression shifts.     Her eyes have turned blood red, nothing like before. Her demeanor shifts in an instant—the warmth vanishes, replaced by a dark, unsettling aura.     “You’re important to me, Altairen.”     She leans in, her face inches from his. With her index finger, she traces the line of his cheek.     “Far more than you could ever imagine~”     At first, he blushes, heart fluttering at her to...

"Where’s the damn food for table nine? They’ve been waiting half an hour! Altboy, move your ass!"   "Y-Yes, sir… Almost done!"   He works frantically, yet his hands remain steady as he transfers food from the bowls to the serving plates. Sweat drips down his face; the kitchen feels like a furnace.   A drop of sauce splatters onto his shirt.   "Ah, man… I just bought this yesterday. Haa…" he sighs.   His phone vibrates.   "Who is it now?" he mutters in frustration. He reaches into his pocket, but the chef notices.   "You wanna get yelled at again?"   "Oh, no, no—sorry, my bad," he blurts, quickly glancing at the screen. "Unknown number?"     He shoves the phone back into his pocket and focuses on the finishing touches. The call lingers in his mind, a buzzing distraction, but he pushes it aside for now.   Pushing through the kitchen door, he rushes to table nine.   "Sorry for the ...