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Chapter #16

Reid's not a workaholic. He was just too busy looking for money to forget to just feel his name has a girlfriend. Of course, how can he date if he has no friends.

Reid's schedule without dating alone is super solid. Every night without a day off, he spent it working at the bar. In the afternoon from Monday to Friday, he also works part-time at the supermarket.

As for Saturday and Sunday, if indeed he had no obstacles, ranging from sunrise to lunch hour ended, he worked as a builder. At two o'clock in the afternoon until before eight o'clock in the evening, he changed professions again.

Sometimes he works as a dishwasher in Japanese restaurants, occasionally he becomes a flyer on the side of the road. However, if he is not lucky, he only works as a clown and or ticket holder in the playground of downtown New York. As for the night as usual. He will only work in the pub (extension; public house) until early morning.

Not infrequently he was also curious, when he would just have time to sleep soundly. Every day he was always in a time rush and could only sleep for no more than four hours. Unless he has a fever and it is severe. He will have a chance to sleep at least eight hours and three meals of porridge, if he is lucky.

But, for today, Reid's schedule was a little different. He had group work with the Russian girl, Leonna Milekov, and yesterday, in fact, he had given texts for their little comedy theater performances.

However, the blue-eyed girl rejected the script she gave. Said Leonna's work was too boring and or I don't know, which obviously the girl forced to make a new script.

But, honestly. For a long time he had been assigned a group task that required him to do it face-to-face. Usually, if there is a task like this, his coworkers must have already claimed that he is a busy person and decided to communicate only by email or phone call.

He certainly doesn't mind. In fact, he was very relieved because they did not check much and ended up making his daily activities overlap.

“Aunt Smith, today I have group work. Can I..”.

“Yes, of course. Your education is more important and after all this is past lunchtime. The store will not be too crowded later, so you can use the space in the back to learn.”

Aunt Smith smiled understandingly. He who was right next to Reid then gently rubbed the head of Reid. While the swiped just smile back. Not knowing how else he would repay the favor of this Smith couple.

“Thank you Aunt Smith.” Said Reid sincerely.

“No problem. Yes already then, auntie wants to organize the items on the shelf first. You can keep the cashier as usual.”

A warm pat landed lightning on Reid's wide shoulder. Aunt Smith then disappeared behind the barn door. Not long after, a very well-known uncle Reid came to enter the supermarket. As usual, he only bought a few packs of red L&M cigarettes and sometimes two or three bottles of liquor.

“Three packs as usual. Oh, and this.” Reid gawked confused. Two sheets of paper with the words Regal Cinema suddenly thrust Uncle Cort.

Reid is not stupid. He never once took advantage of his time other than for work, school, eating, sleeping and shitting. Moreover, just to eat as recommended three times a day is very difficult, especially for fun.

He also got the opportunity to listen and occasionally glance at television shows on the sidelines of his work in Japanese restaurants alone has been very great. Maybe he was hoping for more. In fact, wasting two hours—not counting commuting —just to sit down and eat popped corn (read; popcorn) in the cinema.

“Receive.” Uncle Cort said again.

“But I don't need. I'm not—”

Reid forced the ticket he had guessed, roughly the price of the three packs of red L&M cigarettes Uncle Cort bought. Obviously it's not cheap. But, it would be a pity again, if the money worth four hours of work in the supermarket was used up in just one sitting. It also has not counted the cost of consumption of some kind of snacks and drinks.

“Tapi—”

Uncle Cort shook his head quickly. He then smiled and hurriedly reached into the wallet. He then took out a fifty-dollar bill. Reid looked at Uncle Cort with a heavy heart. He with his face bent, then took out a piece of money that Uncle Cort had put on the cashier's desk.

Both Reid's slightly sunken eyes were twisted. He forgot that the street musician uncle was most happy to leave the tip money.

“His return, Uncle Cort!”

“Take it for extra pocket money and your date.”

Reid took a long breath. Uncle Cort had already disappeared from behind the entrance of the supermarket. But not for long, Madam Ashter suddenly stood in front of the cashier's table. The woman, as usual, looked young despite almost ten years as a mother of two children.

“This.”

Madam Ashter lifts her shopping cart onto the table. He slightly glanced at the two tickets tucked under the cash register. While Reid as the cashier's keeper, with a smile as gracious as possible, began to count Madam Ashter's groceries.

“Uncle Cort as usual— very energetic.”

“Hahaha, you're right Madam Ashter.”

Reid laughed heartily. He was clearly reluctant to accept the expensive sheet. For a moment, he even crossed to give Regal cinema tickets to Madam Ashter. Who knows this slightly taller woman from Leonna suddenly wants to go on a date in the cinema with her husband.

But, um, why would he take Leonna with him? Reid's brain cells are becoming more and more unstable. But, fool. No one will know also he equates Leonna with Madam Ashter. And more, it was unintentional. So, there will be no counting sins, right?

“Oh! Do you have an appointment with Reid?”

Aunt Smith's loud voice distracted Reid. Her laughter suddenly faded when she found Leonna standing in a white dress. Leonna's hair was loosely severed and decorated only with tiny flower clasps in the left corner of her blonde hair was waving softly.

Reid glued for a few minutes. He looks more like a mannequin when his black iris and Leonna's sapphire blue iris collide. Don't know why. Reid's heart was pounding. ‘Do I have palpitations?’

Cracked in Reid's chest recess was like a bunch of horses racing in a racecourse. He even thought that he was experiencing palpitations.

But it can certainly be severe, if Reid's heart really beats a hundred times in a minute. He obviously did not want to die young. More dead in bachelor condition with Leonna who became his eyewitness. ‘I'm really out of my mind.’

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Seriate...