Lex Talionist

Special Chapter — How It All Began

The Flashback 10 Years Ago...

March 27th 2013.

08:36 PM. Penthouses

The atmosphere became awkward afterwards. Laurine looked at Xavier fixedly as if asking for further explanation, but Xavier only fell silent while turning his eyes in the other direction unwilling to look at Laurine nervously.

Meanwhile Marcus was cheering cheerfully between the awkwardness between the two people.

"We have to have fun to celebrate! Wait a minute, I'll get you a drink for all of us!" marcus said exclaiming then stepped foot into the drink storage cabinet excitedly.

Just Xavier and Laurine. After Marcus' death, the atmosphere felt more awkward.

"Don't think about what he's saying" Xavier said, opening his voice.

"The boy likes to talk without thinking"

Then Laurine was stunned. Xavier's words seem to prove that Laurine can't expect more. Disappointment enveloped the girl's heart.

"Does that mean you don't like me?" ask Laurine.

But Xavier also could not answer. The man just went silent and confused Laurine.

...***...

08:42 PM. Penthouses.

Marcus came back while carrying at least 4 bottles of liquor containing rum.

Xavier shook his head slowly at the behavior of his best friend. While Laurine stared enthusiastically at the bottles of drinks that Marcus was storing on the dining table.

"You keep all this in my house?!" cynical Xavier breastplate.

Marcus clucked as he rolled his eyes lazily. "That's damn. Don't be a hypocrite, anyway. You like drinks like this, don't you? Even your father bought you 5 bottles of wine older than you at your birthday celebration that you spent alone"

When Xavier opened his mouth to reply to Marcus, Laurine's voice stopped him.

"This what?" laurine asked plainly staring at the twinkle of the bottles containing the liquor.

Then Marcus slid Xavier's hand. "Whoah! Is she a Royal Princess? Did you find him after he got out of the fairy tale? Holy man seems to still exist in this world" Marcus said.

Xavier takes the bottles to keep her out of Laurine's sight. "You can't drink it"

"But I want to!" laurine said she raised her voice a little by trying to keep Xavier from hiding the bottles from her.

"But you never seem to drink this!"

"Because now I want to drink it for the first time!"

"No way, Laurine! You're going crazy after drinking this!"

"Why did you ban me?" Laurine's question managed to make Xavier mum.

"Of course it's because he cares about you, Miss" It was Marcus who answered while snatching the bottles away from Xavier.

For the umpteenth time Laurine was stunned and looked at Xavier expectantly.

"Just ignore him. Let's have some fun with me" Marcus asked and opened a bottle of rum and poured it into a glass that was then given to Laurine.

"Anytime I brought rum. Compared to whiskey and vodka, rum has a lower alcohol content. Suitable for beginners like you"

Laurine sat on the dining chair and momentarily stared at Xavier who was silent while looking at her.

Then without a second thought Laurine immediately took the glass from Marcus and gulped down the contents slowly. The first time she felt it, Laurine's tongue wasn't too used to it.

In the inertia, Xavier can clearly see Laurine's adorable frowning face when he feels how strange the liquor tastes.

"It feels strange, but it's good too" said Laurine then continued and now has gulped down the rum in the glass.

"I sinned once to take a plain girl like her to get drunk. But, isn't Satan's job like that?" mumbled Marcus sniffed his shoulders indifferently and filled up again Laurine's glass and continued to fill his glass.

Still in place. Xavier can only be silent to see Laurine who looks happy and enjoys the moment tonight. When Laurine cried out cheerfully while toasting with Marcus, when Laurine gulped down a glass of rum liquor, and when Laurine showed a strange crispy expression not out of Xavier's sight.

"Hey. Don't you want to join?" take Marcus to Xavier.

Then Xavier just stood still and did not answer. Not joining drinks or joining Marcus and Laurine's talks.

"Is this really your first time drinking?" Marcus asked Laurine while sitting on the chair.

"Yes. This is my first time"

"Why can?"

"Shouldn't I have asked you? I think we're the same age then why do you seem to have memorized the activities that are usually done by adults?"

"It's not an adult or immature issue, it's about the environment. Looks like you come from a respectable family that is very educated and requires you to keep up the attitude huh?"

"It can be said that way"

"fast. I've guessed. What are your parents' jobs?"

Although the conversation of Laurine and Marcus is clearly heard in his ears, Xavier's focus is not shaken by continuing to pay attention to Laurine.

Marcus coughed at hearing that. Then after his cough subsided, Marcus looked at Laurine with round eyes.

"TJ Group?! Biggest real estate company in the country?! Really true?! You're a descendant of the founder of TJ Group?!"

Laurine nodded slowly and glanced at Xavier for a moment. Their views met, but Laurine hurriedly turned her gaze back toward Marcus and sipped a glass filled with his rum.

Marcus seemed to be getting more enthusiastic about talking to Laurine. "I heard the price of 1% stake in TJ Group is equivalent to the price of 3 luxury cars. Really true?"

"The profits that shareholders will get can be more than that"

"Am I not your friend now? What if you gave me a little stake in return for taking you for a drink for the first time?"

Laurine's laughter was heard because of Marcus' speech earlier. It was also not out of Xavier's sight. Somehow Xavier's heart warmed to see him. It's like Lauren's happiness rubs off on her.

Not wanting to get dissolved in the opium given by Laurine, Xavier quickly disperse his daydream and then get up from the chair. "I'm going to sleep. Don't make a noise" he said coldly with both hands tucked into his pants pocket and then his feet away.

Laurine looked at Xavier's body which started to walk away with a sad look. Marcus also looked at Xavier and clucked.

"He's not cool" Marcus murmured and shouted at Xavier. "Hey, Fuck! Fix your boring attitude or you'll be single for the rest of your life! Being a real man is not only a handsome face or athletic body, but a pleasant personality is also needed!"

Before climbing the stairs, Xavier briefly looked at Laurine for a moment before actually stepping away. Marcus turned his eyes and mandapati Laurine was seen still looking at Xavier.

"You hear a lot of info about him?" marcus asked, which made Laurine turn her head.

"W-what do you mean? What do I know about it anyway?" laurine replied half-nervingly and covered it with a drink of rum.

"You seem very interested in him. Then I'm here as his best friend who's been friends with him for 18 years, will be happy to help you approach him. Not much anyway because his life is mysterious and not many people should know, so I'll just tell you some things he likes and doesn't like. At least enough to get you closer to her"

"Did I seem very interested in him?! I don't want to hear anything about him!" keus Laurine is slow and obvious is lying to her feelings.

Marcus rolled his eyes lazily while holding his chest. Then stared cynically at the top floor where Xavier was already in the bedroom and Lauren beside him who was drinking rum alternately. "What kind of a drama is this?!" cynical muttering.

...***...

09:47 PM. Penthouses.

An hour was about to pass, Marcus and Laurine were the perfect two chatters to talk to while having a drink. Evidently with 3 bottles of rum that have been used up without them knowing.

Meanwhile, Xavier did not once join the conversation or join the drinking. The man was alone in his bedroom. Trying to get to sleep quickly, but in fact still can not.

Laurine and Marcus' babbling voice continues to be heard in Xavier's ears despite the distance between the kitchen and the bedroom being quite far away.

"Damn it!"

Xavier cursed while getting up from the fall. Then get off the bed and walk quickly towards the kitchen. His mind could not calm down as he kept thinking about Laurine who was drinking with Marcus down there.

When it comes to Marcus, then there must always be something wrong. Then be right. Arriving in the kitchen, Xavier found Laurine who was drunk heavily with the position of the head bowed on the table.

"Hi, my friend" said Marcus waving his hands in a fit condition that is far different from the state of Laurine.

Slowly Xavier uncovers the strands of hair covering Laurine's face. The girl fell asleep with a red face.

"Your boyfriend sucks at drinking. He only counted just drank 1 bottle of rum, but was drunk like this"

"Because he's not a demon like you!"

Marcus nodded his head in agreement as he chuckled. "I'm actually a little interested in this girl. It's just that you were the first to find it, so I'm heartily shaking it for you. Plus I got him drunk and you can take advantage of this opportunity. You don't want to say thank you so much to me?"

"You and all your filthy thoughts are sickening!" hissing Xavier and turning to look at Laurine.

Then Xavier carried Laurine's small body carefully and left the kitchen to go upstairs.

"Have a good time!" marcus shouted a joke and laughed loudly.

Xavier ignored and continued to step foot. Go into a bedroom and lay her body slowly on the bed.

Then after covering part of Laurine's body as a blanket, Xavier was about to leave. But Xavier's steps came to a halt when Laurine's voice was heard calling her name.

"Xavier.." murmured Laurine still in her sleep.

"Hm?" Inexplicably Xavier also replied in a slow mutter.

"Do you like me?"

Laurine's question thrown unknowingly under the influence of alcohol was not answered by Xavier.

"Why not answer? Don't you like me?" laury asked again with her eyes closed.

"Do I have to answer?" Xavier asked back.

Then Laurine nodded. "Because I like you"

Xavier froze, but soon shook his head. "You're drunk. Sleep on"

"I mean it.." said Laurine before finally drowsiness mixed with drunkenness made him lose consciousness and slowly fall asleep.

For the umpteenth time Laurine made Xavier speechless. Xavier thinks that Laurine's words are just drunken babbling, but inexplicably Xavier harbors such high expectations.

"I like you too" muttered Xavier softly who unfortunately did not realize Laurine was in a drunken state.

...TO BE CONTINUED...