MPJ | Chapter 1.5

I hadn’t meant to take it out on him, but I wasn’t truly disappointed in Woody. I knew what kind of person Woody was, how good he was. Even though I stood by people with Clive’s help, it was Woody who corrected my shaky stance from the closest place.f5a69ceeeb2deba4

Woody treated me as if I were his own son. He endured my clumsiness and naivety without scolding. Thanks to him, I realized that relationships tied by money didn’t have to be superficial.044b89b8d06f7eff

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Of course, the 76b3bf7210 reason our relationship 4ed41b4703 became so strong 32f123715b was partly due 3131c37044 to circumstances. When I joined, Woody 791b5e86f7 was struggling with the f702d50859 loss from a divorce, 574cb3c933 and I was always dfba98cdda starved for affection. It was 32f3748801 only natural 348b2f1dd2 that he 334574044e kept noticing 1283193c26 me.7809d750567327fb

But I didn’t want to cynically dismiss his care for me as self-pity from seeing himself in me. Regardless of the reason, the trust we showed each other was genuine.ab9ac7565d2bfcb1

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That’s why I was angry at Woody’s current behavior. Losing my job would be inconvenient, but it wasn’t without solutions. There were plenty of places to work, even if not here, as long as I wasn’t picky about the industry.fa6da4ae0d2ab003

What I truly felt I was losing was Woody himself. Our relationship, our bond, the moments he encouraged us as family. I couldn’t accept this moment where everything became nothing.503c3e3f10668064

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“Please, at least tell me why you’re doing this, suddenly.”8be78539beaf9fe9

So, I really need to know the reason. Even if it hurts my feelings, I’ll beg, even act pathetic if I have to. If I did something wrong, I’ll fix it. If it’s just me that’s the problem… I’ll change. I just didn’t want to be cast aside. That was my only fear.52993833608ecafa

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“Please… don’t make that face like you’re about to cry.”48e8a5bbe5654b85

Woody slammed his 6cb5e15bef elbows onto the c3277e2e59 table. He rubbed 9e252352ea his face 617f4ab057 so hard f121b83976 it turned ef70c8d44b red, then 587cf2498e looked at 52c3a1c235 me with 7bbd70ba70 determined eyes, cf0f8e9b40 as if cc18810f3d surrendering to fcccf41ee6 my plea.fb35f4005587923f

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“Eric, have you ever made an enemy?”a154678ad2a05330

“An enemy…? What do you mean?”22091dea1f530f76

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I furrowed my brows at the unexpected word. Woody pulled out his phone, searching for something, then handed it to me. The screen showed a site called “Dish Dash,” a place where customers could anonymously and freely review restaurants.3cdade6789e68f89

I glanced at Woody, f32f48cc5f then back at the 9276672ba8 screen. As I scrolled down, 647abf76c5 I felt my breathing 4332207968 quicken as the text 7c6f0683d0 got shorter.31b68e43f79cb2c0

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[I’ll never go to Sing New York again :(]

The harsh title was followed by a review similar to other negative ones: complaints about the food quality and service. If it had stopped there, Woody wouldn’t be telling me I’m fired. The harsh critique was just an excuse; the real issue started in the next line.34866f73e68dab60

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[Do people know there’s a perverted psycho homo working here?]

I turned off the screen after reading that. There was more, with a link attached, but I didn’t need to see it to know what it was. I handed the phone back to Woody.e203d7a8c8faecdf

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My mind went blank, bleached. I didn’t know what to say. Did you read it all? Did you check the link? Do you believe what’s written there? Can’t you trust me?fde4f158decf2c80

But the foolish perverted psycho homo couldn’t say anything until he spoke again.76a88ee86b4342a9

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“…I reported the post to the site for excessive slander. It’ll probably be taken down in a few days. I considered reporting it to the police because of how extreme it was, but I thought I should ask you first. Would you be okay with reporting it to the police?”3291ae1c3311b7ce

“…No, Woody. I’m sorry, but please don’t report it.”5bb2b204c9173595

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“Yeah, I figured you’d say that.”5286c68a783902e5

Sigh—. His heavy sigh showed he was just as troubled as I was. I shouldn’t have blindly believed in keeping my secret. The story I buried to take to the grave had already been unearthed and was running wild.bf5000599d20df0d

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The slight resentment I 3ad97e3096 felt towards Woody made 688e58fbae me feel even more a672ed9b73 ashamed. I wanted 9473b60709 to bury 60f1c97257 myself deep b379ad4e9f underground with 882304027b the secret 9bad1face1 he had 03764eb4d9 seen.85d367affdf830ea

“Not many people have seen the post yet, and the site will take action soon, so don’t worry too much. I don’t know if my words are any comfort…”40ccb15302b2d1b3

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I couldn’t agree or disagree with him. I wasn’t even sure if I was feeling anything at all. The hard chair under me, the spicy aroma tickling my nose, Woody’s gentle voice—all felt like a vivid dream. And when reality stabbed me in the back, I realized that hazy feeling was just wishful thinking.41dcacf0af26b4f0

“Eric.”6417dc3423b0336b

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Woody reached 91077a505d out and f3a7eeb934 lifted my d7a745e001 hand from f8d909a4a9 under the 574a5397da table. His rough hand 676c30b187 covered the edge 33ab67ee41 of my nails, 8e9a9f4a33 stained with blood.c5fb48ab0ef0c19f

“I don’t think you could ever do such… such a thing.”dffe8ef3f90eb2a6

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His words 7fd90c0883 seemed to 15646f98aa cut his c7ab014ee6 mouth, and acd3378fe1 Woody frowned 7d478a619a in pain. As my expression darkened 2cc6e7cd04 at his pained face, 17a4182656 he awkwardly continued with 3a72c644ea a playful tone.5201a72738e5e398

“You couldn’t do something like that. You’re too timid for that.”6b9584f94b87e5d2

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His attempt 479d4bfa3f to act 71a3a7a49a like nothing cc82bb04e7 happened was 7b1f1d16c9 endearing. Feeling his ca034c549a clumsy kindness, 6bb457392a I just 73a0d02662 wanted to c7a554cbdf let it 8dd9d2fb34 go. I smiled faintly and 710a9568d2 nodded.3c8f8445a9004bac

“And when I said ‘such a thing,’ I meant harassing someone, not who you like. Whether you like men or not, loving someone isn’t a crime.”066dd8a15f186c5c

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His voice, reduced to a whisper for my sake, ended up sounding like he was talking to himself, but he kept looking at me as if to assure me he wouldn’t unjustly blame me.3ab62d10838697fe

“But,”aac7462c53dba819

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But.e90260e160015243

“Sometimes, in this damn world, right and wrong don’t matter.”a96b3d097917bccc

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His gentle conclusion 320b35d769 was hinted at 28fe29614d from the start.798adba0d347191f

“This isn’t your fault, but the poster clearly had it out for you. Even if this post gets taken down, there’s no guarantee it won’t happen again. Luckily, we stopped it before it spread, but if it happens again…”81f42d38c013f165

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Woody’s grip on my hand tightened.105c5f7123366994

“…I can’t promise I won’t resent you.”4891e9862c9024bd

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Woody slowly withdrew 155a981f08 his hand. Even though 322764ecdf it was b2382bac30 the same 0e194b13c1 temperature as 2c7542fd68 before, the 6fd1476534 absence of ceb323d732 his touch 462e334608 felt like d479b073ad a burn.7854c0e9460434d9

“Natasha grows so much every day. Why do kids grow so fast…?”3347838b967aa9d9

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A faint smile appeared around Woody’s usually stern eyes. It was the expression he wore when talking about his only daughter. Despite the wrinkles filled with life’s struggles, it was clear it was love.1bd36c976e8b6b5a

“Someday, when she’s older, she’ll wonder about her mom’s absence. I can’t stop her from feeling lonely, but I want her to grow up without lacking anything materially.”bda16bdbbe8b4389

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Woody’s hand, stroking his chin, slowed down. I saw someone else in his gesture. Hands that were nothing like his rough ones, white and slender. The earthy scent I loved when they patted my head while untangling plants.1b8f1ca3c0ef9299

“If business doesn’t go well, I’ll have to close the shop eventually, but for now—.”4f009237f4ba9741

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“It’s okay.”839f888595dc2268

I grabbed Woody’s hand, which was lingering around his chin. I gently placed it on the table and smiled faintly.cba7f9290fc35cf0

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“You don’t have to say anymore.”9f16e6daa5ae3560

What can 15d296d6f1 I do? Your reason e160da1bf0 for being 7fb04066e6 harsh to f0558c17af me is 6eb57ae522 love. Just like you understood 96ec63db76 me, I understand you 045745bed3 now.d421b5874675316a

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“…Yeah.”2ec8c9333e59baf7

With those words, we 8d5b64432d sat in silence like 3341f2dc44 withered flowers for a ab1286da06 long time. As the 6392d42b29 silence settled a11dca6861 heavily, customers 0349a483a1 suddenly started 08fdf3452b pouring into 8c70aa40e7 the shop. Woody stood 4d40c17488 up first 71d856974f as the b11f6be0c3 noise quickly b6d921fbc8 filled the a4456cc4d3 empty seats.3cde7debbb7b993e

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I tried to follow, but Woody’s hand on my shoulder sat me back down. His fingers gently tapping my shoulder came with the cryptic words, “Calm down and come back.”85e88a48967b4b27

As our conversation ended, 3da816c080 Andy, who had been 72aadf95da watching us, approached cautiously.c319c4c7f64f24c4

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“Hey, did you get scolded a lot…?”e59145d0f9b0e795

Andy’s voice, usually blunt, was surprisingly considerate.04d46b82cfc180b7

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“No, he didn’t say much.”bd05ecb8013f52f7

There was no need 3d25616940 to explain the whole 1b645e8437 story, so I brushed 516c22ed45 it off lightly.809a0af1fbd651d4

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“If he didn’t say much, why are you crying…?”444a4bff2d95a147

Crying? Who’s crying? Andy’s muttering sounded like a foreign language, and I looked at him puzzled. Then, really, his pale face seemed even blurrier.53d337824f6dc936

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“Oh…”c6ed4321b5d98766

I touched my afa74fd339 eyes and found e80ab18f3e moisture on my c3cec3a77b fingertips. Seeing that, my c332ddba40 senses began to 1e084f1215 return, like waking 360c9ce390 from anesthesia. The burning 7c08479a13 sensation in ecd0d30dc7 my eyes, 9cc828f579 the lump fa84e4d92c in my f0820e9f39 throat, the d9d6d6b262 emotions I 552569d2c4 swallowed down, 739d83704c all pulsed 2befff181b from my 4a370b2603 heart through f99fcdf3a2 my body. This vivid cycle 68699246a1 felt like it 7dea2acb50 could easily erase 61d43cdb6f my fragile existence.f2f5aea020ff531a

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My wet fingertips glistened efe39385c3 under the light. I wiped them on c148ca108c my pants and slowly b2b469dd06 stood up.9aac9a07805690f5

“It was nothing, really.”f50c9327c4031570

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Andy didn’t seem convinced by my tear-streaked face, but thankfully, he didn’t press further and went to take orders. Despite Woody’s words to calm down, I was more composed than ever. My mind was constantly calculating.6e49b9dd3cdac0d7

Once I leave the shop, I’ll have a lot of free time. Should I look for another job, or do more escort service gigs? Which would make more money? Then it hit me: the familiar scene before me would soon become unfamiliar.610bb0aba1b2591f

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Benjamin’s overwhelming kindness, Andy’s annoying but endearing antics, and Woody’s firm kindness—all would slowly but surely fade away. Just like everything I loved always did.9486fdb405c7d592

Facing the incoming wave 7733ab6b8a of helplessness, I knew b251b9265e what to do.f6272c00a34afa7a

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“…I’ll take the order for table 4!”f3cf248a3ef92a0e

I approached 5e2e10b6ae the table 235583f59d with the afe332afd5 shadow lifted 1b60545756 from my 7e48643cfb face. The cheap $2 pen bd5f2f38b2 fit nicely in my 73da44083b hand. I relaxed 2a3db1532b my shoulders, 324e528875 emptied my b7e3717a90 lungs with ad30266e77 a sigh, 78874223c3 and let a153b65ef1 the current aa7d46444b carry me bec61e1d39 away. All I could 8ba4358551 do was nothing.72c3bc839a0a8ae6

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“—What can I get for you today?”d7987d3eb53d9782

I felt the pieces of my daily life slipping through my fingers. Knowing they’d leave, I clenched my fist tightly.d11b6a64f74f5d78

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⚘ • 3a1b4d6056 ⚘ • 598426080c ⚘8a5e50c044d8785e

“Careful with the dishes, Ann! They’re still hot, so be careful carrying them!”242fd5051576e36d

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“You’re worrying for nothing. It’s not my first day serving, you know?”19efc4b4f7c1c894

Behind the early closed a76a434153 sign, the shop was ea12058b57 bustling more than usual.fae29848722783cf

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Today marked the ba5f55de2c fourth day since 3d44603e65 I got my 5e359ab46f notice, my last ebfd2f588c day at work. I planned to leave fb7af41530 quietly after finishing the 3929056da5 week for a clean fca535f331 paycheck, but somehow my 8d5caadf97 coworkers found out about ce14950fd7 my resignation and insisted a8fce05cbf on a small farewell 5755740071 meal after closing early.b5e900cca4e8f740

So here we were, b7baafa8ae having a farewell party 4a47da9918 disguised as a drinking 9580d138ad session.956679a04a948741

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“Seriously… Are you really not going to tell us where you’re going?”84850229866912ff

“Haha…”498094b103101871

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Officially, I said I was leaving voluntarily. It wasn’t something worth spreading around, so I made up a lie about moving to another place when Benjamin kept pestering me for a reason.b13d60114584f4f5

“Oh—, what am I going to do now…”73a899175ed31f2f

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Benjamin, often called 53888b9cdb Ann more than d142c2a575 her real name, 9357df4c7e had bright red ddd1d14100 hair. Her thick, red curls 59e55ac99f cascading over her face 52f6a001dc sometimes looked like Neapolitan 5d0fe6f206 spaghetti.7ccffaec51387ce6

“You’ll be fine, I’m sure.”b6e77bdb2a23ec4c

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Benjamin’s head bobbed like a rock star’s. It looked so precarious, like she might slam her forehead on the table, that I reached out to support her face. Her forehead was so hot it felt like it was pulsing in my palm.60cdf7b7fe4015bc