When Fate Decided to Play its Part

CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE:
A Nobody
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Becca decided to stay with them until she finds an apartment and a new work. The haunt is awfully slow, so bitten with the guilt
of something she didn’t do, Althea was still paying for her when she babysits Kai whenever she has to go out to do something.
Before Becca was able to find a new job, Jack expressed his sadness to Althea about what happened to the shop. He blamed
himself for not guarding the shop that day. If he did, he might even stop the fire before spreading or stopped that man before he
can even light a speck of fire.
Althea just shook her head and laughed it off, saying it was nobody’s fault. Although it was pretty ironic for her to say that since
she herself was feeling guilty. Later that day, he also passed his resignation letter to Althea. She was worried at first, thinking that
he might not see a job immediately, but Jack assured her that he already found one, he even said that he can recommend Becca
to it.
“Really?” Althea asked.
Jack nodded his head and looked at Becca on the opposite chair. They were in a restaurant, eating their lunch. “Of course, we
have been close friends since day one, so we should help each other!”
“That’s really great.” Now she will not have to burden herself from looking jobs for them. “I hope you’ll have a good time there. If
something happened, you could contact me anytime too.”
“Thank you for your help then.” Jack laughed. After his laughter died down, he casted his gaze on the glass of water that was
clasp between his hands. His lips were pressed into thin lines and his eyes were hooded. There was silence in the table.
“We’ve been what... 3 years since we three worked together right?” Jack asked.
“...” Althea stared at him in shock. She has no idea that he can be emotional. Usually, he was just that idiotic odd, ball of energy
in the shop, delivering flowers from house to house with a smile. To think they would see him like this, casting his eyes to the
abyss while reminiscence the past.
Since it was a shock, she let out a small laugh- or so she thought.

Jack turned to glare at Becca. “Shut up! Why are you laughing?”
“Because you’re funny!” Becca continued to laugh. “Why do you look like we died or something?”
Jack went scarlet red; he gnashed his teeth at her and said angrily. “Shut up! Aren’t you also sad?!”
“I do- but I don’t cry!”
They were noisy, most of the costumers inside the restaurant looked at them, displeased, but none of the two cared about that
and continued their banters. Althea, on the other hand, looked at the two with yet another surprised expression. It was like she
was seeing the other side of the coin of her employees. She was not used to this personality of them.
Nonetheless, she smiled and joined them for the last time.
-
They parted in the afternoon, before Jack left, he told Becca that he will guide her to apply in the same company as his. After
they agreed, Althea did not forget about giving him his payment for that month, also a few bonuses. Jack didn’t refuse it, he
accepted it with two hands and smiled widely at Becca while fanning his face with the money.
Before Becca can even kick his face, he dashed away and disappeared.
“Let’s go?” Althea offered after a while; she carefully looked a Becca who was looking at where Jack had gone to.
Becca was silent, but when she was asked, she came back to her senses and smiled back at Althea. “Let’s go.”
They begun to walk towards the parking lot when Becca remembered something. “Right, what about that arsonist?”
“Oh,” Althea said. “As usual, he didn’t say a thing about why he burned the shop. I explained what happened to the police about
the past and they concluded that it was nothing but an old grudge.”
“So, the case is almost done?”
“Yes,” Althea nodded. “It is. After this, we will go back to the town and resume Kai’s private classes.”
“I see...” Becca responded. “So, Mr. Tyler was just indeed over reacting.”

Althea laughed at this; her whole body was almost shaking. “Of course, he is! Who would spend their time and money to dig on
my past then use that man to kill me? I’m just no body!”