BLOODY FRIENDSHIP

The bright evening sky shone upon the land. But deeper into the wood, one man, sprinting around, hoping to drive off some people. Four-man in cloaks covering half their faces, following not far behind his trail.

When he was nearing the edge of the woods, he found a bridge toward another woodland across the waterfall. Conflicted, he still crosses it.

One of the enemies uttered curses and gripped two long tiny weapons with double sharp ends, throwing them straight at him.

Perceiving the danger, he moves his head aside. His eyes widened at the two small weapons. However, what alarmed him was the chain he wore around his neck. It got severed accidentally. The chain has come with an emblem. But, it fell into the stream below him.

Truthfully, the emblem was a treasure by any of his kin. Now, lost by him.

"Damn it!"

Anguish, yet, he has no way to get it back. Clearly, his foes know no care. The emblem was his last defence. It might never be found again after falling into the fast stream.

While he got chased, two young adult men were having a break near the stream. The two were not far from the bridge. One of them was washing his face while the other had his back to the bark of a lush tree.

"Time to head back, Kairi."

The latter told while gazing somewhere. Eyes narrowing, he felt the trouble that occurred.

"Gimme a moment, Rafiz."

Kairi dipped both his hands into the stream. Ignorant that his companion, Rafiz was watching around them in vigilance.

Suddenly, Kairi felt something attached to his fingers. He pulled them out and was surprised to find a stunning emblem chain, illustrating the pattern of a steed with wings.

Who drops this valuable thing?

"Kairi, let's go!" Rafiz urges.

He didn't want those people, foe or not, to accidentally stumble upon them. Who knows what level of strength they have. They better leave quickly.

"Coming!"

Kairi moved away from the river, carrying the emblem chain with him. Leaving the area in haste, they finally arrive at a big old tavern. Both went in from the back door which led them straight into a huge kitchen.

On impulse, they shift to the side fast. Eyes show confusion when the two flying ladles pass through the place they stood before. Yet, they were not so surprised by it.

They turn their head toward the person who threw them. It was an adult man with a height of 1.84 meters. He has a big belly protruding from his waist and dark brown hair that also covers his mouth and his chin.

"Dad, what the hell?! We're only five minutes late!"

Rafiz scowled at the big man behind a stove. Hands on his waist, their father's grey eyes glared at them.

"Five minutes you said... Look again!" He pointed at the clock wall.

"It passes over six minutes!"

Rafiz and Kairi look at each other and sigh. Was it fate to have such a father? Feels like some people would understand them. Both complained in their heart.

What can they say? Their father's tavern was pretty much a handful. Lateness should not be allowed.

Before the time for operating, they must finish all the chores; tidying, washing, and wiping every day. Their tavern operated from evening to late at night, the same as some taverns that also operate at the same time.

So, would everyone wake up late the next day? That's normal. After all, who can wake up early after sleeping at three in the morning?

And during the operation, Kairi and Rafiz were required to wear waitress clothes. They also must treat every customer with a friendly and gentle attitude. Not only just them having such a good temperament towards their customer, even other employees they hired, must do the same.

Moreover, be it a man or a woman employee, their fair face entices the customer's appetite more to dine in their tavern. Truthfully, that was their main attraction to increase their customers.

"... I'll bring your orders asap. Thank you for choosing Barlita Tavern. Please entice your evening with our special pudding while waiting."

Kairi jotted down the orders on his notepad. Then, he smiled sweetly at the ladies who ordered them. The ladies return his smile with shyness. They were new to the tavern and were surprised to see all the beautiful and handsome staff.

They should have come earlier!

As for Kairi, he had gone to the counter. He pulled off the order list from the notepad and gave it to the staff at the counter. The staff then clips his orders on a string that would move into a kitchen through an opening window. Someone inside would prepare the orders after they read them.

"There's been a lot of customers now, don't you think?" Kairi told Rafiz who was already there.

Rafiz had his back rested against the counter while folding his hands.

"Yeah. Our dad's famous Lasagna Kentucky meal set really gets their attention. Even people out of town are also here. Hm? A new customer. I'll go."

Rafiz pushes himself off the counter and leaves. He shows an empty table for the customer while Kairi delivers the ordered food immediately to the appointed customer.

After ten o'clock, a man entered their tavern. Wearing cowboy attire, he walks towards a corner. He took a seat at the empty table.

Rafiz's eyes darkened after seeing the man. "This person has a distasteful aura. It's the opposite of mine..."

"I'll go take his order, Rafiz."

Kairi felt his change of atmosphere. Since Rafiz looks like he dislikes the new customer, he shall be the one to take his order.

"What would you have, sir? We have-..."

Kairi listed their special menu for the night and the menu was given to the man.

"I want... A cup of hot coffee without sugar and one special bubbling ice cream." The man told Kairi as he handed the menu back.

Kairi took it. "Is that all, sir?"

The man nodded.

Kairi gives a smile. "Alright, your order will be here asap, sir. Please enjoy our free special pudding. Well then, please excuse me."

"Just call me, Virgo. No need for sir."

Kairi looked dumbfounded. A few moments later he realized he hadn't replied.

"Sure, Mr Virgo!"

"Just Virgo."

The man stared at him with one eyebrow rose. His face looked serious which bewildered Kairi.

He didn't do anything wrong, so why does this man stare at him like that?

"Oh, okay, s–! Virgo! Please excuse me! I'll return with your orders soon!"

Kairi immediately flees for the counter. His face flushed and he felt so embarrassed by his countenance just now. He must have looked like a fool.