Joachim, despite the bad day, ends better thanks to Ross.
Greetings, readers and lictors.
Ignore the last word.
It is not the same to be on top of the world to be topped by the world... sighs, just keep it low at home ;)
Edited by FelixRyder
That day seemed to have no end, Joachim walked dejectedly after a long and unfortunate day. Underestimated at work, spending months flirting with a coworker didn't end well, that day he had decided to confess what he felt and she said he was just like a brother and good friend. Crestfallen, the 25-year-old man who wore a white long-sleeved shirt and gray pants, dragged his jacket without caring about anything, his brown eyes reflected more tiredness and frustration and his brown hair was waving a little with the light wind.
Finally he made it to the bar and opened the door. At least the place was almost empty except for a couple in a far table. He walked and collapsed on one of the stools, completely broken, the owner of the place approached him with a jovial look despite his fifty-something years old.
"What a surprise, I did not expect you'd arrive today and less at this time," the man said.
"Yes, neither do I," replied Joachim.
"Nothing but a beer to help you," the bar owner commented cheerfully, pouring beer in a cup and Joachim took it.
"Thank you, Raphael," the young man mumbled.
"Don't even mention it, shit happens, but you need to stand up and keep going," Raphael said as he sat down to comfort his loyal client.
Taking a long sip, the young man put the glass aside as he prepared to tell Raphael about his horrible day.
"It's always the same, so much work and I never get anything, just humiliations and now, the girl I've been flirting with for months tells me I'm like a brother to her," Joachim murmured.
"It's ok, sometimes it's a matter of finding the perfect match!" the old man said, making the young man smile for the first time in all day.
"Thank you very much, Raphael. You are a great person," he replied.
"It's not that much, but I'm glad to help you in any way," the man said.
As he took another sip, the door of the bar opened again and a young man entered, in his early twenties. Pale skin, wearing fashionable black pants, tightly fitted to his long, thin legs, a white shirt and a thin rainbow band on the wrist that Joachim couldn't notice in plain sight. The boy went to the bar and stopped next to Raphael.
"Why did you take so long?" Raphael asked him.
"I was fooling around, nothing serious..." the boy replied. He had a delicate voice and by his ways and gestures, Joachim didn't need to be a fortune teller to know that boy had come out of the closet long time ago.
"Okay, I'm damn tired, could you stay here while I rest my eyes?" Raphael said and the boy nodded. Joachim looked at him carefully and there was something on his lips that seemed very familiar, and after noticing his gaze, he discreetly licked his lips.
"I hope you don't mind if my nephew Ross stays, I'll take a little break," Raphael said to Joachim.
"Not at all, I won't stay for too long, and thanks again for your support," Joachim replied.
When Raphael went upstairs, the young man bowed his head again with a rueful gesture and Ross sat on his uncle's seat in front of him.
"Bad day, huh?" he said a couple minutes later.
"Yes, something like that," Joachim replied.
"Ross..." he said extending his hand.
"Joachim..." the young man replied, shaking the boy's soft hand, and noticing the rainbow ribbon on his wrist.
"I was wondering, why someone as handsome as you would have a bad day, if the question doesn't bother you," the boy commented while grabbing a beer.
"I don't want to bore you with that," Joachim reluctantly commented and drank.
"Not at all, I like meeting people and chatting..." Ross affirmed with a mischievous smile.
At that moment, Joachim could feel that the boy was trying a sort of game with him, but he did not want to be rude and tell him that he was not one of those men. Besides, it could be his paranoia and maybe he just wanted to talk and keep him motivated while his uncle was resting.
"I'm afraid I'm not the ideal person to talk to at this moment, Ross..." Joachim replied and smiled at him with some irony.
"Shy, huh? Well today is your lucky day, I will cheer you up tons," Ross said with a seemingly innocent voice but with a gaze saying the opposite and when he saw his glass empty, he filled it.
"Thank you," Joachim said and drank again, "So you are Raphael's nephew?" he added.