The Heart System

Chapter 907: Chapter 907

I had no way of reaching Jack. That meant I had to, once again, get help from Carrie. She’d know where to find him. Though, I was pretty sure she had already left the city. Maybe even the country? His father had been talking about getting him ”treated,” but I had no idea what had happened after that.

Getting help from Carrie... God. I’d rather listen to Melvin ramble about his crush for an hour. Actually, nah. I think I’d be okay with the first option. Melvin was a... talkative guy.

”Everything good?” Melvin asked, already halfway through his beer.

”Yeah,” I nodded. ”Everything’s peachy.”

I glanced toward the bar and spotted Charlotte standing behind it. She was talking with Isabella and another waitress. Perfect.

”We should switch seats and sit at the stools over there.” I nodded toward the bar. ”Come on.”

”Okay. Closer, huh? I like it!”

We got up, grabbed our beers, and made our way over to the stools by the counter. Once we sat down, one of the waitresses nodded at Charlotte before heading back to work.

Charlotte and Isabella both leaned against the counter, looking at Melvin and me.

”Charlotte,” I said, giving her a nod. ”You look different today.”

”I didn’t put any makeup on. You’re telling me I’m ugly?”

”Uh...”

”Wait, you have makeup on,” Melvin suddenly said. ”It’s clear as day. You’ve got concealer under your eyes, a little foundation around your cheeks, and your eyelashes are done too. And there’s a tiny bit of eyeliner. It’s subtle, but I can see it.”

”Wow,” Isabella said, pushing herself away from the counter. ”This guy knows a lot about makeup.”

”I do. I used to be a makeup artist before working at TechForge.”

”Oh?” I muttered.

What kind of life had this man lived? He was in his thirties, had somehow worked as a makeup artist, and then took a huge leap and started working at one of the most advanced tech companies around. He was like one of those anime characters Nala watched, mysterious and full of hidden backstory, except Melvin was also the biggest goofball I had ever met.

”Yeah. Serenity of Life,” he said. ”I worked there.”

”Wasn’t that the TV show where the two brothers solved homicide cases and stuff?” Isabella asked. ”I liked that show. Well, I liked it.”

”Yeah. I accidentally broke the main character’s arm. The show had to end early.” Melvin smiled as he stared off into the distance. ”I miss those days.”

”You...” I rubbed the back of my head. ”Wow, Melvin. I... wow. I really liked that show. It ended because of you?”

”Sorry.”

”Wow.”

Okay, this was definitely unexpected.

Isabella seemed genuinely interested in the conversation, though, which was probably the best thing that could have happened. If I stayed there, I’d probably just get in the way. So I finished the last bit of my beer, placed the empty bottle on the counter, then got up and patted Melvin on the shoulder.

”Nature’s call.”

”Mhm? Yeah, alright.”

Instead of heading to the restroom, I walked toward the exit. Nobody seemed to notice me leaving, which was exactly what I wanted. I stepped outside and immediately spotted Sophia near the entrance.

She was sitting with her back turned toward me on a worn-down chair, staring at her phone and tapping away at the screen.

”Hey,” I said as I walked toward her.

She glanced back, saw me, and simply nodded.

As I got closer, my eyes drifted toward her phone. She was looking through apartment listings. From what I could see, she was searching for places outside the city, probably because the rent around here was ridiculous with the mall and all the businesses nearby. Some of the cheaper places were much farther out, around the same general area where Mendy used to live, though Sophia seemed to be looking even farther away.

”Looking for a new place?”

”Yeah.” She nodded. ”But it’s expensive as hell.”

”Why move out?”

”My roommate moved in with her boyfriend,” she explained. ”So I can’t afford a place that big anymore. I’m looking for something smaller.”

”Ah, right.” I nodded. ”Good luck, though. Rents are crazy expensive.”

”They are.” She glanced up at me before looking toward the entrance. ”Where’s Melvin?”

”I left him with Isabella. Hoping he could talk to her in private without me hanging around.”

”Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”

”You said you were in the army, right?” I asked, changing the subject. ”Where’d you serve?”

”Here and there.” She shrugged. ”Why ask?”

”Just making some small conversation. Don’t mind me.”

”Sheesh. If Melvin has you as his matchmaker, then the situation is more dire than I thought.”

”Okay, sorry for making small talk, I guess.” I exhaled.

Before Sophia could say anything else, the entrance door opened behind us.

Melvin stepped outside.

He had a strange expression on his face, almost like he had just seen something unbelievable. He stood there for a second, staring into the distance without saying anything.

Then he slowly lifted his head and looked directly at me. ”Evan.” He had the biggest smile on his face. ”I GOT HER PHONE!”

I stared at him. Sophia stared at him too.

Then we looked at each other.

”She gave you her phone willingly, you mean?” Sophia asked. ”You didn’t steal her phone?”

”What? No!” Melvin shook his head. ”I got her phone! I did it! I did it!”

He suddenly rushed toward me and threw his arms around me, hugging me tightly. He tried to lift me off the ground in celebration, but apparently thirty years of existence hadn’t translated into thirty years of upper-body strength.

He barely managed to move me before a loud fart escaped from him.

I froze.

Sophia froze.

Melvin froze.

Sophia slowly stood up from her chair and waved a hand in front of her face. ”Get the fuck out of my bar, Melvin. You too, Evan.”

”Agh...” I grimaced, taking a step back. ”Yeah... yeah, I’ll do that.”

This guy, man.

This fucking guy.

? ? ?