"Jack," Tripp said. "Can you keep an eye on the front a bit?"

He still grabbed Sef's shoulders and protected him from falling to the floor.

Jack muttered softly in reply.

Then take the seca through the revolving kitchen door and into the kitchen. That's when Tripp let him go. Sef immediately walked away, leaving some room for himself. He leaned against the counter as his legs trembled.

It's over.

Carly found him, and now his family knows where he is. It was only a matter of time before they came back and dragged him home. And this time, his uncle won't come to his aid.

Tripp stood in front of the door, he looked at Seif, his usual easy-going smile turning into a slightly furrowed brow. "Tell me what's going on."

He tensed, his hands gripping the counter handle behind him. Panic spurred his heart, and every violent beat sounded in his ears like thunder. His throat was gagged.

"It's okay, kid." Tripp's voice was deep and reassuring. He stayed where he was, keeping the distance between the two. "I just want to find out what's going on, that girl is your sister?"

Sef nodded tremblingly.

Tripp touched his chin. "Okay. You don't get along, do you? ”

No.

"It's obvious. Well, she won't be here again, so you don't have to worry about that. Tripp's smile was tight, but it came across more as a threat than a comfort.

He swallowed and blinked, the moisture in his eyes welling up in his eyes. So stupid. He wiped his eyes with his arm, but that didn't help much. His emotions were broken, and he didn't know what to do.

To make matters worse, Tripp was watching him. The man was silent for a long time before he cautiously asked, "She mentioned a funeral, didn't she-"

He couldn't control it anymore. Tears. Grief was like a wound, punctured and bleeding from Carly's cruel words, and now Tripp might as well punch it. He turned away from his boss, his hands over his face in a hurry, even as his shoulders trembled and he gasped and sobbed.

"Oh." Tripp sounded shocked. "Oh, I'm sorry."

He sat on the floor with his back to the cabinet built into the counter. Tripp crouched beside him, holding a roll of tissues, tearing them off one at a time. Seth took it, wiping away the snot and tears that kept flowing.

A pile of wet, crumpled floors was quickly filled with paper towels, but neither of them cared. Eventually, Sef finally regained control of himself, and he sat like a soft cloth and sniffled like a child. His head ached.

"Better, huh?" Tripp asked.

He didn't feel any better. He felt nothing but exhaustion and pain. But he nodded.

Tripp sighed. "Listen, kid, I'm sorry for what you've been through. Maybe need to take a break."

"No!" Sef blurted out. That's the last thing he wants. "I can't. I、I want to work. "It gives him something to do, something to distract himself.

Tripp seemed to understand, as he didn't ask any more. "If that's what you want, kid."

"Yes," Sef sniffed. He unfolded a wet tissue and blew his nose for the hundredth time, his red nose stinging uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry," he muttered as he finished speaking. He was too exhausted to be embarrassed by the whole thing.

"There's nothing to regret," Tripp raised an eyebrow. He glanced at the dirty paper towels scattered across the floor. "But I think my kitchen needs to be cleaned after this."

Yes, the entire kitchen must now be disinfected in order to continue cooking. Well, at least the floor, the cupboards and his apron. All of them are damp and full of snot.

"I'll clean it up."

"No, no. I'll call Hull to take you home. I'm sure she'll have some hot tea and lasagna for you. ”

"Why?"

Tripp stood up and held out a hand to help Sef do the same. "Just do what the boss says, okay?"

Sev wanted to argue, but just one look at the boss's serious face was enough for him to quell any objections.

"Good. Now, I'll be glad you'll clean up the mess on your own. Tripp pointed to crumpled tissues scattered across the floor. "That's it, nothing else. Do you understand? ”

A wave of gratitude welled up in Saif's heart. He watched as Tripp left the kitchen. Although his eyes were still a little moist, he could barely squeeze out a trembling smile. At least my boss is nice.

After a while he sat quietly on Mrs. Vic's sofa, wrapped in a warm blanket over his shoulders, and holding in both hands a cup of her strange spicy tea. The aroma of lasagna permeated her apartment, a lingering smell from their dinner.

He ate half of it. Under no circumstances would one refuse Mrs. Vic's lasagna. Now he stared at the dark brown in the cup, and a feeling of exhaustion came over him.

He still remembers showing up at the restaurant in that old car. She didn't say a word, but just strode up to him and wrapped him around her bony arm. He was stunned, and his whole body froze.

It's not a comfortable hug. His face was pressed against her shoulder, which was hard and sharp, deeply embedded in his cheek. She hugged him tightly, one hand raised to hold his head. It's embarrassing. Strange. No one had ever hugged him like this, and he didn't know what to do.

But...... He still clings to her like a child. Her arm felt secure. For a moment, he could almost believe he was safe. His sister will never come back, and his mother will never reach him. He had a bad time with her, embarrassed, but she never said a word about it. Neither did Tripp.

He took a sip of his tea. Now the weather is neither hot nor cold, and the spices are almost unbearable. Even so, his eyes drooped.

Still, he thought, it's good that someone cares enough and goes out of their way. Pick him up from work and take them back to their place, just to feed him.

The last person to be so kind to him was a fictional game character. It only says how pathetic my social life is. A self-deprecating smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

The door clicked softly and opened. Seif leaned forward so he could see the wall between the entrance and the living room. The door slammed shut, followed by the sound of the lock sliding.

After a while, Mrs. Bicol came into view. She had a strange, satisfied smile on her face.

"Is it your friend's apartment? All right? He asked.

"Oh yes," she looked into his eyes, a bright smile and teeth shining. "There was a stranger wandering around, but after I talked to them for a while they ran away."

Sef blinked, suddenly a little worried. "Uh......"

"Nothing to worry about, kid. Everything was fine. She kicked off her shoes and sat down on the other side of the couch. She stepped barefoot on a pile of papers on the coffee table.

"Shouldn't you call the police if someone breaks into the building?" He leaned back so he could look at her. Why doesn't she seem more concerned?

"Oops, are you scared?" She laughed at him. "It's okay, the little old lady will protect you."

You're no small thing, Sev stared sourly at his tea. She was six feet tall, taller than many men. And her age doesn't diminish her self-confidence in the slightest.

She laughed again, visibly amused by his reaction. She leaned over and patted his arm. "Since you're so worried, why don't you just stay here for one night? Sofa for you. ”

He jerked his head up. "What?" "Are you deaf?" She pointed to her ear. "And here, I thought I was an old fellow."

"But why?" His apartment is only a few floors from him. When he himself has a perfect abode, there is no point in imposing on her. Why would she make such a suggestion?

To his surprise, her expression was unusually soft. "Tripp is worried about you," she said. "He told me what had happened. Kid, it's really bad to be alone, isn't it? ”

His breath choked in his throat and he could only stare at her. There was no pity for her, and there was no mockery in her face. There was only a quiet understanding, an understanding that he could not refute.

Unconsciously, fresh tears filled his eyes. He turned his head and blinked violently.

"Listen, I know it's really hard right now. So stay and let me help you. ”

"Honestly," she sighed heavily. "It's like you've never had a friend before."

The accusation made him back down, and he retorted defensively: "I have friends." ”

"Yes?" She turned to him, resting her elbows on the back of the couch and resting her chin with her hands. “WHO？”

"Hmm," he stammered, utterly surprised. He didn't expect her to follow so quickly. "Some?"

She snorted. "Of course, kid. Say whatever you want. ”

"I have friends," he muttered defensively.

And then there's Awesome Dude, though that's only in the game.

But in the real world, there was a middle school kid who he often went out to play with for a while. That is until his sister finds out and flirts with the poor boy until she wraps him around her little fingers. The child followed her like a lost puppy for the rest of the school year. And then they don't be friends anymore. But before that moment...... He had a friend.

Does this count?

"Finish your tea," Mrs. Vic patted him on the leg and got up from the couch. "Then sleep for a while, shall we? You look terrible. ”

He looked up at her, only to find that a pillow on the couch had hit him in the face. He took a step back, almost missing the tea on himself. "Hey!"

"You can use this." She smirked, then turned and left the room. After a while, long after she was out of sight, he heard her shout, "If you snore again, I'll suffocate you!" ”

Sef blinked. Then he rubbed the side of his face and smiled. He didn't know why she insisted on letting him sleep here tonight, but to be honest, he felt relieved. He didn't want to be alone.