Arriving at Bragg Restaurant

"So, this is the place, huh?"

Right now, Sam was standing in front of 'Bragg Restaurant". This was the place where he was about stay for some days. Although, it wasn't sure how long it would be. Depending on the situation, he might have to return immediately tomorrow. But if he finds more about the matter he wanted to know about, he might have to stay for a while.

He then gazed at the big board hung over the entrance of the restaurant which read "Bragg Restaurant" with big font of different colors. It was quite attractive. Just as he was staring there in admiration a group of people entered the place. It was a group of about six to seven people with both boys and girls who were about his own age. Seeing them reminded him of his friends in Alauna. They also used to hangout in the nearby restaurant. After the group entered, he followed suit.

"Wow. It's amazing."

And that was not an exaggeration. The place was big and elegant. It consisted of two- seater tables as well as round tables that can accommodate a large group of people. An entire wall consisted of fish tank, with Angelfish curiously swimming back and forth.

"Oh," now he was expressing his astonishment in a loud voice.

He noticed something that blew his mind. When he was outside, he wasn't able to see anything inside the restaurant from the windows. But now when he looked through the same windows, from inside, he could clearly see the street and the crowd of people walking.

When he was standing there awestruck, a beautiful and young female approached him in an elegant manner. Clad in the restaurant staff uniform, she asked Sam in an elegant and sweet voice, "Dear customer. Please be seated on the seat of your choice and wait for our staff to take your order."

"N-No. I am not a customer. I am here searching for someone."

While answering to that beautiful female staff he averted his gaze. Her uniform seemed a bit tight around her chest region because she had rather big chest. And because of that he could clearly make out the curves around her chest. He knew that if he kept facing her straight, his eyes would subconsciously dart around that area and something bad will happen.

"Who are searching for?"

"I am searching for Mr. Bragg, the owner of the restaurant," he replied with his gaze still averted.

After hearing his answer, the female made a face as if something had clicked on her mind and answered him, "Oh. So you are the man that Mr. Bragg had mentioned me yesterday."

Apparently, Mr. Bragg had already mentioned about him to the others.

"Please follow me."

"Y-Yeah."

He wasn't quite able to grasp the change in her voice and attitude. Just a moment ago, she was talking to him with a voice full of demeanor alike to a female from a high class family. And now she had a friendly tone and carefree sort of attitude towards him. He was quite perplexed how easily this girl was able to switch 'modes'.

(This girl's scary.)

Thinking so, he followed suit.

The both of them passed through another door. On the right was a wooden stair. They ascended the stairs and stopped at the third floor. The third floor was different from the first and the second floor. It lacked the interior designing that the first two floors had.

The female staff opened a door that was on their left and signaled him to follow her.

"Hey, old man. The person you were waiting for is here."

He entered the room. He saw an old man (around his father's age) with brown hair and brown beard. He was squatting down. He had a bowl in his left hand and a spoon on his right. In front him was a female of about his mother's age. She was sitting in a wheelchair with a completely expressionless face. Seeing her he remembered what Rita had said.

"So, she's the…," he said in a voice which was only audible to him.

The old man took another spoon of rice porridge from the bowl, holding it in front of the woman in wheelchair. She slowly opened her mouth and after chewing for some time she swallowed it. The old man then brought a glass of water to her mouth and made her drink it. He then wiped her mouth with a white handkerchief.

Seeing these events unfold before his eyes, he felt something in his heart. Something that he couldn't put into words. It felt as if he had missed this scene so much for the past few years and seeing it in front of his eyes after so many years made him feel relief. But he knew he shouldn't be having such feelings. It was the first time he had seem them but no matter what he couldn't get rid of those feelings. Since the moment he started his journey, he had been having these strange feelings which he couldn't quite grasp.

While he was having those thoughts, the old man walked a bit and stood in front of him face-to-face.

The man was staring at him. He just stared back at him nervously.

He was going to stay in this place for some time starting today. And the owner of that place was standing before him. He didn't want to make a bad impression on their first meeting.

He steeled himself and thought he should at least give a proper instruction first.

"H-Hello, Mr. Bragg. I am Sam Taylor. I am Rita's childhood friend. I am very thankful to you for letting me stay at your place."

"No problem young man! Think of this as your own place. Although I'm letting you stay without charging money, I'm not letting you stay for free. I will work you to the bones so be prepared young man!"

Beaming with a smile, he said those words and tapped his shoulder. Seeing that reaction from the old man, he seemed relieved that he was able m to manage the first impression. And seeing that overflowing energy made him realize that he really was Rita's relative.

"Hey, Jasmine. Take him to the room next to yours."

"Okay."

Saying that the female staff who was quite the whole time gestured me to follow her.

"Thank you for letting me stay."

Saying that he bowed to the two in the room and followed Jasmine.

"Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Jasmine."

Saying that Jasmine extended her right hand. He extended his own and they shook hands. Her hands were so soft and warm.

"This is you room. I am next door. If you need anything please call me."

Saying that she handed him the key and started going to the direction from where they had come. After seeing her back disappearing down the stairs he unlocked the door. His room was no different from the room where he had been earlier. He took a good look around the room. He then sank in his bed with his eyes closed and mumbled to himself.

"I have finally arrived here."