19 WILLIAM?

A moment of silence ensued after Terrence said his answer. 

Edwin blinked repeatedly when it sank into his brain. "HAHAHA. I didn't know you could joke, Terrence." He put his hand on his stomach and laughed out loud. 

Terrence just stared at Edwin as he continued to laugh for a couple of minutes. When Edwin was done, he realized that Terrence was staring at him.

"Oh, were you serious?" Edwin asked. 

"…" 

Does he sound like he was joking when he said that? 

"Oh…" When Edwin realized what he had done, an awkward laugh escaped from his mouth. 

'Damn, that was awkward.' He uttered before awkwardly smiling. 

Edwin nodded and patted Terrence's back. "I'll wish that you achieve your dream then," he uttered, even though he still couldn't believe that Terrence was really serious about his dream. 

He wasn't trying to be mean, but being the wealthiest man in the world with their current standing in life sounds impossible. 

It was as if asking a pig to fly. 

Terrence took a deep breath and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll make that happen." He sounded confident when he said those words. 

Terrence realized it. Since he does not know what might come into this universe, then that means everything was uncertain. 

The only thing he was sure of was the role of money in everything. 

Let's be honest here. 

Money controls everything. 

With money, you can get and do what you want. 

Just think of it this way. 

You can buy any games you like with money. You can play all day and not even bat an eye to the problems the world was facing. 

With money, you can have any person you like. Girls will flock to you, and who wouldn't like that, right? 

 Although Terrence wasn't saying that he liked that. 

"I believe in you, Terrence. Fighting!" Edwin raised his arm and cheered on Terrence. 

Terrence tilted his head to the side. "Let's just open this store already," he uttered as he looked at the clock. It was already exactly 12 in the afternoon. 

"By the way, where is the recently hired employee you were talking about? Didn't he know that the shop's opening was at 12 p.m.?" Terrence asked Edwin.

It was only the man's first day of work, yet he was already late. Terrence felt something odd about this new employee. He felt as if he wouldn't be any good in the grocery store. 

Or was it just because, in the span of just 3 days, he grew fond of this store?

'But that's not possible…' Terrence thought. 

It was unlike him to feel this way. 'Maybe it's because I was just satisfied these past few days. With accomplishing the special mission and getting to talk to some people.' 

"I don't actually know. I told him not to be late. Maybe he just forgot about it?" Edwin said, as if he didn't care. 

"You know that's a bad thing, right?" Terrence's forehead creased. Edwin looked so relaxed. 

Edwin smiled at Terrence. "Don't worry. I'm assured because you're here, and it's just the employee's training today. We should not be strict with him suddenly." He reasoned out. 

Terrence shrugged his shoulders. This was why he thought Edwin would stay here for the rest of his life. 

He was friendly and kind to everyone, that he had already forgotten that there should be boundaries set between employees and the owner. 

"You do you, then," Terrence uttered as he went to the door. He took the keys from the side and opened the door's lock. 

When Terrence saw that a man standing in front of the door, he immediately greeted him even if he was still busy opening the other door. 

"Welcome Si—" 

"Oh my! William!" 

Terrence's jaw fell to the ground when he saw a familiar face entering inside. His breathing hitched. The same short-width hair, the same facial features and the same name... 

"William?" Terrence unbelievably muttered, which gained the two men's attention. His jaw fell to the ground. 

"You know him, Terrence?" Edwin looked confused as he stared at Terrence. 

Terrence immediately shook his head. "No," he uttered with finality.

He silently walked to the side. The beating of his heart was starting to become faster. 

'Fuck, I just lost my control there.' Terrence scolded himself. He closed his eyes tight shut to calm himself down, but it wasn't working. 

Terrence thought there was no way he would meet William in their town. So he didn't really think about what to do if he would ever meet him. 

His jaw clenched. 'Why the heck is that man here?' he asked himself. 

Terrence watched how William smiled happily while talking to Edwin. He couldn't help but feel anger deep inside him. 

Just a week had passed since he came into this world. 

The way he died was still fresh in his mind. He remembered how William betrayed him, how William announced about it without any emotions in his voice. 

'This motherfucker…' 

And now that he saw William happily talking and well, made him irritated and annoyed. It was to the point where he was cursing William in his mind. 

"Boss, I am not late, right? I came here exactly 12!" William smiled widely as he enthusiastically greeted Edwin. 

"I told you to just call me Edwin. Getting called by 'Boss' is so awkward." Edwin smiled. "And yup! You're not late." He laughed afterwards. 

"So, what should I do now, Boss?" William looked around. He was in all smiles until his eyes flew to Terrence. 

Terrence, who was staring at them, saw how William's smile dropped when his eyes landed on him. 

"Who is that, Boss?" William curiously asked Edwin. 

Edwin clapped his hands. He went closer to Terrence.

 "Oh right, Terrence. This is William, the recently hired employee that I was talking about. He came from the city and just moved here recently." Edwin introduced William. 

Terrence just nodded. He couldn't afford to say a single word. He could still red in his eyes. He does not know what will happen if he opened his mouth. 

He was just trying his best to stay normal. 

"Uhmm…" Edwin awkwardly laughed. He didn't know why Terrence was acting this way. 

"This is Terrence, William. He's one of the most important people in the grocery store. Without him, then this grocery store won't be like this," Edwin uttered proudly. 

"Uhm… Hi?" William shyly scratched the back of his head before a smile appeared on his lips once again. 

Terrence just watched William as he walked towards him.

"I'm looking forward to working with you, Terrence!" 

*****

Author's Note:

Now that William is here, what do you think will happen?