Chapter 28: Sale = War

"Quick! Grab this! And this!" I yelled as I tossed Darryl some accessories I needed for another side project I had planned out.

He seemed so flustered compared to his usual unfazed reaction as he hurried to basket the item I practically threw in his direction. I didn't need to worry if he was going to injure himself because I was lugging the heavy items and handing him the smaller ones.

"Darryl, that side! It's on half price! What a bargain!" I exclaimed as I rushed towards the other bin which was packed with other customers.

It kinda resembled a dinner fest where the piranhas were eating their prey. Phew, quite scary as everyone were grabbing things like they were free.

***

"Ah, that was refreshing!" I sighed as I plopped into a seat across Darryl.

"T-that was refreshing?" Darryl asked as I noticed he looked a lot more weary than he did when we first arrived.

"I told you. It was going to be worse than you imagined." I laughed as I tilted my head and grinned.

"It surely was worse than expected. There was so much shoving and pulling as people wanted me to move out of the way to grab stuff... Somehow the atmosphere in that area made it hard to breathe as well..."

"Sorry, you're probably not much of a crowd person like me. It's just a rare occasion that I would stumble across an accessory et al shop holding a promotion." I said as I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.

"It's alright. I got to witness an amazing scene today." Darryl said as he leaned his chin against his hands, eyeing me strangely.

"Don't tell me... You don't mean that time when I---"

"I mean that time when you climbed the table to grab my attention before paying. And lifting that huge chunk of metal as you said you got the best one."

"You said it..." I sighed before burying my face in my hands, "I had hope you'd forget."

"No way, it's too difficult to forget an amusing scene as that. The amount of panic it caused me as you stumbled and was about to fall... Sigh... Good thing the people around you caught you in time. Its like a reenactment of those rock and roll bands of the past."

"You don't need to elaborate the details." I groaned as I recalled the scene that he mentioned.

"Well, it's good we're both here... Still in one piece." Darryl smiled as he gently patted my head as a means to get to see my expression.

"We won't die from just one sale."

"... One sale... you don't mean... there are others?" Darryl's smile faltered as his hands froze from my serious expression.

"You did say you would accompany me. I don't think you're one to go back on your words, right? M.R. S.P.O.N.S.O.R?" I spelt it out as I smirked at Darryl.

"I-... Fine. I'll keep you company for the entirety of the day. Just to keep my respected researcher pleased... so that he may progress with his work."

"... I do make progress!" I pouted as I fumbled through my pocket and found the small pill-shaped screen I had brought with me.

I pulled it out and squeezed it as the floor plan of the mall came to view. I studied the area and pointed out the rough directions to Darryl, hoping he could lead me because of my terrible sense of direction.

"You do know how to get there right?"

"Sure. I've got it mostly memorised. I'll make sure we don't get lost. Don't worry."

"What is that supposed to mean? I can go around without getting lost either, alright?!" I huffed as I got up from my seat in a hurry.

"Sol? Where are you going?" Darryl panicked as he stood up to stop me.

"Washroom. Don't worry. I can find my way back. Just worry about the price of the tablet you're going to refund me." I pointed out before leaving.

Darryl gave in and nodded as he took a seat back onto his chair and glanced at the menu displayed on the table.

Without waiting a second longer, I made my way towards the direction that shows toilet. However...

"Where am I?! How did I get to this carpark?!" I glanced around as I saw the compact cars squeezed together.

I remember following the arrows... but it kept pointing straight again and again whenever I checked. Where is the bathroom?!

"It can't possibly be here right? .... Maybe it is... I'll just look around for a bit..."

Meanwhile...

(Darryl POV)

"Hmm? He's taking quite long. Perhaps it's number 3. He did say he wasn't directionally challenged unlike what I initially had thought. I guess I'll wait for him. The meal would get cold though." Darryl tapped on the table as he eyed Sol's seat.

*ring**ring*

"Hello? Oh. It's you. Perfect timing. I need you to drop some things off at Sol's place." Darryl said as he answered the ringing bracelet on his wrist.

Instead of a quick affirmation, the assistant on the other end of the line yelled at Darryl and scolded him before ending the call abruptly.

"... Maybe I'll reduce his wages for the month..." Darryl muttered beneath his breath before an incoming text read out that if he were to reduce the wages his assistant would quit.

"Wow... This is a whole other level. But it's hard to find someone as competent as him, nowadays." Darryl sighed before another text popped up asking for the address of his location.

"Atta boy." Darryl grinned to himself before sending his location over and stretching in his seat.

"I wonder where Sol is. I could simply leave to search for him but... Maybe I'm a little too worried. I'll wait till my assistant arrives."

***

"Why... did you do that? I don't think I can show my face at this mall ever again."

"Well, I--" Darryl was interrupted by my outburst before stumbling on how to comfort me.

"This was the closest to my place! Now I have to go to the mall another town over!"

"I..."

"I'm sorry I lied that I wasn't directionally challenged... But did you have to use the lost children announcement?! I even had to be escorted personally over there by a huge group of people. And they even gave me candies!" I pouted as I showed Darryl my pockets filled with candy and the one swirly lollipop I had been licking from earlier.

"It was a last attempt because I couldn't reach your cell. Why don't you switch to this device instead?" Darryl asked as he pointed out to his wrist.

"Don't wanna. I like the feeling of actually owning something and the weight that comes with it. The modern cellphone is too much of a lightweight model for me."

"Even so... you should have charged your cell before leaving the lab. What if something happened to you?"

"I don't need you to worry so much about that. I am an adult and can take care of myself properly." I said as I glared at him.

"Sol..."

"I already have someone who always buggers me to do certain things. I don't need another." I folded my arms as I let my mind be clouded from the frustration of being seen as a kid.

"... I'm sorry. I won't resort to such drastic actions again... but... I did it because I was really worried about you."

"..."

"I know you're an adult but... I just have this... feeling... like I want to..."

"Protect me? No way... You sound just like my friend." I frowned until Darryl shook his head at my sentence.

"No, it's not that. Well. It's hard to put to words. Why don't we just do what we came here for." Darryl sighed as he straightened my collar for me.

"Ah, hey! I can do it myself!" I replied in a fluster as Darryl caught my eyes and smiled.

He then walked forwards as he guided me back to the restaurant we had initially been in.

"I had been thinking..."

"Yes?"

"Isn't this place... rather expensive? I think the one I brought you to last time was cheaper than this." I whispered as I quickly walked beside him.

"The place you brought me to eat at was good. But, I wanted to try the food here with you."

"Oh." I replied feeling a little bashful.

"I also wanted to show you what you should expect when your project takes flight. Having this everyday will no longer be a luxury."

"Oh. (monotone and emotionless)"

So basically he is saying I need to quickly come up with a basis to make the project work so that I can eat this everyday? Is this a preview?

"Why don't we head in? I asked them to prepare a new set when they see us coming."

"A new set?"

"Oh... It's nothing. Get seated. I'll ask the waiter something." Darryl replied before heading towards the counter.

I glanced at him and at the packed restaurant before rubbing my chin.

Sit where?

"Dear guest, this way please." a man called out to me as he led me down a hidden corridor.

I was a little wary but decided to follow along as he didn't seem to be mistaken.

As he opened the door to a room, he bowed and then left. I blinked a few times before heading inside and glancing at the view.

It had become evening. How quick time flies.

"Sol, they led you here quite quickly." Darryl said as I noticed his white hair in the reflection on the window pane.

"Oh... yes. Did you manage to sort out the matters with the waiter?"

"I did. Do you like the view?"

"I do, in fact. It's not everyday I get to see a clear view of the city lights. The forest usually blocks it from my view at the lab. It's fascinating."

"That's good. I'm glad I asked them to switch us to this room then." Darryl smiled gently as he stood beside me and looked out the window.

"Is this... called a private room? I've never been in one." I tugged Darryl's sleeve as I whispered in his ear.

"Hehe... It seems they had no place left in the common area, so they assigned us to this room." Darryl laughed as he placed his arm around my shoulder.

"Hm?"

"Why don't you get seated? The food should be arriving soon." Darryl said as he pulled the chair for me and sat me down in a fluid motion.

"Woah. When did you--"

Just as I was about to ask him how he did it so smoothly, the doors slammed open. I jumped in my seat as I turned to look at the door.

A man who seems to be in his late 40s burst through the door and headed straight for me. As he was of a bellyful size, the ground seemed to tremble with each step he took.

He grabbed me by my shoulder, squeezing hard as he glared at me. I winced from the pain but didn't know why he was doing so.

"S-sir? I'm sorry but..."

"Pardon me, sir. Is there a problem?" Darryl asked as he held the man's wrist, lifting it off my shoulder. If I wasn't mistaken, I swear I heard a crack.

"Hiee! Let me go you brute!" The man yelled as he smacked Darryl's hand off of him, quickly holding onto the wrist Darryl had held.

"If we are talking of brute, wouldn't you be a fine example? Coming in here at random and injuring my companion." Darryl narrowed his eyes as he stood in front of me and blocked my view of the man.

"What?! I just came here to see who it was that made the restaurant cancel my reservation that I had placed months prior!" the man huffed in anger as he stomped his foot.

"Is that so? Why don't we discuss in the corner over there." Darryl said to the man as he glanced over his shoulder at me.

"Why should we? You just need to be on your merry way. I made the reservation for this day for a reason and..." all of a sudden, the man trailed off and headed to the corner of the room that Darryl most likely had pointed out.

I looked at the two converse in hushed voices before the man left the room. Darryl glanced over and smiled at me before heading towards me.

"How is your shoulder?"

"Huh? Oh... It should be fine. Tsss!" I replied as I reached up to touch it before wincing.

"Maybe you should refrain from any heavy lifting for a few days."

"What? I don't do any kind of heavy lifting." I laughed before Darryl interjected.

"Including the lifting of that huge metal you bought earlier for who knows what reason."

"..."

"Where's my respond?"

"... Yes." I sighed in defeat before Darryl patted my right shoulder which wasn't squeezed earlier and headed over to his seat.

A few minutes later, the food arrived. It was like a staple for restaurants which exudes elegance and sophistication to serve steak as I stared at the meat seared to perfection before me.

"I hope you don't mind medium well." Darryl said before he took my plate and cut the meat into bite sized pieces before handing it back to me.

"Oh... Thank you."

"It's no problem." Darryl replied before cutting his steak.

Unlike mine, his was... really... Red... like... almost as if it were raw.

"Don't mind me. Go ahead." Darryl smiled as I nodded and took a bite of the succulent meat.

"Delish!" my eyes sparkled as I tore into the flesh that felt softer than any meat I ate before. Is this what it means to be rich? To taste delicious food like this everyday?!

"Music to my ears. Now, let's enjoy our meal before the next battle." Darryl laughed as he took a bite from the meat on his plate.

"Sure." I grinned as I thought of how Darryl related shopping to battle.

It seemed that sales were now classified as a place of battle for him. I somehow guessed that a posh guy like him would find shopping during a sale madness as he could simply swipe his card to purchase everything or anything he wants.

Gee, I sure wish I could relate.