'End Point: Remembrance' was full of people coming and going, with a good part remaining to sit at the available tables with their drinks. The waiters and waitresses were moving around, going back and forth between the tables and the counter, their plates held with experienced hands that kept them steady, whether full of orders or empty glasses.
The place was brightly illuminated, the crowd only giving it a feeling of life and vitality without making it feel packed, its atmosphere bringing a smile to the lips of those taking a short rest before going back into the world that had everything they could want to buy or enjoy. Or, maybe, it was the smiles already on the lips of the patrons in the midst of a short stop to supply themselves with drinks which made the atmosphere enjoyable, and bright in a contagious way.
Further in, at the back of the shop, Alex glanced at the line at the counter, before turning back to his game and adjusting himself for a more comfortable position in his cushy seat before casually picking a car for the race that had come to take the place of the previous fighting and map conquest.
At that moment, Gaelle, the brown-haired waitress with a bright smile that was easily contagious came over after taking care of an order, her small notebook tucked in the front pocket of her waist apron, while her empty plate was held against her hip. Putting away her pencil, her smile shone brighter as she looked at Alex comfortable in his corner, and asked:
"Boss, you're out. Should I bring you the usual?"
"Hm."
"Okay!"
Alex's distracted reply didn't bother the brunette. Instead, she happily nodded and briskly walked away with a spring in her steps. The brunette soon came back and put a cup of chocolate mixed with milk before Alex:
"Without any sugar, boss, the way you like it."
"Hm. Thank you."
Alex remained focused on the supercar he was controlling while replying. That made some amusement climb into Gaelle's smile. Apparently, she was used to the way her employer was being. As he freed one hand to pick up the cup, she silently took her leave to resume serving the tables waiting for attention.
At that moment, two people stepped into the shop, their gazes unlike the other customers, searching deeper into the shop instead of turning to the counter. Of the two young men, the leaner one, with blond hair of a tamer, deeper color than Gawain's bright one, locked his eyes where he expected to find the one he was looking for, and he patted his companion on the chest before taking a deep breath:
"ALEX, YOU SNEAKY BASTARD! YOU WENT ON A TRIP TO ENJOY YOURSELF ON YOUR OWN THIS WEEKEND WITHOUT TAKING US WITH YOU! WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU!"
"Pfft!!!"
Alex had not been expecting the sonic attack. The surprise shook his hands, and made him spit out the mouthful of drink he had just taken. He looked down at his crashed virtual supercar, then glared at the source of the sudden pollution. He first looked at the blond culprit, then glanced at the grin of the latter's companion, a grin that was too wide. He exhaled, then retorted calmly:
"Tyler, I heard that you still did not have the guts to ask Kim out for a date this weekend. Have you stopped stalking her yet?"
Alex didn't shout like the blond, but in the silence that had followed the disturbance, his voice travelled all the way to his intended destination, uncaring of the eyes that had fallen on them. The one called out, named Tyler, the boisterous blond's companion with hair a deep brown that was almost dark, suddenly slouched, his grin wilting. He lost his bright mood, walked over in a dejected silence, then let himself fall onto the seat across from Alex. He looked at the playboy with a bitter smile, obviously feeling wronged:
"Lance is the one who came at you, Alex, why did you fire the shot at me instead?"
Alex threw him a glance while wiping the table with a paper napkin:
"You were smiling too brightly, it irked me. If you want to take revenge on someone, turn to Lance."
Following Tyler, the slim blond hurried to sit down, his expression incredulous as he looked at Alex while he distractedly pushed with his hip Tyler to get him to move his stout body whose muscles filled the short-sleeved V-necked t-shirt he was wearing further in:
"Wait, Alex? What do you mean by Tyler stalking Kim? Did he really do that? How did you know, since you were away?"
Lance was waiting with fierce curiosity, but all he got in response was a sidelong glance:
"You damaged my business. Pay up, and I will tell you."
Lance's lips twitched, but Tyler only smiled more bitterly, looking totally uninterested in firing back at Lance after taking an undeserved shot because of him. He glanced at Alex, then at Lance, whose gaze had come to rest on him, full of curiosity, and his bitter smile grew again, as if it could only be bitterer, never too bitter. He let out an exhale which also felt bitter, and leaned back as if to rest more than his back, but also his troubled heart.
At that moment, the gazes that had been on them since the calm of the shop had been shattered started receding one by one, even if with some reluctance for some, because of how attractive the tableau with three tall and handsome guys was, especially with Lance's flirty smile with a charm capable of making hearts flutter. The latter winked at a few women, then glanced at the brown-haired waitress who had arrived upon seeing that her boss might need her.
As she took the dirty napkin, he smiled at her:
"Gaelle, sweety, would you mind bringing something for Tyler and me to drink, please?"
The brunette looked at the smile that must have trapped many others with its charm, and smiled brightly:
"Okay!"
Lance looked at her unchanged smile, and sighed despondently:
"Sigh, my charm doesn't even work on you anymore. Is it because I am not handsome enough?"
"It is because you are not as handsome as me."
Alex took back his dismissive gaze, and returned to his game while speaking to the waitress:
"Remember to make them pay for their orders, Gaelle."
"Yes, boss~"