Lance looked at Alex, incredulous, but at the same time, not really surprised. He smiled and tried to weasel his way through the obstruction:
"Come on, are you really lacking that little bit of money!? Don't be so stingy!"
Alex didn't even look at him before he replied:
"This is not a charity house. Every cent counts."
Lance exhaled, defeated by the undefeatable logic:
"Then, what about considering these drinks a compensation for going out without us? Right, Tyler?"
Tyler glanced at Lance, his eyes less troubled, then shook his head slightly before looking away with a smile. Alex paused his game, or maybe he got to a part where he could take his eyes off it, because he looked up to glance at Lance, gave him a once-over, then asked lightly, his tone neither sharp nor dismissive, more… amused:
"I went out to play, why should I compensate you? Do you want me to tell you what you did this weekend?"
Lance froze, having not expected Alex to pry at his weakness straightaway and breach his defense. Recalling what he did this weekend, he glanced at the beautiful brunette at the side, then suddenly held onto the table and bent over while clutching his chest tightly, as if beset by a sudden pain:
"Hurgh! Alex, we are not friends anymore! It is so painful!"
Everyone's lips curled up, because the acting had no finesse at all. Tyler shook his head, while Alex rolled his eyes, as if disappointed after having expected better, and returned his focus to his game.
Seeing no one paying him any mind, Lance sighed, defeated, and turned to the amused waitress to wave his hand at her, his tone and posture defeated:
"Gaelle, go, we will do as your heartless boss says. I will pay for Tyler and myself."
"Alright~"
The brunette replied crisply and turned away. With that out of the way, Lance dramatically turned to face Tyler:
"Alright, man, now speak. How come you stalked Kim? That is so much not like you."
Looking at the blond, Tyler pulled his lips up in an empty smile. He looked at Alex, whose fingers were giving the impression of having slowed down, and explained:
"I did indeed go to see Kim this weekend, and more than once. I just never got the guts to get out of my car to say what I had tucked in my chest. And while I was hesitating, I unconsciously followed her. I suppose that is what she told Alex."
Saying that, he lowered his head to exhale, as he let bitterness color his empty canvas again:
"Heh, at least I have not become dangerous enough that she has to call the police. She only called Alex."
Lance frowned at Tyler. Even Alex took his eyes off his game to give the man a look carrying a hint of scrutiny.
Lance looked at his friend and spoke with a serious smile:
"Tyler, I can say Kim is a bad girl. Heck, I don't know what you like about her but I know she is a good buddy. However, there is no need to be a simp for her, is there? Look at how deeply you have colored yourself in the gray of depression. Is it worth it?"
Tyler paused. Then, it was his turn to give Lance a serious look. And seeing the look in Lance's eyes that asserted confidence in his own words, Tyler couldn't help but scoff with a smile:
"How much longer do you think you will be able to play for? Sooner or later, you will have to find someone to settle down and take over the responsibilities you have been ignoring whether you want to or not. At least, I am making my own choice. We are all helpless people."
Saying that, Tyler glanced at Alex too, his smile somewhat helpless. At that moment, Gaelle came back to unload their orders. She glanced at Lance's frozen smile, and went on to continue her work elsewhere.
Alex raised an eyebrow, then his lips curled up, and he stood up with his cup to go change his drink. Lance looked at his back, and turned back to push down the lump that had formed in his throat with the newly served cold drink. Lowering his hand, he shook his head with lament:
"It is a pity that there are cold and warm drinks here, but no alcohol."
Turning to Tyler, Lance showed a smile that seemed to struggle with the painful reality Tyler spoke of, one that unwillingly acknowledged the truth of the latter's words, before letting out a helpless exhale:
"You can speak for us, Tyler, but not for Alex. Who in his family can force that guy to start a true relationship and get married? We are the helpless ones. He is not like us poor people. Moreover, after Rose…"
Lance stopped short, and swallowed the rest of his words. Holding back an exhale, he shook his head, unwilling to continue, though his unfinished words successfully piqued Tyler's curiosity:
"Who is Rose?"
Lance waved the question off, his reply shutting down the possibility of any further inquiry:
"Someone there is no need to talk about."
Tyler was intrigued, but he didn't pursue it. Lance exhaled, and calmed down. He concluded:
"Anyway, think about what you want and really go for it. Though, I still stand by my previous words."
Tyler took a deep breath, then exhaled, at the same time schooling his expression and calming down, or maybe hiding the turmoil in his heart, for now.
At that moment, Alex came back with his new cup of chocolate with milk. Sitting down, he took a sip, then glanced at the two across from him, first at Lance, then at Tyler, then he smiled:
"It seems that you two have shared the depression, so now it should be manageable, right?"
Tyler let out a bitter but amused smile, while Lance rolled his eyes before changing the topic:
"Won't you, at least, ask us why we are here? After all, we came all the way here to see you."
Alex smiled, returned his attention to his phone, and leaned back before casually doing as Lance asked:
"Alright, shoot. Why are you two idlers here, if not to complain or spread a cloud of depression in my shop?"