rupture - l.s.

Chapter 3

My body is under shock for a few seconds already and so my eye remains also for an unpleasantly long period on his face. His eyes are also on me. But there is a lot of coldness and disregard in his look. Back then, it was quite different.

I can still remember our first meeting. Just like our last meeting.

He even admitted to me that he had started smoking after we finished. Even before, the smell of nicotine unconsciously approached me when I entered the shop. Does he still smoke?

He was always a non-smoker and said he would prefer a life without lung cancer and tar in his lungs. How people can suddenly change their views ... how people can suddenly change.

There is nothing left to see from the dark, dark eye bags that he had, when I saw him last time, the skin of the now 24-year-old has color again and his hair is shining again, but they still have the same length as when we last saw each other.

Regarding the clothes there was probably also a very big step in the direction of sporty. A white tank top revealing a part of his chest and black skinny jeans. Actually not so bad. Definitely better than back then.

My eyes glide to his eyes. He just looks at me, just like I look at him. They are still - as they were back then - somewhat dull, but the beautiful ocean blue is still very noticeable.

I still remember his last words, which should convince me a few months ago, to love him again and give him a second chance. However, it seemed to me that from the first moment on, it was not quite the truth.

"I had really thought I did not need you. Probably my brain ... I don't know ... didn't work for 6 crappy months.'', he lied back then.

''I miss you.''.

"Shit, man. I can not laugh any more.''

"I no longer sleep properly. I look like a disabled zombie, man ... ''.

"Harry, I'm so sorry for what happened. I need you, really. I'm going to break when we turn our backs and ignore each other.''.

During all my thoughts, Louis and I had literally gazed at each other and seemingly inspected each others look to the last detail. As if we were strangers. But we aren't strangers. We're definitely not strangers.

He had always known every single cell of my body and I knew the same about his body. But I think I do not even know his full name nowadays.

His forehead lies in folds and so slowly I notice, that I already stared at him for a long time. Even though he did it too, I'm once again the one who feels guilty. Typical.

"So you're working here now?", he asks me and continues to look at me. "Y-Yes'', I'm clearing my throat, suddenly a huge lump in there and I probably will not get rid of it . However, the clearing did not help.

"Since when are you the boss  here?"."My uncle died 2 months ago. Since then I've taken care of his little bar here.", he explains to me and stands next to baldhead. He is still brushing glasses.

Louis had often told me about the bar that his uncle owned, but he never showed it to me. I look around briefly and notice that a picture is hanging beside the door, on which Louis and his uncle celebrate the opening of the bar together. Louis must have been about 15, because he looks very young in the picture.

Normally, I would say something like "Oh, I'm sorry for that." 'Or ''My condolences.''. However, the words do not dare to come out of my mouth. And I don't even dare to ask him how his uncle left the world. But that is not important at all.

''And why are you working here now?'', he asks me.''That's none of your business.'', I answer emotionlessly."Hey, is this is kind of like a job interview, right?", he asks and helps the baldheaded man a bit and now also cleans a few glasses.

I nod and watch him.

"Then give me answers. You did not have an interview right from the start."

I sigh and stroke an annoying strand of hair behind my ear."I need money.", I reply."Ah, how cute. He needs money.'', he feasts with the man next to him.

"Ok, you have the job.", he suddenly says.

What? Have I heard this correctly?

I thought he'd kick me out, just to laugh at ne..

"So fast?", I ask him, confusedly."A waiter only has to ask what the guests want to order all day long and serve stuff.", he looks at me again."And there may be some trouble, because someone maybe pushes you every now and then.''.

"Great..'', I mumble.''I can also change my mind.'', he approaches me.''Either you listen and do what I want you to do or you move your fat ass out of my bar.''.

I swallow thickly. It's been a long time since someone talked to me like that.

"All right, where can I start?", I ask and look at him as confident as I can be.

"So.." he replied harshly, "...mop is standing there."

I quickly walk past him and grab the mop.

"You still have half an hour to clean the floor so brightly that you can make a 10-minute rule out of the stupid 5-second rule.''. One last time he looks at me and then disappears through a dark, red curtain in another room.

.

"My name is Harry.", I say to the bald head."I know, you said that earlier ...", he moans angrily.

"And yours?", I ask, while I continue to wipe the ground."Listen, buddy. We're both here to work and not for fucking small talk, you get it?'', he snaps at me."I get it." I repeat, and continue my work.

The ground is already shining. I smile proudly, glancing at the glass door, which two men are standing in front of while they're talking.

,,Robert.''.

Confused, I turn around. The bald head does not look at me.

"What?" I ask. 

"Robert.", he says.,,My name is Robert.''.