In the middle of the cafe line, under a cantilever umbrella, sat a young man, probably about Xal's age, wearing a dark red, oversized sweater and khaki pants with matching shoes.
Holding his breath, he kept his gaze fixed on the stranger's eyes, waiting to see if it would happen again or if he'd imagined it.
A light smile curved his lips, clearly having overheard Xal's compliments to the interview board.
Something about this man bought a fleeting sense of nostalgia he couldn't place.
His gaze lingered on the stranger's eyes a few seconds longer, concluding he'd imagined the white flash.
"What did they say? Too young or no experience?" the stranger asked without waiting for an answer.
Finally, someone who understands, Xal thought, feeling somewhat relieved and calm.
Certainly, there was something familiar about this man, tugging at his memory, making him more curious than annoyed now. With a sigh, he walked over and sat in the opposite chair, dropping his folder onto the table. The coldness of the metal sank into his skin through the clothes.
"No experience," he grumbled. Remembering how the interview went badly, he rubbed his temples as if he could massage the memory away. Elbows planted on the table, Xal bent forward, resting his forehead in his hands.
Frustration, disappointment, and stress settled in like lead inside bones. Being jobless in 2026 in Sorya Province was not the ideal situation, even when he had some decent savings.
"Want a drink or something?" the stranger asked carefully.
Palms adjusted to press over his eyes, Xal sighed again. "I could use a Four Horsemen."
"Yeah…" The stranger dragged on, "Maybe something that's actually on their menu would be a better choice."
"I'll have whatever you are having," Xal said dismissively, taking in the fresh fruity smell of the drink in front of him. He kept on lightly massaging his eyes with the heels of his palms to relieve the pressure as he heard the stranger order a mango bubble tea.
An immature choice of drink for an adult. Maybe he is a teenager.
The stranger spoke again, trying to engage in conversation.
"Such a shame, though. This is exactly the kind of place that should serve Four Horsemen, considering how much bullshit employees have to deal with all eight hours a day."
That broke out a snort from Xal.
Not a teenager. He removed his palms from his eyes to notice that everything was blurred and out of focus. His mother would have immediately blamed it on using the mobile for too long. He blinked hard, leaning back into the chair, oddly grateful for the stranger's comforting company.
Usually, he wouldn't even bother to respond.
He didn't trust people who weren't family.
"No shit, man. They were unintelligent pricks," He said, unfiltered, knowing his professionalism had already flown out the window the moment this stranger heard him cursing, wearing a suit. He preferred the unrestrained version of himself because that was simply Xal himself.
No fake compliments to impress, no filtering, no people pleasing, and yet he put up with all of that for the sake of having the career he wanted.
Sometimes he would wish he could be himself as a bodyguard, not a robot that follows the same set of orders every single day.
Fuck. I shouldn't have pressed on my eyes so hard. He thought, blinking again before squeezing his eyes shut, welcoming the darkness once more. A gush of wind passed by with a tinge of the upcoming winter.
"They really should change interview structures," the stranger said. "People with skills might lack experience, and the ones with experience might not handle the pressure…"
Listening to him, Xal opened his eyes and finally took in a clear image of the man in front of him.
This has to be a joke.
Purple highlights?