"Think rationally Charles." Chris gazed at his brother's distraught, sullen face and sighed. She was desperate; she wanted to make Charles see straight with her words. "You know this three-year absence might endanger Autumn."
She hoped her words would bring her brother to his senses, not being like this. She pursed her lips and glared at him. "You had better cheer up than remain in seclusion with only despair and liquor as your friend."
"It's my life, so you better stay the hell out of it!" His eyes shone with fury as he met his sister's startled ones, his voice was raised and his words were intentionally hurting her. She was frozen still, and her face showed disbelief at her brother's behavior towards her. Gone was his loving brother, who was replaced with this hostile man.
She gulped and lowered her gaze; her voice was almost like a whisper against the eerie stillness of the room. "You are wasting yourself, dear brother…" Continuing her advice, she said,"Please act like a real adult and spare us from worries about your irrational actions."
Her words hit Charles. He stared at her face before stepping out from the room, the door hitting the frame with a bang as it was shut behind him.
With his eyes closed, he breathed out his frustrations and welcomed the fresh, cold air entering his lungs, as he stood in front of the lush greenery of a garden. His eyes opened and focused on the cold cement flooring and at once, his thoughts drifted back to Autumn's face, filling his heart with sadness and immense pain.
Later that night, he found himself in front of the counter of the bar, sitting on a comfortable stool. Taking observations and comparison of the peaceful club he used to go to, he found this new crowded club was featured by loud music around.
Just when he was about to take his drink from the bartender, a woman dressed in daring red outfit came and approached him with every intention of flirting with him.
The woman's hand was about to touch him lewdly when she noticed his glare. His dark, cold look shaken her to senses and left him in peace. It also served as a warning to the other watching sluts waiting for their chance on the side.
Two glasses of liquor were gone in one gulp. Charles was drowning fast into drunkenness. His only wish was to relieve these emotions and feel a sense of elation.
A loud crash and broken glasses earned the attention of everyone. The once wild crowd of dancers stopped and focused on the scene. Charles turned his head and looked as well. There was a man, possibly the chief barman, scolding a waitress, while the latter pleaded for mercy.
After half an hour of severe reprimand, the waitress returned to the bar counter, almost close to tears. Her back turned to him, her shoulders shaking slowly. By now, he thought, she must be crying.
Charles looked at her and ordered for another glass of liquor to mix. She turned to him, her eyes were red and there were trails of tears on her face. He later knew she was a new waitress.
"Please give me a glass of whisky with ice cubes." His tone was direct.
Blinking her tears away, the waitress hastily moved to make his order. She was still sensitive over the earlier scenario, her hands still shaking from fear. Her determination to make things right didn't go with her body as the glass slipped from her hands and smashed into the floor, shattering loudly.
The chief barman saw this mishap and turned to the poor waitress. "Miss, your low performance on the job demands an immediate termination, though your being a single mother gained my sympathy."
The man from earlier gave the waitress a severe scolding.
"Leila, you better seek employment somewhere else considering your poor performance for your first week of work here." The man shouted his words at the poor waitress, his index finger pointing at her.
Blazing bright neon lights of the bar made Leila's face recognizable to the shocked Charles.
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