They arrived at their neighborhood just as the sun dipped below the rooftops and casting long orange shadows across the narrow street.
Mina smiled faintly as they walk toward her house.
"Eight o’clock?" she asked.
Clyde nodded. "I’ll be there."
She hesitated for a moment becauseaybe wanting to ask more. But in the end, just gave a small wave and slipped into her house.
Clyde turned and continued toward his own house.
But the moment he opened the door, his eyes narrowed.
The living room was a mess.
Beer and another alcohol bottles scattered across the floor. Empty snack bags dumped onto the couch. Cigarette ash staining the rug.
In the center of it all was his uncle. Sprawled across the couch like a king on a broken throne, flanked by two large men in tank tops who were mid-laugh with drinks in hand.
Clyde stood silently in the doorway for a moment.
Then said coldly, "You’re still here."
His uncle turned toward him with a drunken grin.
"Look at you... coming home like some boss, huh?" he slurred. "You got no respect. After all I’ve done for you. I raised you after your parenats died, and this is how you treat me?"
Clyde scoffed. "You didn’t raise me. You squatted here and leeched off whatever scraps were left. You’re a parasite."
His uncle’s grin dropped.
"What did you say?" he growled, rising unsteadily to his feet. He looked to the two men beside him and jerked his chin. "You hear that? This little punk thinks he’s a man now."
One of the men chuckled and cracked his knuckles.
"He is a brave kid. Stupid, but brave."
The other leaned forward with a sneer. "There’s three of us and one of you, brat. You really think that mouth’s gonna help you?"
Clyde sighed. His expression calm, almost bored.
"You’re seriously proud of ganging up on a teenager? That’s what it takes to feel strong these days? Pathetic losers."
The men stood, fury burning behind their eyes. One of them snatched a knife from his belt.
The other grabbed a broken beer bottle. Clyde’s uncle laughed behind them.
"After this," the uncle spat, "I’ll take everything. All the money, the house, your dead parents’ inheritance you never knew about. Yeah, I hid that, kid. You’ll be out of the way, and all I have to do is tell the lawyer you ran off or got into a fight you couldn’t win."
Clyde’s eyes darkened.
So there was inheritance.
He didn’t even get the time to fully process that. The two men lunged.
But Clyde moved like a ghost.
The first man with the knife slashed forward and Clyde caught his wrist mid-swing, twisted hard, and the bone snapped like dry wood. The man screamed.
The second man came in swinging the bottle but Clyde ducked and slammed a palm into his gut. Then followed it with a hook across the face that sent him spinning into the wall. He didn’t get back up.
The first man tried to stab again with his off-hand, desperation kicking in.
Clyde stepped in first and drove a knee into the man’s stomach, and then elbowed him at the base of the skull. He gone out cold.
All of it took under ten seconds.
Now only the uncle stood. He was frozen and trembling.
Clyde turned toward him, calm as ever.
The man backed up slowly. "Y-You’re crazy..."
Clyde didn’t blink. "You should’ve left when I warned you."
The uncle’s legs gave out and he dropped into the chair behind him.
"You don’t... you don’t scare me," he said, voice trembling.
Clyde stepped closer.
"Try stealing from me again," he said flatly. "Try laying a finger on anything Jack’s parents left him and I won’t stop at a warning. If tomorrow you don’t show me about all that you know, I will hunt you down and kill you. Now,bring your two friends out before I’m coming down or I’ll kill you now."
The uncle said nothing.
Clyde turned and walked to his room. His steps slow and calm.
He had more to do tonight. Mina was waiting.
But first, he’d clean this mess.
And maybe, he would finally take back the life Jack was supposed to have.
Clyde stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
The hot water steamed over his skin, rinsing away the sweat, the dirt, and the blood of the brief but violent encounter.
He stood still under the stream, letting the heat sink into his muscles and clear his thoughts.
It had been a long day. Too many things were stirring beneath the surface and not just mundane matter in the world.
By the time he stepped out, the fog on the mirror was thick and the silence in the house complete.
Wrapped in a towel, he walked to the small dresser in the corner of the room. Jack’s old clothes still folded in half-hearted order. Clyde rifled through the drawers, not expecting much.
No formal wear or standout pieces. Just ordinary shirts and jeans.
He settled on a plain black t-shirt and a pair of dark jeans.
Before heading out, he spotted a half-used bottle of cologne on the desk.
He applied a few sprays to his neck and wrist. Just enough.
When he came downstairs, the living room was empty. The bottles were still there, but the bodies were gone.
He remembered hearing a car engine earlier. Someone must’ve come to drag the unconscious men away.
Maybe another drinking buddy, or maybe the uncle still had some functioning brain cell left.
Clyde slipped on his shoes and left.
He arrived at the bus stop a little early.
Minutes passed quietly. Then he saw her.
Mina walked up the sidewalk toward him, a small purse over her shoulder and a shy expression on her face.
She was wearing a soft cream-colored dress with floral edges, not overly flashy but elegant enough to stand out.
Her hair had been lightly brushed and tied to the side, and she looked... different.
Not like a student. Like someone trying to impress.
Clyde didn’t hesitate.
"That dress is cute," he said plainly.
Mina stopped in her tracks, blinking at him. Then color rushed to her cheeks. "W-What? Oh... thanks..."
She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled awkwardly, eyes flickering away for a second.
"You clean up better than I expected too."
Clyde gave a slight nod, lips tugging just a little.
They stepped on together and found a spot near the back, away from the few passengers on board.