The Semblance of Bliss

“YOU’RE LATE.” Shun wiped off the sweat on his forehead. “I’m sorry.” He’s slightly panting as if he just had been into a long run. He then stood straight in front of his manager at the pizza parlor. “I encountered some minor accident on the way.” Shun wanted to grimace. Minor. He was almost kidnapped. Kidnapped! Shun barely even believed himself when thought of that. Earlier, he was just casually doing his job—his other job as a delivery guy—when he was tasked to deliver pancakes at a squatter area, then he found out that the customers were gangsters! 

“NO, OF course.” Maybe because of how loud and blunt Shun had said it, Lincoln froze for a moment before realizing what he had just asked. He waved his hands in a panic manner as if clearing some invisible clouds of tension in the middle of them. “N-No, I mean–I, I, that’s–” Words stumbled, and face flushed because of embarrassment, Lincoln didn’t how he should say it. “Calm down first,” Shun calmly said. He sipped in his cocktail and looked away from Lincoln. He wasn’t that surprised by the other’s question. In fact, he already anticipated this. He very knew what a man like him himself was fond of doing in a place like this. Of course, what cou

Chapter 5****SHUN WAS humming happily while walking down the street. His lips were stretched into a big smile, both hands were inside his pockets. He was very happy he was able to pay his sister’s bills today. His sister will be operated on soon.Yesterday, Lincoln transferred the money he promised Shun. Because of that money, he was able to pay Shaine’s bills and his apartment rent. What a good day. Although today is also the day he will meet Lincoln’s parents, he wasn’t nervous. It’s a really good day for him to be nervous.Not until he passed on a alleyway, and heard voices of some men.“Is that him? He doesn’t look like that one.”“That’s him I sure! Haven’t I told you he’s always changing his appearance?”Shun turned to look at where the voice is coming from, and his eyes immediately widened in horror.There was a clusters of men on the alleyway, looking so ‘gangster-ish’ as some of t

LINCOLN VEGA gazed outside through the glass window of his office. It wasn’t that bright that afternoon. He can see from above the high skyscrapers beside their own company building. Then his eyes went to the highest building he can see from afar. He can barely read the four-letter word on the top. Fengs. Lincoln blinked. He remembered that he once again bought clothes from that brand even though his family owns their own clothing brand. Well, that’s okay, I guess. It’ll be slightly suspicious if he brought Sheen to their own store and present her to his parents. Sheen. Lincoln didn’t notice that his lips curved slightly upon picturing the young woman in his mind. Ah, he missed her. It’s been a few days since they saw each other. When he’s trying to call her in the middle of the day, sometimes the woman wouldn’t answer or answer after a couple of rings. But if she answered, she always told him she was working and

SHUN DIDN’T know when he had stood up and walked, but maybe he did, considering how he end up in front of a door. And it wasn’t his apartment’s door.Shun gulped and raised his hand to knock but stopped in midair. Is she still awake? It’s almost 12 AM by now. He shook his head and knocked.Moments later, the door opened.Shun expected a somewhat disheveled and had just gotten off the bed from a deep sleep look, but he was welcomed by a fully awake Sachiko.“Hey,” Shun greeted softly, slightly surprised. He sniffed lightly and a liquor smell filled his nostrils. His brows creased. “Have you been drinking?”Sachiko gave nothing away as she stared at Shun’s face. “Are you one of the girls I dumped before?”Shun cocked his head to the side because of confusion, but his lips parted when he realized what was happening. Chuckling, he said, “Silly. It’s me, Shun.&