Chapter 1

"Aaron, Aaron," Mike bellowed. "You’re spacing out again"

"I wasn't spacing out," I retorted. "I was simply lost in thought."

"Well, snap out of it and we have work to do. It's already two o'clock, rush hour is imminent, and this establishment will soon be teeming with customers."

"I'm aware," I acknowledged as I headed towards the kitchen to ready for the impending influx of patrons."

My restaurant may not exude a luxurious aura, yet it does not matter as customers come for the food. I have savored my own dishes countless times and they hold significant value to me. The rush hour was relatively brief, but it left me drained and longing to end the day when someone arrived.

"Excuse me, I am looking for the manager" she asked with a strange voice, it was soft and gentle but I could tell it wasn’t real.

"Well you are looking right at him," I replied.

"Great because that's who I'm looking for”. she said with enthusiasm."I was advised that if I want the best fried chicken around here, then I should ask specifically for you."

"In that case, please thank whoever suggested that to you and let me get right on it." As I headed towards the kitchen to prepare her meal, something felt peculiar about her demeanor. Perhaps it was merely my imagination due to having had some shots earlier; however, upon hearing her whisper "I've found him", doubts started creeping up on me regarding this woman's true intentions. Hoping against hope that my past would not catch up with me through her arrival at my establishment today,I stared at her intently even though Mike thought otherwise: "She's beautiful alright; no need to keep staring- gives off creepy vibes".

As soon as she finished eating the roast chicken, which took considerable effort from myself alone in preparation,she promptly left.I fervently hoped never again will our paths cross since she seemed like trouble - either overthinking or maybe intuition told of an impending calamity.

The stress-filled workday ended. I began locking up. It wasn't long I started heading towards home, I became aware of being followed by someone unknown.Attempting several turns did nothing as he persisted doggedly behind.Finally luring him into an alleyway where upon he fell into a trap set by myself,I confronted him:

"Who are you? What is your business?"

"I just want us to talk," he pleaded.

"I am afraid listening isn't one of my strong suits."

Without further ado,I lunged forward launching a punch,but he deftly blocked while jumping back declaring:"Fighting is unnecessary unless provoked".

I laughed madly upon hearing this sentence. "So you think you can beat me easily, do you?"

"Yes, I do"

"Then let's test that theory, shall we?"

Without saying another word, I rushed at him unsheathing my kunai from my arm strap, slashing at him with my kunai and he dodged just as I had predicted. I quickly aimed at his stomach to make him think I was going to hit him and just as I had hoped, he concentrated his defence at his stomach only to feel a painful impact on his face.

My father used to assert that a man's fighting ability could be judged by his initial punch, and he was not mistaken. It became evident from the outset of this altercation that the opponent possessed only basic knowledge of martial arts as evidenced by his efforts to evade it.

"What in God's name! You've hit me on my face”, he moaned.

"I believed you declared victory would be yours."

"Enough, all of you," she interjected sharply.

It can be vexing to disregard one's intuition, only to have it materialize into reality. I discerned that she was a harbinger of misfortune from the very first glimpse, and lo and behold, there stood my purveyor of fried chicken, emerging from obscurity.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***