The moment Shauwn laid eyes on the stranger, his face contorted in a way Wallace had never seen. It was a mix of anger and buried rage that suddenly surged to the surface.
Shauwn himself didn't understand what was happening. Moments ago, he had been changing and getting ready, but as soon as he stepped out of the back room to join Wallace, he was instantly flooded with violent feelings of fury and resentment.
The man in the suit wasn't a stranger. He was someone Shauwn knew, though their past encounters had always carried a hint of unease, a sense of caution in confiding in him. But this—this level of rejection—was new.
"Shauwn, it's been a while, hasn't it? You look almost like you want to kill me," the man said, his tone teasing.
Gradually, Shauwn calmed himself, placing a hand over his chest and regulating his heartbeat. Wallace moved closer, trying to offer some comfort. Finally, Shauwn took a deep breath and said:
"I'd appreciate it if you stopped with these jokes… it could be misleading."
"Ah, hahaha, my apologies."
The old diner owner had gotten lost in their exchange. He didn't know what was happening. The two clearly knew each other, and judging by Shauwn's reaction, there had been hostility—but not anymore.
"Don't worry, Wallace. He's just an acquaintance. No harm intended," Shauwn added, easing his employer's concern. Wallace nodded silently.
Without waiting, Shauwn turned to the stranger.
"I never thought we'd meet again… Looks like the role of overseer and confidant has suited you well. Look at you," he said with a smile.
The comment drew a faint smile from the man.
"Oh, this? Just appearances, nothing special," the man said, adjusting the sleeves of his suit. "But let's get to why I'm here."
"Well, I was wondering that too. And if you could tell me how you found me, I'd be grateful."
"Let's just say that the people you worked with in the past have some sophisticated means to track you if they wanted. But even then, you're not easy to find."
"I see…"
Shauwn didn't need a full explanation; he understood the implication. I thought they had… I'd better warn Big Sister, he thought.
"Now, about why I'm here… let's just say the new semester is approaching fast."
"Huh?" Shauwn was caught off guard. "What does that mean?"
"You're going to enroll in university, as we discussed."
Shauwn laughed. Of all the reasons, he hadn't expected this to be it.
"Look, I did express interest in continuing my studies, but right now, I'm happy here… I was in a vulnerable state back then, okay? I wasn't thinking clearly with all the conditioning they tried to impose on me… Anyway, you understand, I don't want to dwell on it."
"Sure, that may be true. But back then, you were more honest, more willing to express your true desires than you are now… You're lying to yourself."
The man Shauwn called the Overseer was speaking the truth, and Shauwn knew it. Despite the instability caused by the conditioning, he had always been honest with him. Why? Because he was a stranger? Or because he didn't judge harshly? Or simply because he was a confidant?
"Shauwn, you told me you wanted a fresh start, to leave your past behind… We both know, unfortunately, that you've been conditioned for an unusual lifestyle, and even if you wanted to, you couldn't live a normal life as you wish. You've shared your fears and your outlook for the future with me. That's why I was ready to help you, and I still am… You don't want to join the institution I run to continue your studies? That's fine. But stop hiding behind lies. Say what you truly want. That's all…"
The man stood, pulled a card from his suit pocket, slid it across the table, and then left as quietly as he had arrived. Wallace immediately grabbed it, slipping it into his pocket before Shauwn could reach for it.
Shauwn didn't react. His attention was fixed on what he had noticed earlier: a detail about the Overseer. As the man placed the card, Shauwn had glimpsed, on the back of his right hand, a tattoo—part Celtic, part runic—entwined with thorny vines.
The old man, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, turned to him.
"You never told me you were considering university," he said with a faint smile.
"It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I didn't think he'd take it seriously…" Shauwn replied, fidgeting with his hair, embarrassed that Wallace had found out.
"Shauwn…"
"Tonight! We'll talk tonight, I promise."
Shauwn hurried, leaping over the counter to find Claire. Once outside, he paused, recalling the conversation with the Overseer, who had mysteriously vanished. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He stared at the sky, lost in thought, phrases drifting through his mind. Conditioned for a lifestyle… unable to live normally…
Claire watched from a distance, perched on the hood of her car.
"Hey, stop daydreaming. Today, you're my personal chauffeur," she said, tossing him the car keys.
Shauwn caught them mid-air, sighed, and headed toward her.