The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Das opened the front door of the cafe, and he was greeted by the sweet aroma.

The cafe's ground floor switched to a bar at night and served only the drinks with low alcohol.

It was a place that one could come to chill after a long tiresome day at the office.

When Das walked in, there were only three customers. 

One man was wearing a suit. His watch and ring he wore in hand showed he was some rich person. The other man was wearing glasses, and he was just sitting there with a glass of lemon juice in his hand. The third was a woman; she was wearing a one-piece party dress. She was staring crazily at the man wearing glasses.

When Das entered, all three of them, including the cafe owner-- currently bar owner, turned their gazes at Das.

"Are you sure you are old enough to drink, kid?" The man wearing the ring asked.

"I am not here to drink. It's my friend's birthday party today, so I am looking for a way to go to the second floor.

"Oh!" The bar owner exclaimed. He then pointed his finger at the door behind the counter and said, "You can go through this door. And there is also another entrance from the back door."

Das nodded and walked to the door behind the counter. He opened the door and then glanced at the bar owner.

The bar owner smiled in response and spoke, "She would be happy that you are here."

Das frowned his face and closed the door behind him.

The bar owner chuckled and resumed wiping the glass.

"There is a party upstairs?" asked the man wearing glasses.

"Something like that."

The man wearing the ring stared at the bar owner, then picked up the glass filled with the wine and took a sip. He then leaned back and said, "It's rare to see you smile, master."

The bar owner stopped his hand, "I was smiling?"

"You were," the man replied.

The bar owner then looked at the man wearing glasses and at the woman. They both nodded in reply.

"Who was that kid? You know him?" the man wearing the ring asked.

The bar owner started wiping the glass again and uttered, "Not exactly. He is a friend of a girl I know."

"Oh? I didn't know the master was into young girls."

"That's not it, idiot. She is like a daughter to me."

"Oh?" The woman rested her face on her hand and said, "It's rare for you to show affection to someone."

The bar owner then said with a smile on his face, "Maybe I am getting older?"

"So?" The man wearing glasses shook his glass, and the ice cube in the class hit around the glass, making a soft clunk noise. "How did a girl gain your affection while we three are dying for it for twenty years?"

"She is less annoying than you three."

A smile appeared on all of their faces as they cheered together.

'What did that bar owner meant?' Das wondered as he stood before the door of the second floor.

Das moved his hand towards the handle of the door but stopped and pulled his hand back.contemporary romance

He was nervous about many things.

'The room will be filled with people. And the party started like an hour ago.'

Das took a deep breath and once again moved his hand at the handle. This time, he grabbed it and moved it down.

The door opened, and walked in. He was expecting to get buried under the stares, but-- the hall was empty.

There was no one inside.

Confused, Das walked further in and glanced around.

'What's going on?' He walked further. 'This is the second floor, right? Or did I miss the second floor and came to the third one or something?'

Das clenched his fists. 'This room is decorated perfectly for a birthday party.'

He gritted his teeth and frowned his face. 'What the hell is going on?'

As Das walked further and glanced more, he noticed a table and a pair of chairs in the corner. There was a 4-floor cake on the table next to a girl sitting on the chair with her hands and head on the table.

Das noticed her at first glance. 'Elena.' It was Elena.

Das gulped down as he gripped the bag in his hand, then walked to the table with small steps.

'The party ended? But the cake…' Das let go of the bag as it fell on the floor.

'She would be happy that you are here.' Das recalled the words the bar owner told him.

He sat on the chair beside Elena, moved his hand towards her, stared at her, then touched her hand.

Nothing happened.

Das took a deep breath and gulped down, then shook Elena's hand. "Elena?"

Elena moved a little as her hair slid down her shoulder.

"Elena."

The table surface was wet, and Das knew the reason for it.

"Elena?"

Elena finally moved and sat up, then opened her eyes and looked at Das.

Her eyes were red, and her face was also wet.

"Are you okay?" Das asked.

Elena didn't say anything and just stared at Das.

'She is half-asleep?'

Elena couldn't believe her eyes and thought this all was just her dream.

Elena was excited about her birthday for weeks. Last night, she couldn't sleep from excitement and spend her night studying for the exams they had today.

After the exams, Das dropped Elena at her house and then went to his house.

Meanwhile, Elena couldn't wait for the night. She hadn't slept a wink, but she wasn't sleepy.

She didn't eat anything in lunch and spent her afternoon getting ready.

Once it was evening, she was ready to go. She came here at 7 PM and confirmed all the decorations. She then waited for the clock to hit 7:30.

Ten minutes passed since the said time, but no one came. Elena went downstairs to make sure the doors were unlocked. 

Twenty minutes passed by, but still, no one came.

Elena started to get worried that she might have posted the wrong address. She opened her post and confirmed the address; it was the correct address.

Elena still put up a smile and kept waiting and waiting, but no one came.

Feeling sad and dejected, she sat on the chair and rested her head on the table, then cried and cried and eventually fell asleep.

done.co