CH 35

At the same time, in North Cina's Linghua City.

A black-haired young man was walking along the streets while wearing a long tench coat over his back. He was tall, more than six feet tall but his body was not in the least bit scrawny. There was a tired look on his face as his black eyes that glowed orange from time to time were turning red from the lack of rest. He looked over as a building complex filled with apartments was now before him. He looked towards a window where the lights have been turned off and went inside.

It was already 11 in the evening by the time Matthew arrived back home. He looked at the small table where a young woman who was leaning on the table asleep. Her beautiful young face was blocked by her arms, but he knew, it wasn't a happy face.

'I told you not to wait for me.' Matthew couldn't help but feel his head hurt from the way this girl never listens to him. He felt like he was letting him down by being like this, but it wasn't easy to make her listen as he didn't want to push her away.

He went towards the table where a bowl was covered by a plate. He didn't know what it was, but he knew it was prepared for him. She's like that after all. She likes to make food for the people she cares about. If only he wasn't one of them.

"Mm?" The sound of his footsteps seemed to be waking her up, so he stopped.

'Slowly.' When he saw that she stopped moving, he walked again. This time, he was careful in each step as if walking on glass barefoot. Taking his time while picking up the bowl while trying not to let the plate make a noise while he lifted it.

"Kyaah!" But it didn't matter because he felt a hand reach for his extended arm. He was so spooked that he almost dropped the bowl but since he was different from who he was, he used his other arm to catch the bowl and not a drop of what seemed to be stew dropped.

"You left again. Why didn't you wake me up?" Kylie had recognized him immediately as she turned her eyes to meet his. She had a pouting look on her face that was only made more pitiful by the messy black hair that seemed to be because of her sleeping on the table.

"..."

"Answer me Matty!"

Matthew knew what she was asking but he didn't give her an answer or even look her in the eyes and just ignored her. He was doing something she wouldn't let him do, especially if she knew the circumstances of it. He tried to recall just how his life turned like this. How he became someone else, something else.

.............

A few months earlier…

A construction site in Flowrida, USM has been hiring lately. The construction manager has received an order by the owner that they want to move up the construction time by a few weeks because their child's birthday will be done in the building. Though the owner gave a lot of cash to get it done, there's not nearly enough workers so they started hiring. They were simple jobs anyway, just moving things around to where they need to be. Leaving the more complex job like mixing and masonry to the more experienced workers.

A young man who was wearing a plaid shirt and jeans was heading towards the site for an interview. The requirements said to bring a resume, but he didn't have one, so he asked his friend to forge him one. The minimum age to work was 18, but though he looked older than his age, he was only 16. Nevertheless, he needed money and can't get a loan anymore. He hasn't paid them yet after all.

"You really sure you want to do this boy?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Not to talk down to you or something, but this ain't exactly a job for someone your age."

"I'm fit and young! I can lift a few sacks of sand."

"Sand, gravel and cement. You know how heavy those things are? Even with a wheelbarrow, you still have to carry all of that weight to pick them up, transfer and to drop it off."

"I understand. I need the money."

"Oh, well you're not the only one kid. Tell you what, I'll let you have one day so I can test you out. I'll give you regular pay and hire you if you do well. If you don't, then just get out."

"Alright, I accept." Matthew took the offer knowing that it was most likely a ploy to get the work done without having to pay. But if he wanted the job then he had to do some work to get chosen.

"Ask Billy over there, he'll show you the ropes."

"Got it."

The tall and muscular man who was eating a sandwich while sitting on a lying steel beam looked towards the direction he heard his name from. He smiled at Matthew while giving him a wave. His bulging muscles were straining his shirt, particularly his sleeves. This made Matthew already give him a nickname in his mind.

'Gentle Titan.' Matthew took a closer look at the man while he stood next to him. His lunchbox seemed to be filled with three sandwiches like the one he was holding so it must be something he likes.

"Want one? My daughter makes them. She says that I should share if I want to, but I usually finish them all too fast to share." Seeing Matthew stare at his lunchbox, Billy held one over at his direction. Matthew instinctively tried to block but instead felt a thing now held by his hands.

"Good thing I just started my break. Sit down for a while, let me just finish this one." Billy didn't take a no for an answer and just put the new sandwich in Matthew's hand while munching on his own. He didn't seem bothered by the fact that Matthew was still standing and only looking at the sandwich in his hand. An agonized look on his face.

"What's that face for? You don't like chicken?"

"Oh, no. Thank you for the sandwich."

"You'll thank me after tasting it. I swear that little doll has started making these sandwiches so good I stopped buying lunch from anywhere else," Billy laughed while he took out a thermos flask containing coffee.

He poured himself a half cup and drank it all down. He released a satisfied sigh then proceeded to eat the rest of the sandwich. He turned to look at Matthew who was still chewing his first bite while a surprised look showed on his face.

"Hahaha, see? I told you my baby girl knows how to make a sandwich. The day she finishes high school I'll send her to culinary school and make her dream of being a chef come true!" Billy's impassioned speech drew the attention of a few men who were also taking their break and some of them smiled at him.

They already knew how much the seemingly intimidating man loved his daughter. He talks about her every day and always jumps at the chance to mention her. None of them knew her personally but they felt she was lucky to have a father who cares for her dearly. Her father on the other hand...

Even Matthew who was always showing a stoic face couldn't help but smile at the burly man while he continues to talk and eat at the same time. It seems that he saw Matthew has not finished yet, so he took out another sandwich and ate it while waiting for Matthew to finish. They had a few more minutes of small talk until they finally got to work.

The job was simple, you take the materials for making the concrete, sand, gravel, cement and water. The water was easy, there was a hose that only needs to be taken close to the mixing site and, just turn the faucet on or off.

The other three however, they were a lot heavier. The sand and cement are placed in bags that need to be carried near the place where the concrete would be created, which was different with every session. This was so that the concrete will be easier to place on where it needs to be.

The gravel was the hardest part, since sand and gravel are in bags therefore only need to be carried in batches, gravel was a pile of small rocks. You would need to use a shovel to carry them, placing them on a wheelbarrow and eventually throwing them to a pile where the mixers would use them.

This was a job with high demand for physical endurance, not strength. The good thing was that Matthew was a running athlete and his stamina was nothing to scoff at. Added to the fact that his past was more inclined to do work that needed more energy to succeed, this was nothing to him. The work given to him was done quickly and properly. There was only one mishap but it wasn't something that involved him. Not directly.

It was when Billy has finally finished his work alongside that the foreman from before came and gave Billy a hard smack on the back.

"Well what do we have here! If it ain't old Billy Benson. How's the hard worker life getting you?" Max was wearing a tucked in polo shirt and a pair of black pants. His brown leather shoes screamed expensive, but it seemed he didn't care as the thing was walking over a few stray wet concrete. He patted the unresponsive Billy's back while Matthew just watched from the side.

"..."

"Don't be like that! I came to tell ya you got more work to do you see. Chris had to take a leave today so we need someone to take his shift. The boss would get really mad if no one steps in." Max used his hands to form finger guns and pretended to shoot Billy whose tranquil eyes only stared at the man. Max chuckled at the strange atmosphere where he was being ignored and gave Billy a light punch in the arm.

"..." But Matthew knew Max didn't try to do it lightly, Billy could just handle it so well that he didn't even flinch.

"See? That's why I like you Billy, you get shit done!"

The foreman was not getting any response from Billy but still went away while not caring about Billy's opinion. Like he knew he would agree. Matthew didn't want to get involved with any drama that seems to be happening here.

He watched as Billy went to the locker room alone. His back which was very broad now looked pitiful to Matthew. He had no idea what situation he was in but the interaction here today seemed to be a glimpse of what's going on.

"You go on ahead son, the pay is given there by the entrance. Tucker's a kind man, just tell him I sent you."

"..." Even though he promised not to get any attention on himself, his heart can't just help but want to at least give the man a hand.

He breathed deeply, pumping himself as he walked towards the locker room to follow Billy. It was only when he was near the open door that he saw a shirtless Billy and it shocked him. Burns were scattered all over his body, particularly more prominent near his abdominal area. The man seemed to notice him as he hurriedly changed his clothes and headed towards him.

"Did you get lost son? Tucker's a tall man with pale skin. Usually has a pair of sunglasses on his collar. I remember seeing him earlier. Hmm…"

Billy wondered if the kid got lost. It was a big construction site after all and there were three entrance and exit points. He was going to tell him to go to gate 3 when he heard something that made him confused.

"What's the problem?"

"Huh?" Billy didn't understand what Matthew was asking and Matthew didn't expect him to.

The job for Chris is something that Billy has done multiple times now, it's not something that bothered him anymore. Billy thought that he should explain so Matthew understands that this is something he can handle. But Matthew knows an idiot when he sees one, this guy is one of them.

"I said tell me the problem. Why are you doing what he asked you to do?"

"Chris isn't able to work today, so I have to cover for him." Billy gave a knowing look and just shrugged his arms. Like it was nothing to him and there was no reason for Matthew to make a big deal out of it.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Why are you the one who has to take his shift?"

"It's fine, I do it so they will do it when I have to take a leave too"

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's a worker thing. You help me, I help you." Billy couldn't look Matthew in the eyes as his lie was so easy to see through. But even then, he didn't ask for help. The kid is better off not knowing.

"Is that so? Then maybe I'll help you out then."

"You really don't hav-"

"Well, I want to. Like you said, you help me, I help you."

"!?" Billy wasn't trying to get his sympathy or anything, he wanted him to leave. But the kid seems to be intent on helping him anyway. He can't tell the kid the reason he has to do this, it's not his problem after all. So, he ignored him instead, moving towards the worker's work schedule to find out what Chris' workload is for today.

"..."

Matthew left the room without saying anything, no goodbye or something like that. Billy pretended not to see him and didn't call to him or anything so Matthew had no reason to stay. It's not like he needed the help anyway Billy thought, but the glimmer in his eyes dimmed just a little.

'Sigh. This is almost twice my daily workload.' After seeing the workload, Billy couldn't help but sigh at how much work he must do.

Chris and Max has always been two people who gave no shits about Billy's wellbeing. The only thing they care about is that he has a debt to pay and he ain't gonna pay anytime soon so he must pay the 'interest' every now and then.

It used to be once in a while but lately, it's almost every other day. He stays over so late that his daughter had to make more food for him every day, just so that he won't get hungry. She sees how tired her father is when he returns home every night. She even asked him if he was overworking himself, but he only gave her a smile.

'Daddy's got to work more so we can get better lives sweetie, I'll be fine.'

Thinking about his sweet little girl, the tension on his body released itself. He thought about he was doing this for her, and it was all worth it. If anything, this was no big price to pay if he gets to see her be happy and well. He left the locker room while smiling, hopeful for the day he gets to see her accomplish her dream of becoming a chef.

'I'll build a restaurant and make food that everyone likes! I'll make papa sandwiches that he will never be able to forget! I promise!'

The memories of his little girl when she was so young hirt him like a truck and he wondered why he was getting so emotional. Even worse was the fact that it was a memory so closely related to someone who he loved.

'I'll make mama the biggest bowl of ice cream! Then I'll put many, many chocolate and stuff! You want that mama?' He felt a tear threatening to fall but he held it together.

He went to the area where the bags of sand were placed in. He had to transfer them to Area 3 which was a few hundred meters away. He searched for a wheelbarrow but realized he didn't get one from the equipment center.

When he turned around to get one, he saw a boy pushing two to his direction. The boy placed one right next to him while continuing to go towards the bags of sand. He picked one up using his hands, placing it on his right shoulder and dropping it on the wheelbarrow.

"Why?" Billy only watched, unable to hold back the tears that were already breaking free.

"It's payment." Matthew gave a smirk while holding on to his stomach. He gave a little chef's kiss in the air and watched the pitiful man who seemed to be very unsure of why he was doing this. He already had an excuse.

"?"

"For the sandwich, it was the best one I ever had you see." Matthew just gave the man a gentle smile, a smile he never thought he would give so early right after he started this new life.

He thought that he would have to hide from people because of his past but it seems he's just not cut out for that kind of life. He'll just have to protect them instead, he had to power to do that anyway.

"Fine, thank you son."

"Matthew, my name's Matthew Pierce." Matthew held out a hand as if waiting for Billy to give him a handshake. Billy gladly took the hand as he gave it a tight grip to which Matthew's face twitched a little.

"Matthew huh? Thank you Matty, can I call you Matty?" Matthew gave a nod while feeling nostalgic at the name. They were the only ones who called him that, but it was over now. He won't hear them call him like this again.

"You're welcome, Pops."

"Haha, do I look that old now?"

"Well you keep talking about your daughter that I can't see you as anything other than a father now."

"Haha! I guess that's true."

The two boys went on to finish the job just in time before the bus had no more trips. If they had to leave work a little later, they would have had to walk all the way home. Turns out Billy's apartment was in the same building as Matthew, so they went home together. They talked on the way, but Matthew didn't bother asking Billy why he must work again.

'It doesn't matter.'

In Matthew's mind, he had a few ways to understand the situation better. The only common thing between his plans was that he needed more time. Something that he had in excess.