6. Anna's Life and Richard's Past (FLASHBACK)

Anna was walking the sidewalk accompanied by a pink umbrella with a cat's head on the top. The heavy rain made Anna walk more carefully so as not to be splashed by puddles on the sidewalk she was walking on. Now and then, her mouth mumbled the tune of her favorite song. Step by step, Anna walked calmly until a car suddenly swerved to the right near the sidewalk where she was walking, making her have to be wet because of the splash of water. Anna looked at her wet clothes while the driver of the black car continued to drive without feeling guilty.

''Shit'' cursed Anna.

With a resentful heart, Anna kept walking toward work. The cold wind pierced her skin more and more every time Anna stepped on her feet. When Anna got close to her workplace, she saw the black car that had made her soaked earlier and stopped right in front of the convenience store. Anna also quickened her steps. She was curious who the bold car driver made her have to get wet like this. As Anna entered the shop, she saw a group of significant people wearing black suits. Tattoos are visible and adorn some parts of their faces and necks—Anna intends to find out who the black car's driver vanished. The only thing on her mind right now was that she didn't want to deal with these big guys. Anna glanced at her friend, Mark, who was standing behind the counter, a look of fear was also seen on Mark's face. The two of them seemed to be talking to each other through their respective gazes which indicated their fear of these strangers.

Before long, a man emerged from the snack rack and walked over to the counter. The man in the red suit and sunglasses looked at Anna, who’s standing in front of the small convenience store entrance. Mark was seen carefully checking the prices of the items the man in the red suit took. Anna looked away as the man in the red suit was still looking at her.

''Give me an xxx cigarette.''

Anna and Mark shuddered, even more when they heard the voice that came out of the mouth of the man in the red suit. His voice was heavy, they both thought. Mark gave the cigarette that the man asked for. The man then opened his cigarette case and prepared to light a fire for his cigarette. But Mark, who saw the man's actions, rebuked him in a friendly tone.

"Sorry sir, but you can't smoke inside the shop."

The man glared at Mark and put out the fire.

''You're right, I forgot.''

The man prepared to leave and put his cigarette back in the box.

"Chansu pays for everything."

repeated the man, ordering his subordinates to pay for the goods he bought.

"Yes, Boss."

The subordinate obediently took out his wallet and paid at the cashier.

The man in the red coat and a group of his men walked towards the exit of the small supermarket, Anna immediately stepped aside so they could pass. But the man in the red suit stopped right in front of Anna. Dan took something out of his wallet and put it in Anna's jacket pocket.

''Buy proper clothes, or you'll catch a cold in this weather.''

Anna was surprised by the sudden action the stranger had done to her. Even her brain couldn't process what had just happened to her. She was silent when she saw the man in the red suit get into his luxury black car and leave the small supermarket. Anna reached into her jacket pocket and found several large bills at once. Anna glanced at Mark, who wasn't at the cashier's desk. If Mark knew about this, he would keep asking Anna questions.

Richard's POV

I like rain, and it makes me very calm when I hear the sound of raindrops falling from the sky and hitting the ground. Because the rain always accompanies me when the worst things happen to my life in the past. Like the first time I committed my first murder, the fishy smell of blood from the person I killed was washed away by the sudden rain. On that rainy day, I became the supreme leader of the Mafia, previously led by Max Obey. Max Obey is a Mafia who picked me up from the streets of Casablanca. I have great respect for that old man. No one does not bow when they hear his name. He also cooperates with the Government in handling illegal drugs. Under the guise of an honest businessman, Max can smuggle illicit goods in unlawful drugs and cocaine powder throughout Casablanca and other countries by bribing the people who work at Customs to get the illegal goods. Max always takes me to all his places of business. He also tells me how to do business in the dark world like him. I admire his attitude; he wants to teach me his knowledge and makes me the closest person he can trust. Almost all the illicit business he holds he handed over to me. At first, I didn't understand why none of Max's subordinates envied me because they had worked for Max longer, unlike me. Until one day, I understood why they were behaving like that.

Richard always calls me to his room and asks me to massage him. I complied because I think maybe he gets tired quickly. After all, he is 50 years old. Nothing happened at first, but he always touched my cheeks, shoulders, and hands after I finished massaging him. I didn't suspect him at all. But as time goes by, Max's touch on me is out of bounds. He blatantly abused me when we were at his favorite club in Casablanca. Max was holding my private area at the club, as I was right next to him, escorting him as usual when meeting with some of his black market comrades. I remember how my blood was boiling, and I wanted to kill Max right then and there, but I couldn't. Because of my respect for Max and I thought he was just a lonely old man, and at that very moment, I could see the pitying looks that Max's colleagues were giving me; the position at the table that wasn't high could indeed make them all see Max's actions. On me. But Max didn't seem to care and kept talking to them as if touching me was normal for him.

Day after day I live full of stress when I'm next to Max, the only person I can talk to while living under the same roof with Max and his subordinates, is Pierre Rotti. He's Driver Max; he's like a close friend to me. Because we are the same age, I can talk comfortably with him. Pierre was thinner than me and shorter. He has blonde hair and green eyes. Pierre told me that he and the rest of Mac's subordinates already knew about Max's treatment of people he found attractive. Pierre is the same as me. He comes from the street. Pierre runs away from an orphanage that provides him with shelter and food due to being abused by his friends at the orphanage. They told Pierre that all prospective foster parents who came to adopt children would choose Pierre because his appearance was too perfect. And that could make it impossible for them to find a home. Pierre told me that every time there was news of prospective foster parents' arrival at the orphanage, Pierre's friends would hide it in the warehouse so they wouldn't see Pierre. Pierre, who couldn't take it anymore, finally ran away and was found by Max.

One day, I was looking for Pierre because he was not seen at breakfast. I can't find it anywhere in Max's house. Max always has breakfast in his room, and it's my job to deliver breakfast to Max's room. I knocked on Max's door, but there was no answer. I tried to open Max's room which was not locked. I slowly entered Max's room and placed Max's food on the TV table, which was right in front of Max's door. Max's room had its living room, and it was right in front of Max's door. I called out Max's name, but there was no answer other than a faint sigh in the other room, Max's bedroom. I tread carefully at that time to see what happened. And how surprised I was when I saw Pierre being crushed by Max's old body. Moans and sighs came from old Max's dirty mouth. At the same time, the sound of crying and pleading came out of Pierre's mouth. Pierre noticed my presence in front of Max's bedroom door, while Max, whose back turned to me, didn't even notice my presence. I could see tears flowing from Pierre's eyes, and he signaled me to leave Max's room.