Chapter 4. His good luck charm

A young guy in his mid-twenties stood there, a little breathless, as he gripped the handle tightly. He was in chef's clothes and a nose mask. His eyes darted from Alex’s face to the knife, then back. Fear flashed across his features, but he didn’t move.

   “You should be using that knife to enjoy those juicy apples…” the guy said with a shaky smile, “…not staring at it like it’s your way out.”

   There was a beat of silence. Alex blinked, stunned, as the tension in the room paused…just for a second.

   The young guy took a step further in, heart pounding, ready to scream for help if Alex made the slightest wrong move… but hoping, praying, he wouldn’t have to.

   Alex shot the guy a cold glare. “Get the hell out. No one asked for your help.”

   The guy stood firm. “Yeah? Well, I’m asking for yours. Help me by staying alive. My grandmother’s in the ICU, barely holding on, and she’s still fighting. Meanwhile, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you, and you're about to throw it away? Does that sound sane to you?”

   Alex glared at him, “Who do you think you are, barging in here?” Alex snapped, stepping toward him.

   The guy didn’t flinch. “Take one more step, and I’ll scream suicide. You know what happens next, right? They’ll lock you up in a psych ward and throw away the key. Is that what you want? You think your family wants that? You think they deserve to find out you quit like a coward?”

   Alex froze, fists clenched, breathing hard.

   The guy lowered his voice. “You’re not alone. And you’re not done yet. Whatever or whoever pushed you to this extent should be treated at the right time. Do you want them to step over your grave in victory?” 

   Alex glanced at the knife one last time…then quickly dropped it onto the saucer beside the apple, as though it burned him.

   “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I wasn’t going to…”

   “It’s okay,” the guy interrupted gently, pretending to believe him. “Phew, thank goodness. I totally misread the room,” he added with a nervous chuckle. “But…my grandma always says something: ‘If you let heartbreak, anger or frustration kill you, you’ll miss out on the beautiful life that was waiting just a little further ahead.’”

   The words hit home. Alex slowly settled back into his bed, the weight in his chest a little lighter. He studied the stranger for a moment…young, brave, beautiful blue eyes, matching brown curly hair, and an unexpectedly comforting voice.

   “What’s your name?” Alex asked with a shaky voice, surprised at his own curiosity.

   “Lucas.” He smiled, then glanced at the apples. “Mind if I share one with you?”

   Alex's lips twitched into the first real smile in days. “Feel free and how old are you?”

   I'm twenty three…practically a man right? Lucas said charmingly as he grabbed an apple, sliced it neatly into six, and handed half to Alex. He chuckled, collected it from Lucas, and started biting into one.

    Lucas took the other three, pulled off his nose mask. Revealing his small pinky lips as he bit into one slice like it was the best thing he had tasted in a long time.

   “Mmm. Delicious, isn’t it?” he said with a grin, mouth half-full.

   Alex chuckled, the sound rough but genuine. For the first time in what felt like forever… the darkness didn’t feel so suffocating.

   Alex nodded slowly. “Yeah… it is indeed.”  But as the words left his lips, tears began slipping down his cheeks. He wiped at them quickly, embarrassed, looking away.

    Lucas noticed and smiled gently. “Hey, feel free. I’ve got broad shoulders,” he said, patting his own. “My mom used to say crying doesn’t make you weak…it sets you free.”

   Alex’s lips trembled. More tears came, heavier this time. Lucas didn’t hesitate. He walked over, wrapped his arms around his neck in a firm but comforting hug. Alex clung to him, burying his face into his chest, and let the grief flow. Silent sobs shook him, but something loosened inside. The pain didn’t vanish, but it lightened…just enough to breathe again.

   After a while, Alex pulled back and managed a watery smile. “Thanks.”

   Lucas grinned and handed him another slice of apple. “Anytime. Cry when you need to, eat when you can but try and smile more. That's the way of life.”

   They sat side by side, munching apples as Lucas shared every wise word his late mother and sick grandmother once gave him. His voice was warm, steady, and full of hope. For the first time in days, Alex felt a flicker of peace… and maybe, just maybe, the beginning of healing.

   After they had devoured the whole apple, Lucas wiped his fingers on a napkin and added, “My mom also says, never rush into decisions when you're in pain or angry… or you might end up hurting yourself or the people who genuinely love you.”

  The words sank deep, hitting Alex like a quiet thunderclap. Something inside him shifted. That dark resolve…gone. Just like that.

   When the mother returned and saw Alex chatting happily with Lucas, she was glad. After the introduction, she excused herself to attend to some business.

   Alex and Lucas kept talking, the mood lighter now. Laughter slipped in more, soft and unexpected. After a while, Lucas stood and pulled at the necklace around his neck. He unclasped it, removed one of the twin pendants, and held it out.

   “This is yours now. It’s my good luck charm.”

   Alex blinked. “No, Lucas… I can’t take that. It’s special.”

   Lucas grinned. “Exactly. That’s why you should take it. Look, I’ve still got the other one. When my grandma gave it to me, she said I could share it with a friend one day. So, this is yours now… unless we’re not friends?” he teased, flashing a disarming smile.

   Alex finally smiled back. “Of course we’re friends. And I promise…I’ll keep it safe.”

   When Lucas was ready to leave, he surprised Alex with a warm hug and whispered, “I hope I see you again soon.”

   Alex ruffled his curly brown hair and kissed his forehead. “Thank you, Lucas, for saving my life.”

   Lucas waved, “Remember, you are more important to your family and to me as your friend.” With a charming smile, he walked out.

   The next morning, Alex was discharged… not just from the hospital, but from the grip of despair.

TWO YEARS LATER 

  

    A sharp knock pounded on Lucas’s door, jolting him upright in bed.

  “Oh my goodness, Lucas! You're still in bed?” came Emily’s voice…his younger sister, loud and panicked.

   Lucas groaned, squinting at the clock. “No, no, no…”

   “Your exams start this morning and you're still lying there? Do you want to be late?” she scolded from the hallway.

  “Shit!” he cursed, jumping off the bed and bolting straight into the bathroom.

   “I’ll be downstairs, you will drop me at the office, okay?” Emily added before walking off, heels clicking with authority as if she was talking to her younger one.

   Lucas had already graduated with a degree in accounting and worked at their father’s firm. But numbers were never his true passion—cooking was. So, behind his father’s back, he had enrolled in a part-time culinary program. His final exams were starting today, and he was determined to finish strong. Only Emily and her best friend Diana knew his secret.

   He showered in record time, dressed in under five minutes, and dashed out of the room. As he grabbed his wallet and keys, he checked the time…he was seriously behind schedule. He picked up both his car and bike keys, paused for a second, then tossed the car keys to Emily as he bounded down the stairs.

“Drive carefully,” he called out.

    Emily froze and stared at him in surprise. “Wait…what? You're letting me drive your car? For real?”

   Lucas smirked. “Yeah, don’t make me regret it.”

   “Oh my sweetness! Today is officially a great day!” she squealed, rushing to the car like a kid who just won a candy jackpot.

   Lucas chuckled as he strapped on his helmet, mounted his bike, and revived the engine. “Try not to scratch it!”

   “Go ace your chef exam, sweet bro!” Emily shouted.

   With a laugh and a roar of the engine, Lucas zoomed off, weaving through traffic, adrenaline kicking in. Today was the beginning of the life he really wanted…he could feel it.

As he parked his bike and started toward the entrance, he heard him beside him. "What the heck are you doing here?"

He paused in shock, his heart racing as his thoughts spiraled.