Chapter 4: Enemy or Friend?

    

    "What the..."

    

    

    Oliver can't help but mumble as he finally gulps the last bite of food in his mouth. He wanted to stand up in surprise but then his body did not move. It stays still on its own as if his body is not shocked about what happened. Maybe that is Oliver’s body stating that something like that won’t be a thing to make him surprised. 

 Experiencing that kind of situation has been part of his daily life. Just like brushing your teeth first thing in the morning.  Although he can remember those days flashing in his mind, it is still different when you are experiencing it on hand. Oliver can’t help but feel sad about the situation he is in.

    

    

    ‘They are the worst’

    

    

     Putting down the phone he is holding in the table, Oliver let out a sigh. Herald look at his boss then look at his phone. He was overwhelmed with the numerous number of notifications. He calmly look at what the topic it might be  only to find out that the social media is flooding with different tweets and tags about what happened earlier.

    

    

    Oliver’s phone screen shows the email that his secretary send. The email contains...

    

    

    

    [Sir Oliver, you need to see this.]

    

    

    A photo was attached together with her message. The photo shows a screenshot of a post of someone with he caption ‘Look what I just saw guys! The youngest CEO didn't eat with his brother! Even if Master Marco asked him politely, he didn’t accept his offer. What a jerk!.’ and a photo of each scene right when the two brothers met was shown. Who posted it… no one knows. It is posted anonymously. Yes, using a dummy account. Maybe one of the people who is dining in a while ago saw it. He look at Marco’s table. 

‘Is it someone among them?’

Shaking his head he tap in his table. ‘There is a possibility but… the view shows a different angle. Oliver look at the possible spot on where the photo must have taken and right there he saw a man who was about to sit in a table. Wearing as tuxedo, he is elegantly dressed. He didn’t have the time to see its face for he is wearing a fashionable round hat. Looking at how he seats, he do have a good figure.

    

    

    

    ‘I wonder if it is him…’

    

    

    Oliver is busy finding out who is the one that posted that photo in the social media. He is looking in the table that is quite far in their place.  Turning off the screen of his phone, he didn't give his secretary a reply in her email. Although that is something that is not odd since the total of the times he gave reply in his secretary’s messages can be count with just his hand. Laying  his back on his seat, the tip of his right thumb and middle finger is touching and rubbing each other. 

    

‘Ha, I don’t want to feel burdened about this commotion but man… I don’t like this feeling.’

Memories of the original Oliver flash in his mind. It is the time when Oliver is eating in a restaurant and hearing some bad opinions about him. Even so, he didn’t show any emotion as if he didn’t hear anything. Their words are entering in his right ear and will pass through his left ear. Just like that, he finished eating and paid the bill. Walking out of the restaurant like any other customer will do, it is a good ting that Herald is waiting for him to come out. If so, he will stay there to hear more of those things.

He sigh as he smirk. Getting the wine glass that is within his reach, he look at the refection shown in the red wine.

‘Oliver, you are one hell of a tough guy. I admit it, what I have experience is nothing compared to what you had. Ahh, what a real man…’ slightly shaking his head, Oliver can't imagine how harsh the life of the real Oliver is.

  

  

    

   Busy thinking deeply, Oliver did not notice what is happening in the table beside him. He didn't get the chance to see Herald show a mad face. Clenching the knife he is holding, he cut the steak with force but he did not eat it. Herald gulp and tried to clear his mind.

    

    

    'Sir Oliver may look like as if he didn’t feel bothered about what is happening but still,” He bite his lips in anger. He is the oldest among his siblings. With that said, Herald hold the responsibility of taking care of his younger sisters and brothers. For him, Oliver is like a big brother he never had.  “Why do they always find faults in everything he do? I cant understand them. He didn’t do anything bad...”

    

    

    Taking a gaze in his boss, he remembered seeing  Oliver  looking in a direction opposite in their table. Following his gaze, Herald’s eyes landed on the table where a man with a blonde hair is seating. He is wearing an earrings that is pointed as if he is some cool rock star. With a bandana or head band that is covering his forehead, it is designed with  a messy colors. He is also wearing a fine black tuxedo that is not matching in his figure. Looking back at his phone, he analyzed the photo he saw. He frown as he realized how the perspective in that place feels as if it is perfectly fit to the view that is showed in the trending photo.

    

    

    

    'Is Sir Oliver looking at him since he is suspecting that he is the one that posted those photos?'

    

    

    

    With that, he stand up and bow his head gently in Oliver’s sight. Oliver raised his eyebrows as he did not know what Herald wants to say with those action. 

    

    

    

    'What does he mean by that?' he thought. ‘Maybe he wants to excuse himself to go in the wash room? Either way…’

    

    

Oliver just let him do what he wants to do and look back in his food. 

    

    

    

    'I am enjoying this food yet, something like that happened. I really shouldn't put my phone beside me when I eat. It is a bad luck.'

    

    

    

    Remembering the times on where he is working in his real identity, there is no lunch break that he can satisfy eating his ramen. He laugh at his thought. 

“Ha… this would be a waste if I don’t eat it.”

Enjoying his meal after such a commotion, Oliver decided to not let his mood be ruined by those posts.

***

 Herald tap the table of the man with blonde hair. It caught his attention and look at him. Waiting for its response, Herald just stand there and didn’t say a word.

"Yes? What do you want?” the man asked as he smile brightly. Herald didn’t change his poker face. “Hey.. we won’t be understanding each other if you won’t say a word.” 

He again gave Herald his smile. 

“Annoying.”