The grocery store was dead. No customers, no coworkers, just the dull hum of the AC and the faint scent of overripe bananas.
And the only one enjoying that fact was Peter Yu.
Because when there are no customers, there is time to read. And Peter was deep into what he considered the greatest book ever written—The Rebirth of the Demon King. He was on the final stretch, the last few pages, the moment that was supposed to steal his breath away.
While sitting there hunched, too engrossed in the hardcover book that had some worn out parts, he didn't notice a beautiful lady walk up to him and to grab his attention the lady had to tap the table twice.
Peter muttered irritably, momentarily forgetting he was on the clock. Who dared ruin his perfect moment?
When he raised his head to meet the gaze of this person, his eyes widened in shock.
"Lina Cheng what are you doing here?"
The supposed Lina, crossed her hands and glared at him, her boobs almost spilling out of the tank top she wore but the only thing Peter could think about right now was the way she had talked to him the night before.
Calling him names, arguing about something meaningless, despite the fact that he kept apologising, and he always wondered—why are women always difficult to please.
"Come out, we have to talk." She commanded and without waiting for him to follow she turned on her heels and left the store, waiting for him at the door.
Peter pressed his lips into a thin line and narrowed his eyes at the pompous lady standing outside, and then looked at his novel.
'Guess you would have to wait this one out brother.' he breathed out, already tired of the conversation they were going to have.
He hoped it would be worthwhile.
With a sigh, Peter got up and walked outside, where Lina was already waiting, arms still crossed. The city buzzed around them—cars, neon lights, the distant sound of life moving forward.
Lina, however, looked done. She took a deep breath and Peter straightened for impact.
"Let's breakup, Pete. I can't do this anymore." She sighed not even looking his way.
Peter blinked, dumbfounded.
Of all the things to happen today, was a breakup necessarily the best thing to ruin his day?
His brain stalled for a second, trying to process the words. Break up? Now? After all that drama last night?
He swallowed, forcing himself to keep his cool. "W-why?"
He tried to sound more composed but the tremors in his voice gave it away, but when she turned to him it showed from her blank eyes that she didn't give a damn.
"You are boring, Pete."
Huh?
She went on, completely unbothered, "Other couples go on vacations, have fun, get matching tattoos—do things. But you? You're stuck in this depressing grocery store, reading books like some old man."
She gestured at the store with a scoff.
"And let's be real, Pete. You're not rich. My friends' boyfriends buy them jewelry and designer bags. What do I get? Discounted snacks?"
Peter exhaled slowly. So that was it?
She wasn't even done. "Look, you're good-looking, and the sex is great, but… that's not enough."
Peter stared at her, half-expecting her to crack a grin and yell "gotcha!" But no. She was dead serious.
It's always him, not always doing enough.
Why should he even bother?
A few months ago, this would have crushed him. Hell, maybe even last night, he would've begged.
But right now?
A second turned two, Peter relaxed his shoulders, let out a slow, almost amused breath—
Yep, he was done.
"Well, thank you. Have a goodnight." He said, turning around and walking into the store only for him to stop and glance sideways towards her.
Lina Cheng had her hand reaching out to him, her eyes wide open in shock and her jaw dropped.
"I hope you find someone that fits your job description. Lina Cheng."
Then he turned around and walked back into the store.
Lina did not see that coming. She had her hand half-raised, like she was about to grab him, but… no. No, he was supposed to beg. He was supposed to cry, get on his knees, promise he'd change.
Instead, he left.
The glass door slammed shut behind him, drowning out whatever she was about to say.
Peter barely made it behind the counter before his legs gave out. His heart was hurting, but damn if he'd let her see that.
He let out a deep breath, pressing his forehead against the counter. "Fuck," he muttered.
His eyes settled on the old ruined book laying there looking pretty. And he then remembered.
Although life gives you sour apples, you can always throw them away and buy new ones.
Peter was the kind of people that the world claimed they never needed, he had never experienced true love. His father who never loved him was in prison and his mother who tried to love him was in the hospital fighting for her life.
And his sister... Six fit under, after loving him. It's not that he is cursed or anything, but life just have to throw you really bad apples, ones you could never replace.
Lina was set to be one of the replaceable ones but just like his family, she left him. After lying that he meant the world to her.
Now reading "The Rebirth of the Demon King", Peter could very much see himself in the protagonist, someone that love rejected.
Peter Yu always rooted for him as he cleared all his enemies and became the most powerful in the whole book, but that admiration soon turned to disgust, and rage when the protagonist gets killed by his supposed lover.
…
Wait.
Wait.
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL WAS THIS?
Peter stared at the page in betrayal. The Demon King—the ultimate badass, the guy who had suffered, fought, and clawed his way to the top—had just been killed.
Not by an enemy. Not even in battle. By. His. Lover.
And what did this brain-dead protagonist do? He forgave her. Peter slammed the book shut.
"ARE YOU STUPID?!" He threw it down, running his hands through his hair. He then remembered he was still at work and looked around, only to sigh in relief that it was still empty.
But, No. No, he refused to accept this nonsense. He grabbed a lighter from the shelf, stalked over to the trash can, and— FLUNG. THE. BOOK. IN.
Without hesitation, he flicked the lighter on and tossed it in. The flames exploded. Something that wasn't meant to happen.
Peter took a step back, eyes wide as the fire turned from orange to blue, then all of a sudden the entire store was engulfed in bright light.
The last thing Peter remembered was the heat of the flames burning his flesh—and the regretful realization that he forgot to lock the door.
Then everything went black.