X, Isn't Replaceable(MxM)

Robbery (3)

Chapter 3: Robbery (3)

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‘This necklace… it was the same one he wore that day…’ Pesco thought to himself, without a second of hesitation he slowly took it out of the bag and slipped it in his pocket. ‘Even if I find that brat, he doesn’t need to own everything… at least this I want to keep… at least one memory of that day would be fine…’ He headed to the people that had came for the funeral…

There weren’t too many people there, for starters he didn’t seem to have too much extended family, or maybe they simply didn’t attend instead…

Pesco began observing the various people that had gathered… none of which seemed young enough to be the man’s son, until he noticed someone that came running towards the funeral hall…

“Is it over already!?” Someone ran up to the funeral with a face as bright as a tomato and out of breath, he was sweating and his eyes seemed tired as if he hadn’t slept in a while.

“I’m sorry…” One of the other guests turned to him as he spoke up. “My condolences…” Then another one, they all seemed to instantly recognize him.

“……….!” Pesco instantly noticed the man as he mumbled under his breath. “Gregory…” He remarked, he watched the person that sort of just stood there, realizing he was too late to give the man a proper farewell and instantly made the connection. That must have been Gregory’s son. And to his own credit, he was the spitting image of his father, his hair, his eyes, even his goofy demeanor and lateness. ‘He looks so similar to him…’ Pesco thought to himself as he slowly moved closer to the other as if he was drawn to him by an invisible string of faith.

‘The same curly black hair, the same eyes with a tint of a different color… the same concerned look on his face…’ Pesco felt nostalgic once more as if the image he had stuck in his head from years before was now being revived. He walked towards the man that seemed to be about the same age as him… “This was left for you.” He finally said while seeing him, time felt frozen as if he couldn’t move while observing the details of the other man’s face.

“Huh? Oh… so he left them with you instead… sorry about the inconvenience.” The man apologized as he lowered his head. “I’m George, it’s a pleasure to meet you, despite the circumstances…” He said with a pain stained look and a forced smile on his face.

“Can you tell me just one thing?” Pesco asked as his eyes widened while seeing the man. ‘Even their names are similar…’ He thought to himself.

“That is?” George questioned while tilting his head to the side rather innocently.

“Why were you late?” Pesco asked, that question wasn’t something he could hold back on.

George took a moment as he sighed and admitted. “…my manager didn’t let me off work.” He sounded somewhat heartbroken because of it,

“Is that why you ran here?” Pesco clarified.

“Yes…” George nodded his head in agreement.

‘They really are similar.’ Pesco didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the sight. “Your father was just like that as well…” He remarked as he stood besides the man in front of the other’s grave stone.

“Was he? Hah… I guess it can’t be helped he was my hero… I really looked up to him.” George spoke with a sort of nostalgic look on his face, he seemed to truly miss his father but was putting on a strong face as to not cry in public. It seemed almost overwhelming for him.

‘So did I… that’s why… I guess I still look for that man in those around me…’ Pesco thought to himself, the more he looked at the man in front of him the more pleased he was with meeting him.

“You’ve been staring at me for a while now… is there something you want to say?” George asked curiously, he leaned forward as to listen in to the other man.

“Do you want to go out with me?” Pesco suggested without hesitation, he seemed to have planned on asking that from the start.

“Do, I what now?” George seemed to be greatly taken aback by that as he asked for clarification.

“Do you want to go on a date with me?” Pesco repeated himself without a bit of hesitation in his words, he had been determined.

“I don’t know how you perceive the world around you but asking me out amidst my father’s funeral is probably one of, if not the absolute worst possible time…” George said as he raised an eyebrow, he looked at the man from top to bottom, somehow he didn’t find him strange or unpleasant. There was something even comforting about his demeanor towards him.

“Is that a no?” Pesco asked he seemed a bit disappointed at the apparent rejection.

“I didn’t say that…” George looked around, the small group of people that had come were now gone, it was just the two of them still there.

“So what is your answer then?” Pesco asked, there was something a bit immature about his question, an air of mischief as well was hidden beneath his seemingly innocent suggestion.

“How about we head down to the small shop over there? I know first hand how good they are. I don’t really have too much time so it will only be for about 30 minutes at most I’m afraid.” George said with an apologetic sounding voice as he left the flowers as offerings on his father’s grave.

“That’s fine…” Pesco nodded his head, whether it was just one minute or thirty he appreciated it all the same. ‘I’m only really looking for an excuse to spend time with you… I just want to be around you a bit longer… as if to replace the emptiness I felt after your father passed away…’ He thought to himself, he wasn’t delusional to believe the other could be a good replacement but there was something that made him want to stay with the man just a bit longer. Even if it was a futile struggle he wanted to try and recover the missed time.

“Are you a family acquaintance?” George asked as they sat at the coffee shop, the atmosphere was quiet around them and they placed their orders quickly. A water and a coffee, simple and yet enough.

“Sort of… I was saved by your father when I was a kid.” Pesco admitted, he didn’t care to hide who he was or his intentions, well at least for the most part.

“That sounds so typical of him.” George remarked with a bit of laughter in the back of his throat, thinking of his father was a bit difficult at the moment.

“Did he do that a lot?” Pesco asked with great interest that you could see even without paying much attention.

“Yes, he meddled into many people’s lives… most of those that came to the funeral aren’t even blood related…” George remarked as he took a sip of his cold water.

“Was he a good man?” Pesco asked as he looked down at his coffee, next to it there was a rolled up paper. It was a tradition to give out what people would call good luck charms with each coffee. The one that he received had written ‘Happiness’ which Pesco found incredibly unlikely given what had happened.

“The best there was… although I do regret not spending more time with him. After I started university I barely kept in touch with him… the last time we spoke I asked him for money and I won’t be able to get over that anytime soon…” It looked just as painful as it was for George to speak about the man that had recently passed. Yet no tears would well up in his eyes regardless.

“Are you having money troubles?” Pesco asked while tilting his head to the side, he once more had an incredibly serious look on his face.

“As per usual in this economy. I have my student loans to pay off… and I’m still on a hunt for a job that actually requires my qualifications.” George replied while looking down at the melting ice inside his water.

“What are you working right now?” Pesco didn’t skip a beat when asking as if seizing this opportunity.

“At a construction site… but ultimately I want to be a marketing specialist.” George said with a sort of goofy smile on his face that felt similar to the man that was now gone.

“Those two job titles don’t seem to collide too well.” George didn’t know whether to sympathize with the man or not.

“Tell me about it… I’ve been trying to quit for a while but it’s difficult when there are no job openings…” George chimed in again with a heavy sigh.

“If you want to work in marketing you could consider my company.” Pesco suggested as he brought out one of his business cards and handed it to the man.

“What… you’re from TM corporation? I didn’t even know…” George stared wide eyed at the card within his hands. The corporation in question was one of the top seven within the country, it was near impossible to get hired there. You’d either need to be exceptionally gifted or lucky to even receive an interview.

“There’s no need to think too much of it. It’s a workplace like any other. If you’re interested in a position you should come over…” Pesco said while taking a larger gulp of his coffee.

“Wouldn’t that be unfair to other candidates?” Suddenly George felt a bit out of place.

“Not at all. Well, then I’ll take my leave do contact me if you wish.” Pesco stood up as if he didn’t want to allow the other man any opportunity to argue with him anymore.

“Just a moment, I have one more question… just…” George asked him to stay as he stood up as well and grabbed onto the man’s arm.

“Yes?” Pesco calmly turned around to look at him again.

“Where is it?” George asked with a rather meek sounding voice as if he was uncomfortable.

“Where is what?” Pesco asked for clarification.

“The necklace that should have been in this bag, it’s missing.” George explained as he looked down.

“So you’ve noticed?” Pesco smiled slightly. ‘He’s sharp.’ He thought to himself.

“…its not good to steal.” George said while looking into the other’s eyes with determination. “I’ll need you to give it back to me, it’s important.”

“I know that, I’ve learned as much. I’ll give it back to you after you come in for an interview.” Pesco suggested as he released himself from the other’s grip and bid him farewell.

“……………..” George could do nothing but let go and watch the man leave.

“I’ll see you then…” Pesco said with a charming smile on his face as he headed outside after paying the bill for both of them. His thoughts were still racing as so was his heart. ‘I might be using this man just as a replacement for you… but just for a while longer let me look at him and imagine what it would be like if you were still alive…’ It was the one thing he could look forward to in this otherwise plain existence of his…