Fadel opened his coffee container intending to make some for Peem but found it empty. He panicked for a while as he was aware that Peem might soak him with insults. He later brushed off the feeling.
"I don't usually have guests over. Is tap water okay?". Fadel asked ready to get some lashing from the god of insults.
"Anything's fine". Peem replied and Fadel relaxed a bit and poured him some water from a jug. He walked over to the table where Peem sat and placed the glass of water on it for him.
Peem nodded towards a chair. "Have a seat"
"What brings you here sir?". Fadel asked unwilling to give him an audience.
Peem sighed and toyed with the cup of water. "Can you stop with the 'sir' all the time? This isn't the office". He scrutinized Fadel for a while. "Fadel,you're not even thirty yet. Don't be so stiff, okay?"
Fadel sat down with disapproval. "So you came all the way just to tell me I'm stiff?". Fadel asked jokingly trying to sound friendly to Peem. He looked closely at Peem's face and spotted some bruises on his cheeks. "What happened to your face again?"
Peem eyed him. "Don't ask". Peem said grumpily. "That idiot Maxwell came after me this morning in the parking lot. We got into another fight". Peem explained.
"You two aren't high schoolers. Why are you always fighting?". Fadel asked concerned about Peem's bruises.
"I didn't start it". Peem defended himself like an elementary school boy. "It was him who started picking on me"
"Why did he pick on you?". Fadel teased.
"He...." Peem sighed and sipped some water.
Fadel smiled at his cuteness. He thought of Ricky and wondered what happened to him. "How's Secretary Brown doing?". Fadel asked out of curiosity. "Is he back at work?"
Unfortunately asking that wasn't a good deed Peem's eyes as he got really upset after that. "Why do you care how Ricky Brown is doing? Is he that important to you?"
Fadel's eyes fell. "I'm sorry. You're right,its none of my business". He mumbled.
"Always fussing over Omega or meddling in other people's lives. Worry about yourself first". Peem said aggressively. "Don't make mistakes like adding an extra zero in the budget again"
"I'll be more careful". Fadel said rolling his eyes. "Anything else? Its getting late,if there's nothing else maybe you should head back"
Peem was furious as he glared at Fadel standing up. "You're kicking me out?".
Staring at him Fadel found his attitude imposing and dominating. Fadel suddenly stood up also standing his ground not willing to be dominated in his own house. That feeling only lasted for a few seconds before he realized it was pointless to react that way in front of Peem.
"This area isn't very safe at night. It would be better if you got home earlier". Fadel said trying to calm his nerves.
Peem's breathe became heavy as a result of anger. He glared furiously at Fadel. "You think I want to stay in this dump? The whole place reeks of Omega. If someone likes it,let them stay". He walked out of the house and slammed the door behind him in Fadel's face.
Peem walked down the shabby staircase of the building and noticed the security lights were fluttering,since it was late at night he almost missed his steps. He was so agitated that when he got to the second floor of the building he kicked at a tenants door in frustration but his actions were unconscious,he didn't know it was actually a door to someone's room. The occupant immediately came out and lashed out at him.
"Why are you kicking my door. Are you crazy?"
Peem hissed. "Sorry. I bumped into it"
"The hallway light's been out for a while, so its easy to trip". The elderly lady started to calm down seeing he was a young and handsome man and should be in her sons age group,she decided to chip in some gossip. "The young man upstairs came back from overtime last month. The corridor had no light and he was climbing the stairs looking at his phone and sending messages.As a result he almost fell down. Its very dangerous so you must be careful,you got it?"
"Okay. Thanks". Peem replied and looked up at the fluttering bulbs while his mind wanderd to what will happen if Fadel ever got injured climbing the stairs. He couldn't bear the thought of that. So he had an electrician around fix all the security light in the building.
"Hey sir, I've fixed all the hallway lights. Your friend won't fall again coming home"
"Mm". Peem smiled and looked around. "This place is dump,even the street lights are dim. What if he gets hurt coming back at night?". He paused for a while. "Replace all the streetlight bulbs with brighter ones"
"That's the city's job". The electrician protested.
"I'll pay you triple,just get it done. Now"
"No problem"
"Mm"
Peem looked back at Fadel's apartment with a smile on his face before walking away to get his car.
************
"Mr Kant,don't worry too much. The patients condition is much better than when I first saw him. His recovery speed has exceeded my expectations". Said the doctor who treated Ricky. Ricky had been hospitalized at home because Maxwell didn't want him out of sight. Apparently he had improved health wise.
"That's good". Maxwell said looking at Ricky who smiled faintly at him.
"If there's nothing else. I'll take my leave". Said the doctor.
"Doctor Matt,thanks for making the trip". Max said gratefully but Ricky kept quiet like a dog bitten by rain.
"You're too kind. I was just passing by on my way home this time. Its my honor to help". Replied the doctor.
Maxwell held Ricky's shoulder softly. "Let me walk him out"
"Mm". Ricky nodded.