The dim light pierced through the library's window and got caught on a face. Trout was sleeping peacefully on a chair.
Squinting his eyes, he woke up. The library was as peaceful as it always was. He brought himself up from the chair, it felt like he hasn't gotten any sleep with such quality in a while. He made his way to the kitchen to wash his face and saw that Sal was already up before he was.
"Morning, pal. I'm preparing some coffee for both of us."
A pause in his tone.
"Making it extra sour this time. I noticed you weren't really into the vanilla I brewed yesterday."
Sal said and went back to brewing coffee. He was focused and passionate about it, it seemed like coffee was another hobby of his.
Trout's memories flashed. Even though he didn't have many memories other than the horrific taste he felt yesterday carved into his soul. Every cell in him begging for mercy, reaching his hand out to tap Sal's shoulder, but Sal turned back, looking at the hand.
"What? It's not done yet, I didn't expect you to be so hyped. I did see your helmet changing color due to my coffee so I think it changes color due to your emotions. My coffee is just that good, making people feel better."
Sal said joyfully. He is too innocent to realize how bad his coffee is to other people, Trout gave up on saying anything and went to the main hall of the library. He sat down in a chair and took a random book nearby, the book was titled 'land and seas'. As he read it, he noticed the book was an encyclopedia about land and sea creatures. The book was thick and felt heavy.
Suddenly the scent of coffee slowly filled the hall as Sal walked out with two cups of coffee. He put one of the cups down before Trout and sat down In front of him, taking out a book about drink brewing and started reading while sipping on coffee, as if he's analyzing his own brew.
The two enjoyed the coffee while reading peacefully.... except for Trout who doesn't even dare to take two sips at a time or it might erase his soul out of existence.
"So, which branch of K corp are you in debt with?"
The question was out of context and caught Trout off guard. He couldn't figure out why Sal was asking this.
"K corp? You mean Kurtzman corporation?"
He replied, he wanted to make sure that Sal was asking about his debt and nothing else. He knew Sal wouldn't do such a thing as questioning him but the strange words Sal said last night about something that he was 'providing' for him.
"Yes, it's common sense that we have a trip there. I can already tell that you haven't taken any of your belongings before leaving the hospital or before being kicked out to be precise. Who knows, maybe you can find something valuable and cut your debt short."
The thought of being able to cut his debt short activated Trout, he quickly finished his cup of coffee even though it felt like he just drank a sea of bitter juice which didn't matter now, he had to learn about both his past and the slim chance of getting out of the debt.
"Easy there, I thought you were enjoying the cup with each sip, do you want another for the trip?"
The thought of having another gave Trout a reality check, trying not to puke his helmet flashed green with a hint of purple, Sal just observed the changing of the color glowing from the center of his helmet, the glowing came from the face of the mask. Yet he knew it was better not to care for now.
Packing up an extra set of clothes and grabbing a dark case, it looked like the case was quite long compared to a normal business case. Trout noticed and asked
"Was it there before? I didn't notice."
Sal answered with his unserious tone as always.
"My friend, you should get something to arm yourself with since this job won't be so easy. It's a grade 3 job so it's common to die, but i did pick the one with the best pay and lowest risk. Just don't get yourself In front of a scorned and you should be fine."
He scoffed a little after that. Trout was confused by the term 'scorned', he wanted to ask about it but it seemed like he already asked too much so he went back to reading the encyclopedia. Even though the book mentioned that animals barely exist after the great wars and destruction caused by humans, meats and vegetables are still being sold after being duplicated and raised by the Farmers of F corp using some form of singularity technology.
While he was still reading, he heard Sal's voice from the door of the library.
"Read that later, I got something else for you to read while we're on the bus, and we are going by bus at 5 and it's 4:45 so you better get off of that chair."
Trout stood up from the chair after placing a bookmark on the page he was reading. Walking towards Sal, he waited quite a while for Sal to put on the hell of a structure of stacks of clothing, but it did look good so he couldn't really say anything.
They walked out the library and Sal locked the door.
They walked in silence among the empty streets. The light Trout thought was sunlight in the library was just street light. There is no sunlight at all and he could barely see anything with the flickering lights of the streets. The sky was grey and barely had any clouds, just dark gray sky.
They continued in silence, after a while Trout found the street a bit familiar as they continue walking. After what seemed like almost ten minutes they arrived at a bench below a street light that was not flickering. Sal stopped walking and looked back at Trout like he just remembered something.
"You told me that you were told to come to the library by an old man right?"
The question was not all that sudden but it broke the awkward silence they've been having for the whole walk.
"Yes, why are you asking?"
Sal scoffed, it seemed like he was expecting this answer. He waved out to Trout and they continued the walk, after five minutes they arrived at a bus station, there was an old bus there. It looked like the bus was barely functioning, unlike the busses Trout took while going on his first job.
Sal tapped on the door with his gloved hand and the door creaked open. A figure was already sitting inside but the man looked extremely surprised at seeing Sal like he was never expecting him out of all people, yet Sal got on the bus and Trout followed behind.
They entered the bus and Sal walked right to the back of the bus driver and put a hand on his shoulder. He used his other hand to point at Trout and point to a seat at the back of the bus, Trout didn't say anything but went to the back while carrying a bag holding his patient rag. After seeing Trout sitting down the seat, Sal moved the pointing finger slowly onto his lips, making a silent gesture.
After that he turned his focus onto the bus driver as the two began a conversation.
A chat of the bus driver and Sal seemed to tense the atmosphere, but Trout was unable to hear what they were talking about, Sal turned his head back and asked.
"Now , I did ask you which hospital did you go to but we just figured it out. This bus driver is a person I know, you also met him before."
The curiosity of the conversation between the two fired up inside Trout. He yearned to know even just a word of their conversation but it was impossible, he slowly stood up from the seat and carefully tried to take a silent step towards them to hear their conversation.
Before he could take the step, Sal pointed his fingers right at Trout's eye direction while his other hand was still gripping the bus driver's shoulder.
Trout knew he could do nothing but sit back down and resist the urge to say or ask anything. After a silent moment, a scream of pain could be heard inside the bus
"OW! FINE, STOP IT! Ow ow ow....."
The sudden scream startled Trout, he had never heard such a sound before from what he remembers till now, he quickly looked around for the source of the sound.
The scream looked like it came from the front row, the bus driver looked like he was being hurt but what could possibly be hurting him, Sal removed his hand off the bus driver's shoulder and went back to the middle row of seats to sit, he did look at Trout and nod.
Trout now knew he could talk and move freely, he quickly went to the frontline to see the man that Sal said he already met.
As he approached the front row, the bus driver tenses but quickly relaxes all of a sudden. He approached the bus driver but he could not recognize the face because of the hat he was wearing. The bus driver took a glimpse at him then turned back to the wheel, the engine started and the bus slowly stumbled forward. The sudden movement knocked Trout to a nearby chair as his body got thrown to the chair, he could take a look at the bus driver. In an instant he recognised the face.
It was is the old man that once guided him to Sal's library days ago when he had just gotten kicked out the hospital.
After recognising the old man, Trout didn't say anything but just gave him a nod on show of gratitude. The old man didn't respond but his eyes were fixed on the road. The bus went on in silence.
After a while they arrived at a big hospital with a bright neon light with the text 'Kurtzman coperation' running. The bus driver hit the brakes slowly and the bus slowed down.
The door creaked open again and the two walked out while the bus driver stayed on the bus. Sal walked in the hospital then went straight to the reception, Trout was following him on the back like a clueless child.
Sal said something to the receptionist and pushed Trout forward, the receptionist scanned him up and down with a professional smile, they say.
"It's you who are in debt with us? Would you be patient for me to check on the files, I have to make sure before you take back you belongings. But before that, please return our patient clothing."
Trout handed the bag to the receptionist and after a quick check, they smiled and pointed to a chair, telling Trout to sit there. Sal remained before the reception desk. He did blink at Trout with a grin on his face as if saying 'I got this'.
Trout could do nothing but to obey, he went to the waiting chair and sat there. Yet his headgear's glowing light's color slowly changed from white to light gray due to the boredom of waiting.
"I am getting pulled around like a puppy. Why is he doing all of this for me..."
He muttered under his breath, the feeling of it was undeniable.
The wait was so long he could feel himself losing focus and slowly drift into sleep. In the dream he could not see anything, only the sound of gears spinning and screaming of someone like his own. He could feel the agony or whatever it was, he was sweating but he could not wake up.
A tap on the head woke Trout up, Sal was already standing right Infront of him, hand holding a bag of clothing and a small box of items. Sal handed him the bag but didn't open the box yet. He could feel Sal's observation on him.
"You're sweating, is everything fine?"
The question was straight forward, Trout couldn't just bring himself to answer about the dream, he was just going to deflect it with something else.
"It's nothing much, let's go back to the bus, alright?"
Sal stared right into Trout's eyes but did walk out the hospital with him without saying a word. After they got out the hospital, Sal held Trout by the collar. People at the hospital's gate were hooked by the sudden drama, their eyes fixed on them.
"That was a lie, speak. I did so much for you yet I haven't earned your trust yet?"
The sudden interaction caught Trout off guard. He tried to shove Sal out but he held him with a strong grip, he could see the disappointment inside Sal's eyes.
"No, just. It really was nothing."
A grunt from Sal
"False."
Trout still tried to get out of this, Sal saw the struggle, he hesitated a bit but let go of Trout. they walked back to the bus in silence.
As long as they entered the bus Sal tossed the box to the seat and looked at Trout.
"Drop the bag somewhere, we need to talk"
Trout did not say anything, he dropped the bag onto his seat, he went up straight face to face with Sal. While the air was getting more intense, the bus driver slowly left the bus.
"You, it wasn't about why you were sweating. It's about why you don't trust me yet"
Sal said, his point was clear and Trout understood he was in the wrong here.
"I...I just couldn't find...I don't known..."
Trying to get a hold of himself the more he said, the more pathetic he was.
"Shut up, I don't care you know or don't, speak to me. How many times do I have to comfort you, how many time do I have to take care of you so you can see me as a trust worthy? Am I just that suspicious to you?...ANSWER ME TROUT!"
...
..
"Sal, I...I just... couldn't find a way to say it..."
..
"Then don't, speak straight to me, what is it you are so concerned about."
.
"I know..just I can't bring myself to understand why are you helping me out. You said I'm providing you something but what is it?"
.
.
.
Silence covered the bus. The only sound that could be heard is Trout's heavy breathing and Sal's fingers cracking together.
"Shut up, let's end our conversation here. You will just be less careful with me aight?"
Sal was back on his funny tone. The mood change was quick so Trout couldn't catch up. Yet he didn't give up on questioning.
"I can not lend you my trust if you don't tell me, say it, what am I to you? Some provider of what?"
.
"Shut up...just.. forget this conversation."
.
"No, I have to know. What is that you are keeping from me."
.
"Do not push my limits, Trout, let's call it here."
.
"Say it Sal, what is that you want from me?!"
Trout kept pushing Sal's temptation, his jaw clenched. He stood a step forward.
Suddenly Trout felt a sharp pain in his stomach, he collapsed to the ground. Before he could react, another strike followed up from below to the head knocking him unconscious. Sal was just standing there while looking down on him. The sight of Trout lying unconscious on the ground somehow left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He picked Trout up and put him on the chair next to his belongings bag, he carefully took the box and put it on Trout's lap. He couldn't understand why he did it but he thought it was best to explain after both him and Trout calmed down. Better to be... silence...
The bus driver heard the combat and stepped in, he saw the scene. Shaking his head.
"Sal, this is not like you at all. Leaving the library is one thing, but doing all this. Is it worth it?"
.
"Drive, bus driver. You shouldn't get your nose in our Business."
.
"Fine"
The bus's door closed with a creak and the bus rumbled on. To the job that the two were supposed to work on together.