"I want to buy all of these." Alice emptied her cart on the counter.
In front of her, stood Ian, with an annoyed expression on his face as he watched Alice's childish jokes.
He was wearing a work apron with his name badge stuck to his chest, and the grocery store's cheap branding on his apron.
"We don't need all this, Alice. Buy things we actually need." Ian reasoned.
And he was quite right, as the counter was filled with chocolates and instant ramen.
Alice blinked, "Is that part of your job too? I never knew cashiers could give household advice."
"So funny." Ian glared, "Can you stop being a spoiled little child for once, Alice? I am getting tired of your attitude, okay?
Do you think this is a fucking joke? Do you think your lovely daddy will keep giving you money even if you do nothing?
Do you think you're still your daddy's princess? Grow the fuck up!" he bursted out in a low voice.
Alice's smirk was wiped off, replaced by a mildly serious look.
"Who do you think you are to say that?" Alice said before looking back at the line behind her, "I want to buy all this. Cash it out and we will talk at night."
Ian stared in her bright emerald eyes for a few seconds before swiping off the items using the scanner.
"34.45." he said.
Alice fished out a 50$ bill and handed it to Ian, who returned her the change.
"Keep the c-"
"Don't." Ian cut her off and Alice nodded in understanding, walking out with a carry bag full of goodies.
Though it was obvious that both their minds were ruined already.
***
"Good work, Ian." the store manager, a kind looking elderly woman, patted Ian's shoulder gently.
Though it was quite hard for her to reach his height.
"Thank you miss." Ian replied, "Keep the money for now, I will like to be paid weekly or monthly."
"As you wish. Good night."
"Night." Ian walked out of the store and after walking a bit further away, he saw the elderly woman struggling to close the shutter of the store.
'She will manage.' Ian ignored the woman and continued to walk towards his apartment.
Today was Saturday, and Ian was working from morning's 10 am to night's 9 pm continuously.
Of course, he took two hours of break in between to eat and rest, but it was still the hardest day he ever spent.
But he somehow pulled it off.
Beginner's motivation or real dedication? Only time could tell.
***
Ian opened the door using his key and found Alice sitting on the hall's couch, watching TV.
He was filled with rage, but tried to calm himself down.
"What you said in the convenience store hurt me." Alice said when she saw Ian looking at her.
"I meant every single word of it." Ian scoffed while removing his sweaty apron and hanging it on the rack.
The Southern continent was much hotter compared to the Northern continent, so he was having some trouble adjusting.
Alice went silent, just looking at Ian hatefully.
Ian sighed and sat on the couch beside her.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked.
"No." Alice replied.
'From my experience, that 'no' means 'yes', right?' Ian looked at her weirdly.
"Are you missing your parents? Your villa? Detachment issues?" he asked.
"Don't you too? Do you expect me to believe you are completely fine living like this?"
"Nope." Ian chuckled, "I am not. But I can't do shit about it."
"You can! This feels like some kind of a test. You just need to fail it and request parents to get you back or help." Alice punched the pillow, "They love us!"
"I know that, but let me ask you a question." Ian leaned closer, looking into Alice's eyes, "Do you have self-respect?"
"...What?"
"It's a simple question, Alice. Do. You. Have. Self-respect?"
"I do." Alice answered with gritted teeths.
"You don't." Ian made some distance again, "If you had any, you won't have suggested what you just did.
Was this your grand plan? Your reason to act bratty? To get pity? Sympathy?
Use your parent's love against them and keep feeding you while you do nothing but be a burden on them?!"
A crunch slap resounded into the room as Alice slapped Ian on the cheek.
Tears began to fall out of her eyes as Ian closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek with his palm.
After a moment of thought, another slap resounded in the room.
"Don't you dare hit me." he warned.
Alice was stunned, feeling her numb, red cheek with her hand.
Her tears began to fall like a broken dam, and the cursed wailing started.
"THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WANT TO MARRY WAAAAAHH" Alice cried loudly, "I WILL TELL MY DAD THAT YOU HIT ME!"
"Also tell him how fucking dumb and irritating you are." Ian said.
"HE ALREADY KNOW!"
"..."
'Does she have mental issues?' Ian didn't dare say it out loud.
But looking at her, Ian leaned back on the couch and looked at the ceiling.
Her cries were still running in the background, but Ian's mind was focused on his own thoughts.
Scary thoughts that would he act the same way as her if Leon was a little less stern and strict?
He knew that he wasn't as spoiled and rotten as Alice was.
But was he also just a spoiled rich kid?
Was that the way he would define his identity?
The son of Leon Maxwell. Grandson of Matthew Maxwell.
Two leaders in business empires.
And him? Just a child who gets anything he wants. Who thinks life is easy.
If this goes on, would he even be 'deserving' to be a CEO of Maxwell Industries?
'No. I can't let that define me.'
Ian looked down again, seeing Alice who was covering her face with a pillow and her body was shaking with hiccups.
Ian got up to bring her a bottle of water, while thinking.
'I can't be like that. Ever.'
And at that time, his grandfather's ring on his fingers shone brightly.
The light blinded everything in sight as Ian lost his balance, falling down on the floor as the white light filled his vision.
[ The Assistance System has been awakened by your strong will. ]
Ian heard a voice in his mind before he blanked out.