The Badboy is an Omega

Chapter 03 - Safe for Now

It was a midsummer day and of all days, the air conditioner in his room chose the time to malfunction when its usual routine would be in the night. It was like it wanted to suffocate him in this within the tiny space of his apartment, especially when he had closed his sole window. He had taken a peek outside before letting down the curtain, he was anticipating police might swarm the area soon. His plan to flee immediately was put off by Tony’s situation and the goddamn ring he had left for him.

Jay paced around the apartment with his hands on his head, his back was getting soaked with sweat. For each passing second he felt like his head would burst. And the root of this was lying on the floor. The golden ring lied with its package torn messily by him.

Tony was in deeper s**t than he was. He wanted to help, but returning to the company would be him offering himself to surrender. After going back and forth with no solid plan formed, Jay took his backpack again and swung it over his shoulder. The ring was snatched from the floor straight to his jeans pocket. He’ll first have to find some cheap motel to hide in, then, find ways to sneak the ring into the boss's office. But he highly doubted he could get in undetected. He could be arrested even before he could see his boss.

There’s no helping this, Tony’s life was more important than his own. Tony was the one who had raised him. Jay had no mother or father. Tony said truthfully that he had no idea what happened to them. Only one day, his cousin whom he had not seen for years had suddenly appeared on his doorstep, leaving a one-year-old baby. Jay’s mother had said that she would come back but she never did. So, Tony had to grit his teeth and raise him. He grew up in his uncle’s pub with the smell of alcohol and cigarettes and every week a riot would happen in the pub. With Tony’s crazy life, he still grew up well. If he doesn’t mention the number of times he got detention and called for in the principal’s office during high school. What made him preserve was his desire to pursue art. Tony had once commented that his mother was also good at drawing. Jay had only shrugged at that time then, saying who cares?

At any rate, he grew up under the old man’s care. And he had no intention of abandoning Tony.

Amidst all the heat and his brain coming up with his plan while walking towards the door, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He fished it out, thinking Tony had called again. He had to catch the ring that had slipped out of his pocket when he took his phone and put it in his other pocket.

Chris’ name came on the screen. f**k, they’re onto him now. His finger swiped to end the call. He was about to turn off his phone when Chris' messages barged in one after the other.

‘Hey, did you just hang up on me?!’

‘You’re nowhere to be found here! You abandoned your post!’

‘You haven’t applied for leave. I’ll deduct this on your first pay!’

Jay frowned. The hell is this guy deducting his pay for? He will be in jail even before he can get his hands on those. Wait, something’s not adding up.

He beat that bastard early in the morning and all Chris talked about was his paycheck.

Or is this a trap to f*****g lure him out?

‘Hey, you there? Call me back!’

‘If you’re feeling sick right now, fine. You had better report tomorrow and don’t leave your post without notifying me!’

His frown deepened. What kind of luring was this? It’s okay to capture for tomorrow? And besides, they could have just gone straight to his doorstep since Chris knew his address.

Or could it be?

Jay put the edge of his phone on his chin in thought. The corners of his lips turned up in an evil smile.

That fucker had not dared to report him! No guts to say he molested a man in a fuckin' bathroom like some dog in heat! The fact that no one had yet to call the police on him and even Chris had no clue.

But to be sure, he needed to make it clear with Chris. He quickly dialed his number and, because Chris was probably still on break, fuming in front of his phone. Jay got connected immediately.

“So, what’s the matter with you?” was the other side's greeting to him. “If I hadn’t seen your cart lying here, I wouldn’t know you left the building.”

“Something came up on my end here.”

“It’s an emergency,” Jay quickly added before Chris nagged him about the company’s rules.

“You could have at least notified me, then I could have prepared a replacement for you. Anyways, this doesn’t change anything, emergency or not. I will have to deduct this sudden leave from your pay.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he impatiently agreed, having to hear that for a second time. “How about those big bosses on the upper floor?”

“What about them?”

“Did they say anything?”

“Pft, no. Trust me, they don’t have much time to pay attention other than making money. So, you’re still safe.”

No one had really reported, huh? But it’s still too early to feel relieved.

“No one filed a complaint against me? You know, something like the bathroom incident.”

“Bathroom incident? The bathroom you just abandoned?”

“Yeah.”

Chris sighed and from the tone of his, he was beginning to get impatient too. “Like I said, those on the upper floors don’t care except for the Deputy Assistant. That one was a clean freak, hmm… guess, you really got lucky this time. He did not call to complain about the lack of cleaning on their floors.”

“Is that so?”

Jay had heard of the Deputy Assistant but he never met the guy, not like he had the qualifications to meet him. He had heard that Chris or any other cleaners who worked in the company for a long time would tremble whenever he called their department.

Was he that creep? That’s why the whole incident had been concealed?

“Jay? Are you still there?”

“Yeah, listen, I’m gonna hang up. I still have to attend to my emergency.”

“Alright, you better show up tomorrow!”

Jay ended the call without answering. He let his bag fall on the floor and raced to his window to open it. He took a big gulp and reveled in the air outside his window. Jay’s upper body slumped on the sill feeling his body had lost its strength.

He was thinking about that suspicious deputy assistant. Usually, the assistants would come early in the morning to wait for their bosses. And he had the power to shut up his subordinates and the fact that his crime had not been made to light inside the company. It all made sense.

Jay reached for his back pocket. He took out his crumpled pack of cigarettes. He chose a decent stick and put it between his lips. He patted his back to his front but his cheap lighter was missing.

Early the next morning, he went to the company at his usual time. He entered the company looking normal and not someone who had beaten a person inside the towering building.

“Morning, Jay!”

A man only a few years older than him raised his hand in greetings at him when he entered their locker room. He forgot his name, they only interacted on mornings where they sometimes went to work at the same time.

“Morning,” he responded with less enthusiasm. Jay went to his locker and tossed his bag inside. All his valuables that went in his pockets had included that ring.

“Still gloomy, huh.” The man commented in a whisper before matching the younger man’s walk when he took a step to the next room where they store their cleaning cart.

Jay pretended he had not heard him. He took his cart in silently and pushed it forward, intending to go straight to the path he had taken to the upper floor.

“Hey, where do you think you’re heading to?”

Chris' voice echoed in the hall. Jay turned back at him, his expression was covered by the shadow of his cap. Chris came at a hurried pace from behind.

“The upper floor, I’ll finish what I left yesterday.”

Chris waved his hand which was holding a thin folder. When he noticed his gaze on the folder, Chris took his hand down and the folder was taken in his other hand. Out of Jay’s sight.

Chris cleared his throat. “No need. I had someone fill in for you yesterday and Smith has already reported today. You go back to your original post.”

Dammit, his luck had run out. He intends to sneak again and just leave the ring on the big boss table or on his assistant. As for his assailant… That fucker was lucky. If he’s not reporting him, then he’s also willing to forget as long as he won’t see his face again.

Jay nodded to Chris and abandoned the elevator’s route. Though his back was on him, he could feel Chris glare at him. It only lasted for seconds, he heard an elevator ding. He turned his head to look. He saw Chris get in, the numbers showing he would get off on the floor of the big boss.

What’s his problem now? Thought that the matter of his AWOL yesterday was already settled?

That guy sure does hold grudges well, huh?

Jay internally shrugged his shoulders. His plan for today was abandoned but he had already expected this. He needed to cool off, especially because of what he did. There are plenty of chances, he just needs to be patient.

His feet dragged him from the lobby straight to the men’s bathroom. Jay didn’t know if he had developed a f*****g trauma but when he was cleaning, he made sure his back was never facing the door. Or if he really needed to, he was keeping his senses alert.

He was like that the whole time. When the first person that had entered the bathroom, Jay had snapped his head, and turning that person almost jumped in fright. Jay, seeing just a random guy, feigned ignorance and continued what he was doing.

“f**k, dude! The hell’s wrong with you?” The random guy in a suit said before doing his business.

Jay ignored him. He entered a cubicle and started brushing the toilet bowl.

“Weird sonofabitch!” The guy continued his terrain of insults. Then, followed the sound of an object being kicked. A clattering noise echoed in the bathroom.

Jay had encountered several of the same kind as that s**t outside. Those who wore decent suits with shining leather shoes but their mouths were not any different to those he encountered in Tony’s pub. The only difference was they were more upfront than those with their hypocritical hairstyles.