HIS ESCAPE PLAN

Escape 2: Proposal

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Axel sloppily wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. It was a Saturday and the bar was packed with people who wanted a breather from their jobs or just hang out with their friends or lovers.

He was already beat as he just finished writing a term paper that he had to submit past the deadline this afternoon. He was lucky that his professor still accepted his paper though he had to face the consequences of having some points docked off his marks for passing it late.

He eyed Jude who was struggling with mixing the drinks under the scrutiny of a big guy who was giving Jude too many instructions all at the same time and decided that it was best to help him instead of having him spill the drinks on the floor.

It hasn't been a week since he was recruited for the job but being a fast learner and a keen observer, he was able to learn the ins and outs of the job, including pleasing the customers who sometimes need someone to talk to.

"I'll take it from here, Jude. You go take orders."

Jude gave him a smile before heading towards the table of customers who just walked into the bar.

"Are you new here? I haven't seen you before," the guy asked him as he continued mixing the drinks. He noticed a small part of what seemed to be a dragon tattoo peeking through the guy's shirt.

"I've only been here for a week," Axel curtly replied before handing him his drink.

"You look young. How are old are you?"

"I'm in my last year of university."

"Oh, so part-time job."

"Well, sort of."

"Then I guess, you're in dire need of money to support your studies."

The guy's comment irked Axel at some point especially with the way the guy was eyeing him. It wasn't actually new to him. He has been offered to do extra service for an ample sum of money many times. It was actually the reason he was kicked out of his previous job when a guy at the convenience store he worked at before tried to molest him so he ended up breaking the guy's jaw.

"Well, you can say that. Who doesn't need money?" he replied nonchalantly while trying his best not to sound rude. He just couldn't afford to lose yet another job.

"I can give you money. You name the amount."

"Oh, really. What's the catch then?"

The guy scoffed before taking the last shot of his drink and reaching out for Axel's hand on the counter top.

Axel tried to move his hand away, but the guy was quicker, thus grabbing Axel's hand in the blink of an eye.

"You know exactly what I want to happen. Don't play innocent."

But Axel just scoffed before pulling his hand off the guy's grip.

"I'm sorry but my rate's too high that you probably won't be able to afford me."

The guy's face contorted with anger who then attempted to grab him again, but someone grabbed the guy's collar and pushed him on the floor.

Axel immediately recognized Xavier who was already pinning the guy on the floor.

"Let him go, Xavier," he muttered as he signaled the guards so they could bring the guy out of the bar.

"Are you okay?"

Axel c****d a brow as he looked at Xavier's worried face. Or was he?

"Why? Are you worried about me?" he teased as he handed Xavier a glass of water. He seemed to have rushed over based on the beads of sweat on his forehead.

"Tss."

"What brought you here?"

"I'm a regular here. I haven't seen you work here before."

"Oh, I'm still a week-old in this work."

"Anyway, Axel, right?"

"Yeah."

“How did you know my name? I don’t recall telling you my name.”

Axel stilled upon hearing Xavier’s question but just decided to evade the question by pretending not to hear it. Instead, he busied himself by taking the orders of the ones that just came.

"Aren't you gonna order anything?" Axel asked after a while as Xavier didn't even budge from his seat and just continued watching what he was doing.

"What time are you clocking off? I have, I have something to tell you."

"I'm gonna leave in 30 minutes. You can just tell me right here."

"No, I, I need to talk to you in private," Xavier cleared his throat as he eyed Axel who was shooting him confused looks.

"Okay, but you're actually making me nervous to be honest."

Xavier didn't answer and instead grabbed the shot of vodka Axel was about to hand to the customer next to him.

"I'll wait for you outside," Xavier muttered before placing a couple of bucks on the countertop.

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Axel massaged his neck as he made his way out of the bar. Saturdays have always been a busy day and he didn't even expect to work an hour past his shift.

He was about to ride his motorbike when he felt something hit his head.

"What the-"

But his words were caught midair when he saw Xavier a meter away. He was leaning on his car while his hands were stuffed inside his pockets.

"Didn't know your 30 minutes would take so long."

Axel hinted a slight annoyance in his voice but he just returned his action by throwing back the pebble that Xavier threw at him earlier.

"I didn't tell you to wait for me though," he dismissed him as he got on his motorbike. But even before he could turn on the engine, Xavier effortlessly closed the distance between them and grabbed his arm.

"I need you to do me a favor."

"I'm sorry, Mister but I don't do extra service and besides, it's already past my shift so I don't think I could be of any assistance."

"What? It's not what I mean. Wait, do you seriously think I want you to sleep with me?!"

"Why? Isn't that why you're here?"

"Why would I even ask you that when it was clearly you who brought me home that night? If there's someone who has a motive here, it would be you."

"I'm so sorry to disappoint you, Mister but nothing happened between us that night. Now if you'll excuse me."

Axel quickly dismissed him and put on his helmet as he readied himself to leave, but Xavier's next words might have made him freeze in his tracks.

"Be my boyfriend!" Xavier's unsteady voice broke into the stillness of the night and despite Axel's effort to leave the guy on his own, he couldn't help but be intrigued by Xavier's real intention.

"What's the catch?" he asked as he removed his helmet and raised a brow at Xavier who couldn't even look at him in the eyes.

"I want you to, to, to-"

"Why are stuttering? You clearly stated what you wanted earlier."

"Fine! I said I want you to be my boyfriend. I mean, f-fake boyfriend."

"Okay, so what's the deal?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on. You just don't ask someone to be their boyfriend, Xavier. What's the reason behind this sudden outburst, huh?"

Axel hid a smile as he noticed Xavier's ears reddening and he couldn't help but be amused

"If I tell you, will you agree then?"

"Well, it depends."

"Yo-you'll get your pay. Just help me spite my father by being in a relationship with me."

"Do you hate him that much?"

"N-no. I just need a reason for him to spite me so he wouldn't let me have the family company. So, can you please, help me."

"I'm sorry but we're not that close for me to agree to your demands," Axel refused and was about to put on his helmet again when Xavier stopped him from doing so.

"We'll split the money I would get from my father. Just help me out on this one. I know you need money or you wouldn't be working your ass off in this place so please."

Axel heaved a deep sigh as he stared deep into Xavier's pleading eyes. He didn't have the slightest idea why Xavier would do go such measure in order to defy his father.

"Aren't you gonna propose to me with something?"

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Well, you're asking me to be your boyfriend. Don't I at least get a gift or something?"

"Oh, wait. Here."

Axel watched in amusement as Xavier scampered to go back to his car and got something.

"Here," Xavier said with a big smile on his face as he showed Axel a very familiar ring.

"Wait. It's my ring, isn't it?"

"You left this in my car. Here, give me your hand."

Axel mindlessly handed Xavier his hand and watched in confusion as the guy in front of him inserted the ring into his finger.

"Wait, did you just propose to me using my own ring??" he asked in astonishment as he gawked at his own hand.

"So, you're my boyfriend now. There's no turning back," Xavier grinned before tapping Axel on the shoulder.

"I'm gonna pick you up tomorrow so we could talk about the plan. See you!" Xavier bade him goodbye before heading back to his car.

"Okay, what just happened?" Axel muttered to himself as he watched Xavier's car leave as he internally reprimanded himself for saying yes on whim.

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