2: A DEBT I NEVER OWED
1007 Words
Ethan’s breathing was still uneven as the silence in the alley stretched between them. The man—Lucas Herrera—stood before him, his gaze unreadable in the dim light. Now that the two other men had disappeared, Ethan was suddenly aware of the weight of this moment.
He was alone with him.
And somehow, that felt just as unsettling.
Lucas took a step forward, his polished shoes clicking softly against the cracked pavement. Ethan instinctively stiffened, his fingers tightening around the strap of his worn-out bag. His instinct told him to leave—to disappear before anything else happened.
But Lucas’s presence was like a force pressing down on him, making it impossible to move.
Then, in a voice so smooth yet sharp that it sent chills down Ethan’s spine, Lucas finally spoke.
“…You’re trembling.”
Ethan sucked in a breath and forced himself to meet his gaze. “It’s cold.”
A lie.
The night air was cool, but not nearly enough to make him shake the way he was. He was still running on adrenaline, his body reacting to something deeper—something about this man.
Lucas tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes never leaving him. “You shouldn’t have interfered.”
Ethan frowned. “They were ganging up on you. I couldn’t just—”
“Do you know who they were?” Lucas cut in.
Ethan hesitated. He didn’t. He hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“Then you made a foolish decision,” Lucas mused, almost amused. “But… an interesting one.”
Ethan bristled at his tone. He didn’t like the way this man spoke—as if he was studying him, analyzing him like a puzzle.
A cold breeze swept through the alley, making Ethan shiver. He needed to leave. Now.
“…Anyway, you’re fine now. I should go.”
He turned, eager to put distance between them.
But before he could take a step—
“Wait.”
Something in Lucas’s voice made Ethan freeze. There was no threat in it, but something told him walking away wasn’t an option.
Reluctantly, he turned back.
Lucas studied him, his expression unreadable. “You helped me.”
Ethan blinked. “Yeah?”
Lucas reached into his pocket, pulling out something—a crisp stack of bills, neatly bound. He extended it toward Ethan.
“For your trouble.”
Ethan’s stomach twisted. He stared at the money, then back at Lucas.
“I don’t need that.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow. “You work multiple jobs just to survive.”
Ethan tensed. How the hell did he know that?
Lucas smirked slightly. “It’s written all over you.”
Ethan clenched his fists. His clothes were old and worn, his sneakers barely holding together, his exhaustion etched into every line of his face. Of course, someone like Lucas would see through him instantly.
But Ethan still had pride.
“I didn’t do it for money.”
Lucas’s lips curved slightly, like he had expected that answer.
“Interesting,” he murmured again, slipping the money back into his pocket.
Ethan exhaled slowly, relieved. But also, strangely uneasy.
Something about Lucas’s gaze made him feel like he had just unknowingly stepped into something much bigger than himself.
And then, just as Ethan was about to finally leave, Lucas spoke again.
“Ethan Navarro.”
Ethan froze.
His name.
His entire body went rigid as he turned slowly to face him. “…How do you know my name?”
Lucas didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he smiled—a slow, knowing smile.
“We’ll meet again.”
And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night like a ghost.
Ethan stood there, his heart pounding so loudly he could hear it in his ears.
We’ll meet again.
He didn’t know why, but something about those words made him feel like a door had just been opened—one he would never be able to close again.
---
The Next Day
Ethan woke up to the familiar blaring of his alarm clock, his body aching from exhaustion.
It took a moment for him to remember everything that had happened the night before—the alley, the fight, and Lucas Herrera.
The memory left a strange feeling in his chest. Who the hell was that guy?
Shaking off the thought, Ethan dragged himself out of bed and got ready for work. He had no time to dwell on strange billionaires with unsettling stares.
His morning routine was the same—a quick shower, stale bread for breakfast, and an old backpack filled with the essentials. He had another long day ahead of him.
Job #1: A convenience store shift from 8 AM to 2 PM.
Job #2: A delivery gig from 3 PM to 7 PM.
Job #3: Cleaning tables at a small restaurant from 8 PM until closing.
His entire life was a cycle of exhaustion, barely making enough to cover rent.
But he kept going. He had no choice.
By the time Ethan arrived at his first job, his feet were already sore. The morning was slow, only a handful of customers coming in, allowing his mind to wander.
Lucas Herrera.
The name wouldn’t leave his head.
Who was he, really? And why did Ethan feel like their encounter wasn’t just a coincidence?
“Ethan?”
He snapped out of his thoughts. His manager, an older woman with graying hair, was looking at him with a frown.
“There’s a customer asking for you.”
Ethan blinked. “Huh?”
She nodded toward the counter.
And when Ethan turned to look—
His stomach dropped.
Standing there, dressed in yet another expensive suit, was Lucas Herrera.
Ethan’s grip on the counter tightened.
“What… what are you doing here?”
Lucas smiled slightly, his gaze never leaving Ethan’s.
“Told you we’d meet again.”
Ethan’s blood ran cold.
What the hell was going on?
And more importantly… why did he feel like his life was about to change forever?
- Writer
