Arc 3 Devica Part 2
1105 Words
Devica CHAPTER 2
After the graduation ceremony, he went to greet Vio and Camilla. Nephrite thanked them again and asked to add them for their social media accounts to get in touch so he could thank them properly in the future. Though the two insisted that it was not necessary to treat them out as thanks, they happily accepted his friend request. After chatting for a bit, he looked for his ‘family’ from the crowd.
Raven’s cousin Cain and Jude also graduated today so the uncle’s family was also there.
He found the family near the middle of the auditorium. Upon seeing them, Nephrite painstakingly forced himself to smile and warmly called out to them, “Uncle Howard! Aunt Sweetie!”
Raven’s Aunt and Uncle gave him an awkward smile. Jude smiled at him warmly while Cain smirked at him. Only Jacob outright ignored him, not even looking at him. Nephrite raised an eyebrow at the younger cousin’s actions, amused.
Howard tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a small bouquet of flowers. “Congratulations. Sorry, Uncle could only acquire this small bouquet—”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Nephrite interrupted Howard. He did not want to hear too many crap and bullsh*t reasons.
“Do you have plans with your friends today?”
Raven indeed planned to hang out with his bar friends after the ceremony. “Yes, Uncle.”
“Then go ahead, don’t worry about us. We will keep dinner for you.”
“No need, Uncle,” Nephrite said.
“Okay, then we’re leaving.”
“Sure Uncle Howard, be safe.”
“You really want to kill yourself, don't you? Won’t even grab lunch. Don’t you know funerals are expensive?”
Nephrite turned to Raven’s youngest cousin, Jacob. If Nephrite remembered correctly, Raven hated this cousin out of the three because of being mean. But why did it feel like Raven misjudged this kid?
“Stop that, Jacob.” Jude said, “Don’t mind him. See you tonight.”
Nephrite only nodded. After a while, Nephrite went home. As expected, the family went somewhere else. But he had no time to care about it.
Nephrite quickly went to Raven’s room and looked for the bag containing necessary documents. He could not take back the money given to his uncle but it did not mean there's no way to solve these problems. But he could not alert his uncle so he wouldn't take back control over the pension but he had to get that stock.
Nephrite did not set an appointment but after the secretary heard his name, she immediately led him to the waiting area.
It took about an hour before he was sent into the office.
“Good afternoon, Uncle Ye.”
Lin Ye nodded and gestured for him to sit. “You seem different today,” he commented, his eyes lingering at his friend’s son’s expression. Then he noticed him unconsciously rubbing his arm, “Did you hurt yourself?”
Nephrite did not want to make a fuss about the fall. “It’s fine Uncle, I’ll go to the clinic after this.”
Lin Ye nodded then gestured for him to continue the topic before.
“Uncle Ye, I changed my mind.” Nephrite went straight to the point, “My request to transfer my shares to my uncle, is it revocable?”
“I haven’t sent him the certificate yet so of course it is. Why did you suddenly change your mind?”
“I have no other reasons other than I realized how stupid I am,” he admitted.
Lin Ye pointed his pen at him. “Better remember that decision. Your father almost came back alive only to die again from anger at you.”
“Then why Uncle Ye did not warn me?”
“Have you forgotten what’s in that document? It says everything is up to you. As your lawyer, do I have the right to stop you?”
“I’m sorry for worrying Uncle Ye.”
“Nevermind. Just make sure not to get tricked by your uncle again.”
“Also Uncle, can I ask a favor?”
—-----
Three days later.
“You said you’re moving out?”
Nephrite observed Howard’s reaction. He tried hard not to smirk as he saw how the other tried to suppress anger. So, it seems like it’s this hard to be an actor.
“Your father’s pension isn’t enough for your expenses. Also, though you got those stocks, you would need at least a year before you were able to touch the earnings.”
Nephrite almost raised an eyebrow.
“Uncle, don’t worry. I still have my part-time job. But I had a new job offer that also provides free lodging. Also, I won’t be needing the pension.” It was only then did his uncle relax.
Though Nephrite was annoyed, he could only follow the vessel’s wishes. He had to endure. For now.
After that, he called Lin Ye to inform the progress of his plan and the date he wanted to leave.
“Don’t worry about the other details. I’ll call you again.”
After that, he prepared for his part-time job.
He lied about the job offer. The vessel did not have one. But nephrite will look for one soon.
The original vessel did not like working at the convenience store. The manager was kind to him but the owner’s nephew would like to come and mess with him.
Aside from that, though Nephrite was fine working there, he needed to quit soon because it’s too far from his house.
His flow of thoughts halted the moment he saw four baskets of white roses inside the shop.
“Raven, good thing you arrived. We don’t know what to do with all these flowers. These are all addressed to you.”
These flowers…
Nephrite tried to rack his brain where the flowers came from. He checked one by one but there’s not even a card inside
He apologized to the shop manager. However, he really did not know what to do with it and couldn't even keep inside in case a customer got an allergic reaction from it. In the end, he put it outside the shop and placed a signboard with “Sharing love. Free Flowers.” written on it. He could just feel apologetic to whoever gave these to the vessel.
His shift went by without any problem. However, he got an unsettling feeling the whole time. As if someone was watching him. But whenever he looked around, he could not find anyone at all.
- Writer
