RED

5. Apple Blossom

"You're his teacher and you were paid to turn him into the best. If you can't handle a little distress, then you're not fit for this job. I personally suggest you resign." Mrs. Edoardo stated and the lady's brows furrowed deeper.

"Are... Are you asking me to... resign?" Mrs. Francesco asked, still in a bit of shock at the turn of events.

Mrs. Edoardo sighed before turning her eyes back to Enrico. Enrico, on the other hand, barely met his eyes with hers.

"Enrico isn't a child anymore. He can tell right from wrong and he knows what's best for him. Right, Enrico?" Mrs. Edoardo asked with a simple smile on her face, as her eyes fixed on his.

Enrico barely gulped down as his eyes remained glued to hers. For a moment there, he felt hypnotized.

"Y-yes, Aunt Sophia." He finally spoke up, although a part of him wondered what he was doing.

Her smile broadened as she stretched out her hand and lightly soothe his cheek. She turned back to his tutor.

"Enrico doesn't have a problem with learning. I suggest you do your job properly, Mrs. Francesco, or I'll get someone else who'll do it far better than you can." She warned before taking one more look at Enrico, and walking out of the room.

Mrs. Francesco stared at her quite speechless about the whole situation, confusion written across her face as well. She turned her eyes back to Enrico. Her brows furrowed as her eyes fixated on him. Enrico couldn't make out what his tutor was thinking, but one thing he knew was that life just got harder.

Enrico's eyes gently fluttered open. He looked from left to right trying to recognise his environment and when he got the hang of it, he heaved a sigh of relief. He sat up properly on his seat as he ran a hand through his face. He stood up to his feet, as he gently rubbed the back of his neck which ached from his sleeping position. Enrico sighed once more, as he stared out through the huge transparent glass, behold in front of him was the city now illuminated with several types of lights from the buildings and streets. The sun was gone and darkness spread itself around them. Enrico knew what he had just now, wasn't a dream but a piece from his memory. He hated having to recollect certain pieces such as the one he just had. It brought back feelings he didn't want. Fortunately for him, the employees had all gone home after the day's job and he, on the other hand, felt reluctant to leave. After all, there was no one and nothing to run home early to. He was better off wasting time.

Enrico shut his eyes for a moment to try and clear up his thoughts, but nothing worked. In fact, his mind felt more messed up. There was a certain peace that eluded his mind. He felt exhausted having to figure out what it was. He knew he needed a distraction and that exactly was what he was going to get. He walked away from the see-through glass and back to his seat, where he picked up his mobile phone from the table where he'd left it. He walked up to the sofa and picked up his jacket before heading directly towards the door.

Enrico took his seat at his usual spot in the V.I.P. lounge at the club, where he was known as a frequent guest. A waitress passed by and took his order. A few minutes later, she's back with his usual shot of alcohol. Enrico was happy this way in the sense that he got to push out every disturbing thought from his mind.

The music was so loud that he focused his attention on trying to analyse the lyrics and access the dancing bodies on the dance floor. He barely paid any lady that flashed him a smile any attention. That wasn't his strategy. His was the other way round, having them work hard to have him. Enrico drank down some of the drink barely filled in the glass cup held in his right hand, as he had his legs crossed on the table. He nodded his head to the music as he wasn't quite a fan of dancing. Actually, he didn't think dancing was meant for him, so he never gave it a try. He always sat still and watched people bold enough to take that very step and dance so loosely on the dance floor.