3. Arsen Forbes

A 25-year-old young man was looking out at the row of high-rise buildings through the glass walls of his apartment on Northwest Park Avenue. The autumn chill didn’t make him shiver at all, even though he was currently wearing only a thin gray T-shirt.

His gaze shifted to the polished wooden floor beneath him, reminding him of the struggle it took to rent this luxury apartment in the Pearl District.

Working part-time at a restaurant after school, working as an oil refinery operator for three years after graduating high school, and most recently as an operations staff member at a software company for two years.

He did all of that not because he couldn’t afford to go to college, but because he wanted to get far away from his father, who currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Living like two strangers under one roof was absolutely not a good idea for him, no matter how much wealth his father possessed. Yet an hour ago, a call from the man he had long hated threw him into turmoil. The man asked him to return to Brooklyn and apologize to him—something he had never even considered.

The ring of the smartphone on the triangular table snapped him out of his reverie about the past. He glanced at the name on the screen, and his mood, which had just taken a turn for the worse, at least began to improve slightly. He tapped the green button that appeared on the screen before bringing the phone to his ear.

[A lovely evening at the start of fall. Having fun at the usual spot? I heard there’s going to be a famous DJ from Germany performing at 10 tonight.] The voice of the man two years older than him on the other end of the line sounded casual, but he knew it was an invitation he couldn’t refuse.

“I’m not in the mood to go anywhere, Leo. Tonight I want to spend my time watching a movie while running on the treadmill. A great way to ward off the chill,” he replied as he walked toward his room to change clothes. He didn’t forget to turn on the speaker before placing his phone on the bed.

[Oh, come on! You’re really the most boring guy when fall and winter roll around. Where’d Arsen the ladies’ man go, huh? Hurry up! It’s still too early to be lazing around in bed.]

“Ugh, I’ve decided to stop messing around with girls, buddy. Two years of being a jerk is enough, and now I want to focus on my new restaurant,” replied the man named Arsen as he took off his T-shirt and tossed it into the laundry basket.

[What? Wait, I didn’t hear that wrong, did I? Arsen Forbes, the free-spirited guy, has decided to turn over a new leaf? Don’t joke around, honey. I’m sick of your lame jokes.]

“And I’m sick of your nagging. Ugh, don’t call me by that disgusting nickname! Get lost! I’ll be at our usual spot in fifteen minutes,” Arsen grumbled before hanging up and putting on his leather jacket.

He didn’t forget to lock his apartment before heading down to the basement to get his car. A few older residents of the apartment building greeted him and chatted with him briefly before they finally went their separate ways.

He sped the German-made car—the fruit of his own hard work—toward the restaurant and bar that was fairly close to his apartment. It didn’t take long for his car to arrive at its destination, and he still managed to find a parking spot.

Upon entering the restaurant, he gave a wry smile because Leo wasn’t there. Of course, the man must be confused trying to find the usual spot he was referring to. Because his “usual spot” these days was the one offering good food for inspiration on the new menu at his restaurant, not the one that only served bourbon and the like along with pretty girls.

A waitress approached him and handed him the menu after he sat down at an empty table near the bar.

“The Scotch Egg, Chicken Wings, and… a hot drink—whatever you’d like to give me,” Arsen told the waitress as he handed back the menu.

“Please wait for 20 minutes. We’ll bring you the best drink to warm you up,” the waitress replied before leaving.

Arsen took out his phone and saw three missed calls. All of them were from his father. He let out another long sigh. The heartache from being abandoned and accused of killing his mother and younger sister still wouldn’t go away. The more he tried to forget the hurtful words that came out of the old man’s mouth, the more every detail of the insults he hurled echoed in his mind.

"I should have forbidden your mother from giving birth to you back then. You’re completely useless and a jinx!"

“Why didn’t you tell me that your usual spot is at Fireside Grill? I looked for you at Paddy’s and you weren’t anywhere to be found. You should’ve told me your hangout spot had changed.” Leo’s sudden appearance made him snap his eyes open. His heart skipped a beat from the shock.

“Arsen, are you okay? Is something bothering you? You look so tense, like you’re holding something back.” Leo furrowed his brow, looking at him in confusion.

Arsen took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. His body, which had been tense, gradually relaxed. He slipped his phone back into his jacket pocket just as a waitress approached, carrying a bottle of liquor to their table.

“Sorry, just bring me a cup of hot coffee or hot chocolate,” he told the waitress, causing Leo to furrow his brow again.

“Just leave that drink here. I’ll have it. Oh, and bring me some chips with gorgonzola on them. I forget what they’re called. A glass of iced lemon tea would be nice too,” Leo interjected as the waitress was about to take back the bottle she’d placed on the table. The waitress nodded with a smile, then left them.

“My dad just called me. He asked me to come back to Brooklyn and live there.” Arsen pulled out his phone, which was vibrating, and saw his father’s name on the screen. “Can you believe it? I mean, after 15 years of him treating me like a murderer and constantly berating me however he pleased, suddenly now he’s apologizing and asking me to live with him again? I just can’t believe there’s a person like that.”

“But he’s still your father, Arsen. You should…”

“For five years I lived like an orphan, and for ten years I worked my ass off to get away from him. You think I should just forgive him like that? I have a heart, and my heart still hurts from the way he treated me.” Arsen slammed his phone down on the glossy wooden table pretty hard, but then picked it up again and felt relieved that nothing was cracked.

“But Uncle Juan always sent you money every month and provided for all your needs,” Leo argued again.

“Listen, Leo. I’m truly sorry for your father’s passing a few years ago, and thank you for being willing to work with me to build a restaurant in your hotel. But I don’t need all that money from him or the sickening luxury that makes me feel like a parasite.” Without realizing it, Arsen raised his voice, causing Leo to instinctively raise both hands in front of his chest.

“Whoa, calm down, buddy! Don’t act like a little kid in a public place like this,” Leo scolded, glancing around them, then smiling apologetically for the commotion his friend had caused. “By the way, how’s college going? Don’t you feel like the oldest one on campus?”

“At least I’ll be graduating soon. I’m tired of dragging out my studies. What’s the point of going to college if I can already make money?” Arsen replied, leaning back in his chair, trying to forget what had just made him angry.

The two of them then fell silent after the conversation that had made the atmosphere awkward, until finally Arsen’s order arrived. The aroma wafting from the food made Arsen eager to quickly eat the scotch egg, which looked so appealing.

“That chicken looks delicious and tempting,” Leo muttered as he picked up a chicken wing smothered in brown sauce and ate it right away without asking. “Hmm, it tastes really delicious. This sauce is sweet and savory, and the meat is tender too.”

“Next time, you have to treat me to a meal when you’re not in a good mood,” Arsen said between bites.

“Yeah, whatever. After this, we’re heading to the bar. I want to be near the fire to warm up.” Leo picked up the chicken wing again and enjoyed it without any hesitation.

After finishing his meal, Arsen looked around the restaurant. The atmosphere was so comfortable and tidy, making anyone feel at home here. The walls and furniture were made of polished wood, which looked simple yet warm. It was exactly like what he used in his new restaurant, as it reminded anyone of the comfort of home and the joy within it.

Other than that, nothing else caught his attention. Until a girl with shoulder-length wavy brunette hair entered the restaurant with the grace of a model on a catwalk.

The girl headed to the bar counter, specifically in front of the fireplace in the center of the bar, and ordered a drink from the bartender after taking off her jacket. A tight black tank top hugged her slender figure, paired with black skinny jeans. Without realizing it, he stared at her, unable to look away.

This was the first time Arsen had ever felt drawn to a girl. No, not because of her pretty face or her beautiful body, but because the aura she radiated seemed unusual. There was an air of mystery and enigma about her. Who was this girl, really? Why were so many people also drawn to her? Was she famous?

Meanwhile, Leo quietly observed Arsen’s demeanor, which had changed instantly the moment the girl caught his eye. A faint smile touched his lips. He hadn’t expected his mission to unfold so effortlessly.