Leon went about his day normally from that point on. As quick as he was to panic, he was also quick to compose and restrain himself.
He made breakfast with a sour heart, hating the fact that he had to prepare food for an extra person who had a drum for a stomach.
Now that Ezra was back in his house, his money would disappear twice as fast. Ezra was like a money and energy vacuum. Leon could say goodbye to his semi-peaceful life for the meantime.
That morning, Max left for work earlier than usual without eating. So only three people had breakfast.
"It's so nice eating with you two like this. I missed my family. You guys are the best." Ezra piped up with a sickly sweet tone while eating, resting his head against Hendrix's shoulder.
"Shut up and eat quietly." Leon killed the mood with a scowl on his face.
Ezra sat upright and pointed a fork at Leon. "I told you this last night. You seem to be aging faster with the way you frown all the time and act grumpy. Don't you want Hendrix to have a father later on?"
Leon threw Ezra a very vicious look that had him shutting his mouth for good.
This was one of the reasons why Leon seriously hated having Ezra around. The guy could literally go on and on, complaining about the way Leon lived his life, forgetting that his own life was much worse in comparison.
After having breakfast, Leon shooed Hendrix away to school and advised him to keep a safe distance from his uncle who was nothing but a bad influence.
"What are your plans for today?" Leon asked Ezra as he was about to leave the house.
Ezra, lying down on the long couch and tapping the screen of his phone, glanced at Leon and said, "Staying in."
"You better stay in if that's your plan," Leon pointed out, "I don't want you inviting strangers to my house. I don't want to get any noise complaints from the neighbors. I don't want you taking anything that you didn't bring with you. Don't try to cook. Don't use any appliances. Don't–"
"Oh, my gosh, brother! I'm not a child! What's with all the rules?!" Ezra sat up on the couch as he complained.
Leon looked at him with a pinched expression. There was always a case whenever Ezra was around. All these rules were necessary based on past experiences.
"I know how you can be. I don't want you causing any trouble here. I'm seriously warning you this time." Leon said with a serious tone.
He still hadn't recovered completely from the last trouble that Ezra brought with him which he had to fix. He couldn't risk his body and mental health once again for Ezra's benefit.
"I'm not going to do anything troublesome. You don't have to worry. I don't even have the strength to stress." Ezra waved Leon off with a dismissive tone.
Leon didn't trust Ezra's words, but because he was almost running late, he chose to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"You better not. I'm off to school now. Behave yourself." Leon opened the door.
"Yeah, yeah. See you later. Love you!" Ezra yelled as Leon shut the door without responding.
'Love you too,' he responded internally.
Leon felt a slight chill as he descended the flight of stairs. The brown sweater vest he wore over a thin gray shirt did nothing to spare him from the slight pre-winter chill.
However, his hands were always warm as they were clothed in handmade gloves—his own making.
By the time he reached the first floor of the building, Leon already felt drained. He hoped his day would end better than it began.
Out on the street, he was about to hail a cab when he saw a familiar figure standing across. Leon turned rigid in an instant.
It was a man leaning against a striking red sports car on the other side of the road. He was average in height and donned a perfectly polished suit. The man had slicked back blond hair and was wearing a pair of shades.
His nose and mouth were covered up with a black mask. Still, Leon could recognize him.
The man stood, watching him. He didn't need to beckon Leon over before the latter took the initiative to cross the street.
"He wants to see you," the man said the moment Leon came close enough. He was only a messenger, an assistant, nothing much.
Leon gritted his teeth, his fists clenching tight.
'It was supposed to be a one-time thing. Why would he want to see me again?' Leon thought, spiteful.
"I thought he said he wouldn't contact me again," he said aloud in defiance.
"Change of plans. Get in the car." The assistant, whom Leon had come to know once upon a time as Nova, said without leaving any room for argument.
Leon grew distressed. This sort of thing, this sort of problem… he hated it more than anything else. He didn't like complications in his life. He hated being left without options.
This so-called meeting was going to be different from the one he had with James the previous day. Leon didn't hold any resentment towards James even after discovering that he was the person in the car which he had been forced into getting inside.
However, hatred was all Leon felt for him.
Leon got into the car without much reluctance, seeing that he had no choice from the start. He wanted to see him. Leon could only come running after being summoned like a little dog.
Assistant Nova drove the sports car out of the neighborhood and spent fifteen more minutes on the road before slowing down at the destination he had in mind.
Leon had phoned his school on the way to inform them that he wouldn't be able to make it to his morning classes, spinning up lies about coming down with a 'serious cold.'
Assistant Nova stopped in front of a Japanese restaurant that just seemed to be opening up. They both alighted the car, and Assistant Nova led him into the almost empty establishment.
The decor of the restaurant blurred in Leon's eyes as he diligently trailed Assistant Nova. The man stopped abruptly and knocked on a certain door. After a second, he pulled the door open and gestured for Leon to step in.
Leon sucked in a deep breath as he walked into the private room. He soon saw a handsome figure seated comfortably in waiting.
"Ah… The cheap actor has finally arrived!"