Chapter 1: Mundane Life: Jace Calum
Within a messy and slightly damp room. The piles of laundry lying about. The smell of cigar permeating everywhere around even with the windows open. Lying on the bed is a man. Looking slightly emaciated. His head dangling on the other end, his feet atop a pillow where his head should be. His eyes staring at the ceiling looking empty. Occasionally letting out melancholic sighs. Not an ounce of vigor or ambition that every man should have. This person gives off a negative and weary vibe. These traits being deadly and self destructive. Specially if one lives at the current era when one does not thrive if one doesn't toil.
Currently within his head would be questions. Questions about why his life had come to a state of stagnation. His thoughts swirling, looking for a reason why? Why his life seemed to be spiraling out of his grasps. Why it had to be other people that had a say about how his life should be? How it was so unfair, that it seems to be that he cannot and could not take control of how his life goes about, but others can?
This man is Jace Calum, 46 years old. And now unemployed. He lives alone, currently in this shitty apartment with paper thin divisions they call walls. Privacy is not even a thing in this building that seems to scream "this place is a nest of thugs and criminals" when one looks at it outside from the streets. But he doesn't complain. How could he? This place was the only thing he could afford.
His thoughts going back to his teenage years when he graduated from highschool. His family just came home from eating out. His family comprised of a wierd and wacky but most of the time strict disciplinarian father. His mother, mellow and caring. But one could sometimes see a rebellious and secretive glint in her eyes. A goody two shoes sister. But is the embodiment of every crimelords worst nightmare. He labelled her as the Queen of Snitches. Always there when he fucks up, always there to tell. Always gets him scolded and often time beat up. And then his younger brother who seems to be on everyones good side. Cunningly sucking up to everyone's ass. And then there's little old Jace, the middle child. Happy go luck, go with flow, whatever floats your boat Jace.
He was the tallest in the family. Taller than even his father. His relatives weren't surprised though. They say its probably from the genes of the mother side. Seing as no one from the relatives on his fathers side were relatively tall. Her mothers relatives on the other hand had a couple of professional basketball players . But Jace wasn't the sporty type of guy. If he would play sports though, that would be those of non-contact, agility based sports like tennis or badminton and the like. He also liked activites involving the artsy stuff like music and modern dancing. Even excelling in them at some point. Whatever makes one look even slightly better really. Jace had acknowledged that his facial features weren't exactly main character material. So his interests were leaning on things that net him the most attention with slightly less effort. This also attributed to Jace's lazy side.
Like every teenage hormonal boy. Jace also wanted attention from the crowds around him. Maybe he's just a lonely or he wasn't getting enough attention being a middle child. He didn't realy care for the attention of his parents though. He would only get it when he is scolded and yelled. Specially how his father would go the extra mile on how he diciplines him. The extra punch to the gut and slap on the face.
But what really gets him though wasn't the punches or slaps he would get. But the harsh and mean words spoken like poison through his fathers mouth. He would always think that his father was going the extra mile with punches and slaps so that the pain would serve to remind of past mistakes and that he was only worried about the future consequences of the choices being made under the influence of nothing good. But hearing words like "useless piece of shit", "can't even do a single thing right" among others, can slowly plant seeds of doubt within a person.
Nothing much could be said about Jace's highschool period. His grades were nothing special. Some subjects even flunking. He wasn't exactly striving hard for specific goals at that point in time. Just having fun like any normal teenager would with his peers. Like going out for drinks, playing games at PC cafes, whistling at pretty girls at the park. The epitome of the average male teenager.
But life would be different now. He is now asked a significant question by his father. A question that would most likely affect his life the most.
"Jace, you've done well up until this point. But now you will have to decide on what profession you would be undertaking in the future. Do not dally and make you mind fast. Time is money, and money is something we lack but always need."
Jace's body stiffened at the sudden and significant question. Facing his father's stern face while scratching the back of his head.