Chapter 9: Chapter 9

"What do you two know each other?" boss Dai asked after a long silence.

"Unfortunately" murmured Easton.

Rolling his eyes Cardan turned to boss Dai "We had a misunderstanding he had confused something of mine as his" Cardan stated matter of fact.

"What!!" Easton exclaimed his face twitching a bit.

Turning away from him Cardan's attention was brought to a picture of a very chubby baby with a red round face something told him that that face belonged to Easton.

Easton noticing the amused look of Cardan followed his gaze and an enormous amount of embarrassment took over. Anyone could see his baby pictures and he wouldn't mind but why did it have to be his rival in love.

The heavens were truly not on his side.

"Who would have thought baby Easto-"

"Don't finish that sentence" Easton gritted out. Cardan raised his hands in mock surrender, biting his lips back to hold back laughter.

Seeing all this Boss Dai decided to get involved before a fight broke out and right now she wasn't too sure that putting them together would be a wise idea but at the moment she was too busy and John could not be trusted with such a job.

"I don't care if you don't like each other but live it outside for now you will be working together" Boss Dai looked at them before adding" Or there will be consequences understood"

"Crystal" Easton and Cardan reluctantly murmured.

"Now off you go" Boss Dai said.

Cardan and Easton left the room with a grunt. Easton showed Cardan around the grocery store. Considering the area he lived in Easton could be considered somewhat rich.

"Here" Easton handed him a mop and a bucket. Sending him a look he said "Start cleaning you said that you wanted to start today" Easton said quickening his steps as he left which caused a snort out of Cardan.

Looking at the bucket Cardan wondered 'How does this thing work anyway'

He had never cleaned a day in his life and he was about to do it for the first time today. At least they didn't ask him to present himself or he would be in trouble and embrassed.

Looking through his memories he remembered visiting a movie set because his sister was a fan of the actress and while they were waiting for them to finish acting the FL acted as a maid who was moping and cleaning the floor. What had she done first.

Snapping his hands in remembrance he began organising his memory in order.

She first poured water inside the bucket, looking at the bucket next to him that had already been done followed by soap which was already there based on the white bubbles. She put the mop in the bucket moped around the floor and returned the mop back to the bucket, squeezed it dry before repeating the same process and finishing it.

Just like that Cardan began mopping the floor he found it very interesting and exciting. Remembering the floors at Zaden's home and who had cleaned them he worked harder.

Boss Dai made her way to see how he was doing and Cardan was doing surprisingly well, too well. He looked more dedicated than the people whose career description was cleaning. She wasn't going to lie when her first impression of Cardan was of a boy who hadn't known any struggle but based on the way he cleaned she had judged him too soon.

After Boss Dai left a few minutes later Cardan finished his job. Wiping imagery sweat from his forehead he sighed in satisfaction as he looked around the now very clean store. Key word very.

"Boss says that you can live now, she got a call and couldn't wait for you" John said as he appeared out of nowhere causing a flinch out of Cardan.

Nodding he thanked John as he made his way back home. His hands were somewhat sore from using the mop and a bit red. Not forgetting that he smelled slightly of soap and a bit of wet sand.

Entering the bath after arriving at his flat he realised that the water was cold and that he still needed to buy a few things. Thinking about it for a bit he decided that he would go this weekend.

Cold water hit his skin which caused him to flinch away from the water. Suddenly remembering kevin his friend's complaint about having to bathe in cold water since he not only came from a political family but a military family as well which meant early mornings and ice cold baths among other things.

Before that he had mocked and made fun of him, oh how the mighty have fallen if Kevin found out he would never let him forget and would use every chance to remind him Kevin was petty like that.

A chuckle left Cardan's lips as he forced himself to take a shower with cold water. He also needed a bucket big enough for him to bathe in. Considering that studying on the cement was very uncomfortable.

Lying down on his make shift bed Cardan couldn't help but wonder how long it had been since he saw his best friends and not just Kevin. He wondered how they must have been feeling. He last remembers them making fun of him while trying to lighten up the situation and his siblings crying as if he would be going to war and never return.

He could imagine Daniel his younger brother following around the chef's as he came up with a new meal while dressed in his cute chef uniform running to Cardan so he could test his horrid attempt at cooking and like the good older brother he was he ate it all and was honest with his reviews. Which encouraged the boy to try harder. After all Cardan had been the only one who willingly ate his food after his first attempt which drove his entire family to fear.

Daphne meanwhile would be dressing up in his mother's jewellery as she ran around the house with high heels that didn't even fit her calling herself a supermodel and the boss. Which he teased her about on more then one occasion.

His father who would try to be strict with him but the moment he looked at him with his eyes the dotting would begin. His father had spoiled him far too much but because of his mother Cardan was able to stay somewhat grounded since she knew that he would have to go through the poverty test.Cardan remembered how his family had nagged him including his grandparents, aunts and uncles as well as cousins together with his friends about the poverty test.

They had made him watch multiple dramas and Daniel had forced him to learn with him how to cook. Cardan's eyes began to redden.

He missed them. Far too much.

Shaking his head a bit Cardan thought about his day and mincing Easton the day was pretty great. He got to spend time with Noa and he got his first job not bad at all. He tried to not think about the future that would follow... he would think about it when it came for now he would try to enjoy himself whilst saving money and being... a word he never thought would be assayed with him frugal.

Closing his eyes he prepared to sleep and welcome the new day tomorrow. Taking his blanket he pulled it over himself as he welcomed the darkness.