The King's Mandate: Anomalous System

Chapter 444: Gift

10 Days Later

Das stood before the mirror and fixed his hair. He buttoned up the suit as he turned around-- but his eyes were fixated on the mirror.

"Do I look weird?" Das uttered. 'What if Elena finds me creepy?'

Das was about to leave for Elena's party.

He left the room and walked down the stairs. 'Is it really okay? I am going uninvited what if she gets angry?'

He was ready to go at the party, but his mind wasn't. 

"It's not like I am going to celebrate her birthday. I am just going so that I can keep an eye on her and make sure nothing weird happens." He bit his lips and muttered, "I am just a tutor after all."

"Wow!" Angela ran to Das and hugged him.

"Hey! What are you doing?! Stop it!"

"You look so cool!"

"I get it! I get it! Now  let go!" 

Angela let go of Das.

"Should I drop you off?" Derk asked.

"No, it's fine. I have to stop by somewhere too."

Das walked to the front door. It was hard to walk, but he somehow managed it.

"Remember, Das. Be back before ten, okay?" 

Das ignored her and kept walking. He has no idea how long the party will go, and the only reason he was going there was to make sure Elena stays safe. So it was impossible for him to be back home before 10, and that's why he couldn't promise Angela.

"You better be back before 10!" Angela yelled.

He walked out of the house. 

"Damn! It's so itchy. How does dad wear it every day?"

After walking for twenty minutes, Das went inside a phone store.

"Welcome, Sir." The clerk greeted Das.

Das ignored him and walked straight to the counter.

The man at the counter looked at Das. "Sir?"

"I booked a phone. Can I have it?" Das asked.

"Oh! Sure." The man typed something on the tablet, then looked at Das, "Mister Das Ryle, am I correct?"

Das nodded.

"I am sorry, but can you please confirm your receipt number?"

Das had already memorized the 21 digit receipt number.

The man was shocked how Das said the number without even taking a breath.

The man singled the other man standing at the edge of the counter. He nodded and brought a phone.

"Here, Sir"

Das looked at the box and moved his hand to check it. But, the man pulled the package back and said, "Uhh.. can you confirm your identity?"

Das started at the man, then sighed, took out his phone, and showed the man his I-D proof.

The man smiled and nodded. "All clear, Sir" He gave the box to Das. "Please come again."

Das turned around the box and made sure it was a sealed pack.

"Can you wrap with?" Das asked.

"Excuse me?" The man asked with a confused look on his face." I am going to give this as a gift to someone, and I don't want her to know it's a phone."

"Oh!" The man looked at the other staff. Sweat poured down his forehead. "I am sorry, Sir. We can do it, but there will be extra charges."

Das sighed and tossed the box to the man. "I don't care." He then looked at the time and said, "Do it in two minutes."

The man hurriedly passed the box to the other man, and it took him 5 minutes to wrap it.

"Here, Sir." The man said as he handed the box to Das.

Das moved his gaze to the man who wrapped the cover, then looked at the man on the counter. "You took five minutes, so I won't give you any money for it."

Everyone looked at Das with an anxious expression on their faces.

"Just kidding." Das swiped his card and paid for it.

The man at the counter was still nervous by Das' behavior.

He cleared his throat and built up his courage to say, "Uhh would you like to check our other accessories?"

"No thanks."

The man pointed his finger behind Das' shoulder and said, "That is our latest accessory. If you buy it with the phone you bought, you will get a 10% discount."

Das looked behind to see a big banner that was advertising earpods.

"Hmm." Das then pondered, 'I don't have one since I never listened to songs or watched any movies, but I guess I should buy one now.'

Das nodded as he looked back at the man, "Give me two pairs."

The man signaled another man, and he brought two boxes with him.

The man then took out a bag and put all the three boxes in it.

Das swiped his card again and made the payment.

"Do you also want to give them as gifts? We can--"

"No need." Das grabbed the bag and left the store. 

After walking for a while, he took out his phone and checked the time. "It's 8:15. The party started at 7:30."

He hurried the pace. "I am late."

Elena had arranged the party at her favorite cafe. The cafe's ground floor was where the shop opened at day time, and the second floor was for events like parties and other celebrations.

"It will take about ten more minutes from here."

Das could have run, but since he was wearing the suit, it was hard for him to walk, let alone run.

Das was feeling uncomfortable with the suit because all his old suits were too tight for him, so he tailored the new one just a day before Elena's birthday.

It was almost impossible to get it ready within a day, but Das gave the tailor extra money and had it made-- just in 2 hours.

The suit was ready, but since it was made in a hurry, there were many errors in the adjustments, and Das felt uncomfortable wearing it.

Das reached the cafe and hurried to the second floor. He expected to see the party and everyone enjoying it, but what he saw stung him to the heart, and he couldn't forget that pain even after a year and he never would in his entire life.