Grandpa was a man with gruff smile and long messy hair.
He would be stuck at the workshop for the whole day, melting iron and silver, tinkering with handmade designs. His back hunched over, nothing mattered to him at that moment other than his work.
Seven-year old Niel climbed up to the chair, staring with rapt attention. The boy's eyes twinkled with fascination as grandpa closed the metal hoops around a small sapphire.
Despite the safety hazard that existed in every nook and cranny, it was like another home to him. While he also liked to play around with kids his age, watching grandpa worked served as greater joy. The stiff metal became intricate in the other's calloused hands, and he wondered the beauty that lies in other unassuming things.
"I can help" The boy offered, little hands opened up in expectation.
Grandpa glanced, before pushing a wire and little stones to him.
The boy would always pause every few seconds, inspecting his work, proud of his little hands that created this beautiful bracelet. The tiny opals seemed to glow, and he giddily imagined what he would create in other times.
Niel woke up.
It was too bright outside.
The day must've reached noon, Niel thought as he sat up, massaging his sore neck.
It had been a while since he had a nice dream, and of course it would be one from his childhood. But dreams faded away, and when Niel was heading to the store, he can no longer recall what made his morning so pleasant that day.
Several customers come and go. Most of them just looked around without intention to buy, some were there to gawk at him and the rest of them bought small items such as brooches and cheap rings. The accumulated profit, all in all, only barely reached two digits and it didn't phase Niel anymore.
Another person came in whom he expected to be another customer. But when he met the other man's eyes, his charming-seller attitude faltered. The man was chubby with slanted brows and a thick moustache. His three-piece suit spoke well of his status, with quality materials hugging the body nicely, and the shape that complimented him rather than straining against his belly.
"You look well, Mr. Bernard" Niel's smile stiffened, but he wasn't to give away what's inside his mind "I actually have some rings in the store, if you're looking for a change of style"
The man, Mr. Bernard grinned with amusement. He was one of the well-known businessmen in the capital city with wealth that allowed him to operate several successful business ventures. But bigger than his assets, was his unending thirst for more. A shark that only knows to take, that's what he was.
"No, no. I already have too much" Bernard sat on the velvet couch, legs crossed "What I'm looking for, do you already have your answer for that?"
"I already answered" Niel replied, his smirk twitching, almost giving away his simmering anger "It doesn't change, it won't change, however many times you're here"
Bernard sighed, rubbing his tubby palms together "Look, boy" He pointed around "It's been a month since you took over, has anything changed? At this point, it is running on charity, not actual money. Have you earned anything above coppers and silvers?"
Niel bit back curses in his tongue.
"You can sell me this store for any kind of amount you want, and I tell you, it'll be more than the total you'll make in your lifetime" He added "Maybe, it'll be the only time you get to hold golds!"
Bernard went on a ramble, of how Niel was only wasting money for keeping the store open, and that the people didn't care for whatever the store was going to do. The worst of all was everything he said were actual facts, and Niel couldn't deny them.
"Think about it" Bernard said before heading to the door "I'll come again soon. So better think about the answer carefully"
Niel clicked his tongue, holding up a middle finger as soon Bernard left.
—
It was annoying how much the conversation grated his nerves.
Even when he walked home late at night, Bernard's taunting sneer kept playing in his head, allowing no room for relief. The man wanted the building for a cafe business he's planning, said it was all the craze nowadays among young ladies.
Niel preferred burning the store to the ground rather than selling it to him.
His footsteps were the only sounds in this empty street. Suddenly, he was stopped by two girls with greyish-silver hair and bright red eyes, whom he assumed to be muggers. Niel didn't know if he should laugh, since he'd only just been thinking about his poor store.
"I don't have money," Niel said, stepping away.
But one of the girls immediately grabbed his arm, the grip was so tight it made him hiss.
"I said I don't have money" Niel tried to shrug her off.
A punch instantly landed on his face.