24 Community Center
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"How about you give me some damn jobs?" Ye Han cussed at his worn out TV.
"I seriously need a job." He sighed.
Looking at what's left of his monthly budget made him sigh even more. His poor living condition left him with only a few dollars to spend.
"Scavenging it is."
In his usual tracksuit and his hair tied in a simple ponytail, the job hunter is busying himself marking potential job interests advertised on the newspaper. The brave and gallant hunter is lamenting the lack of job advertisement in televisions.
*ring ring*
"Eh?"
Ye Han's concentration was interrupted by the rather loud alarm coming from the busted speakers of his phone. Instead of the usual ring, it sounded like the shrieks of those vile souls cast into hell clawing their way out of the abyss.
"What's the event today?"
Turning off the horrible sounding alarm, he observed his worn out calendar and found a mark of what seems to be a chicken leg on the current date.
"…"
"..."
"..."
*ting*
"Oh boy!"
It seems his food problem for today will be solved.
"It's time for the weekly feeding program. I'm saved!"
With utmost haste, he dressed disheveled and dirty as possible to make himself look like a hobo. And with that, the hunter shall hunt for his sustenance.
***
At the community center.
"Everybody line up. No pushing, no cutting of lines. Everyone will receive their share." Shouted the organizer.
Acting more organized than a pre-schooler, Ye Han lined up himself eager to receive the free food.
Ye Han has made a lot of acquaintances in this weekly event. The day he realized that survival seemed to be a far-fetched idea living in this city, he has since piously lined up in this event. And because of that, he got to know a lot of people.
There's Uncle Bai, the family with 9 kids, housewife Miriam, old fart, and many more. He would often chat with them once in a while. It was them who had made his adjustment in this bustling city much smoother.
After receiving his much-awaited food, Ye Han found old fart sitting alone. So, he decided to approach the old man and have a chat with him.
"Hey, old fart!"
"How many time do I have to tell you? Stop calling me old fart."
"Nah, it sounds great."
"What am I gonna do with you?"
The two quietly ate their meals. The silence was comfortable like it was like two friends hanging out.
"So," Ye Han started. "How many part-time should I take?"
"As many as you could take." The old man answered with no hesitation.
"That might tire me-"
"Cash is everything." He insisted.
"Right. Cash is everything."
Old fart took a sip at his cheap instant coffee. "So why bring up this topic?"
"I need money."
"That's what everybody says."
Ye Han finished his meal, and highly considered the act of asking another serving but decided against it.
"So what do you suggest I take?"
"Simple jobs."
"That's oddly vague."
"Simple is key."
Ye Han accepted Old Fart's argument. "Yeah."
"And don't forget to hit me up when you get a job." The old man shamelessly added.
"Hell no."
"We'll see."
*vrrrroooom*
The loud revving of engines and disorganized steps interrupted the peaceful atmosphere of the community center.
"Ah sh*t, here we go again."
"Is it the same guys?"
"Yeah. But I see a newcomer."
"Goodluck old fart."
"You're helping us kid."
"C'mon. I know you can handle all of them."
"Nope, you're coming with us. Trust me this is easy money."
The old then made a money sign to encourage Ye Han.
The new arrivals disengaged from their vehicles looking all punk and scary. However, everyone inside the center had the "another day at work" look and were bored to see the same thing happen again.
"You'll b*tches will all pay." Declared the man who gave the second-in-command aura. "This time we brought leader and all of you will be dead. The humiliation last week will be paid. With interest!"
Everyone looked at the said leader who was dressed differently from the rest. But everybody had the same reaction, "Meh."
He looked sleek with a suit and appeared too formal for the occasion. In his mouth is a lighted cigar and his hands are covered in black gloves and a fur coat wrapped around his neck. He looked at the 'homeless' people and sneered at them.
"I heard someone broke the arm of my lieutenant. I want that man in front of me so I could break both his arms or else I'll trash this place." He said.
Everyone looked at him like they were looking at an idiot. The guy still kept his smug attitude and gave everyone a sneer. Some soft shuffling later and a man dressed as shabbily as every one of them stepped out of the crowd.
"So you were that bloke huh?" He said raising his eyebrows.
The man only shrugged and continued to lick his lollipop, paying no heed to him.
"Now, I'll make an example out of you to remind these people not to mess with my gang."
"Ahem. I am not actually the guy who broke your subordinates arm." He said flicking the lollipop stick away.
"Huh?"
"I involuntarily volunteered myself. Like you know, someone needs to step up so we played rock, paper, and scissors. So, here I am. I lost, mind you."
"Am I a joke to you?!" The man growled.
The hobo just shrugged and gave the man a not-apologetic face.
"This is fine. Don't blame me. Blame your weakness. If you have been stronger you would not have been in this situation. Remember this punk, the strong eat the weak."
Then suddenly, he launched a kick aimed at the legs of the hobo acting his promise of crippling the poor guy. But the sickening crunch of breaking bone was never heard but instead, a soft thud was heard. The gang leader looked down only find that his kick was stopped by the very same hobo.
"I did not say I was here to have my legs broken." The hobo smiled. "But your words are indeed true, the strong eat the weak." With the smile still present on his face, threw a straight punch aimed at the face the gang leader.
"You destroyed his glasses! What a waste."
"I call dibs on his watch."
"I want his shoes."
"I'll take the coat."
"The necklace is mine."
One by one the hobos started calling claims to the belongings of the man, hoping to sell all of those for a good chunk of cash.
"Yo- you dare to hit me?!"
The phrase "kicking an iron board" resounded in the mind of the gang leader. But he needs to keep his prestige and reputation to his subordinates.
"Kill them!" He furiously ordered.
*thud*
He heard someone being knocked to the concrete. And looking at the source, his soul almost left his body.
"This is easy cash boi."
All of his subordinates were knocked out cold and are having their belongings to looted from them. Some of them were even stripped to their underwear.
Realization dawned on him. The manner that his subordinates were taken down swiftly only screams the fact that these hobos were not normal hobos.
"I really hope that these guys will keep on coming."
"Me too kid."
The gang leader saw a white-haired teen chatting with an old man. The two of them acted like professional thieves. Taking the most valuable and leaving worthless things.
'If I ever survive here, I'm gonna roast that b*tch.' Remembering his lieutenant made his blood boil, and those were his final thoughts before a fist knocked him out.
