Part II: Ego

The clock above Johnathan's kitchen counter read 14:30. Despite it being well into the afternoon, Jonathan decided it would be best to have an omelet today. Something about the sweet smell of eggs and tea is enough to make almost anyone excited for the day to come. After a bit of a rough start, it'll be nice to get back into the usual routine. 

Sliced ham and turkey, left overs from the night prior, were tossed into the dish as well as a single slice of cheese, stripped and distributed evenly across. 

*Sluuurp* 

"So tell me, how's the love life? Still a mess as usual?"

Jonathan swings around, knife in hand, wearing his flowery blue apron. There he was again, just sitting at his kitchen table, making himself at home. He poured a bowl of cereal and was now noisily eating it, ignoring his gaze.

"Where did you… no. Who are you?"

"Felix" he finally says after swallowing his latest bite. "Now come on, spill it. And don't worry, I aint gonna hurt ya."

"You're not the one with a knife" Johnathan says, inching closer. "Also, I didn't say you can have that."

"Oh come on now, act civil. I'm just trying to catch up with an old friend is all." He looks him up and down, eyeing Johnathan's girly apron. "By the looks of it I'll assume you're single, haha" Felix bobs up and down in laughter, shifting his attention to the bowl before him.

Johnathan grabs a seat across from Felix, knife still in hand. He wants to stay prepared for whatever may happen, despite having convinced himself not half an hour ago that the man sitting before him didn't actually exist. So why was he here again? "That's none of your business."

"You're what, thirty six? And still haven't found someone? You're running out of time man."

"I'm still in my prime, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Pfft, yea keep telling yourself that. If I was you, I'd start to get stressed out about it. "

"There's nothing to be stressed about!"

"Nothing huh? Well your eggs are burning"

Felix doesn't even raise his head when he says this, and Johnathan whips his head around to see the stove still on. 'Shit!' He jumps out of his chair, nearly falling over, and quickly shuts it off. Unfortunately the damage has already been done. It's not completely inedible though, so if he flips it around he wouldn't even see the damage. He'd just have to stop once it gets too crunchy.

"I hear that mail order brides are still a thing. Maybe get yourself one of those girls" Felix has begun to pour himself another bowl of cereal, this time opting for a more colorful brand with marshmallows and little dinosaurs on the front. 

"I don't think I could do that. There's usually a language barrier anyway, and it can get quite expensive depending on where they're from."

"Aha! So you have done your research!" Jonathan sits back down, and Felix finally looks up from his bowl.

"Well, it's not like I haven't thought about it. But I wouldn't have time for someone right now anyway."

"So you're telling me you don't even want something on the side? How is it that you managed to get so rich with this huge mansion, yet despite all the decorations it feels so empty in here?"

Jonathan stares down at his plate, twirling his fork trying to think.

"It's because you're stuck in the same routine! Day in, and day out you do the exact same things. Wake up, work, eat, work, sleep, work. You've repeated this cycle every single day, five days a week for the past twelve years. Even on your days off you find some excuse to work!"

The realization of how boring his life truly was slowly settled into Johnathans mind. He didn't really know what to say or do besides eat his partially burned omelet in quiet contemplation. After a moment of eating, Jonathan lifted his head and finally spoke up. "I don't think I really care. I'm the most important person in my life right now, and despite what you think, I actually enjoy what I'm doing. If it wasn't for me, none of this would be possible. Everything around you is because of me! Because of what I created! Not anyone else. "

The men stared at each other as they ate in silence for several minutes. "You know, eventually your ego will get the better of you." Felix said.

"I doubt it…"

Felix slams his hands on the table as he stands up. "You know what, I guess you do have a life that I wouldn't envy." Jonathan has finished eating when Felix picks up his bowl and slurps loudly. He wipes his chin on his sleeve and continues. "Though despite all of this around you, I know you're still lonely. Eventually it's going to tear you up inside and explode out until you can't gain control of anything anymore."

Felix places his bowl down and begins to walk into the adjacent room. He stops at the door, almost appearing to look past Johnathan as he speaks. "I'm sure suicide will be even more tempting by then."