White Rabbit

The next morning came, Ely expected to see a chain of texts from his mother but to his avail it was Liu. He had sent him the location, time, and a photo of Tamari. With the words, "Remember that face," sent after.

Ely walked around his home, phone in hand. His pants tugged down on his left hip.

Once he took out the Ate To Eight uniform from the closet, he stepped into the shower. Letting the cold water change him, he was no longer upset by any of it.

He'd have the last word in all of it.

Ely decided to let it all amuse him for the meanwhile, once he stepped out of the shower the apartment became more brightly lit by the sun's rays shining in from the window. He dressed in his uniform for the last time.

Before leaving Ely decided to look at the picture his father sent.

He did have his curiosity as to the appearance of Tamari. Typically, Ely didn't put in the effort to define his tastes in women when he was younger because they all acted like Naeva.

His taste is never oriented around, weight, looks, or ethnicity. In that sense he had more simple; women, a cold personality, and good hygiene.

That was sufficient enough for him besides the currently existing list of requirements his wife needed, that he had now thrown away.

His assumptions led him to believe that Tamari would be someone clingy, possessive, shy, and awkward in crowds. He'd put up with all of it on their first date, the only thing he couldn't pretend to be fine with was the sound of her voice.

Ely detested high-pitched voices, if he didn't kill himself that voice would've finished the job.

He didn't suspect Tamari to have any annoying attributes since she had gained his mother's liking.

In turn, she must've had equitable features as well.

He zoomed into her face, just from the photograph alone—it was apparent her family had money.

He understood why his father was hellbent on obtaining some type of generational income. Ely's savings from his career put the Cavillo family to a good start in life but it wouldn't have been enough to keep it going for 'future' generations.

Though Ely was an only child, and Wei knew that having grandchildren was out of the picture her feeding into the image of Tamari—was her trying to hold onto that fallacy.

He wouldn't be able to give grandchildren to his parents. Neither could he do so for his wife, even if she wished for it on the night of their wedding.

To his father, that was a disappointment in itself. Though, Ely wouldn't have had care for having children even if he could have them.

He didn't believe he'd make a good father and continue the loomless of what he experienced as a young boy.

Plus, his child would be thrown into the spotlight for being the son of a once-idolized actor. Where would the point be in that?

Tamari was indeed good-looking, her skin the same color as pralines and her hair was well-kept through a flower-designed bandanna.

Her hair piled in curls above the one below it, some loose while others following the same pattern—trailing to her collarbone. She wore a loose white dress that gave off the same warmness as a white rabbit.

Tamari's smile held a refreshing brightness, she did seem like an awkwardly nice girl. Her white teeth and the proper character of her that radiated off the screen backed up that she had good hygiene and a calming voice.

It was a misfortune for her to get mixed up with his family. Ely let out a deep breath before tucking his phone in his back pocket. The Cavillo family had a strange past of having terrible things happen, and others always seemed to suffer because of it.

Good people always seem to run into evil all on their own.

The other curse in the family were the women that Liu had shared affairs with always fronted a terrible situation.

One had a stroke, the other had the side of her leg torn off in an accident, and the last one—the worst of all, was diagnosed with a tumor, faced high fines for a case she wasn't guilty of, and left to live in shelters.

She passed the same day as Wei's birthday. A funeral and ceremony are both on the same day.

The people Wei knew had their tragedies as well, more minor than others. However, the death of a groom on his wedding day would put Ely on top of the misfortunes.

Ely locked the three locks on his door before going to take the elevator down. His workplace wasn't too far from his apartment it was only a few blocks away, a rather short walk for Ely.

"Look who decided to show up Wangyue!" Briar's voice hollered through the streets. People walked on regardless of this occurrence happened many times to not make curious strangers stare at the trio.

'Moments like these make me less regretful about quitting,' Ely quickly headed inside before Briar continued.

When he passed by the door he noticed Wangyue's new look. Wangyue had dressed up for the day, his black hair was messily parted in the front. He had on an esteemed cologne and the same smile glued to his face.

Wangyue caught onto the fact he had captured the rare attention of Ely's, "I got a girl, I'm going to see her after my shift ."

Ely noticed Briar going further away outside to sweep.

'I thought those two were a couple?'

He look at Wangyue puzzled, "How does she look like?"

Wangyue quickly took out his phone—revealing a new girl's face. With porcelain skin, sharp eyes, and hair the same as a brown molded lemon.

Ely nodded at this and went further into the cafe passing by the customers, today it was a more calmer day than the ones before.

There were only five people seated around the cafe. One was an elderly woman vigorously scratching the back of a skinny black cat, another stared out the cafe's window while slowly sipping their tea that was now cold, and the others were rather reserved.

Mr. Fattie quickly spotted Ely, jumping off from the counter and falling at his feet.

Ely decided to be laid back today, he crouched down and stroked the orange cat's fur. Letting his mind go quiet as he stayed there.

That's when he heard a camera shutter near him, he quickly looked over expecting it to be one of the customers—instead, Briar snickering to herself. Once she calmed herself she snapped at him, "Get up you fatass!"

With her right hand, she clenched her phone into her sides holding in her chuckle as she strode past him. Hurling a coffee bag over the other shoulder.

The day went by fast, all of the customers had left, and the cleaning and stocking were done as well. They were all seated at a table together with hot chocolate in their mugs, the cats sprawled out nearby. Only Mr. Fattie stayed close to Ely.

The lights were dimmed to the lowest level, this was Ely's chance to put in his resignation.

He placed down his mug, looking at both Wangyue and Briar, "I'm getting married soon, and I quit."

The two giggled at his serious expression before looking at each other and laughing once more.

Briar looked over to Ely, "I know."

"How?"

"I know about the quitting, the getting married bit is a bit comedic of you though," She took another sip from her cat-designed mug, "Petting Mr. Fattie just because you're in a good mood? Look at him even that poor thing knows about you trying to leave."

Wangyue nodded to her words intently.

Ely felt like he was talking into a hollow and empty well when looking at the two, "Aren't you mad?"

"Should I be?" She shrugged her shoulders, "It's life."

Wangyue added to Briar's final thoughts, "We saw you quitting when you first came into the interview. But we still took you under our wing, that day you looked as if everything sucked the soul out of you," Wangyue glanced down at Mr. Fatties dramatic paw residing on Ely's shoe, "Maybe the cats were therapeutic to you?"

Ely looked down at his cup. His other employers would've cursed him out for his sudden quitting, but here it was something normal and okay to do.

Briar reached her hand to put on Ely's, "You can stay a bit longer today since it's your last day, I own the place remember."

Briar had been the owner of Ate to Eight since she was in her twenties, her personality was the same then and now.

The only thing new was how she was acting like a mother seeing their son off to college when speaking to Ely.

Her voice mellower than before, "You look worn out man, I hope the wedding goes well—if you have no one to invite, you have me and Wangyue."

Wangyue agreed then patted Ely's back before standing up, "I wish you well Ely, sincerely."

Like that Wangyue stepped out of the cafe and quickly went to call for a cab.

Briar stood and took all the mugs, giving Ely a small smile as she turned her back to go to the sink.

Ely picked Mr. Fattie from the ground, letting him rest in his lap while he turned in the direction of Briar, "Didn't you like Wangyue?"

She paused at this, before resuming washing the three cups, "Yeah, but he liked my sister better."

"Why didn't you tell him?"

"Why didn't you tell us about the wedding?"

The two quieted after this, the unanswered questions left for the air to hold.

For a while, Ely allowed his fingers to trace the cat's spine until it was in one of its deep sleep. He picked up the cat and brought him to the big pink pillow that stayed on the floor, designated for Mr. Fattie.

Briar waved her hand at him, "Bye Ely."

Ely waved his hand at her as he exited the doors the bell ringing above him. Outside was already covered in stars—the moon was at it again. Only some lights were turned on in a few homes, most of the city had fallen asleep.

Today the city felt like a residing wave, inching back to its source, giving room for others to walk closer to it from the safety of the sand.

"Bye Briar."