Pop 11

Leo sprinted toward the bus stop, shirt damp with sweat and eyes wide with hope.

First day of Nursing home Clinicals, he hate to be late.

Leo sighed.

The bus was still there.

He let out a relieved gasp. Thank God. Just a few more steps and—

SLAM.

The bus doors shut right in his face.

Leo stumbled to a stop, panting as he slapped a hand against the glass.

"Hey! Sir! Please—just a second! I need to be at my clinicals,

I can’t afford to be late" he wheezed, trying to catch his breath.

The driver cracked the door open a sliver, just enough to make eye contact.

"What?" the man grunted, flat and disinterested.

"I was like—a fraction of a second late. Can I still get on?

Please, I’m a Nursing student"

The driver tilted his head lazily. "Rules are rules, my son."

Leo peeked past him. The bus was practically empty.

Just one passenger in the back—a woman going to town on a pound of

crab legs like she was in her own living room.

"But you’re not even full you only got one passenger—"

SLAM.

The door shut again.

Leo could only watch in disbelief as the bus pulled away.

The woman inside caught his eye through the window.

Startled, she clutched her crab legs like they were gold bars,

then—in an act of sheer paranoia—began shoving them into her mouth faster,

crunching the shells like popcorn. Bits flew everywhere.

She didn’t break eye contact as the bus sped away.

Leo blinked. "Okay…"

He sighed, jaw tight, and turned to lean against the bus stop pole.

That’s when a flyer caught his attention:

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.

Leo tore off one of the dangling paper tabs.

But just as he pocketed it—

RIP.

A hand snatched the entire flyer off the wall.

Leo spun around. "What the—"

Tristan stood there, deadpan. "Not a good idea."

"Excuse me?"

Before Leo could blink, Tristan snatched the paper tab from his hand

and—without flinching—popped it into his mouth.

Leo recoiled. "Did you just—wait. Did you just eat that?"

Tristan chewed slowly. Swallowed. Smiled.

“Eat what or Eat who?"

Leo stared, half-horrified.

"You don’t answer those flyers," Tristan said,

like he was offering sage wisdom. "Scams. Or worse—"

He leaned in slightly.

"You could get kidnapped."

Leo folded his arms. "Right. Because I’m such a prime target."

"You could be. Maybe they'd use you for ransom."

Tristan's voice dropped an octave. "Or something… worse."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "What’s worse than ransom?"

Tristan tilted his head, mock-serious.

"Rape."

Leo blinked. "Excuse me?!"

"Or, I dunno—organ harvesting?" Tristan shrugged.

"Point is, those papers are sketchy as hell."

Leo sighed. "Thanks for the public service announcement."

Tristan beamed. "Glad I could help."

A pause.

"Tell you what after our clinicals why don’t you—come work for me."

Leo stared. "No."

"Come on. I need help. Just for a few hours, tonight."

"Tonight? Like shit! I don’t even know what you do for a living."

Tristan beamed his pearly whites “But I know what you do.”

Leo was surprised. “You do?”

Tristan walked around him his finger pointing at him, his tone accusatory.

“Let’s just say, at night time you’re doing some janitor action at the nursing home”

Leo sighed, “Well, whatever janitor action I’m doing is none of

your business, besides my reasons are legit, not like yours”

Tristan wiggled his eyebrows. "Oh it’s totally legit. I’ll never cross any lines."

A smirk.

"Unless… you want me to."

Leo gave him a look. "Not happening."

"My bad. Got too flirty again." He clasped his hands in mock apology.

Leo turned to walk away.

"Where you going?" Tristan called after him.

"Walking."

"Why? You know it’s our clinicals today right, you certainly don’t want to be late"

Leo looked back over his shoulder. "Well, nothing I can do about that.

I’ll definitely be late, why because of obvious reasons that I missed my bus"

Tristan leaned on the pole like he had all the time in the world. "I’ve got a car."

"Good for you."

"I can take you to the Nursing Home, I’m going there anyway."

Leo chuckled, still walking. "I’m sure you are."

Then he stopped. Turned. His tone changed—quiet, serious.

"Tristan… whatever this is you're doing? Stop."

Leo sighed, "I can’t afford distractions."

Tristan tilted his head. "Did I heard that right, are you saying that I’m a distraction?"

"I’m saying—I get you."

"Oh?" Tristan lifted a brow.

“You get me? Does that mean you have to spy for my aunt because guess what

as you say, you get me?”

"I’m not spying for your aunt, all she wants me to do is to help you

get through the clinicals that you failed last time.

Tristan, I’m not your enemy here, let’s just be

cool with each other, besides you don’t need to pretend to be bigger than you are."

Tristan grinned. "I’m not pretending. I am big."

Leo squinted. "Not what I meant."

"I’m just saying, you saw."

Leo sighed and walked again.

Tristan followed with a bounce in his step. "Fine, fine. I’ll make it worth your time."

"No thanks."

"Five hundred bucks."

Leo stopped. Eyebrow twitch.

Tristan stepped closer, like a lion sensing a nibble.

"To be my assistant for the night, today right after our clinicals."

Leo turned slowly. His expression said Really?

Tristan flashed his most winning smile. "Two grand. Or the offer walks with me."

Leo rolled his eyes—but this time, a smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Smash cut to—

A flashy sports car rolled up, top down, the engine purring like a spoiled cat.

Tristan sat behind the wheel, sunglasses on, one arm hanging out like

he was in a perfume commercial.

Leo stood at the curb, arms crossed, unimpressed.

Tristan lowered his glasses an inch. Grinning.

"Well?"

Leo scoffed.

Then smiled.

And got in.

Tristan tapped the steering wheel like a smug little devil.

"That’s what I thought."

The car peeled out, tires squealing—and behind them,

in the empty street, a lone crab-leg shell rolled by,

glittering in the morning sun.

Suddenly a hand grab the crab leg shell,

the bus passenger earlier apparently was back,

she quickly shove the shell on her mouth

she grin revealing her crab shell themed veneers.