Ch.16Science Non-fiction! (3)

# 016

Today is Dexter’s day off.

Since all prison guards work three days and rest for two, he spends three consecutive days with Jesse and then parts ways for two days.

“Tch. We’ve only known each other for a few days.”

Dexter tried to dismiss his feelings by speaking aloud, but it wasn’t easy.

He wasn’t hungry at all, but he felt emotionally empty.

‘Should I drink something from the morning?’

He doesn’t smoke, but he does drink occasionally.

Sometimes he visits the Oasis Bar, the only bar and restaurant in Honeygood Springs, to enjoy a light drink.

The Oasis Bar, located less than a five-minute drive away, opens at 7 AM on weekdays.

“Oppa! What brings you here so early in the morning?”

A young woman with black hair wearing a black apron greeted Dexter warmly.

“Good morning, Kiara.”

Kiara is a waitress at the Oasis Bar.

“It’s my day off, so I thought I’d get some breakfast.”

Kiara nodded and continued.

“Want me to serve you a decent portion? Oh, and how about a drink? Want a beer?”

“I’ll have a PBR.”

“Should I open a tab for you?”

“Hmm, why not?”

Dexter said with a wry smile.

‘A tab, huh.’

It meant he wouldn’t have to pay for each drink separately but could settle the bill all at once later.

‘That caused quite a stir for a while.’

Dexter had left for space when he was a student, so how could he have known bar terminology?

‘People gave me strange looks, asking if I’d never been to a bar at my age.’

Being someone who suddenly decided to live in the unremarkable Honeygood Springs, he was practically the perfect candidate for suspicion.

There were quite a few people who had lived in this small town their entire lives, making it a rather closed community.

Especially in such a small town, there were occasionally people who gossiped about Dexter, whose appearance suggested he wouldn’t typically live in such a place.

‘Well, it all worked out in the end.’

That was thanks to the Oasis Bar’s owner and employee Kiara, who stood between the townspeople and Dexter, treating him in a friendly manner.

Dexter had lived in the big city of Boston when he was young, and as an adult, he had lived as a foreigner in space.

The hospitality from the Oasis Bar’s owner and Kiara felt extremely awkward to him.

“Here you go.”

The breakfast Kiara brought wasn’t on the Oasis Bar’s menu—it included bacon, sausage, sunny-side-up eggs, baked beans, buttered toast, and mashed potatoes.

“Wow, this is luxurious! I might burst from eating all this.”

“A man should eat at least this much!”

Kiara said, patting his shoulder.

“Here, have a beer too.”

Golden liquid swirled in a large glass.

Condensation immediately formed as the cold glass met the humidity in the air.

“Whew, I won’t need to eat lunch after finishing all this.”

“You can come back here for lunch too!”

Kiara responded with a bright smile to Dexter’s muttered comment about the overwhelming amount of food.

With freckles prominent above her nose, Kiara was a good daughter who helped her father, the bar’s owner, on days when she didn’t have classes.

Kiara, who held the position of everyone’s little sister in town, definitely gave off more of a real sister vibe than a potential romantic interest.

Dexter was smiling at Kiara and nibbling at his breakfast set when—

“Good day to you.”

“Pete! Welcome! It’s been a while.”

A handsome elderly man with a brownish-gray mustache wearing a cowboy hat entered the bar.

‘He looks like he stepped right out of a Western movie.’

His outfit didn’t seem forced; it looked natural, as if he had always dressed that way.

“…I don’t believe I’ve seen this young man before?”

Pete said, extending his hand to Dexter.

“He moved here just a few weeks ago.”

“Pleased to meet you. Hughes is the name.”

Just as Dexter was about to withdraw his hand after shaking, Pete suddenly began squeezing harder.

“…?”

Dexter was confused by this behavior but decided to match Pete’s increasing pressure when he saw the old man applying more force.

‘This old man is strong.’

The strength emanating from the wrinkled 70-something Pete was no different from that of a typical man in his 30s.

Dexter’s forearm was also fully tensed.

The contours of his muscles stood out prominently and veins bulged, though his face remained calm.

This continued for about 30 seconds.

The two men kept shaking hands for so long that Kiara had to intervene.

“What are you two doing? Let go right now!”

Dexter’s expression hadn’t changed at all, but Pete’s confident look had completely disappeared, his face turning bright red.

“Hmm… you’re quite capable, young man.”

“You’re pretty impressive yourself for your age, sir.”

When Dexter smiled confidently, Pete still grumbled.

“Seriously, are you both adults?”

To Kiara, still a college student, their behavior seemed childish.

“Well now. A man shouldn’t shy away from a challenge.”

“That’s right. You understand.”

Kiara was dumbfounded seeing Pete agreeing with Dexter as if they were old acquaintances.

“Goodness. Oppa, this is Pete, the representative from Cold Creek, the nearby village.”

“Pleased to meet you, young fellow.”

“Kiara, get this gentleman a drink. It’s on me.”

“Hmph, you’re not half bad.”

Being a regular customer, Kiara immediately handed Pete a beer without even asking what kind he wanted.

“Here’s your beer. Would you like some snacks too?”

“Give him something. Can’t drink without snacks.”

“A plate of peanuts would be nice.”

Pete readily accepted Dexter’s offer, and when Kiara brought a plate of peanuts, he smiled contentedly.

“My luck’s good today, starting from the morning.”

“Well, we all need days like this, don’t we?”

Pete watched Dexter shrug and continue eating his breakfast before saying:

“Yes, after the hardships of living in space, you deserve some pleasures like this.”

Hearing those words, Dexter almost choked on the potato he was eating.

He quickly looked toward Kiara, but she had already gone into the kitchen to help with kitchen duties.

“What are you talking about?”

“Heh heh, why so surprised?”

After checking his surroundings, Dexter looked at Pete and asked:

“Are you with the OSA?”

“I was long retired, but because of you, I’m back on active duty.”

Pete’s eyebrows twitched.

“What? Because of me?”

“Because you happened to choose Honeygood Prison, I was selected as the retired agent closest to the area. Didn’t you know?”

Dexter’s brow furrowed deeply at Pete’s puzzling words.

“Selected for what exactly?”

“Come now. I’m the monitoring officer for the Returnee Protection Program. Hmm! Did they change the brand of these peanuts? They’re quite tasty.”

Pete said as he popped some peanuts into his mouth.

“Never mind the peanuts. You’re monitoring me?”

“Monitoring is hardly the word. I just keep an eye on the Honeygood Springs area and help you if you’re in danger.”

“Is that all?”

Pete looked around once more to make sure no one was listening before speaking.

“What, do you want me to know the color of your underwear too? Unless you’re into that sort of thing, I have no interest in such matters.”

‘What a prickly old man.’

He gave the strong impression of someone who was reluctantly carrying out his assigned role.

Seeing Dexter’s expression, Pete said:

“You’re thinking I find this job annoying even though it’s my assignment, aren’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“After working for over 50 years and finally getting to rest, how would you feel if your former workplace sent a re-employment offer? It’s re-employment in name only—no different from conscription.”

Pete took a sip of beer and continued:

“Especially when we can’t let ordinary citizens see a madman who recently embedded a flash drive in someone’s forehead.”

Dexter was left speechless when Pete pointed to his own forehead, referencing the fight with Tenpenny’s debt collection robot.

“Even though Honeygood Springs is a small town, I’d appreciate it if you could keep a lower profile. Understand?”

“…I apologize, but that was actually my friend’s fault.”

“Are you in elementary school?”

The implication was clear: stop making excuses that won’t work.

“What are you two talking about so seriously? Why are you looking embarrassed, oppa?”

Kiara asked as she emerged from the kitchen and saw the two men conversing.

“…It’s nothing.”

“I just saw this fellow get into a bit of a scuffle with his friend a few days ago.”

Pete forced a hearty laugh and took another sip of beer before adding:

“He’s quite a good fighter, I must say.”

“I’ve lived that way my whole life.”

“Your whole life? Oppa, were you some kind of martial artist? A boxer or something?”

“No, just did odd jobs watching people’s backs. Got tired of it eventually and started delivering packages.”

Dexter said as he used the last piece of toast to wipe his plate clean.

“Wow, and then you became a prison guard?”

“Yeah. Actually, I prefer it now… huh?”

Dexter was thinking about his ordinary routine of going to work at the prison when he suddenly thought of Jesse, who would probably be watching TV right now.

Seeing Dexter’s expression, Kiara asked:

“What’s with that goofy smile? What are you thinking about?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing. Just appreciating how well you take care of me.”

Dexter tried to cover up by complimenting Kiara, who responded by lifting her chin proudly:

“I am pretty good at taking care of people.”

Finding her cute, Dexter smiled and pointed to his beer glass.

“Yes, give me another beer.”

“Coming right up!”

And so, one glass became two, and the moments of ordering drinks began to increase.

“So, why did you come here today, old man?”

“By chance.”

Dexter asked incredulously:

“You came here by chance just when I was having breakfast?”

“There’s no bar in our village.”

Cold Creek is an even smaller town than the already small Honeygood Springs.

Unlike Honeygood Springs with its population of about a thousand, Cold Creek has only about fifty residents.

Naturally, such a small town doesn’t have a bar.

“Besides, I’ve been a regular here longer than you have. I’ve been watching Kiara since she was holding her daddy’s hand to catch the school bus.”

In reality, Pete had simply come here because he wanted a drink, no special reason.

Normally, he wouldn’t have revealed his identity and would have just been another passing elderly man.

The only reason he revealed himself to Dexter while forcing that show of strength was to convey his wish that Dexter would please live quietly.

“I want to live peacefully. So please don’t cause trouble. I beg you.”

“Do I cause trouble? They’re the ones who come to me.”

Dexter wants to live comfortably and happily, not necessarily quietly.

He needs to deal with problems to feel at ease.

“Sigh. You just keep drinking, and I’ll be on my way.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean ‘why’? Think about it—a surveillance officer drinking with his subject. Who would approve of that?”

As Pete shook his head, Dexter said:

“I was just getting ready to drink properly. Damn.”

“Come to my house sometime when you get the chance.”

Instead of answering, Pete snorted and got up from his seat.

“This is the first time I’ve seen Pete talk for so long.”

Kiara whispered to Dexter.

“Really? Doesn’t he usually talk much?”

“Not at all. The only things he probably says when he comes in here are ‘give me a beer’ and ‘let me pay.'”

Kiara said, watching Pete leave with a cool gesture.

“That’s definitely his style.”

“What style?”

“Oh, you know, cool people?”

“Yeah, Pete is pretty cool.”

‘I’ve certainly gotten a taste of OSA’s aftercare support.’

It was surprising that they were monitoring him by bringing in even a retired agent.

“I’ll have an order of french fries.”

“Wow, you’re still eating after all that?”

“Your dad’s a good cook.”

“Heh, that’s true. Even I think so.”

Dexter enjoyed his beer and french fries while wondering where other OSA agents might be hiding, then left the Oasis Bar.

“Come back for breakfast again!”

After receiving Kiara’s farewell, Dexter checked his wristwatch.

‘Even after all this, it’s not even noon yet.’

As Dexter was standing outside the Oasis Bar wondering what to do next, his phone rang.

[1 New Message – Officer Judy]

“Judy?”