Page 33 of Collateral Omega

Holi sighed. “Let’s not make your father angrier than he already is. I know my place. My father got bonded to a poor alpha. I'm not on your level.”

Jamue let him go. Holi walked through the crowd, his heart aching. He should be used to Uncle Isa’s treatment by now. But with everything that happened tonight, his heart couldn’t take anymore. He rubbed his chest over his aching heart. Tears prickled his eyes. He wanted to cry badly – roll into a ball and let it all out. But he couldn’t do that. If he cried, he would never stop. He had too much to cry about. His entire existence called for a good cry.

Holi made his way out of the house and went in search of the pod that brought him to the party. The operator saw him coming and got out to open the door for him.

Holi shook his head. “I’m not going with you. I need a refund for the return trip.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Since I’m not going with you, I need a refund.” There was no use wasting credit. Now it was time to think economically. His family’s survival was his top priority. He’d tried it his father’s way, but he failed and got humiliated in the process. No more. “Please, I don’t want to argue with you. I had a long night. I might scream for no reason. My father paid you in full. I’m not using your services for the return trip. I think it’s fair I get a refund for it.”

“Are you dissatisfied with our services?”

“No. You were excellent. Well-mannered and polite. I just…” Holi rubbed his face, embarrassed yet determined. He had to save all the credit they had. There was no telling how long it would take for him to get a job. “I need the credit.”

The operator stared at him stunned. “This is not how we operate.”

“Yeah well, the world is not fair. We all find out at some point in our lives. The refund please,” Holi said, holding out his hand.

“Fine,” the operator said. “Let me inform my boss.”

“Thank you,” Holis said. He watched the operator return to his pod and reach for his connector. He connected with his boss. They spoke for a while before the operator rounded the pod to hand the connector over to Holi. “What? I don’t have to talk to him. I need my credit back. That’s all.”

The operator relayed the message and nodded for a while. He sighed and then shoved the connector in his pocket.

“You’ll have your refund by the end of the night, but he’s cancelling your account. You won’t be able to hire a pod or an operator ever. Is that what you want?”

“I won’t need one,” Holi said.

“Are you sure about that?”

“In case you haven’t noticed. I’m poor. You picked me up from the wrong side of the capital to bring me here. You must have asked yourself a lot of questions?”

“It’s not my place to ask questions.”

“Don’t start now,” Holi snapped. He hated everything about this conversation. It made him feel like dirt, but it was his reality.

Everywhere he went he was treated like dirt. No amount of hiring pods, wearing tailored clothes, and going to fancy parties would change that. Holi turned and walked away before he said something stupid that would make him seem more pathetic. The tears he’d fought earlier streamed down his cheeks, and he didn’t try to stop them. He was tired. He felt like the world was on his shoulders. And he had a feeling that it was going to get worse.

Worse than this? He asked himself as he walked along the airway. He was fucking walking home. Things couldn’t get worse than this. They couldn’t…

Holi was so busy feeling sorry for himself that he didn’t see the hover pod coming to a stop along the walkway. Arms came around him, pulling him to a stop. Holi turned around ready to scream when he saw Jamue.

What the hell?

His cousin gripped his arm and dragged him to the waiting pod.

“Jamue, what are you doing?”

“I should be asking you. Do you want to die?” Jamue shoved him into the pod and got in after him.

“Maybe.” Holi folded his arms over his chest defensively. Though he wouldn’t die from walking along the airway. There were walkways for a reason. But Jamue wouldn’t know that. He was privileged. Holi would bet Jamue would never have to walk anywhere in his life.

“What?”

“Just take me home, will you?” he asked irritably.

Jamue stared at him. Holi looked away ashamed of his behaviour. Jamue didn’t do anything, and he was taking out his frustrations on him.

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