Chapter 1

With wide swinging arms, Drin walked out the overcrowded restaurant and strolled towards a park that was sited only a minute-walk away from the building he had just exited.

Drin was a 1.90m tall dark-skin man. His long hair was braided, though his sides were on zero. Drin beard gave him a sharp jawline and combined with his muscular body he gave a kind of majestic aura from him. He was wearing baggy dark green pants and a black t-shirt which posed a strong contrast to his golden chain.

Outside, a crisp breeze was blowing. The bright sun illuminated and warmed the city. Droves of people filled the roads, people whose voices were echoing through oh so small alleys, adult likewise kids the cause for it. And the traffic was no less colourful, so much that even the street had vanished underneath it.

Drin cheered and cheered again, raising his fist to the level of his chest and each time, a: ‘Yes!’, escaped from him. Joy creeped up to his mouth and pulled the sides up. But why this happiness? For a long time again, Drin had a date, a hot one moreover. Overjoyed, he held his date in his right hand. And with every step taken towards the park, his grin grew, likewise the gleam in his light brown eyes.

His date went by the name cappuccino. But it wasn’t just any cappuccino! It was the cappuccino from the restaurant Mr. Morning! Since his childhood, Drin had visited this restaurant countless times. He had waited for the right moment to buy this restaurant’s cappuccino. His first taste of this holy substance Drin had with twelve years, a mistake from his father who thought that he was serving Drin cola at that time. Back there, Drin took his first taste and sure enough, he immediately craved for more. However, he wasn’t old enough to buy cappuccino by himself and his parents weren’t willing to buy it for him. Therefore, he had waited for a time where neither his work could interfere, nor some persons or parents.

And finally, the wait had paid off. It had been some time since he had a date with a cappuccino and today was his third time in total. The other two dates had gotten interrupted by random incidents. Hence, today it was Drin’s first right date. The date was currently burning his hand, but Drin’s grip around it didn’t falter. It was only natural that a hot date, would be hot! With thoughts only focused on his date, Drin continued his way straight through the crowd of people he encountered. On his way, he ignored or maybe didn’t even perceive the people he bumped in. So, he surely didn’t also hear the people’s resulting insults.

‘Are you fucking nuts?’

‘What is wrong with him?’... One even shoved him aside. But Drin didn’t care. Drin: Hater! They must be envious of my date! Hahah – Drin’s eyes briefly halted at his date. Drin: Well, I get why! He arrived at the lush park, full of lively green trees on which birds were sitting and singing synchronously.

It was mother nature in person and so did it also smell. Due to the bright and warm sun rays, the parc was bathed in a faint scarlet touch and the trees emitted a beautiful gloss. Children were playing on the meadow while their parents had expanded blankets on it, immersed in a chat. Other were just reading newspaper.

When Drin spotted a free brown bench, he dashed towards it. He sat down and carefully placed his date on the other site of the bench. Drin: If you already have a date, then make it beautiful at least! Now, he was sitting there with his date. Both were staring at each other, at least this is what Drin was perceiving. Suddenly, Drin spoke up in a pained tone, his expression twisted for a beat:

‘I don’t merit you!’ He shook his head and clenched his hands to fists. Some people took notice of him. ‘Like I said, I don’t merit you! Still, I’ll try!’ After Drin had finished, for outsider, his cringe phase, his expression eased at once. Fire of emotion and determination lit up in his eyes. He reopened his fists slowly, his fingers twitching. Then he clapped once. The sound was loud enough to scare away the birds. ‘Ok, let’s do it!’ He would try and he would make it. This date would end successful, for both parties, in their own way! The atmosphere around them turned tenser with every second passing by. Slowly but sure, the surrounding’s voices faded away. Drin had put his whole focus on his date. He gulped. The pressure on both parties increased and the atmosphere took a turn to awkwardness. Therefore, Drin decided to make the first move. He extended his hand. Furthermore, he put on a gentle smile. Drin: I’m still a gentleman! So, I must behave!

He was so focused on this crucial moment that he didn’t realize that people had long gathered around him. A little girl even pointed her finger at him while saying:

‘Mommy, he’s weird!’

‘Stop, you don’t point with fingers at strangers.’, the mother corrected her child in a teacher-like way. Mother: Even if they’re crazy and retarded like this one! But at second look – She bit her lip – he’s also sexy!

Drin ceased his movement. His eyes rolled trice before halting at the crowd. He let out a big sigh and demanded:

‘You people really have too much free time, don’t you? Do you enjoy stalking people when they are on a happy date?’ A man in the crowd: Happy date? I doubt somebody could have anything happy with a psycho like you! Woman who bit her lips: Shit, have a date with me! The crowd gazed at the cappuccino and then back to Drin. They were utterly confused and before this situation could get any worse, they decided to disappear from Drin’s sight as fast as possible. The last person leaving gave Drin a short miserable gaze, some tears sliding down his face. Man: May you find one day a woman who’ll accept you as you are! As crazy as you are I could picture you even with two women. Drin just responded with a jumbled expression.

The people had dispersed by yet and once again, Drin was left alone with his date. After a heavy sigh and a brief headshake his grin returned.

‘Let me drink you!’, he growled. Like an obsessed person, he packed his date with both hands. Drin was impatient and restraining himself wasn’t an option anymore. Drin: Sorry, the time of being a gentleman is over! He wanted to finish his date as fast as possible. He himself didn’t know why; possibly a hunch. Maybe created due to the previous date failures.

Kiing! Kiing! ‘What is this?’, Drin asked himself. At first, he didn’t recognize this high sound, but then he noticed the vibrating phone in his pants. Softly groaning, he took out his handy and answered the call in a loud tone, borderline shouting:

‘What’s the problem? I hope it’s important, because I got a date with my cappuccino to finish!’ He wasn’t even embarrassed presenting his date, a cappuccino! Drin glanced over to his date and raised one hand. An act intended to calm down his offended date. Drin: I’m soon there for you!

‘Drin, hurry up and get your ass over here!’, roared the man on the other line. ‘We’ve got a murder, a special one!