Chapter 49: Parasite
Kyle’s hairstyle was finally done, and as he gazed at his reflection, he silently prayed to God, thankful that the barber hadn’t butchered his hair like some careless executioner.
The skepticism Kyle had felt earlier lingered as he thought, How can you be a barber when you’re bald? You don’t even have hair to style, so how do you know how to style others?
But all his doubts vanished the moment he caught sight of his new look in the mirror.
"...And that’s it, all done," the bald barber said with a grin, stepping aside to let Kyle admire the finished work.
Kyle’s jaw dropped as he stared at himself. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. For the first time in a long while, he felt truly confident.
"Damn, I look handsome as hell," Kyle blurted out, his voice full of awe. The lifeless look that had previously dominated his face was now replaced by sharp, clean lines. His unkempt locks, which had always dangled in front of his eyes and partially obscured his face, were gone. His entire face was on display now, and the hairstyle only amplified his striking green eyes.
It was an undercut. The sides of his hair were shaved down neatly, leaving the top longer and styled perfectly. It was modern and stylish, and it made him look as polished as he felt.
"Goddamn! I look gorgeous!" Kyle exclaimed again, turning his head slightly to admire the haircut from every angle. His enthusiasm brought a wide smile to the barber’s face. There was nothing more satisfying for the bald barber than seeing a customer genuinely appreciate his craft.
"What’s your name, big guy?" Kyle asked, his earlier intimidation completely gone now that he’d seen how skilled the barber was. This man had just created something divine out of what Kyle thought was an impossible mess.
"My name?" The barber raised an eyebrow, pausing for a moment before replying. "I’m called Big Bob." He added the nickname casually but then hesitated, as though he wasn’t sure why Kyle needed to know.
"And just so we’re clear, I don’t swing that way," Bob said, his tone polite yet firm, as he tried to clear up any potential misunderstandings.
Kyle burst into laughter, the kind of laugh that came straight from his gut. "Oh! Hahaha! That’s not what I meant!" he said between laughs, shaking his head. "It’s a pity, though. I’m sure you’d be a real catch, but for the record, I’m not into men either," Kyle clarified with a playful smirk.
With the air cleared, Kyle decided to make a request. "Are you interested in being my barber from now on? I’m not a fan of hopping around and getting my hair done by different people all the time. I like sticking with someone who knows what they’re doing."
Big Bob grinned, clearly pleased by the offer. "Sure thing, man," he said, pulling out a business card and handing it to Kyle. It wasn’t every day a loyal customer came along, and Big Bob appreciated the opportunity to work with someone who respected his craft.
Kyle left the salon feeling like a completely new person. Every fiber of his being buzzed with energy, as though he had shed the weight of his old self. He had never been unattractive—if anything, he had always been on the handsome side—but his scruffy and unkempt appearance had masked his potential.
Now, with his hair neatly styled and his confidence restored, Kyle noticed the attention he was drawing. People on the street glanced at him with admiration, their eyes lingering on his striking features. Kyle smiled inwardly, his heart swelling with pride. His life felt like it was slowly beginning to fall into place, and even the haunting memory of the nightmare he’d had earlier started to fade into the background.
-
Meanwhile, Jane was finishing her shift at work. She had completed her tasks for the day and was finally ready to head home.
The office buzzed with excitement, and Jane was the center of attention. Kyle had surprised everyone by gifting new phones to her entire team, and it didn’t take long for the whispers to spread. Jane had become the star of the day, with everyone praising her for being the reason behind the unexpected generosity.
It was a clever move on Kyle’s part. He had made Jane the hero of the moment, ensuring that her colleagues liked and supported her even more. The gesture not only solidified her position in the office but also subtly built positive momentum for their relationship.
As Jane stepped out of the building, the warm evening air brushed against her face. She smiled softly, still in disbelief that Kyle had gone out of his way to see her earlier.
"Hey..." a voice called out behind her, interrupting her thoughts. She turned to see Mike standing near the door, his hands casually shoved into his pockets.
"Hey, Mike," Jane said politely.
"Are you headed out too?" She added.
Mike shook his head.
"Nah, not yet. I just wanted to help you hail a cab," He said, adding with a nostalgic grin, "Just like old times." Mike added.
Jane sighed internally. Mike was the kind of guy who lingered around like a persistent shadow, always hoping that if he waited long enough, her rejections would somehow turn into acceptance.
His strategy was clear: stay close, wait for her to face heartbreak, and be the "nice guy" who swooped in when she was vulnerable.
"That’s really sweet of you, Mike, but I don’t think there’s any need," Jane said with a polite smile, declining his offer for the first time.
Mike’s jaw tightened, though he tried to hide his frustration.
He knew her change in attitude had everything to do with Kyle.
"Come on, I insist," Mike said, stepping outside to stand by the curb.
Jane relented. It wasn’t worth making a fuss over something harmless, so she let him help. However, she knew it wasn’t fair to keep accepting favors from him when she had no intention of reciprocating his feelings.
As they waited by the roadside, Jane glanced at him.
"I appreciate this, Mike," Jane said sincerely.
"It’s nothing," Mike replied, waving off her gratitude. But the silence that followed felt heavy, and Mike decided to break it.
"So... that guy who visited today. I haven’t seen him before. Is he your boyfriend?" Mike asked, keeping his tone light to mask the jealousy bubbling beneath the surface.
The question caught Jane off guard. Her cheeks flushed pink as she processed his words. Was Kyle her boyfriend? She wasn’t entirely sure. They hadn’t defined their relationship yet, and the thought of labeling it made her both nervous and giddy.
"H-he’s not! At least, I don’t think he is," Jane stammered, her face growing redder by the second.
Mike clenched his fists behind his back. He hated the way she lit up when talking about another man. Still, he forced a chuckle. "You don’t think? I’d imagine people usually know when they’re dating someone," he said, his words tinged with thinly veiled bitterness.
Jane didn’t respond.
Her mind had already drifted elsewhere, envisioning what it would be like if Kyle were officially hers.
But Mike had gotten the information he wanted. They weren’t dating—at least, not yet. To him, that meant he still had a chance.
"I’ve still got time," Mike thought, a flicker of determination sparking in his chest.
