The story starts in a resting room of a certain research laboratory of country Svearika.
The room had deep blue floor tiles and bullnose base tiles, there were three spacious greyish white cotton sofas, arranged around a two-levelled sleek glass table made of almost transparent black glass.
The room also featured a large flat-screen TV on one wall with a wooden door to the left and another door to the right. Opposite the TV, a sliding glass door offered a view of a garden beyond.
The room exuded a modern and inviting atmosphere with its unique furnishings and the moon’s natural light filtering through the glass door.
On one grey sofa, a man of a brown skin tone lay wearing rectangular-framed glasses, a gingham blue and white shirt with its sleeves neatly folded just above his elbows. He also had black jeans, and black socks.
A deep blue crown cap rested on his chest as he faced the TV playing the news, his head comfortably cushioned.
The news broadcast at a volume low enough for rest yet high enough for him to listen attentively.
On the screen, a news reporter was currently talking, relaying the latest news.
|” President Loenmyr of country Krajina has just returned from country Liberty where he met his homologues and returns with quote, positive news, as there was confirmation of a renewed additional financial support from country Liberty to assist in the ongoing war against country Ruthenia, end of citation…” |
|” President Loenmyr also says…” |
“*Sigh*. Will this end at all?”
The person on the sofa, alone in the room sighed and started talking to himself.
“It’s this again… Will it end at all? And as if that was not enough, country Rae just had to start messing around too with Hzat, or was it the other way around? It doesn’t even matter who started it at this point anyway. Just wars going on everywhere…”
|” In other news, there has…” |
As the news was still broadcasting, another man entered the room holding a brown office handbag in one hand and a vest coat folded on his other hand.
“Still complaining about the news Al?” The man started.
Not waiting for a reply, he continued. “I don’t understand why you keep watching it when it just makes you sigh all the time.”
“Hey Rob. You going back already? You checked everything in the lab, right?” The man lying on the sofa, `Al` asked lazily without turning from the TV.
“Yeah…” `Rob` replied putting his handbag on one of the sofas.
“It’s about time I left. Any more work and I can’t say if I would be able to drive safely.” He added while putting on his coat.
“Also, you don’t have to worry about the lab. Everything is fine in there.” He said as he arranged his coat.
Rob is a white man around 25 years old, about 1.72 cm tall. He has on a white, long sleeved shirt and a tie beneath his formal grey coat.
He also has dress pants held by a rectangular framed designer belt. He is currently standing while looking in the direction of the TV as he talks to Al who is on the sofa, looking in his direction from time to time.
“It’s not like I watch the news to complain.” Al started his reply. “It just so happens that most of the time when I watch the news these days they talk about depressing stuff…”
Al suddenly saw that there was a breaking news report on the screen with people carrying others running away from an absurdly high fire.
Stretching his hand, he picked the remote from the table beside him and increased the volume of the TV while making a “wait” gesture to Rob who by now had finished wearing his coat
|” …flagration in the city of Kyrnac in country Kyrnaco. The fire seems to have originated from a petrol station explosion. There are currently no reported deaths but several wounded rescued amid the firefighters still trying to subdue the fire and search efforts not started yet.” |
“Deflagration? A gas station explosion? Man, how are you not already taking depression treatment while watching this kind of thing all the time?”
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Seeing what was happening on the TV and listening to the report, Rob asked while looking in Al’s direction.
After all, he noticed how the news just went from one depressing thing to the next.
He then seemed to think about something and looked at Al with an inquisitive gaze.
“Are you sure you don’t watch the news just to be depressed?”
Hearing Rob’s question, Al looked at him strangely.
“Hah… Never mind that was a strange thing to ask.” Rob said quickly with an apologetic smile on his face with his hand behind his head in a sheepish gesture.
“Anyway, do they have nothing else to report about? The world can’t be all grime these days can it?” Rob seemingly asking himself said, trying to change the subject.
To this, Al retorted with. “There’s sports…”
Rob, recalling Al’s lack of interest in sports countered. “You have never been interested in sports.”
Al, defended his past enthusiasm, reminiscing. “That’s not really true. I used to watch wrestling.”
Rob immediately countered. “Yeah ‘used to’, how long has it been?”
Al lazily replied. “Four years more or less. Stopped watching when Asuka ‘lost’-with quoting hand gestures- her winning streak, Styles lost his style and Reigns stopped reigning. I was also too busy at the time anyway.”
Rob then inquired. “Have you considered going out?”
“You know I don’t ‘go out’. I’d rather avoid crowded places as much as possible.” Al replied, steadfast in his preference for solitude.
After a moment of contemplation, Rob gently suggested. “You should go for consultation”
Offended by the insinuation, Al quickly responded. “I’m not crazy.”
Rob, with a worried look on his face implored. “No one said you were. However, you have to make sure you are okay. Last time you said you are too bored to watch even animes anymore and now I hear this. I have to be worried.”
Al said reassuringly. “I read a lot of novels so I’m good.”
Rob asked further. “You sure?”
Al retorted. “Why would I lie about reading novels?”
Rob, with a serious tone in his voice and a slight frown said. “Be serious. I’m really worried about you.”
Al, after a short pause, said in a resigned tone. “…Don’t worry. I’ll be fine”
Rob only sighed dejectedly after hearing that.
“You want a ride home?” He asked with some hope. Maybe he could bring him somewhere and just invite more people while there for a get together.
Except-
“Nah. I’m good. Besides, we don’t even live in the same direction.” Al declined.
Rob sighed again. “See you on Monday then?” He said closing the topic as he hung the strap of his bag on his shoulder and started to walk towards the sliding glass door opposite the TV.
“I won’t be here. I am on a break and it starts on Monday. I won’t be here for the next 3 months if nothing pressing comes up.”
Rob was surprised. “You actually took a break?”
“The boss didn’t give me a choice. Something about being the only one to not have rested since the pandemic or whatnot. I don’t know where she got that. It’s not like I don’t sleep when I go home right?” Al replied. Somewhat distraught.
Rob seemed to relax suddenly after hearing that and started chuckling before stifling a laugh about to erupt. “Hahaha… You are actually worried about going on a break.”
“You have been going full throttle for so long that you don’t know how to relax anymore. I bet you have no idea what to do with those 3 months *cough* *cough* *cough*…”
“You find it that funny?” Al asked a little upset.
“*cough* *cough* Hahaha… Of course. It is funny after all. Don’t worry you’ll be just fine.” Rob said while making his way through the glass door, still laughing.
As Al raised his head to look at the departing Rob, he silently thought. ‘He’s the one that needs to consult, what’s so funny about being forced to go on a break.’
Suddenly Rob yelled from the garden’s walkway. “At the very least, you should not watch the news during your break.”
“What’s he talking about? I have to stay informed…” Al muttered to himself.
“…And go home already.” Rob yelled just before leaving the walkway.
A few seconds later, he finally changed channels. ‘Maybe he’s right about not watching the news. I’m trying to take a break, not to be admitted into a mental facility.’
After zapping through the channels continuously and mostly absentmindedly, Al finally stopped at a random channel.
‘What should I watch? I’ve gone through all the channels already.’
On a random channel, he proceeded to lower the volume down to 10 exactly.
He was obsessed with putting the volume at either an even number or a multiple of five exactly.
He was now just staring at the moderately lit white ceiling of the room.
He would of course love to go home but when he thought of the trip which he would have to take, and especially how difficult it is to get a taxi that goes to his neighborhood from his work place he just did not want to bother.
Suddenly, he felt a little dizzy.
He realized something was wrong. Since when did people go dizzy from just wanting to go home? At the very least, he could say with confidence that this was a first for him.
What is worse is that the dizziness came to him while he was lying down. It would still pass if he were standing or at worst sitting but feeling dizzy while lying. That is a new one.
‘I can’t be that tired right?’ He asked himself.
At this time, he really wanted to be in his room, that way he could have an undisturbed rest.
For a moment, he really contemplated it.
Then, it happened.
In an instant, he vanished from the sofa he was resting on in the break room and reappeared elsewhere.
He quickly noticed the change in his surroundings and immediately snapped from his weary state.
His eyes furrowed into a cautious frown.
He reflexively stood up, and with a frown on his face, his head quickly moved around like an alert bird’s sharp head movement.
He was suddenly very alert. He looked around and realized he was not where he was just a moment ago.
His eyes creased and the frown present on his face deepened.
He was shocked and rightfully confused.
From appearances alone, he seemed to be in his bedroom.
Noticing this, his alertness reduced, and his frowning expression relaxed.
Before he could do anything, he passed out on the bed from an assault of dizziness.
[…]
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