In a resting room of a certain research laboratory of country Svearika, with deep blue floor tiles and matching colored bullnose base tiles. Three greyish white cotton sofas surrounded a sleek, two level glass table, made of almost transparent black glass.
On one of the sofas lay a brown skinned man, wearing a pair of rectangular glasses. He had on, a gingham blue and white shirt neatly folded above his elbows, black denims and black socks.
The man faced a TV on one of the room's walls, with two wooden doors on both of its sides. A deep blue crown cap rested on his chest, and, with his head comfortably cushioned he watched the news.
It 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 information.
|"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*
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?" 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, putting on his coat.
"Also, you don't have to worry about the lab. Everything is fine in there."
Rob was a white man around 25 years old, about 1.72 cm tall. He had on a white, long sleeved shirt and a tie beneath his formal grey coat.
He also had dress pants held by a rectangular framed designer belt. He was currently standing while looking in the direction of the TV as he talked to Al, looking in his direction from time to time.
"It's not like I watch the news to complain. 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?"
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.
Al retorted with. "There's sports…"
Rob countered. "You have never been interested in sports."
Al defended his past enthusiasm. "That's not really true. I used to watch wrestling."
"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."
"Have you considered going out?"
"You know I don't 'go out'. I'd rather avoid crowded places as much as possible." Al replied.
After a moment of contemplation, Rob gently suggested. "You should go for consultation"
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 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. "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…"
"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.
Then, it happened.
In an instant, he vanished from the sofa.
The next moment, he appeared elsewhere, and the change in his surrounding made him snap out of his fatigue.
His brow furrowed in cautious alarm. He stood up reflexively, his head jerking from side to side like an alert bird, and his eyes scanned the new location.
The new place looked like his bedroom, making him relax his vigilance. However, before he could think any further, he collapsed on his bed, passing out from an assault of dizziness.
[…]