In a sleek modern resting room, a brown-skinned man laid on a grayish white sofa as he listened to the news from a TV on the wall.
The TV's volume was low enough for rest but could still be heard as a journalist was relaying the latest information.
|"President Loenmyr of Krajina has just returned from Liberty where he met his homologues and returns with quote, positive news, as there was confirmation of a renewed additional financial support from Liberty to assist in the ongoing war against 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, 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…"|
At this time, another man entered the room holding a brown office handbag in one hand and a vest coat folded on his other hand.
"Still watching the news Al?" The man started.
"Yeah, I'm just trying to stay informed. Hey Rob."
Rob snorted. "Informed? You're just depressing yourself."
"Well, I don't watch it for entertainment." Al replied.
"Honestly, I'm starting to wonder. You're always so caught up on the latest disaster."
Still lying on the sofa, Al waved his hand dissmissively saying. "I'm just trying to understand what's going on in the world."
Rob's expression turned serious as he said. "Maybe you should take a break from the news."
Just then, there was a breaking news report.
On the screen people were running away from an absurdly high fire with some carrying others as they moved away from ruins.
Al stretched his hand and picked the remote from the table beside him to raise the volume while making a "wait" gesture to Rob.
|" …flagration in the city of Kyrnac in 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?"
Just in the time that he came into the room, the news shifted from talking about a war to an explosion with an unknown number of casualties.
"Maybe you should take a break from watching the news." Rob suggested.
"The world won't stop being messed up because I don't watch the news." Al nearly scoffed at the suggestion.
"Where's your optimism?" Rob asked.
All he got was a strange look from Al.
"Anyway, do they have nothing else to report about? The world can't be all grime these days can it?" Rob asked, trying to change the subject.
"There's sports…" Al replied.
Rob: "You've never been interested in sports."
Al: "That's not really true. I used to watch wrestling."
"Yeah 'used to', how long ago was that?"
Al: "Four years more or less. Stopped watching when Asuka "lost" her winning streak, Styles lost his style and Reigns stopped reigning. I was also too busy at the time anyway."
Rob: "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: "...I'm not crazy."
Rob, with a worried look on his face implored. "Not saying that you are. Last time you said you are too bored to watch even animes anymore, and now this. It's worrying."
Al said reassuringly. "I read a lot of novels so I'm good."
Rob asked further. "You sure?"
Al: "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.
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.
[…]