"How much time do you spend in our office? " Jacob asked thoughtfully while gazing at Levi with deeper eyes.
"A.. Um.. I'm , what?" Jacob's sudden question made him more baffled.
"I have asked how many hours you spend in our office? " he was now moving the paperweight with his fingers.
"Five hours." The answer was short this time without any stammering.
"And in university?" The paperweight was circulating in his fingers and table.
"Three hours." Levi was mystified that why he was interrogating him like this.
"So it makes a total of eight hours. We are going for hiking on Saturday night for only six hours." He said while leaning forward and looking at Levi with full attention."You don't go to university on Saturday due to the holiday and the office will also be closed on Saturday as we will be going for hiking at night. So you can be with your mother during the daytime on Saturday but at night you have to be with us."
Levi felt uneasy on the chair. He didn't say anything.
"Does she needs you at night due to her sickness?"A realization hit Jacob that made him ask this question. This time the tone was delicate. He was a singer and knew very well that where he has to change his vocals according to the situation.
No, it's not that she needs me at night to take care of. My dad is always present to take care of her but actually, I am afraid that's why I don't want to leave her anytime." he was vulnerable at that moment.
"Afraid of what? " he was listening to him carefully now.
"Uncertainty. I am uncertain that what if in my absence something wrong happens to her. " There was a fear in his eyes.
Jacob waited for a moment to assess the situation. He wanted Levi with them because he was punctual and great at managing everything and he can not trust anyone with these qualities more than him. He doesn't want to ruin his adventure plan due to mismanagement that's why he wanted Levi with them but as he was talking to him, his decision tend to change. He can't be this cruel that for his enjoyment he will forget others' struggles.
"What is your mother diagnosed with?" He was concerned now.
"Nothing. Doctors are unable to diagnose what's happening to her." There was a clear sorrow in his eyes.
"There is nothing in this world that can't be cured. Don't lose hope. You will definitely find some cure for her disease. " he can see the hopelessness in Levi's eyes. "I am giving the decision of coming for hiking or not to you. It's up to you. If you feel like coming, you are welcome and if not, then there's no enforcement upon you." He said with a warm smile. This was the first time Jacob smiled during their whole conversation. The tension got released from the atmosphere. Levi felt lighter after listening to what Jacob said.
"Thank you, sir." He smiled back.
Jacob was like that he looked hard from the outside but from the inside he was soft. Whenever he saw someone in trouble he was the first to help. He had some rules and principles that made him look tougher to the world but someone who lived close to him can say that he was a caring person.
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Ashley entered her apartment at 8 pm. Eric was sitting at the table and eating dinner. With the noise of closing the door, Eric looked at her. He was a teenage boy with a spiky haircut. His eyes were similar to Ashley's hazel color. It was a nice furnished two rooms apartment. They were living there for rent. Ashley left her father's house five years back when she was twenty years old. She was studying and doing a job too. With the help of Emily, her school friend, Ashley left her home. Ashley doesn't want to live in the same place where his father and stepmother lived. He took Eric with her and bought another home for rent with all her savings that she saved while doing her job and never spent on herself. Emily helped her in every possible way. Ashley doesn't want to live in that place where she and her brother Eric weren't treated properly. They were left to feel isolated in that home. Many times she told about this to her father even in the presence of their stepmother but he never trusted her. Her father had two more children with her stepmother. The discrimination she and Eric faced in that home was unbearable for Ashley as all the leverages and necessities were for them and then Ashley thought of leaving when it became intolerable for her. It wasn't that easy. When the first time she thought of leaving it took her three years to gather the courage and funds to left and buy a place for rent for her and Eric.
"Hello, have you done with the dinner? " Ashley came towards the fridge and took the cold bottle from there and put it on the table.
"Yeah, I was waiting for you sis but it got too late so I started eating. I was feeling too hungry " Eric confessed feeling guilty for eating without her.
He was not used to eating dinner without her. It was the only time in the entire day that they sat relaxed and gossiped with each other about their whole day.
"You should not be feeling bad for that. We can also talk without eating too. We don't need to eat if we want to give time to each other." She patted his back with a warm smile. She has brought him up as a mother does her own child but she behaved with him like a friend telling him every problem, everything that happens to her, and the outcome of this was that Eric was also open to her about everything. When she decided to leave her father's home, she also explained that to Eric as they both used to talk about so many things at night while going to sleep. They both had a great bonding. Eric was young to understand many things but the circumstances that he had faced at so tender age made him comprehend bigger things.
Eric nodded with a smile.
Ashley put her bag on the couch and came to the table to have dinner. Eric was eating sandwiches that Ashley made before leaving for work. She used to prepare dinner before leaving so that when she came they just have to warm food and eat it.
"So how was your day? " Ashley asked while putting the Mayo sauce on her plate.
"It was good. We are having exams the next month. " he notified her.
"Ooh. You must be prepared for that. Are you?" She was now eating little bites of cheese sandwiches while dipping them in mayo sauce. She made those delicious sandwiches with chicken and cheese and baked them.
"Yes. I am. don't worry about that." He assured her and Ashley knew that he was right about that. He was always an intelligent student.
Ashley looked at him with a warm smile. He was his partner when no one was there to listen to her, he used to listen to her troubles, worries, and everything. At a such young age, he was her biggest support and she felt stronger due to his presence in her life.
She thought for a second to tell him about the parcel she received at the restaurant but she stopped. She doesn't want to disturb him as his exams were around the corner and he may be more worried knowing that. She told him everything that was happening to her before and also about the key that her mother gave her.
"I am going to my friend's house for combine study," he said while standing from the dining table as he was finished eating.
"Ok. Come earlier. You don't have to be late, you know that. " She was always concerned about him and put double checks on him.
"Yeah, bye. " he went towards the door and waved at her.
"Bye." She waved back.
They both didn't know what will be revealed to them in the coming days.
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