A short while later...
Val sat in front of the shop, enjoying his lunch—a bowl of noodles the shopkeeper had treated him to. The old man approached with a bottle of mineral water.
"Here is your drink."
Val smiled.
"Thank you, Grandpa. By the way, where are your kids? Don't they help out with the shop?" Val asked. The old man sighed.
"Well, when they're busy working out of town, they don't bother to come back here anymore. They're all grown up now, and they don't want to run a business like this. They say it's boring and not very profitable."
Val looked around. The area around the shop was quite busy, with many transactions happening since he'd sat down.
"Who says that? It's pretty busy here."
"That's because it's almost the weekend. Usually, it's still pretty decent; there's always some income. It's not that bad"
The old man looked at Val who was engrossed in his meal and didn't notice blood coming from his nose.
"Oh, dear boy, look at yourself! Here, clean your nose."
Val received a piece of tissue paper from the old man. Initially, he was confused as to why the old man suddenly gave him that. Did he eat carelessly?
"What's this for, Grandpa?"
The old man pointed to Val's nose. Val hadn't realized his nose was bleeding and dripping onto his lap. "Oh, geez!" The young man quickly used the tissue to wipe the blood, which wouldn't stop.
"You shouldn't eat too much unhealthy food. Need to taking care of yourself, this young man"
Val smiled. "I'm not, old man. Not pretty often, anyway. I usually eat at the office canteen, and it's all healty food"
"Then, you should go to see a doctor to check up if anything wrong with you."
"It's just a normal nosebleed. Why bother go to the hospital? It's a waste of money."
"This brat"
....
The sky had been dark for the past hour. But the activity at the downtown office building didn't seem to be slowing down. The whistle blew echoing across the rooftop, a basketball court where several young men were drenched in sweat.
"Toss it here, Val!" Jason yelled.
Jason, Val, and Anwar from the marketing team were playing against accounting.
Jason's team was comfortably ahead.
Val is incredibly agile; his long legs easily carried him past opponents as he dribbled the big red ball towards the hoop. He was about to shoot when, unexpectedly, Ardi from the accounting team charged in and knocked him down. Val hit the floor hard.
"Ouch!"
"Wow! That's a foul!" Jason and the others exclaimed immediately.
But instead of arguing, the young men burst into laughter. Val's fall was, to them, hilarious.
"Hahahaha, Val, you are suck! You fell from just a little nudge!" Rian from the accounting team shouted.
Val groaned. Everyone laughed at him, including Jason, who offered him a hand.
They didn't know he was in serious pain, a sharp pain in his ankle and maybe his pride too.
"Come on, Val, I think everyone's pretty tired."
Val pulled himself up, whle groaning from his pain, using Jason's hand for support. His boss can't help to smiles at his state now.
"Is it really hurt?" Jason ask.
Val limped.
"This really hurts, boss."
....
A little later…
It was late, even though tomorow is Saturday and there was no office work, everyone was exhausted can't wait to rushed home.
One by one, the employees left the building after their impromptu workout.
"Ting!"
The elevator doors opened.
Jason stepped out with Dion, the accounting manager.
Being older, Dion couldn't participate in the mandatory basketball game, as Jason had decreed. He suggested it hoping everyone could get some light exercise after a long day of hard thinking, and also to foster better relationships among staff amidst the high intensity and pressure of work. Put a little burden down a bit.
"We'll discuss that Monday morning, Mr. Dion. I think Grandpa will understand, since the real mistake comes from the supplier's late notification," they were still talking about work all the way headed for the main door.
Jason glanced at his watch; it was already 10 PM. His driver would be taking him home to their family house tonight. As usual on weekends, his grandfather would fetch him from his apartment and make him stay for a night or two until the next workday.
The long trip to Luwy City made him hesitant to drive himself, especially since his apartment was right across the street from the office building – he could just walk home every day.
Jason went outside the building. His driver hadn't arrived yet; he'd probably wait out front.
Jason's gaze stopped at someone sitting not far from the garden. He squinted, trying to figure out who it was – someone he recognize so well. Jason quickly approached.
"Hey Val! Why aren't you home yet? I thought you left earlier,"