Night fell quickly.
Jason knocked on Val's door, pushing it open to find Val sitting on the edge of his bed.
"Val."
"Oh, Boss."
Jason entered, pausing to notice how pale and tired Val looked. He slowly sat beside him, reaching out to touch Val's hand, but the young man pulled his hand away.
"Are you alright? Where were you? Why your phone was off?" he asked.
Val pulled out his phone; the battery was drained. He'd turned it off earlier for one reason or another.
Jason noticed Val's dry, chapped lips. Lately, he'd seemed to get thinner, his cheekbones more prominent.
"Is something wrong? You look really tired lately, and you've been getting home from the office at 3 PM. Is there another project, or…?"
"No, Boss," Val replied quickly, his eyes wide as he looked at Jason. He looked away, realizing he'd stared too long.
"Uh, s-sorry, Boss. I, uh, need to get a shower."
Val stood up, using the bed for support as he headed towards the nearby bathroom. He almost fell, though, before Jason reflexively caught him as he stumbled.
"Val!"
Val steadied himself, smiling at Jason, who'd looked worried at his sudden stumble.
"Uh, thanks, Boss. I think I overate."
Jason hesitated to let go of Val's hand, which felt incredibly cold and thin, the bones clearly visible. Val finally pulled his hand away.
"Boss."
"Overate? How many plates did you eat?" Jason exclaimed as Val continued to the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
There was no answer. The bathroom door remained firmly shut.
"Val, are you alright?!" Jason called again.
Soon, Val's voice came from inside.
"I'm fine, Boss," Val replied.
The sound of running water masked the silence. Val stared at his reflection in the mirror; blood trickled again from his nose, staining the white sink.
"Huh," he muttered, opening a locked drawer under the sink. It was filled with various colorful pills in plastic bottles with his name on it.
Earlier, at Argent Central Hospital.
Val opened his eyes. He was lying in the bed with Dr. Rio right beside him.
"Doc, did I fall asleep?" Val asked.
The doctor smiled, straightening up to check the IV drip in Val's arm. He'd fallen asleep after Dr. Rio had performed a biopsy, which had been incredibly uncomfortable. His lower back still ached. He realized they'd also given him oxygen; his head was pounding. "Ugh," Val tried to sit up, but Dr. Rio stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, just lying down, stay here until your IV is finished, then you can go home. Your blood pressure is very low, if your condition continues to worsen you might have to stay at the hospital tonight." Val gripped Rio's arm, closing his eyes.
"I can't stay here. My Boss will look out for me. Is this all done, doc? No more tests, right?"
Rio smoothed Val's hair behind his ear, gazing at the young man's face for a long time. He nodded.
"Yeah, after this, there are no more tests. Get some sleep, I'll wake you up before night, okay?"
Val still holding Rio's hand until he fell asleep again.
"Thank you, doc."
Rio held his breath, stroking Val's hair, watching him for a long time.
"Sleep, everything will be alright later."
…
The Diamond office building on a bright sunny afternoon. It was nearing lunchtime. In the archive room located on the outer side near the elevator.
Val had just gone to the archive room with the documents Jason had requested. He was deeply engrossed when someone wrapped their arms around his waist from behind. He nearly jumped out of his skin and turned to find Iyana behind him.
"Il?"
The closed archive room made Jason frown. He'd sent Val there over half an hour ago, and they were supposed to be having lunch.
"Gosh, that kid, I bet he's lost again amongst the files."
Ilyana hugged Val tightly, her arms around his waist. "Eh, Il," Val tried gently to detach himself.
"Please, Val, don't choose Fena. Choose me, okay? We've known each other for over three months now. I've liked you since the day you started. You should consider me before her."
Val remained silent. Maybe Ilyana was just upset, causing his coworker to act this way. He had to try to understand. "Il, Fena, and I aren't anything. We've been friends since kids, that's why we're so close. There's nothing else going on."
Ilyana looked up, the dark smudges under her eyes evidence of mascara running from her tears. "Really, Val? You guys… aren't dating?" she asked, her eyes turned bright. Val nodded. "Yeah, we're just friends."
Ilyana hugged Val tightly again, a smile getting back on her lips. "Val, I know you wouldn't let me down."
But Val couldn't say he'd give Ilyana hope, because he wasn't sure if he was interested in Ilyana beyond their close friendship. He gently loosened Ilyana's arms from around his waist.
"Il, but… I don't want to give you false hope, if…"
Ilyana refused to let go. "Why not, Val? I… I don't have any problems, my job's fine, I never had any bad or crime record."
Val struggled as Ilyana's hug tightened, it was hard to breathe and move. The girl is really persistent. "Il, Ilyana…"
"No, Val, please give me a chance. I beg you. I only want you. Without you, no one else matters."
Val's heart pounded hard, he never knew if the girl would act this way. He doesn't know her well.
"Don't joke, Il. What's wrong with you? Let's just talk about this later after you're calm down."
"No, Val, I am calm down now, let's talk about it now"
The door opened. Jason's hand is still on the door knop, looking at what's happening inside the closed room. He's speechless.
"What… are you two doing here? Val? Il?"
Jason stood there, confused. Ilyana, realizing her boss had seen them, quickly released Val. With tear-stained eyes, she ran past Jason. "Sniff…"
Val bends his body, taking a deep breath. "Uh, thanks, boss."
Jason approached, checking on Val who looked exhausted. "Hey, are you okay? You look pale."
He helped him to his feet. "It's nothing, boss. It's because someone said I'm dating Fena."
Both walk slowly to the door. Val' might need to take the fresh air after what happened.
Jason pursed his lips. Val's gaze seemed accusatory. He widened his eyes. "It wasn't me! Why would I say that? Maybe she saw you together."
Val glared at his boss and walked past him. Jason felt Val was angry with him.
"Hey, Val, you have to believe me. Let's go get lunch, it's already lunchtime."
"I passed," said Val.
Jason was persistent.
"No, you won't. Come on."
Without caring about Val being upset, Jason grabbed Val's hand and pulled him.
"Let's go."
"Boss!"