Afternoon in Argent city center CBD. The sun had just fallen to the west side, the orange big ball at the end of the long main street slowly setting down between the tall buildings. Val sat on the side of the road, enjoying his smoothie while waiting for Jason who was still stuck in a meeting at the office. The sound of the crowds, people talking and walking past him and horns become like the music orchestra that was playing on the busy side road. He was going to walk home by himself but Jason said he was about to finish, they would get something to eat as usual before returning to the apartment.
His smoothie was almost gone, and Jason hadn't come down yet. He waited on the curb, enjoying the evening atmosphere after buying his drink. The warm and crowd-busy vibes make Val feel happy as he always does. The beautiful afternoon sun shone to the last of its light after working so hard that day. Then, someone stopped in front of him. Val looked up and saw Ilyana standing there. The girl looked at Val with her large eyes
"Val, what are you doing here?" she asked
Val sat up straighter, showing off his almost-empty smoothie.
"Il, I'm, uh, having a drink. Haven't you gone home yet?" Val asked.
Ilyana stared at Val's face for a long time, making Val feel a little confused until the girl grabbed his hand and pulled him.
"Let's go get something to eat.
Val was startled; the girl had suddenly grabbed his wrist tightly. She pulled Val towards the side of the building, away from the main road.
"Il, where are we going? I'm waiting for the boss here"
The girl didn't care; she pulled Val towards the side of the building, away from the crowds, to cross to the other side of the street. Val finally pulled his hand away.
"Il, what are you doing? Why are you suddenly dragging me around? If you want to eat, there are lots of good restaurants across the street," Val said, pointing across the road. But Ilyana was silent, looking at Val with eyes that were starting to well up. Val smiled, as he usually did, but fell silent when he saw the girl's face, which was trying to hold back tears. Finally, the tears flowed freely.
"Il, what's wrong?"
The girl saw Val, took Val's hand, and stood very close to the young man. The girl stood on tiptoe, suddenly kissing him. Val widened his eyes, he took Ilyana's hand and pushed her gently.
"Il what are you doing?"
But Ilyana didn't budge, she forced herself to try to kiss Val even though the young man tried to push her away, trying hard to restrain his strength and not hurt her.
"Ilyana! Don't be like this! Stop!" finally because the girl was so stubborn, Val pushed her to take a few steps back. The girl looked at Val with glassy eyes, she rubbed her lips with her arm and looked at Val sharply.
"Why? Are you not satisfied with my kiss? How about we try something else, let's go to your apartment, or, my apartment, I'll try something else, what do you want?" The girl approached Val again and tried to thrust herself, holding Val's hand quite tightly.
"Ilyana, don't be like this, what's wrong with you? You must be just tired, right? Come on, I'll order a taxi for you."
Meanwhile, in front of the building where Val was waiting. Jason ran quickly from the building behind the other building and rushed there, he stopped at the place where Val said he would be waiting for him.
"Oh, where was that kid, did he buy snacks again?" Jason looked around him, not finding Val anywhere. He took out his phone and dialed Val's number while looking around. Jason saw a blue courier motorbike enter the side of the building, and after that, he heard quite a loud noise.
"Bumm!"
Jason's eyes widened. It wasn't just the loud crash; he faintly heard a groan. With several others, he ran towards the sound, his heart pounding.
"Val"
Jason's worries were right, in front of the motorbike, two people were lying on the ground, Val and Ilyana.
"Val!" Without thinking, Jason ran closer, while Ilyana looked fine and was trying to sit up with the help of some people there, Val was lying unconscious on the asphalt.
"Val!" he exclaimed worriedly.
…..
That night, at the Argent Heart Center hospital.
Jason stood by the window answering the call from his grandfather.
"One of my staff, Gramps. He had a little accident earlier, I will stay with him in the hospital tonight. We will go home after they are done with the examination"
On the other end of the line, Ian Garber was sitting reading the news in his newspaper, stopping his hand.
"Oh yeah, which staff?" he asked, straightening up in his seat.
"Val. Luckily it wasn't serious, it was just a small cut on his hand but it's bleeding nonstop."
"The new kid? How did it happen? Did he cross carelessly?" The old man waved to his assistant standing near the door.
Jason leaned to the wall looking at the room in front of him. The doctor has just come in to check Val.
"No, Grandpa, it was a pure accident. In a small alley, he and his friend almost got hit by a motorbike. His hand scraped the asphalt and got torn. There's a chance he hit his head or body, so the doctor wants to keep him for further observation. He's conscious, just a little weak."
Ian took a deep breath.
"It's a shame, I just bought bird nest soup for you to come home. Um, just how about this, tell me where you are. I will send someone there, you can share this soup with him, that poor kid."
Jason briefly pursed his lips, pulling the phone away from his ear to make sure he was talking to his grandfather.
"No need Grandpa, I'll take him home after all done, the soup will still be good until tomorrow morning, right?"
"It will be less fresh. Just tell me where you are. I will send Tyus there. Just wait there, okay?"
Shortly after hanging up, Tyus stood before Ian Garber, who was deep in thought. His face was serious.
"Don't fail, and don't let Jason suspect anything. I need to make sure myself," the old man said. Tyus, a middle-aged man, nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Jason hung up his phone, looking into the room where Val was sitting in a chair while the doctor on duty examined him.
"Doc,"
Val turned his face as the nurse inserted a needle into his vein. Jason stroked Val's back.
"Ouch," Val winced. Jason checked Val's slightly swollen forehead.
"How are you feeling? Still have a headache?" Jason whispered.
Val shook his head.
"No, Boss, can we go home now? Boss?"
The slightly chubby young doctor looked at Jason. He'd just finished bandaging Val's hand. Jason looked at him, wondering if he could take Val home.
"The scan shows no head injury, just a minor bump. He might have a bruise and a slight headache for a few days. But to be safe, we recommend he stays overnight—or maybe two."
Jason stroked Val's back.
"You hear that? Stay one or two nights, just rest, okay? Be good"