||September 19th, Thursday 00:00 (12:00am||
Midnight, it's the time where the entire world seems to fall asleep. The crickets chirping, the soft wind that blows the trees and grass, and also the smell of wet grass and cement. This time of day was the most calmest, the most beautiful and most peaceful of everyday life. It was also the time that Zen cherished and loved the most and while he walked back home with the 3 big bear plushies he couldn't help but to think to himself. "It's so peaceful, like an entirely different world."
Zen stargazed while continuing to walk, though a little slower to sink in the feeling of midnight."When I was smaller, a little kid in elementary school it felt just like this whenever I was out at midnight. It smells like early morning but it's night time, so I would call it night morning before I even figured out what the word midnight was. After that, I wished to live a peaceful life so that I could experience this whenever I want...heh I almost forgot that fact."
Zen was in his mid 20s, a grown up that hadn't realized how much he truly has grown physically and mentally. But even with growth the same desire stayed the same for him, the same desire to experience a day to day like peacefully. A peaceful everyday life.
||September 19th, 14:00 (2:00pm)||
Criss looked over at Zen, concerned because he looked even more tired than the day before. "Y-you alright dude? You seem a bit...how do I say this, the brink."
Zen looked at him, his gaze as if it was staring straight through his body and soul and the bags under his eyes making it even worse. "I walked back home after going shopping for presents after work yesterday..."
Criss responded. "Wait...don't u live a town over-? What time did u get back home man-?"
"4..."
Criss went to him and patted his head. "U can leave the work to me for today, just sit down and take a break."
He sleepily stumbled to his desk, "thank u.." He then sat down laying his head on his desk looking over the Criss talking to someone that sounded familiar as his eyes slowly closed then falling into a deep sleep.
...
..
.
.
.
"Is Zen okay? He seemed really exhausted today." Quetzal asked
Criss then sighed as he responded. "He did a 4 hour walk back to his place after work, after getting presents for his sister and niece so he didn't really get any sleep."
Quetzal looked concerned. "Why did he walk so far, doesn't he have a car?"
Criss leaned on the desk next to him. "Well he did but it got entirely wrecked from a tiny gate that opened near his place, he was fine and he lives right next to a family of players but his car didn't survive the damage." He then looked at Quetzal slightly confused. "Why are u so concerned, got somethin to say~."
Quetzal looked at him and used her perfect smile, blinding him from how sparkly she was. She then walked away as a thought came to mind. "He did say he had a sister awhile ago." She then sighed, shaking her head. "He could've asked for a ride or something, we both clock out at nearly the same time."
Throughout the entire day Zen's coworkers walked by him, asking Criss what was wrong because they never saw him asleep in the office before and with everyone he would just tell them that he had a rough couple of days. Fortunately for Zen everyone liked him because he would take so much of the work, not just his but others. For the entire day, oddly for everyone around him, even Criss, he was in the same spot...sleeping.
Finally he woke up, realizing there being a blanket over him as Criss leaned over to him. "Good morning sweetheart~."
Zen responded while stretching. "G-goodmorning." He then looked out the window just to see it being night time.
His eyes widened as he pulled out his phone to check the time. "I-it's...22:55...I literally slept for the entire day!?!?"
Criss responded, laughing. "Dude the entire day the entire department has been coming up to me to ask if u were okay!!! Like the ENTIRE department, even some people from the coding department!"
Zen began freaking out. "Why didn't you wake me up!! I wasted so much time..."
Criss then wiped his tears, putting his hand on Zen's shoulder. "No worries man, also one of the Leads..I think her names Quetzal said she'd give you a ride today so go and meet her in like, 10 minutes."
Zen looked at him confused. "Y-you didn't tell her about the entire incident right-?"
Criss smiled. "Hell yeah! Anyways I'ma head out, u be safe and don't get blinded from her sparkles- I swear she's dangerous with how bright she is-."
They both waved to each other while he left, Zen then leaned back on his chair looking out the window of the massive building of TSC. "Well I feel unusually refreshed now so that's a plus. Also Quetzal's giving me a ride back to." He then thought about it more carefully as he began to slightly blush. "Well my place is clean so...wait what am I thinking get that out of your head!! It's not a big deal she's just taking me home...heshe, it's like I'm a teenager again."
Quetzal then opened the door to the department and called out to him. "You're awake now!" He then turned to her, surprised then responding. "Y-yeah! I slept for the entire day." He chuckled from nervousness.
She then responded to him, smiling. "I'm happy, you seem well rested now. Before you looked half dead, u didn't even respond to me saying good morning." She laughed.
He responded erratically. "Sorry about that, I was really exhausted! Honestly if it wasn't for Criss I probably would've collapsed heheh."
They both looked at each other, feeling as if stuck, the stuffiness getting to them. Quetzal then blushed as she spoke and broke the tension. "W-well let's get going." Zen then responded. "Y-yeah."
As they both left TSC, they had their simple conversations but also the conversation about why he walked back home last night. Zen explained it all, saying how he wanted to get his sister and nieces presents before he forgot. Quetzal naturally understood but she felt slightly lost because she hasn't had something like that since she was in middle school. She didn't mention this fact but she wanted to, the feeling of wanting to tell him felt so big as if it was going to explode right out of her but she kept it in. Keeping it a secret because, "it's too early to tell him, I wonder what he would say though.."
An idea then popped into her head. "How about you just stay with me until you get a new car." She then blocked her mouth, not knowing she would say it aloud, then blushing.
Zen looked at her, surprised and responded to her. "I actually...if u think that's a good idea then I would really appreciate it." He covered his face a little with his hands, embarrassed and looking away.
She blushes, her heart beating increasingly. "Okay."
Before they went to her place, he packed some clothes at his, this only taking a few minutes as his mind felt entirely empty, confused to what's even happening right now. His heart was beating fast but it wasn't processing and when he packed everything he needed he went with her back to her place.
"Wh-whats going on...isn't this to fast... we're not even dating or married or anything but I'm at her place right now...nothing's going to happen so calm down Zen...it's just staying at a coworkers house, like a friend, we're just friends, coworkers...yeah."
Quetzal then gave him a quick tour of the living room, bathroom, kitchen and room. "Make yourself comfortable okay, i-if you need me just knock, this is my door."
Zen looked at her door. "Her room..." "Y-yeah, will do, and thank you for letting me stay here you already know how uncomfortable the beds are in TSC-. Anyways thank you!"
From Zen repeating himself, she could feel the sincerity from his words. He was genuinely incredibly thankful and she was grateful that he appreciated her so much, even though her heart was still beating incredibly fast the feeling of happiness overcame the feeling of her heart.
"No problem, stay as long as u want~." Her perfect genuine smile even more sparkly than her pretty one he couldn't help but also smile, it was very contagious. After her tour they both got settled in their rooms and both laid in their beds, for Zen it was an entirely new bed so he felt a little uncomfortable and embarrassed because of the new place and whose house he was sleeping in. For Quetzal she was also restless, not understanding why she couldn't get comfortable as she put her hand over her chest and he did the same while they both had the same thought.
"My heart...is beating so fast."