Samuel and Henry looked at each other when it became clear that Dickson was leading them to Samuel's Condominium. Loitering around later in the afternoon at 5, the roads were basked in dark blue light, receiving what the cloudless sky was reflecting on it upon. 274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJraSDpY5IN
Fewer people were around the grounds, and the street lamps were suddenly turned on. It made the three of them squint for a minute to adjusts their eyes. Stopping under one of the thickest trees, Dickson threw his bag on the ground and laid down. The other two followed him, still unsure what was going on with him. At the same time, preparing themselves for whatever he was going to say.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsWXAnVcGu
It took some time before he started talking. He was so quiet and motionless within those moments you could choose to forget he was even there, contemplating who knows what. Henry didn't even dare think about throwing out a joke, beginning to feel tense.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnKsSfTzXL
Samuel was patient though, he looked on to the long corners and walls of the building. The visible front doors of some units. The faint smell of dinner somewhere. His own house, dark and empty. His brother might have gone out by now with his stacks of books scattered round his room.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkoj3zxRfa
"I'm going to a vocational school once I graduate." Dickson said, swiftly slicing through the silence he had left on them earlier. "My parent's insist I take any engineering courses and work for the company later on. I..." Dickson trailed on. Licking his lips and taking a deep breath, he continued. "I. really. hate. math! ARGH!" He roared. His voice echoed throughout the area. The two of them froze at the sudden outburst but quickly recovered with knowing smiles on their faces. They didn't say anything at it and stared on ahead.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C0axYicvf
Why was it so frustrating to just let them understand his words? He ran his hands over his face just thinking about it makes his nerves tense. His parent's both came from hardworking backgrounds where the most ideal working environment was within the bracket of the Engineering and Medicine world. Based on experience and family lineage. 274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4I22Px7GM
That fact made a pattern in family upbringing where his siblings and he never really had any parents around growing up.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc3hgI4bri
He used to be left out by his older siblings because he was too young, 7 years gap from his older sister who was too serious and focused on that honor award in school.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyM70xxFh3
It was better off being an only child like his first best friend Marina, at least she wouldn't be brushed off in one of their conversations like his older brothers. And so did he grew alongside the quiet Marina. The girl who taught him of immunity from being the 'only one(child)' in his life.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl96rikmL2f
"Have they still said no?" It was Samuel who asked.
That was it. That was annoying him the most. Infuriating him so much it that the degree of his anger was even shocking to himself. They were so focused on work when he was young,only pin pointing achievements when they're around, never caring what he had turned to be interested in within those days they weren't around and now they want full control of him? Fucking hell no.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN22LjkvLmr
He grabbed his bag from the side and crushed it into his chest. He pushed his face onto it and gave out an angry scream.
"Son, whatever it is that happens from now on. I think it would be the best for both of you and your parent's to talk about it-"
"You really think I haven't done that?"
"Well, you can be quite a...hmm." Henry trailed off.
"What?"
"You shrink when you're upset. Whenever you get hit or caught off guard you shrink back into yourself."
"Yeah, that." Henry said.
"You think you have talked to them, that's your point of view. In the bigger picture, in real time, you have just shut your mouth and screamed profanities inside your head while they bombard you on taking the courses. Because...? only you can answer that."
He sighed.
"I just wanted to make things with these hands, that's all. Why is it so difficult for them to get that?"
"They only want what's best of you. Don't hate them for it. It may be selfish though."
"Says the guy whose mother is a celebrity. Believe him." Henry punched Samuel's arm then patted Dickson's back. Henry took a look at Dickson. His eyes were melancholy than before now that he didn't have to put his guard up.
Samuel and Henry were by his side now, each had one arm around him. Henry blinked hard, trying to stop the pools of tears on his eyes. Samuel looked incredulously at him. He has never seen him look so defeated and hopeless. 274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZZzIxNDRZ
He thought for a while, forming a plan inside his head. What was in his mind would work, but it isn't the right comfort at the moment.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ24OT3S4M
"We're here, Son." Samuel whispered to his friend. He caught Henry silently crying and rummaged Dickson's head. The night's wind seemed colder and harsher at that second.
"Wait a second, aren't you being too over dramatic Henry!?"
The day's page turned next for the night time to come. Buildings throb with their business and advertisement signs all along angles where the eyes can see. Glass windows blinked brighter against the darkness of the night and silhouettes of office workers pass nearby every now and then. 274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmeV9hql5N
Within the area of Mango Avenue: bars, pubs, and restaurants started to get busier with more people out to refresh themselves. The roads had started to get heavier in traffic as well with families and individuals all itching to go home.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0utdoHU3e
From his stuffy seat, a little boy of about 8 went on to his knees to take a glimpse of the cars behind them.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPgOTBBufo
His mother was quiet behind the wheels listening to a soft calming music on the radio while his sister was in a deep sleep in the passengers seat. Her legs and feet were on top of the dashboard. It made her comfortable. 274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2duSFlL3fR
He rests both of his arms in between the headrest and then leaned on to it. He looked on and on to the blurry reds and oranges coming from the headlights of the following cars. 274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3HVtpRn4p
His eyes wandered until it reached the Maison's building, an advertising company. Unlike the others, it's thick glass walls were illuminating light from within, people inside it busy as ever despite the time. He wondered what those people were up to. Were what they are doing fun? Do they get to make another Dentsu character cooler than the last?274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZpJETKOXS
Inside the Maison's, The five heads of the company; PR, marketing, sales, media and the public relations were all present inside one room. Together with the chief executive, project team A's nerves all went cold the moment they went inside the room. Their manager, Cider was there before them, a dark expression on his face.
What is this? a bad omen?
Clearly, a bad omen?
Two of the members glanced at each other as everything sunk in.
"Please, take a seat all of you." The chief said.
"It might be a surprise to all and I'm sorry for that. This sudden meeting is called for regarding the the Sunytry project by the B.dreamer's." B.dreamer short for Butterfly dreamer was a fashion corporation which owned nearly half of the industry.
"What about it?"
"Your team has shown us excellent results from the previous projects and our clients has shown great interest in collaborating with us again." the public relations head said to Cider.
"However, it saddens us to say that your team will be dissolved to make way for another team to handle the Sunytry project." It was the chief who said this while looking out of the window.
Everyone from the team looked at his direction in shock.
"But Sir, we are halfway in our works, we couldn't be saying we all throw it away."
A knock on the door made everyone from team A silent. Each one of them feeling frustrated at what was being folded out before them. All those work gone. The door opened and a young man came in. He was wearing an expensive dark blue suit and an apologetic expression on his face. He was tall and strode to an empty seat quickly. The other heads including the chief greeted him as they stood up. The team was confused as the young man swept inside the room. Cider stepped in to introduce them to him.
"This is Solomon Noir. Co-founder of B.Dreamer and a shareholder of Maison."
Later that evening, when Dickson pulled himself together and was taken home by Henry, Samuel went by Jam's unit at the farthest end of the 4th floor in the second building. Stopping in front of it's white metal door he stared at it's tiny black peephole, his whole body in a freeze including his breathing, before pushing on the doorbell.
The door opened in a soft click. The space beyond it pitch black. A pale and small hand came into view and gripped the side of the door then Jam's pretty small face smiled at him. A smile that was different from her usual one. Her eyes lacking the bubbly and friendly gleam on them. They were empty and unpredictable. It's inner gaze would make a stranger feel stripped of any protective wall inside his mind. An intrusive ability Samuel recognized when they first met.
She didn't ask anything. Said nothing. Only stepped aside to open her door wider. She was wearing a thin dark green cotton dress that stopped above her bruised knees.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pWIpdwR0u
Samuel stepped into the darkness.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyGDtBPISm
No one saw them. No one heard anyone nearby Jam's unit and the door was shut closed with it's soft click.274Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QitQFdu2L
