3.1 - Beyond the Reef...

179 18 1
                                    


A/N: This next story will be divided into six parts. I plan to end this book at the sixth part, a culmination of sort of this universe. Here it is, I hope you enjoy!

Credits to the owner of the picture...

--_--

He stared at his phone for the thousandth time that day, hoping against all hope to receive a call, or a text; anything really, just to get him out of his misery. He tapped twice at the darkened screen and it lit up, showing a picture of two hands clasped together, a silver ring visible on the milky skin of the ring finger of one. He sighed loudly when all he saw were some update notifications for some apps.

No line messages, no incoming calls, no other social media messages.

"That's the fifth sigh in under ten minutes. Are you sure you're okay, N'Arthit?" Earth asked her workmate. He whipped his head towards her, uttering a soft apology. It was the older's turn to sigh.

"I wasn't calling you out to reprimand you. I was concerned about you. You have been spacing out since yesterday. Are you really okay?"

Arthit answered with a weak smile. He wanted to act like he was okay, so he assured the other that he was fine. However, as he focused on his computer screen once more, the phone that he had abandoned on his desk lit up and chimed with a text message. He grabbed it quickly and saw that it wasn't anything from him. It was a message from his mother.

Are you free for lunch today? Let's meet up dear.

He felt disappointment souring his mood further. 'I bet he really hates me now...'

He tapped on the message and contemplated if he was in any condition to face his mother. His parents could easily read him and he didn't want to worry his mother. Maybe he could just reply he was busy. He felt guilty, he hadn't seen his parents for a few months now, but he was sure that his mother would know something was wrong with just a glance at him. He didn't want to bring his parents into his problem with his fiancé. He hit send, feeling pathetic all over again. He turned back to his computer as he left his phone at the corner-most of his desk, face down. He didn't heed the subsequent text messages, knowing that it was his mother contacting him.

But it seemed like his mother was adamant to meet with him, as he checked his phone during break. Now, she wanted to meet for dinner. It was the end of the week and he had done most of his work already. With the amount of text messages from her, he knew that he had to meet her or the woman would definitely show up at his doorstep. He sighed as he replied with an affirmative. Seconds later, his mother replied the name and address of the restaurant and what time she would be there.

A small smile adorned his face at the prospect of seeing her again, even though he would've wanted to meet her on a different, happier, circumstance. He looked down at his unfinished food, and decided to just have his pink milk, having little to no appetite at all. He sighed.

"Okay, what the hell is your problem?" exclaimed a voice beside him. He jumped on his seat at the sudden sound. He looked up and realized that there were three other people who shared his table. He was alone when he sat down for lunch. He blinked at them in incomprehension.

"Seriously, N'Arthit. What's wrong? You've been spacing out for quite some time now. Lunch break's nearly over. We had been sitting here for more than thirty minutes already with you treating us like air. Where did your mind go off to?" Yong asked.

"U-uh, I was just a little bit stressed. That's all," he stuttered.

"Oh, P'. You must've been burnt out from work. Do you wanna join us tonight? We're going out for dinner," Chompoo, the newest addition to the Production Department, chimed from his side. He whipped his head towards the girl (witch, Arthit, witch), his eyebrows beginning to furrow. Arthit noticed the subtle glance Todd gave him, but he didn't dare turn his head towards the other. He gave his patented glare at the girl, making her know of his displeasure.

Of Tales, Old and New {✓}Where stories live. Discover now