Three Good Lucks - A Short Story (JUNZHE AU FF)

Three, is to live with you forever (1/3)

It was a rough month, torturous even. Zhe Han was already nearing his thirty and to think that he was feeling something so alien was bizarre to him. With his right cheek flat on his work desk, he knuckled the miniature bop-it in the form of a puppy of unknown genus that had always been on his table, over and over, the next knock harder than before. But his eyes were looking at the rectangular blue mask casing beside it.

"Oi, you okay there?"

Zhe Han sighed, still knocking the ever standing toy, as if it had done something unforgivable to him. The voice from the man sitting at a table in front of him, he ignored.

"Must be a girl. Are you dumped or something?" Another voiced out, from his back this time.

Dumped? How does one know if he or she had been dumped anyway?

"Shut up." Zhe Han growled as he roughly messed the locks on his head and faced down on the desk, almost slamming his forehead too hard on the wooden surface.

Pfft. I should wear a cap? I'm never wearing one again!

"He has been like that for many weeks now—Hey Hanhan, might as well tell us what happened if you're going to mop around, doing nothing."

"I can do whatever I want in my free time, okay?" His voice muffled. It was only midday and he had already finished designing an interactive advertisement which was not due for at least another week. As a freelancer working with a group of close friends, he couldn't ask for a better job. He had a freedom of choice and was not restricted with anything. The four of them initially worked in the comfort of their own home but as more job came in, they decided to rent a small office to work together more efficiently. Naturally, there were never fixed work hours and tedious dress code, so that day, he simply wore his favourite grey V-neck shirt under a black sweater.

Finishing a project was always his favourite moment and it always had been until just a month ago. Now, whenever he had free time on his hands, he started to think too much and dreamed too far.

"You finished drafting the Xinjiang minority fund website then?" They did not appoint a leader but there was like an unspoken order when it came to his childhood friend, Xia Yu. He helped manage almost everything, anyway.

Zhe Han lifted his head and shoved his hair back away from his face, the red on his forehead, clearly visible. "What website?"

His friends laughed, a couple shaking their heads. "I thought so. Get started will you? The client would want to see a draft at least."

Zhe Han's frown went deeper. After thinking for more than three minutes did he remember the order that came in their business email a couple of weeks ago.

Zhe Han stood up, slowly turning towards Xia Yu who was sitting by the window to his right. "It's the one the client already paid in full, right?"

"Uhuh."

"He gave us two weeks, right?"

"Uhuh."

"Which is..." His throat dry.

"Today."

"What the hell, guys!? I haven't started anything! Have you guys?" Zhe Han jumped at his place, panic-strickened.

"The client specifically asked for you, don't tell me you forget."

Of course he remembered, more so when he actually paraded the fact to everyone's face for the whole day after that.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Can you just tell him my dog died or something?"

"Might as well tell him you died, hahaha."

"Relax," Xia Yu glanced at the digital clock on the wall. "You have two hours before he come. Just prepare something."

Right. Among his friends, he was always better at last minute jobs. Two hours would be good enough for a draft. Hastily, he flumped on his chair and started working. He remembered starting a draft when he was still excited upon receiving the task back then.

Yes! He hurrayed inwardly as he clicked on the draft he had left unfinished since.

"Guys, do we have a meeting with a client today? He's outside." The fourth member of the small company walked in, his hands full of takeaway lunches for the others.

Xia Yu cackled on his seat, "Our Hanhan do."

Zhe Han stretched his neck, looking straight into the bearer of foods, his eyes full of regrets.

Truthfully, everyone forgot. It was a small project and since the order came through email, they did not have any impression to remember it by. But of course, that was all excuses. Xia Yu only remembered when he scrolled through his calendar just now and he figured, why not let the proud man handle it on his own? It was always fun for them to see a frantic Zhe Han, anyway.

"Stall him!"