What she left Behind | ONGOING

CHAPTER 18

───── Derek ─────

"You didn't have to be so rude to him," Chloe says as we walk towards the storage "nap" room. I didn't want to go, but she forced me once Josh left.

Josh, who even is that guy? He just appeared out of the blue and already has enough trust to be all touchy-touchy with Chloe during work hours. Please.

"I wasn't," I reply defensively. She stops for a moment and gives me a look that means she doesn't believe anything I say. I roll my eyes at her and keep walking to where I'm supposed to go. I must admit, I truly didn't want to admit Chloe was right, I hate it when she is. But, I do need a nap to sleep off what's left of my hangover. Every time I think about all the shots that went through my lips directly to my system, I want to barf.

"Well, the way you said what you said wasn't precisely with a nice tone."

"I wasn't saying something wrong, I know my Dad, he doesn't like wasting time, so Josh needs to be doing something productive. Besides, how do you even know him? Why do you care if I'm rude or not?"

"He's my new neighbor, and also, I care because you shouldn't be impolite to people, period," she replies, causing me to roll my eyes; thankfully she wasn't looking when I did that. So that annoying new guy is her neighbor now, the one that was obviously making a move on her? Great.

We reached the storage door and checked our surroundings to make sure my dad wasn't wandering around. We hurry inside and close the door behind us.

I look around this room, thinking how it's been a while since I've come here. I had forgotten how well they've renovated this place. It definitely has a cozy and repurposed feel.

It's a bit larger than your typical storage room, with enough space to comfortably fit a few bean bags, cushioned mats, and a small, worn-out couch that the team scavenged from another office space. Dim, warm lighting is provided by a couple of table lamps, giving the room a relaxed, homely vibe. The walls are adorned with a few posters with inspirational quotes. The room remains simple and uncluttered to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

There's a small wooden shelf with some essentials: a couple of blankets, pillows of different sizes, a white noise machine to drown out office sounds, and a few books left by various colleagues for a quiet moment before napping. The floors are lined with a soft, thick rug that muffles footsteps, ensuring that anyone coming in won't disturb someone who's resting. The space smells faintly of lavender, thanks to a discreet air freshener placed in a corner. It's a shared secret among the team, a place to recharge during those long, demanding days.

Chloe makes sure I get to the couch alright, even though I've said what seems to be a thousand times that I'm fine. Well, kind of, but I am fine enough to walk a few steps toward the couch. I sit down and rub my face with my palms, exhaling a deep breath. I look up at Chloe, whose face is now being illuminated by the few lamps in this room, giving her expression a subtle glow.

I want to make sure she knows I'm alright, that she can leave and do her things; but something tells me that there's something that's bothering her, and perhaps the reason behind her not leaving quite yet, is me.

"I'm fine—"

"Save it, I know you're not," she cuts me off and sits beside me. "I never thought I would ask this nor ever thought I would care, but. . ." her pause makes me eager for her to finish that sentence. "What's happening to you, why did you come here with a hangover?" she finally asks.

I look at her, not sure how to answer that. Well, the first thing that comes to mind is for me to deny that I'm hangover but that choice isn't good, she knows that's a lie, so why bother?