LOVE SYNDROME [NAN & MAC] - Short Stories

Chapter 13 : Chances ( Part 2 of 2)

This is a continuation of Chapter 13 : Trust, the final part. Best to read it prior proceeding.

Credits to the unnamed/various authors whose quotes I have borrowed.

The morning rather chill with winter around the corner, had poor Mac wrapping himself in a scarf a tad bit tighter, before he took the subway downtown for his appointment, 9am as usual, an hour and a half session before he left to Jeng's restaurant to work as a waiter part time. Pretty laidback work since he knew the owner and the staff were well trained to do most of the chores around. Grateful his classes weren't heavy this semester, three cores, an elective and a language class, he was pretty confident he'd make it to the Dean's List, if he tried that is //hehe//. Office in view, he took a deep breath, cleared his mind, relaxed his shoulders before knuckles  knocked, pushing open the doors to his recurring nightmare.

The blond woman in her 50s greeted him warmly from her seat by the couch, inviting him to sit, offering a glass of tea as always. Sitting on a couch that was more sinking, his body automatically adjusted to lay back and relax, gone were the days he marched across the room, agitated and nervous, finding something to do so he did not have to speak, so HE, did not appear again.

" How was your commute today? A little chilly yeah?"

" Yes, it's so different from the tropics of Thailand. It's much warmer and sometimes, I miss it"

" Is that the only things you miss Mac?"

Such a simple question, to a normal person, a non critical query, all in good intent but why did his mind take him elsewhere? Perhaps that's why he was here in the first place, his heart spoke. Seeking answers as the simplest task became difficult, the air too heavy and human interaction complicated. Just maybe, Sarah would have the answers and meds to make him simple again. If he was given a choice, he wouldn't be here today, because, who spoke to strangers about what they felt anyway? If he himself couldn't understand his mind, could a third party? //Pergh// what a joke!

//because you have too// his mind spoke aloud, a bitter reminder of the past happenings, an instructed order for compulsory sessions with one Sarah Bennet, MD. Psychiatry before he got locked up in some institution. It was already difficult on his Dad and he didn't want to entirely lose himself to his mind, hanging on to bare strings of sanity. As strand by strand was snapped by HIM, Itt, Day... Jeng held the rest in his hands as Mac's world plummeted.

"Mac....MAC... are you with me?" Sarah asked, looking at the asian man carefully, hands resting on crossed knees, waiting.

See, that was how easy he lost himself these days.

Mac looked at her in sudden alertness, as if recognizing her once more before adjusting himself and his jacket, to sit more comfortably //Stay here, Mac... stay with the conversation buddy// his mind coaxed.

Slowly, Mac spoke once more, loudly this time instead of the internal monologue he did all these months, to a person who did not know HIM.

Later, as he walked into the staff room to change into the uniform, Jeng's head peeked in like a giraffe, the man way taller than even HIM.

" How was it?" Jeng asked.

" Okay...the usual...restocked my meds" Mac said, petting his jeans pocket.

" Oh good... come out whenever you're ready" and the handsome man disappeared, to his safe haven and the core of the restaurant, the kitchen. That was Jeng's center, quickly working on recipes while Mac sometimes stayed back to finish assignments on the bar top, sipping on fizzy beverages as alcohol was a huge no on his chart. Buttoning up his lapels, a deep breath later and he stepped out with an iPad in hand to serve customers.