Love Persist

Kabanata 24 - The labyrinthine descent into the shadow of solitude's embrace.

There was unquestionably a strong attachment to my job, as I spent six days a week and oftentimes even entire weeks immersed in front of my laptop, tapping away, putting pen to paper, and handling all work-related tasks, including a constant stream of paperwork. All this gave me a sense of fulfillment, especially as someone who thrived on daily productivity. It came as no surprise that my friends, specifically Simeon, refer to me as a 'workaholic extraordinaire'. Even if I tried to argue that my work ethic was simply innate, I couldn't deny that they were being real, and I was not one to turn a blind eye to acknowledging the truth.

I didn't think of myself as a highly social person. I was not an introvert per se, but I also did not actively seek to expand my social circle. Considering the demands of my work necessitated daily interactions with various individuals, I yearned for moments of solitude within the comfort of my own space. Sometimes, finding such moments proved to be a challenge, as my friends often coerced me into going out against my will, leaving me with limited control over the situation. They were the ones who often rescued me from being buried under my workload. As much as I wanted to think of it as an occasional act of stubbornness, I couldn't help but appreciate their thoughtfulness in reminding me of the outside world every now and then.

But tonight was a different story, as I unknowingly caught Simeon off guard by bringing him to my place for a casual drink after paying our respects at Nicklaus' grave. Summoning him on occasions like this was not a regular thing for me, so he might have assumed that I needed some time to let loose.

"Wow, you don't seem to be in the best spirits right now. What's on your mind that made you decide to have a drink without much thought?" Simeon casually lifted his own beer and took a sip, maintaining eye contact with me as he patiently awaited my response.

I offered him a nonchalant shrug as I leaned back against the plush upholstery of my sofa. Indeed, he was able to accurately perceive the multitude of thoughts weighing heavily on my mind. Despite the underlying emotion reflected in my tone, I proceeded to openly share with him all the reasons that led me to this.

To begin with, I felt really cold after spending such a long time in my brother's graveyard with a harsh wind, which got me thinking about having a drink to warm up. Moreover, I felt disheartened as a result of a minor misunderstanding with my parents. After all, they discovered that I forgot to book a ticket, resulting in me staying in the country instead of joining them in Hawaii for our Christmas celebration. On top of that, the result of the first trial of the case I was currently handling was a disappointment. I couldn't help but feel discouraged and frustrated as the judge completely failed to consider my argument about the possible tampering of medicine, which could have led to the victim's untimely demise. My ongoing investigation was starting to uncover valuable information from my client, pointing towards the existence of disputes among her sibling's concerning inheritance that could potentially shed light on the case and possibly bring justice to her father's death. The judge's decision may have been disconcerting, but it only motivated me to gather additional bags of evidence that would unequivocally support our case and increase our chances of winning in the next trial.

"Now I know why you've been looking annoyed ever since I picked you up from the courthouse earlier," Simeon said, chuckling lightly. "I can't help you with that particular matter as it is outside my expertise, but I can offer some advice to help you savor your drink by taking smaller sips and enjoying it at a slower pace."

I rolled my eyes in annoyance as he pointed out my mannerisms. "Would it be alright with you if I smoked here?" I asked instead, altering the direction of our conversation.

I noticed a furrowing of his eyebrows coupled with a slight tugging at the corner of his lip, displaying a clear expression of discontent. "When did you start falling back into your old habits? You assured us that you had quit smoking. I thought you had given it up for good."