Chapter One
It is Thursday noon, I am about to finish my morning shift. As I am finishing off daily shift handover, the staff of the next shift arrives. The other shift leader howls at me and I waved quickly while I am finalizing the handover stuff. I am done. I get up and walk toward my locker. "any plans for tonight Shawn?" my colleague Jasper asked. "yeah probably hanging out with the guys" I replied. Near my locker I am talking with the other shift leader Marcus as I am opening my locker and removing my apron and cap. After few mins I left the store heading directly to my home. Arrived at my room after long stressful hours per usual at work. It is just everyday routine for me, that I supposedly used to it by now. Though nothing helps you forget that pain better than a nice noon nap, I guess.
Later on that day, I have just arrived at the bar with I meet the gang every Thursday night. Yep, we meet every Thursday night at the same bar, doing same things every weekend while every weekdays each stuck at work. That is just the single life for each of us. I am walking inside the bar, and from across the bar at the corner table I hear this voice coming aloud "Over Hear Shawn!", that is Andrew's voice as he is calling me to their table. I approach them and I see Andrew, Jordan, Thomas, Philip and Jackson sitting at the table while on the other side Jacob playing the arcade. "Hey guys" I salute, and each with their responses, "You suck dude" Thomas smirks as usual. I take a seat and look around, "umm I don't see Jacob nor Matt, are they not coming?" I ask, "Jacob is there playing the arcade box" while he points at Jacob "as for Matt, well, he has been MIA these last couple of days, not answering his phone, you know how he is" he continues. And with that remark, opened a whole debate that continues another hour on the subject. While we are arguing violently, suddenly appears in front of our table, Matt himself. Sudden quite for few seconds, then "Here he is has arrived." Jordan while weirdly smirking said, "Why you are not answering your phone?" Thomas shouted, "Hey Matty boy, welcome, grab a seat!" Andrew cheerfully said. "Thank you guys but I cannot stay for long, I came here because I want to tell you something important and you would be the first to know." Matt said. "What is it Matt?" I ask. "Well, I just got married to a nice woman, and I won't come to any future gatherings because I will be occupied and busy either with work or family life" he respond. At that moment we're all shocked and amazed, but we could not say anything except congratulate our friend Matt and wish him the best and respect his wishes I guess. As each of us gave him their best wishes, he then left and remained the rest of us.
Times passes by, we called it a night, and each head home. When I entered my room, I just sat for a while thinking about current career and any possible future plans I guess. I remember back in the days I set target to be video games programmer, and I started making games and learning game engines technologies. Though at the time, there were always distractions that led me to procrastinate, most of them my friend Jordan calling me up whenever I was busy with something, and asks me to play with them online PVP games. It's nothing I guess, but I just could not help but think...
Chapter Two
A year has passed and nothing much has changed really, well except for at this time I have made up my mind to resign from my job and pursue my goals and ambitions, even though that I am drowning in debts, it is a risk I am willing to take. The decision to resign was not made lightly, but it was encouraged after I re enrolled back to study further into software development and programming. Today is the last day at work, I am working my last shift. It late in the evening just another hour left before I am no longer employed by this company. Not much customers at the moment, so it is me and my colleagues having chitchat as usual. As we are talking, I see the next shift partners coming from distance and at that moment I felt deep relief, that when they come and I hand over the shift and everything, I am finally free. So we are talking at the backroom, saying goodbyes to them, hugging, and taking selfies for memories I guess. After all that, I remove my apron and hat for the last time, take my belongings from my locker, and then I give all work-related keys to the other shift leader, and thus as I walking outside, I completely free. I think of it this way, that now I will be able to continue learn what I have left off long ago and pursue a career out of it. Of course I can always try the government labor program to find another job, less hours, just for income at least.
It is Thursday night, I went to the bar to meet the gang. I reach there, go inside, and I see them sitting at the usual table. I give them the big news that I left the company, and it is mostly a shock mixed with optimism. Each are wishing me a better future, though then Jordan weirdly added "you left? Why? But...", almost like he is upset that I left, and few seconds later before I could say anything, "Oh never mind, good luck in other places" he quickly said. I sit along, while they are talking and drinking, I am thinking about the next steps, and also about Jordan's weird remarks.
Philip - Thomas - Jacob - Jordan - Jackson - Matt - Andrew
