Chapter 15: The sudden realization hit him like a splash of cold water. ＼(°o°)／
Shit, I’m late for work," Leo muttered, scrambling out of bed...
The sudden realization hit him like a splash of cold water... He’d been so lost in the quiet aftermath of Sarah’s departure, so caught up in missing her, that he’d completely forgotten about his responsibilities... He threw on the nearest clothes he could find...a slightly wrinkled t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans...then fumbled with his phone to check the time again... Yep, 10:05 AM. His boss was definitely going to have his head...
He rushed through his morning routine, skipping his breakfast entirely... The apartment felt even emptier in his haste, a stark contrast to the lively chaos of just two mornings ago with Sarah...
He grabbed his door’s keys and wallet, making a point to check both pockets this time, then practically sprinted out his apartment door... The familiar Tokyo traffic, usually a source of irritation, now felt like a personal affront, conspiring to make him even more later...
He sat on the train, tapping his fingers impatiently on his knee, glancing at his phone every few seconds...
When he finally made it to the mall, the place was already buzzing. His colleagues were at their desks, a low hum of chatter and dispenser clicks filling the atmosphere...
He then went into the back and got changed into their uniforms, then slid back into his chair, trying to look as nonchalant as possible, but he knew his appearance, the nervousness in his eyes, would probably give him away... His hair was also a mess, and he was breathing a little too heavily...
Just as he settled in, a stern voice cut through the staff area... "Leo, my office, now."
It was Mr. Yokohama, his boss at the mall, a man known for his impeccable suits and even more impeccable punctuality. Leo winced. This was it for him...
He walked into the office, his shoulders slumped downwards. Mr. Yokohama was now seated at his large wooden desk, his fingers steepled, his gaze unblinking, giving Leo the chills down his spine... "Care to explain why you’re over an hour late, Mr. Kuroko?" His voice was calm, almost too calm, and that was the problem. Leo knew it meant he was truly annoyed...
"I... I overslept, sir," Leo mumbled, looking at the floor. He couldn’t exactly tell his boss that he was distracted by his girlfriend leaving for a movie shoot; it would make him sound stupid and insane...
Mr. Yokohama raised an eyebrow. "Overslept? On a Monday? This isn’t like you, Leo. Is everything alright?" There was a hint of genuine concern in his voice, which actually made Leo feel worse...