Drake groaned as he hit his steering wheel angrily. Despite living in the country for five years, he still could not understand why its residents were so uncivilized.  

The small group of women who had been standing at the middle of the road, talking and laughing in reckless abandon, turned to look at him - brows furrowed in annoyance like he had just infringed on their rights - when he honked at them. They murmured words to one another as they parted for him to drive through.  

Rolling his eyes secretly, Drake reluctantly waved to them and drove past, glad to be free finally.

The road was clear and void of cars as he drove further. This was not surprising for it had always been that way; few people owned a car in Geodan: the country he lived in. Drake wondered if it was the same in town. He had often heard about the hustle and bustle of the town people and wished to see for himself one day. Though he loved the peaceful and serene atmosphere the country gave, he preferred living in a place no one knew he existed. He hoped he would be given some basked pastries in town just like he had been given when he had just relocated to Geodan by the dead couple. He still couldn't believe they were dead. 

The chirping of birds flying from one branch to the other broke the silence of the street and Drake listened to the melodious tune their chirping had formed. Huge trees at each side of the road danced in sync with the morning wind and the sun shone lazily, radiating brightness and warmth; it all felt like nature was throwing a small party. It was beautiful and Drake envied the freedom of nature.  

Here he was, driving to a work he dreaded with passion.  Despite the fact people considered his job perfect, all he wanted was to quit and the only reason he was still working there was for the high salary he was receiving.  If only he could get such pay by sitting on his bed with novels by his side,  how happy he would have been. 
 
"Just hold on." He whispered as images of the money he had seen that morning when he had checked his box, flashed through his memory. He was almost there and with his next three months salaries, he should meet his target. He had read on the paper how much an apartment in town cost so if he wanted to leave, he had to raise a fortune.  

Smiling at the thought of being close to his target, he whistled a bit but his smile soon dropped just as quickly as it formed when he noticed a familiar figure standing by the side of the road. There was a bag at each side of her hand and when she noticed an oncoming car, she dropped one of the bags to wave. 

Dunking his head to the side,  Drake drove past the lady, pretending not to see her even when he could hear her yelling his name. He knew she would definitely bring this up when next they met but he could care less. He had other things to worry about than worry about the country's gossip. He could still remember how he had almost died from her never ending chatter the last time he had agreed to give her a ride home. Her loud voice and laughter alone made him sick. She was a living radio and Drake couldn't imagine going through such torment again - not when his mind was filled with seeing Jeremy again. 

If only Jeremy could quit or get a new job, how sweet life would be.  

Rubbing his palm over his face, he sighed heavily.  
"Just hold on." He repeated, placing a hand on his chest and nodding his head. The smile returned to his face and he began to hum a happy tune.

He would survive just as he had always done. His mother had always informed him he was a strong man - mentally and internally. It was time he believed her; after all,  it was not everyone that would take all that he had endured right from the very first day he stepped into that building called school.  Thinking about his middle and high school days made him shiver. College was worst.

Burying his fingers into his head, he resolved to focus on the happy memory of his savings through out the day - that way he would be able to bear whatsoever the day threw at him. 

Halfway through his journey, Drake noticed a lady jogging ahead of him. He adjusted his glasses as he watched her and then did it dawn on him it was his new neighbour. Her body glistened with sweat and she wiped rigorously at the sweat forming on her forehead. Her hair was tied up in a bun but some stubborn strands fell on her face. She suddenly came to a stop, gasping and panting heavily. She placed both palms on her knees as sweat dripped from her body. Drake couldn't help but watch her as he drove by slowly. But when her eyes met with his, he mentally groaned.  

A frown took over her feature as usual and she stood up straight, folding her arms and staring at him with dark piercing eyes. Drake quickly drove past her, releasing a breath he never knew he had been holding as he drove off. From his rearview mirror, he could see that she hadn't  moved an inch from the spot she was standing. What would make a lady so angry? 

With that thought in mind,  he parked his car at the company's parking lot. He took a deep breath before picking his briefcase which was by the seat beside him and getting out of the car. 

The familiar feeling of dread and anxiety consumed his entire being, threatening to suffocate him, as he stared  at the huge intimidating building. Reminding himself it was the last day of the week, he smiled wearily, hoping this reminder would calm his raging heart which now thudded loudly; he could hear it. He had once read in the papers that one's office was one's abode but It was quite different in his case. His office was his hell. 

Taking deep breaths, he drafted plans upon plans on how he would walk right into the building with his head bowed until he had gotten to his chair; he would  bury his head in his computer then, till it was closing hour. That didn't seem so hard so he would do just that. 

Balling his hand into a fist,  he took a final  breath and began walking with his head bowed; all he could see were different shoes moving and standing in groups - he could tell from the way they were patterned.  As he walked, he heard loud laughters and excited chatters from various direction and for some strange reasons,  he felt they were talking about him.  He had often wondered how it felt to have words rolling nonstop from his mouth. If only he could talk like them but he was tongue tied.

His plan of moving quietly to his office was shattered when he heard the familiar voice of a lady, calling his name. He groaned inwardly for he was just a few feet from the entrance. Sighing, he turned slowly to see the smiling face of Nicole. 

"Drake!" She held his wrist and he blushed at the contact. Despite her doing this each time she saw him, he still wasn't used to her touch. He wasn't used to anyone touching him.
"How are you?" She peered at his face; her smile bright and beautiful as usual.  

Not being able to retain her gaze and  bright smile which had suddenly become too bright like the sun, he stared at his shoes.   "I am fine."
"Good! Let's go in." She tightened her grip on his wrist and dragged him into the building. 

As they walked, Drake could feel eyes boring large holes at various sides of his head.  His knuckles turned white from balling them in a fist for too long and he struggled to breathe naturally.  Thinking of what to do to calm himself whilst trying to keep up with Nicole's fast gait, he missed a step and almost fell, earning some side chuckle. 

He steadied himself and watched as Nicole responded to greetings tossed her way, hugging and fist bumping whatsoever hand she saw. She seemed not bothered by the uncomfortable attention they were getting; instead,  she pulled him closer to her, holding unto his wrist firmly. 

Drake's step faltered a bit when his eyes met with that of Jeremy who had been leaning by the wall, talking with a fellow colleague before they walked in. Alarmed, Drake tried pulling his hand from Nicole's grip but she glared at him; her fingers piercing into his skin as she held him firmly. He gestured to Jeremy so she could see this was a very bad idea but she seemed oblivious to his effort.

Sighing in frustration, he lowered his head, matching his pace with that of Nicole as they made way to his office which was at the left block. Relieved to be released finally, he stared at her smiling face as they stood by the door. 

"I'll see you after work today." She told him and scampered away, without waiting to get a reply. She stopped to wave only when she had distanced herself a bit from him. Drake was sure she did that to avoid having to hear his never ending excuses.