What A Great Picture

Jason glanced at his cell phone. The kid didn't even read it until Jason finally decided to call him. The office was quiet, there was no one there other than himself. The security guard helped him close the door as Jason exited.

Until finally Val picked up the phone.

"Hey, you, are you asleep?" Jason asked.

Jason entered the elevator, he didn't hear Val's voice for a long time until he asked again.

"Val?"

"Boss, heh, my head hurts," Val's voice sounded so faint and hoarse. Jason widened his eyes. The elevator doors opened on the ground floor, and without thinking, he immediately ran towards the exit.

"Val, what happened? Wait for me, I'll be home soon, okay?"

 ....

Ninoot.

Jason entered the apartment and rushed to Val's room.

"Val!" he exclaimed finding Val lying on the floor.

Jason propped up Val's half-conscious head.

"Hey, what's happened? Why are you all wet like this? Oh, why is it so hot? Can you stand up?" Jason attempted to assist Val in standing up, but the young man collapsed into his arms, his entire body and clothes drenched, and his face pale. Jason gently tapped Val's cheek, who had tightly shut his eyes.

"Hey, this kid, let's go to the hospital"

 …

"Number one hundred and five!" called the clerk behind the cashier's desk.

The hospital lobby was still crowded with visitors even though it was nearing midnight. Jason had to bring Val to a nearby small hospital as the road to the central hospital, just three blocks away from his apartment building, was flooded and blocked.

Val lay in a third-class bed with many other patients because the rooms were still full. The nurse hung an IV tube next to Val's bed. Meanwhile, the young man was still unconscious with a pale face and red cheeks due to the high fever. After a while, the nurse smiled at Jason and walked away.

Jason couldn't stop looking at Val's face, what happened? Why did the kid go out in such heavy rain? Even though the sound in the large room occupied by many patients at once was quite loud, Jason felt very quiet, seeing Val's helpless face made his chest hurt.

"Hey, brat, what are you thinking?" Jason whispered grabbing Val's hand and holding it.

Val slowly opened his eyes, gazing wistfully at Jason.

"Hey how are you feeling?" Jason asked.

Val looked at Jason for a moment, as if collecting his memories, his eyes widening as he realized this was in the hospital. Val tried to get up, did Jason take him to the hospital?

"Boss, where are we?"

Jason lowered Val's chest preventing him from getting up.

"Hey, don't move too much, you have a fever, lie down and close your eyes."

Val looked around, it wasn't the hospital he was familiar with.

"This"

Jason pulled his lips, the room was indeed too crowded, how could the patient rest there?

"Yeah, forgive me, the street leading to the central hospital was flooded so I could only bring you here, what happened? What are you doing until you get wet like that?" Jason asked.

Val glanced at Jason briefly, easing his body back onto the bed, feeling somewhat relieved that this wasn't his usual hospital. The last thing he wanted was for his boss to find out about his condition.

"Heh, it feels uncomfortable boss, is it better if we just go home? I think I just need to take a short nap" said Val in a hoarse voice.

Jason got up from his seat, raised the bed behind Val's head to make it higher. He was about to sit back in his seat when Val's hand stopped him. The young man buried his head in Jason's arms.

"Val" Val's back is too thin, Jason can feel his shoulder blades.

Val just remained silent, his breathing was heavy and his chest hurt. Jason stroked Val's back, who slowly calmed down and fell asleep in his hands. Something must be bothering him.

"Just sleep, Val, rest well, don't think about unnecessary things, whatever it is, I will always be beside you," Jason whispered.

 ….

Next day.

Sunny morning at the playground opposite the office building.

Alex and Anwar, along with Val and the new marketing staff member, Roger, have set up a tent for their new product showcase. Alex and Anwar carried two large boxes of equipment and their food from the car, while Val and Roger arranged the table and displayed the items in the showcase.

"Val, if you're tired, tell me, you just came back from the hospital, don't let the boss scold us for giving you hard work," exclaimed Anwar.

Val pulled his lips in annoyance when he saw Anwar and Alex who seemed to be mocking him.

"Don't make fun of me, what does that have to do with the boss? Do we have any other options?" Val asked, glancing at Roger, the new kid who was still busy separating promotional items, freebies, and others.

Alex and Anwar stole a laugh.

"It's his first day, Val, spare him. Besides it was the boss's idea so you don't have to join us in the heat like this," exclaimed Anwar.

Alex pursed his lips.

"Well, you're lucky because the boss is having a meeting at the supplier, otherwise he wouldn't allow you to get out."

"Alright guys, you being so fussy," exclaimed Val, walking away from his two colleagues who were like grandmothers who had been grumbling ever since.

 ….

Jason pursed his lips, looking annoyed after seeing a photo in the office group showing Val standing behind the window smiling sweetly at passing customers.

"This brat, didn't I forbid him to go out, why is he still stubborn?"

Impatient, Jason immediately typed a response to the photo.

"Wow, what a great picture"

Not long after, several stickers appeared from other staff.

"Yeah, boss, it is, you know who's the photographer is"

Jason was exasperated. He typed a private message to Val's number. Val, who was standing behind the display case, was busy distributing food samples until he didn't notice the incoming message on his phone.

"Back to the office immediately, there is an important meeting"

For a long time, Val didn't reply to his message, until Jason typed again.

"If you don't go back to the office on time I will cut your meal money. Oh yeah, no ice cream tonight because you'll complain of stomach ache again later."

Jason pursed his mouth, annoyed because Val didn't pay attention to him. Ria, who was sitting next to him, turned her head, she heard an incoming tone on her phone. Even though they were in a meeting with the main material supplier, the boss didn't seem focused. Ria widened her eyes, her boss was typing in a group message. And no one dared to reply.

In the front garden showcase. Anwar, who was holding his phone, widened his eyes, and looked at his phone screen. He nudged Val's arm, who was busy making friends with customers, most of whom were young women who admired his sweet and handsome face.

"Hehe yeah, this is a new product from our company, please try it"

Anwar glanced at Alex beside him, showing the contents of the message his boss had written in the group message. Alex glanced at Val.

"Who else but to scold Val? It's best not to read it, or the boss will get angry," whispered Alex.

"If we aren't allowed to read it, why send it to the group, what's wrong with the boss, he's being so weird," whispered Anwar.