Unexpected News
The metal door creaks as he pushes it open. He gropes for the switch light on the wall and turns it on. Light flooded on the room showing disarray of sculpture in different completion.
He slowly and with familiarity dodge his way through to reach the end of the room. He switches another light to another room with a bed, sofa, and more clutters. It's been a while since he came in here. He should try to clean up and tidy the place later, he thought as he opened the fridge door and grabbed a bottle of beer. He opened the beer on the bottle opener stuck on the refrigerator door.
He shrugged off his jacket and brought the beer to the back of the room. A cat welcomed him in the dimly lit garden.
"Siopao, you're getting fatter," he said, patting the siamese cat that jumped quickly on his lap as he settled on one of the garden chairs.
"Wu Bin, is that you?" Bobby hears an old man's voice and the garden floods with light.
"Uncle, how are you?"
"Have you eaten dinner? Your aunt prepares some beef noodle soup, you should come upstairs and eat."
He put down the bottle of beer on the table and picked up the fat cat from his lap and followed the man who asked him to eat dinner.
---
He put his phone on speaker and dialed Kai Hern number to ask for an update. He never expected for Mr. Wan to return to the WIZ a week early from his meeting with the WIZ team in Oslo.
There must be some bad news for Mr. Wan to be furious with him as soon as he gets back. He frowned at his phone that just kept on ringing. He dialed Ling Chee number this time, but he can't reach his number too.
He took a deep breath as he watched the building traffic before him. He wants to step on the gas to be back at the club as soon as possible.
He tried to dial Kai Hern's number again, but still no answer.
"Fuck!" he said under his breath.
---
Dana entered her apartment in a daze. She kicked her shoes inside the shoe cabinet and threw her bag on the island counter. She took off her jeans, left it on the floor, and dropped herself in the middle of the living room.
Lying on the floor she spread her arms and stared at the ceiling. She played back everything that happened and she couldn't find the exact moment where everything fell apart.
The shrill sound of her phone breaks Dana's reverie.
Jess is calling, but for the first time, Dana doesn't feel answering her call. But if she does not answer, she has to explain things and she doesn't want that.
---
He hurriedly parked the car, grabbed his jacket and phone then jumped out of the car. He tried to call Ling Chee again and now Ellise but he still got no luck to contact anyone from his team.
He dashed to the elevator, pressed for the 3rd floor.
He already gave up calling everyone and just readied himself to be reprimanded by the boss.
When the elevator door dings he straightens his back and takes a deep breath.
"Congratulations!!"
Confetti showered him as soon as he stepped out of the elevator. Shouts of congratulatory words are shouted in unison. Mr. Wan grabbed his shoulders and tapped his back.
"What is happening?" his eyes looked around everyone, confused.
"You're on the top ten rankings for the individual players!" Kai Hern shouted in his face, punching him in the chest.
"What?... What?"
Realization dawned on him of what was the surprise all about and a huge grin appeared on his lips. He looked at Mr. Wan and asked for the confirmation. When he said congratulations. He pumped his fist on the air and shouted, "Fuck yes!"
His team seized him and pushed him around messing up with him. His elation for the good news was over the roof. His hard work for the last few months paid off.
"Hey, Capt. were you scared of how furious the boss was?" Ling Chee asked Grand, mocking.
He punched him playfully, and replied, "I was scared shit. My car was flying on the way here."
Everyone laughed. Apparently even Mr. Wan agreed to the prank of making him believe such lies so he would hurry back to the club.
As the food arrived for the celebration, the attention changed direction, and Grand found himself alone. He shakes his head and is about to go to the buffet table to get some drinks when Ellise takes hold of his wrist and pulls him away from the crowd.
"Where is Dana?" she asked without preamble as soon as they are far away from everybody's listening ears.
Grand eyebrows knitted on his forehead as he heard the questioning tone of Ellise.
"I took her home." he felt a bit guilty that he didn't really bring Dana back to their house, but the coffee shop is just around the corner. She should be okay.
"Did you go on a date?" she asked again.
The question was unexpected that it took him a long time to open his mouth to give an answer.
She smirked seeing the expression on his face and said, "I think you should accept the training in Oslo." she told him in a tone that was implying something but he failed to catch it.
---
Grand lying on his bed, still on high, called Bobby to inform him of the good news. They talked for just a few minutes because he can hear familiar voices in the background. Bobby is in the company of some important people.
After his call to Bobby, he debated if he should call Dana like what he usually does for the past few weeks. But thinking back with what he realized and happened in his date with Dana today, he ended up turning off his phone, put it under his pillow, and closed his eyes to sleep.