Obstacles (3)

Alex hears it, he puts his head down and stares at the floor without saying a word, then he looks up saying. "I know. I've heard that from someone."

"Uh…Really?" Roger's surprised.

"Yup."

"Who told you that?"

"Lukas."

"Him?"

"Yup." Alex nods.

Roger feels guilty and apologizes to him. "I'm sorry. Are you mad at me?"

Alex leans back on the chair, "I was, when he told me." He takes a sip. "I couldn't understand why you did that. Everyone could despise me and lose faith in me, but not you." Alex looks at Roger, and they stare at each other. "You were like my father. I respected and looked up to you, then you abandoned me. It really hurt." Alex speaks to Roger, telling him how he felt back then.

"I'm sorry. That's all I can say. I don't know how to make it up to you." Roger says. "But one thing you have to know. There was a reason that made me do that."

"I know." Alex stares at Roger and smiles. "Relax. I know the reason." He reaches for his glass to take another sip, then he goes. "I met Lukas the other day. Lukas from the scout team, and he told me why you decided to let me go." Roger looks at him and stays silent. "I know you did it for me." Alex says.

"You do?" Roger asks. He feels a bit relieved and curious.

"Yeah. He told me that you asked the Sharks to cut me off for my mental health. I was unhappy and depressed for a long time. You were concerned that I might do something stupid to terminate myself, right?" Alex says. "It took me a while to find out you were actually trying to help me." He then laughs again. "Fun fact, I didn't know I was that depressed until he told me."

Roger listens to Alex and nods. "I guess…he told you everything." He smiles lightly.

"He did."

"Oh. Okay." Roger takes a breath.

"So…let's drop it, shall we?" Alex smiles.

"Absolutely." Roger says.

"And don't say sorry." Alex says. "You have done a lot for me. I'm grateful. Thank you for bringing me back and always believing in me."

"Don't mention that. It's nothing." Roger's starting feel embarrassed.

"It ain't nothing." says Alex, "It means a lot to me." He looks Roger in the eyes and expresses his gratitude.

Both of them have their whiskey in their hands, laugh, talk, and have a good time. They decide to let the past stay in the past. In the middle of their conversation, Roger brings up another topic. "Do you like what you do here?" He asks Alex.

"I do." Alex nods. "I get to work with those kids for my jobs. I like it. They just remind me how great baseball is and how much I love it."

"That's great." Roger laughs. "Do you enjoy working with those kids?" He asks Alex another question.

"I like it. They're good kids."

"What about the office? Those office stuff you have to deal with for your job?"

Alex hears his question and takes a second to think, "It's not bad. What?" then he goes.

"I mean…" Roger shrugs. "I'm not someone who loves offices, so I'm not sure about you. Just want to know if you are ok with it."

"Well…I think I'm fine. Offices aren't boring." Alex says. "But I do consider different career paths." He holds his glass in hands and tells Roger what he thinks. "I don't see administration and paperwork as something I will do for the next ten years."