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Afterparty

K Corp's Agriculture Department had a multitude of successful projects, and that was enough for them to start throwing a party inside the Wing.
Researcher K Corp. Researcher
Come on! Just one drink, how about it?
Arlo wasn’t exactly the type to indulge in vices like alcohol. And he wasn’t the type to enjoy parties in general; It was far too easy for them to become overwhelming.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
No, thank you. I’m alright.
Researcher K Corp. Researcher
Aww, you're staying sober tonight? How lame!
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
(...It's not lame.)
A little bothered, they grab a bottle and start drinking it. So much for that.
Researcher K Corp. Researcher
Ha, I knew you'd come around.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
Hah...
In spite of this interaction, they still tried to celebrate quietly. All those hours of working and being hunched back before their laptop must have been worth something, right?
It's not as though he works to impress anybody. To him, it was just an obligation.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
Arlo! You're here!
...At least, that was what he wanted to believe. No, he wasn't doing any of this for show. But seeing Dongrang again was enough to make him drink more than he intended to.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
Why don't we have a chat? Your team did pretty good these past few weeks!
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
Ah, well...
His boss was always a mystery to them. Always smiling, looking over work, congratulating people for even the most minor of accomplishments. Yet, Arlo couldn't help but wonder.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
Sure thing.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
Oh, I nearly forgot to ask. Did you run out of the candies I gave you? I nearly forgot to buy some yesterday.
Those candies that Dongrang brought for him felt like it happened so long ago. Until now, he still buys a pack every week. That was something Dongrang only did for them.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
Hm. I think I did. I don't really think about running out.
It wasn't something that his boss did for others, not even those Arlo swears he's friends with. He lies that he doesn't think too hard on running out.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
I see. And why is that?
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
Oh, because...
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
I know you'll give me more.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
Haha, that's good. So you look forward to it!
Those candies...
Now that Arlo thinks about it, the act of gifting those artificial jellies must have been one out of affection. What's more when Dongrang is laughing, talking to them and them alone about the mundane?
His eyes widen upon realizing something.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
I do.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
I'm glad. I'll keep doing it, then. Now, about your project...
With all the times Dongrang has initiated, whether it was conversations or gifts or personal meetings, Arlo was more than ready to reciprocate. The thoughts of ideas like affection and love were ones he tried to bury and look away from.
There was a gap between them, and little did he realize how much he wanted to actually jump over it.
So much time wasted because of how much this young one couldn't process what was happening to him, and this fact only hit him as Dongrang was talking.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
...and I think if you all keep at it, you'll figure things out eventually. Isn't that right?
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
.....
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
Arlo? Oh, you're spacing out again. I must have rambled on too much.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
Huh? No, no. I was, uh...I was thinking...
The Manager tilts his head, his smile not leaving. His face softens a bit.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
About?
If Arlo could just speak out those feelings, explain how much he wants to return the favor for all those moments, he would.
Nothing comes out of his mouth that could unbury every part of him that has ever wanted to say, "I like you too". The love has been buried too deep for him to reach out and give.
Only a spark of what could have been spills out.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
Well.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
The taste of those jellies are awfully fake.
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
But I could really eat some of them right now.
Something in Dongrang's expression changes, yet Arlo doesn't know what. Was he disappointed? How could he tell? How could he ever tell?
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
I'm sure by now the store I usually buy from is closed. Why don't we go there together?
Arlo K Corp. Researcher
...That would be appreciated.
"We should hang out longer than that." He could never, ever say.
Dongrang K Corp. Branch Manager
Tomorrow, then. For now, we should focus on everything else.
Arlo could only nod as the two of them went closer to the noise around them. They were having so much fun, the others. That was what mattered right now. Not his feelings. Not his grief.
His heart aches, and he fills his mouth with more alcohol. It's all he can do now.