1 I: Misery

My name is Andrei Manalo, I'm a 30 yr/old Architect in a Small-time Firm called "Dream Designers" with a douche-bag boss named Tommy Lopez. I haven't done much in my life, me getting into this firm might've been just sheer luck since they only have a few employees. The pay-check isn't that much for an Architect but it's enough to get by. I don't do much on the planning side since I wasn't that good way back in architecture school, I got low grades and had trouble keeping up. I barely passed the board exams in which results to a job as a drafter in this firm. My boss would often scold me because I lack inspiration on the drafts that I make. My boss would say:

Tommy: "This is outrageous!! These are simple drafts and you can't even do it right!!"

He'd always question my skills by pointing out how I was always flunking my subject in college, since he was one of my classmates in one of the drafting classes I attended. But there's always someone there to comfort me when the boss is like that. Her name was Samantha, she was my office mate next to my desk. She would often say

Samantha: "It's going to be alright. Just look at the bright side and make your best out of things."

She would sometimes cover for my shift every time I get sick and would help me out on my drafts whenever I encounter problems.

I was never acknowledged when I was young, since I did nothing but disappoint everybody that had high expectations on me, especially my family. I've been living alone in a Small Apartment ever since they've turned their backs on me. I haven't been in touch with them since then. Talking to me would just be embarrassing for them, having a son as a failure.

Through all those hard times in my life, I had a few friends who were by my side even though I was nothing compared to them. Well, best friends rather than just my friends. Joshua who's an Animator, Kris who works as a Mechanical Engineer in a big-time company, John who has his own Grocery, and Patrick who makes tons of money out of E-sports. They've been beside me way back when we were kids, since our dads were practically working together. They were the family I had, they're already big time in their Careers, but they will still be there even if I've already messed up most of the things in my life. I'm still trying to get back up on the right track and they are always there to support me in my decisions, no matter what it ends up in.

We have this kind of thing once a week where they would visit my apartment and bring some snacks and alcoholic beverages to bond since we rarely see each other weekly, as we drink we start blabbing about our work problems, sometimes thoughts on how the government is functioning, how our lives have been, memories of when we were kids, and also our Married lives (although I'm the only one who isn't married at this point). This has been kind of a long tradition already since we do this kind of stuff back in High School. Some nights we fight since we trigger each other on what we were talking about, but most of it is politics and we all knew we all had different beliefs on it. But all is well, as we finish we part ways and get on ahead with our daily lives. One time we were all having the nights of our lives, reminiscing our times as youngsters, then as we were all laughing about things we have done before there was a moment of Silence and all of us looked at each other and smiled. Joshua broke the silence saying in a calm mannered voice:

Joshua: "You know, I never thought we were going to make it this far in life. Like, look at us now, grown-ups already. Who would've thought that problem children like us would end up being like this."

All of them smiled, while I was hiding my pain because I know for myself that I haven't achieved much in life yet. Then I muttered a joke:

Andrei: "For me, I'd want to go back in time and redo all the mistakes I've done in life. Sadly, Time machines aren't invented yet."

Everybody laughed and Kris said back to me:

Kris: "As if time travel would be possible, even if it did you wouldn't be able to afford it anyway"

We all laughed, and we continued talking about time travel and other stories that would branch out of it as we continue drinking to our hearts content. After that, we eventually finished and packed up because some of us would work early in the morning.

They eventually gather themselves and has said their farewells. I insisted in driving them home, but Kris interrupted me and said:

Kris: "Hey come on, I'm not that drunk dude. I can still drive properly. I got this"

Patrick: "Yeah Andrei, you don't have to worry about us. Just get some rest 'cause you might get scolded by your boss tomorrow for being late again HAHAHA!"

As Patrick said loudly and laughed.

John: "Don't worry about us now, we'll be ok"

Said John in a calm voice

Joshua: "Well then Andrei..."

He said while he held my shoulder.

Joshua: "We'll see you soon again"

Then I felt relief when they said this and then I said:

Andrei: "Ok then, you guys take care. I'll see you guys soon"

Then soon after, they have had head home.

As soon as morning struck I went to my work as usual, with a massive hangover with me.

I arrived at work and my boss was already there waiting for me in-front of my desk. He had this angry look on his face, and he looks at me as if I have killed somebody. He approaches me and then starts shouting to the top of his lungs:

Tommy: "What the hell are you doing!?!? You're late again!! The plans that I asked for?! Have you finished them already!?!"

He recognises a faint smell on me, as soon as he realised he said in a whispering voice:

Tommy: "Have you been drinking again?"

I stood there in silence as he looked at me with a disgusted face and he said:

Tommy: "I DO NOT PAY YOU TO DRINK WHENEVER YOU WANT!! I PAY YOU TO DO YOUR F*CKIN JOB!! JUST WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?! YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING YET?!"

Everybody in the office was looking at me, whispering stuff from left to right as I said to my boss:

Andrei: "I'll finish them today Sir, you'll have your projects done until the end of the day"

Tommy: "Well you better do it!! Or else, YOU'RE FIRED!!"

He said angrily

Everybody was looking at me with disgust as Tommy walks to his office. I sat down on my desk and started working on the projects. Samantha comes

near and offers coffee and said:

Samantha: "Want me to help you with those?"

Andrei: "Nah I'm ok. Besides if Tommy sees you helping me we might both get in serious trouble. But thank you for the offer"

I said while working

Samantha: "Ok then, just don't hesitate to ask if you need help"

As I was working, I hear the office TV near the hallway. It was flashing a News reporting. But it was something about a Car jumping off the side of a cliff that happened in the midnight. I didn't give much attention to it because I needed to finish the project till the end of the day.

Office mate: "That's one terrible accident, I feel sorry for the family."

Said one of my office mates.

As the news is coming to an end, they revealed who the victims of the crash were.

Broadcaster: "Police respondents have Identified the victims of the crash. The said victims names are Kris Dagohoy, John Vergara, Patrick Zamora, and Joshua Tolentino."

As soon as I heard those names I quickly ran in-front of the office TV where all of the office personnel are gathered. I stood there staring blankly at the TV, looking directly at the corpses of my beloved friends who are the only family I have.

Andrei: "This isn't real"

I whispered.

Broadcaster: "We bring this to you live here in *** TV Network"

The news report has ended, people has gone back to their desks. As I stood there, staring at the blank screen. In utter shock and disbelief. I fell down to my knees and cried.

~End of Part 1~