Lucretius' Point Of View
"Days seemed to pass by too long, the people are getting weary and exhausted over time. The untended weariness and sadness of yesterday are getting worsened by the tomorrow. There's no time for them to rest at all. It's akin to that of an accumulated alcohol in a man's body that some time around the day will kill him. What a pity."
"What made you think that way, sir?" Alejandro inquired as he looked at me through the car's mirror.
"Why? Don't you think it so?"
He smiled at my counter. Then began his old antics "Sir, these people you say, including me, might seem out of energy all day but it doesn't mean that stays that way. There are certain happiness in being an average person in this world that I suppose you, no offense meant sir, can't possibly have. The mixture of hardworking and it's average price is of different level. Because you will feel satisfied that you did this to have this, you deserve this so you are free to have it. No conscience and guilt stopping you over."
"I understand. But I suppose, having such a contented mind is not so understandable to me at all. I can't learn to love to live in what they say as, one penny one meal. It feels as if you are stuck in a helpless cycle."
"Well, if it's what you say sir. I won't object but, why is your mind filled with these kinds of thoughts? Are you perhaps of degrading positivity?"
"What does that mean?"
"Exactly what it means sir."
I didn't bother to respond as I focused myself on the grotesque clock that has been endlessly and hopelessly ticking since before I was even born. "This clock might know better since he's twice older than me." I merely uttered as to prevaricate his question.
"Well, in this saudade reality, what do you think might've been the clock's perspective then, sir?"
"That life is just a cycle, one dies and another takes the soul as it starts again from a newborn's body and then repeat the same history and misery. Perhaps there are only a thousand souls, and they are just on repeat with just another body, identity, and perspective."
"What a queer understanding oof how humanity is. I suppose you are usually in deep thoughts these days because your therapist is not around. Should I call for her again sir? She might be free for some time again."
"No, don't bother. I am perfectly fine, as long as nothing's stomping on my life and threatening my mother again." A lot has happened after that woman, Esmeralda, left. I decided to attack my uncle with my devised strategy that has been planned a long time ago but has undergone a thousand improvisation before it was finally enacted. It was successful but I didn't expect my own mother to forgive him too easily and lift his imprisonment for only twenty years. She might've lost some of her brain when she was not eating properly. She isn't that fully healed yet but she's currently undergoing therapy that seems to be getting to be, hopefully, successful.
"But it's the point sir, you seemed to be too affected by that long term unhappiness that until this day, it is still engraved in your mind. The sadness, anger, longingness, and feeling of revenge. All negative emotions." said Alejandro as he parked our car.
We are currently on our 2nd meeting for the opening of our new company in Singapore. It is one of the center of Southeast Asia so it would be a great idea to establish a business there. Since there are already a lot of buildings in Singapore, we decided to renovate just an old rundown one and make it a modern one.
"Good morning, sir."
"Good morning sir."
"Welcome sir."
"Is everyone here?" I asked my successor, Arnold, as he instructed everyone to stand up.
"Yes sir."
"Well then, let's start." Upon hearing my signal, Arnold's appointed secretary, Kheli, stood up and began the presentation to the stakeholders and financers. The presentation ended for 30 minutes and it seems almost everyone agreed at last.
"Mr. Lucretius, what a spectacular idea! We will be able to widen our horizon through such new connections. I have already contacted my acquaintances for possible clients soon. May this new advancement do us well. Pleasure working with you again. "
"Sure, it's great that you have acquaintances there already. But the pleasure is mine, you have been with us through downfall until now. Congratulations."
"Likewise Mr. Lucretius. Have a nice day."
After he left, Alejandro came and praised him for being a good partner. "He is indeed a successful businessman. Build with trust, loyalty, ingenuity, humility and keen eyes."
"Well, that's what a good background does. A proper and successful fruit. I hear his parents were goo-natured simple people. He is the one who continued his grandparent's legacy. Hence, he was brought up with a mixture of privileged and humble life."
"Nice for him, to grow up accordingly." Alejandro commented as he gave me my tea. "The team is requesting your presence just for once."
"For once?"
"Yes sir, they want to invite you to the party that they are currently planning to do. They said you are the funder but is never present. They don't know whether to feel guilty or grateful. "
"Then they can feel both. No one's recording."
"That's really a different characteristics for a leader and a CEO sir. You shouldn't grow away with your employees too much sir. You will never know when the tiger might challenge or trick the lion sometimes."
"Well, what's the use of other animals?"
"Goodness, you're not really going then sir?"
"Fine, I'll come this time. When?"
"Right now, sir."
"How pathetic."
Third Person's Point of View
As Lucretius accepted the request, many of the employees were both shocked and elated. For the first time, they will be able to know more about their boss. The celebration was done at one of the most well-known restaurants at the city and every sort of happiness activities were almost there. Drinking, partying, dancing, singing, and eating. Lucretius, unable to decline the nagging of employees, did almost everything. Except dancing and singing, he becomes so unresponsive whenever they requested those two.
It was already 2 am in the morning when they were finished. Every employee was filled with emotions different from another. Some were extremely worried, some were very satisfied, some were happy, some were lost, some were angry, some were sleeping, and some were nonchalant. But Lucretius was, for the first time since long time ago, sleeping peacefully beside a woman. That woman seemed to have a high alcohol tolerance since she looked so wide awake and is happily watching Lucretius sleep.
"Oh, what a surprise miss Agatha, what brings you here?"
"Oh Alejandro, what do you mean? Can't I be a part of a celebration that I helped built?"
"Miss Agatha, that is not what I meant. Forgive me if your understanding was otherwise. But regarding this empire, yes you were once a part, but the help you gave was returned a long time ago when you decided to take it back. Miss Agatha, his empire and you both benefited from each other. Please don't make it look like we are still indebted to you."
"Oh ha ha ha. What a protective employee. I'm sure Lucretius is so proud to have you. But for today's event, I can take care of him. You can go now, take a rest. You seem to be needing one so badly."
"I am perfectly fine miss Agatha, but from my perspective, it seems you are the one who needs a rest so badly. Haven't you just got here from America? You seem to be still in confusion. This is Italy ma'am, there are a lot of differences when it comes to people and values."
"Suit yourself. But I am staying, look, Lucretius is sleeping peacefully in my shoulder. How bad of an employee are you to wake him up just because of your own discomfort."