The office space was incredibly modern, just like the pictures Mika had seen online while preparing for his job interview. High ceilings, expensive furniture, and, of course, glass windows everywhere.

Thanks to the sun, the place was filled with bright, energizing light. A surge of positive energy traveled through Mika’s body, and he wondered if the employees felt the same way while they passed a group of people engaged in a passionate discussion.

Next, they walked by the kitchen, which was bustling with activity despite the working hours. Mika couldn’t help but notice the diversity among the employees. People from different countries, likely having relocated for this job, were chatting over coffee, eating lunch, or working on their laptops.

Would I fit in here if I got the job? 

He felt a little throbbing in his heart at the thought. It was true that landing a position at a big tech company was a dream for many, with fierce competition and hundreds of thousands of applicants each year, most never making it to the interview stage.

Mika was aware of the reality. He knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and was ready to give his best, proving not only that he could do the work but that he could do it exceptionally well.

As they approached the elevator, Mika saw another group of people chatting lively. He quickly noticed one of the girls staring at them.

“Aleksandr, hey!” she almost shouted, waving her hand enthusiastically. “Are you joining us for lunch?”

“Not today, Lena. As you can see, I am not alone,” Aleksandr replied before pressing the elevator button.

“Oh, is he a new hire who just joined your team?” Lena asked, giving Mika a quick look. His face flushed as she and the rest of the group scanned him from head to toe.

“Let me do a brief introduction: Mika, this is the design team we work closely with. Everyone, this is Mika. He is one of the candidates we are interviewing today.”

“Amazing, good luck with your interviews, Mika. You’re in good hands,” one of the guys replied, and the rest of the team followed with good wishes, giving thumbs up.

“Thank you so much… and it’s nice to meet you all,” Mika answered as politely as he could, trying to maintain eye contact with everyone.

“And now, if you’ll excuse us. Mika, our elevator is here,” Aleksandr pointed to the open door.

They jumped in fast, leaving the group behind. Mika glanced at Aleksandr, who was standing right next to him. They were almost the same height, but that was the only thing they had in common. If someone had passed them on the street, they wouldn’t have been able to tell they both worked as engineers.

While Mika wore his casual clothes—a pair of jeans and a plain black T-shirt—Aleksandr looked like some sort of executive or, as some might even say, a model on his way to a runway.

The way they looked was nothing alike. Mika’s ash gray, medium-length hair, blue eyes that resembled the color of a clear sky on a sunny day, and two small earrings in his left ear. Combining it with a messy hairstyle, he gave a carefree vibe.

Aleksandr, on the other hand, had perfectly styled short, dark brown hair. His green eyes had the shine and sparkle of an emerald. He was wearing a white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves and dark blue pants. If there was one word that best described his entire appearance, then it would be “confidence”.

Taking the above into consideration, Mika looked like the ‘stereotypical software engineer’, and there was nothing surprising about him wearing this outfit to his job interview at one of the best tech companies.

But there was one thing that particularly caught Mika’s attention. The wristwatch that Aleksandr was wearing was something that Mika saw for the first time in his life: a skeleton mechanical watch. He noticed it during the interview, but only now could he see all of the moving parts. It was truly a unique masterpiece, and Mika was mesmerized.

Conscious not to get caught staring at Aleksandr’s hand, Mika turned his head. Maybe I should have done at least something about my hair, it looks like a complete mess compared to his polished style, Mika thought after glancing at the elevator’s mirror, but I guess it can’t be helped now. It’s not like they’re going to give me extra points based on how I look anyway.

The doors opened, and as they passed by another security door, Mika saw a wooden rooftop terrace. Unable to hide his excitement, he ran to the balustrade. “Aleksandr, this is amazing. Wow, what a view!”

Prague - the city Mika had read about so many times and always had on his ‘to visit’ list - was now before his eyes.

From the spot where he stood on this eight-story building, the city displayed its mix of buildings, both homes and businesses, rising and falling with the landscape. In the distance, gentle hills created a natural boundary, their shapes clear under the bright, blue sky. The spring sun covered the area in a soft, golden light, highlighting the details of the city and casting gentle shadows that swayed with the breeze.

“I’m glad you like it”.

“Thank you for bringing me here. It’s so refreshing, and you can see the entire city from here!”  Mika said, taking a deep breath and inhaling the fresh air. At that moment, he was like a kid in a candy shop.

“That’s what I like the most about this place. The city center is right in front of you. Do you see that huge black tower? That’s near the old town. And that castle on the left, that's Prague Castle, one of the main tourist attractions,” Aleksandr explained in one go, clearly familiar with the city's layout. “Surprisingly, not many people come here at this time of year. But thanks to that, it’s not so crowded, and I can gather my thoughts here.”

“Do you come here often?”

“Not as often as I would like. Someone has to work, you know." After a short pause, he added, "Besides... some things just feel better when done together.”

Mika felt like there was something sad in the way Aleksandr had said that, almost like he was completely alone in this world. He looked at him, waiting for a continuation, but Aleksandr’s eyes were focused on the view ahead.

Mika was just about to open his mouth to ask him something, but decided it would be better to use the time he had left from this short break to enjoy the beautiful view. Maybe it’s the first and the last time that I’m here. I should cherish this moment.

None of them said anything, and they remained in complete silence standing next to each other while watching the city landscape.