I woke up in the afternoon feeling refreshed and ready for the day. When I mean ready for the day, I mean lazing around and eating junk food that will fatten me up. I'm actually living a healthy lifestyle because I burn those calories that I eat at the gym, which I go to at 6pm. I was feeling better today, which I haven’t felt in a long time.

I ate my breakfast in pajamas and when I finished, I did my dishes. I ended up binge-watching Bleach from the first episode to the 20th. I would've watched up to the 50th if I didn't have to go to the gym. 6pm had rolled by and I was getting ready for gym. I showered for the first time in the day, then put on my gym clothes. I also put on a sweater because the night was chilly. Grabbing my phone, wallet and car keys, I headed to the kitchen and grabbed an apple. I took a bite while exiting my apartment and heading to the parking lot.

By the time I arrived at the gym, it was exactly 6pm. I shook hands with Jeffrey, my sparring partner.

"Hey, man. How you doing on this fine night?" he asked, a grin on his face. He had dumbbells in his hands.

I shrugged and said, "I'm okay, I guess."

"Okay, my man. Let's get working here."

And so, we lifted weights and I ran on the treadmill for the remainder of my hour. By the time we were done, Jeffrey asked if we could go get drinks. Of course, being me, I said no. I was a light drinker and did embarrassing things that would come bite me in the morning.

One time, I pole-danced on top of a table with a stripper. She was a professional and showed me all the dance moves that were enticing when drunk, but embarrassing when sober. I couldn't live that down for a week. Jeffrey kept reminding me about it, literally breathing down my neck.

I showered in the gym's locker room. I had brought spare clothes to wear because I wanted to eat out tonight. I wouldn't go to a restaurant smelling of sweat and sweating like a pig, would I?

When I went to my car, Jeffrey was already gone and the night dark. I started up my car and drove out of the gym's parking lot. Sometimes I wished that I had a life. For all my 26 years of living, I feel like I've been existing and not living. I'm just another faceless stranger in the city, doing what generated me money and not even loving my job. I was living for the sake of living and not because I enjoyed my life. What was there to enjoy anyway? The pills? The money?

Well, I had a life. A life filled with joy and happiness, but it was short-lived. I had a taste of what living felt like, but then, just as it was there, it was gone in a flash. But that’s a story for another day. It’s too depressing for me. I wouldn’t want to go down that memory lane.

When I arrived at the restaurant, it was 8pm and my time to take medication, but I overlooked that and proceeded into the restaurant, the air comfortable and warm, welcoming even.

The place was packed, people in business suits and fancy dresses filling it up. I was out of place because of the sweater and jeans I was wearing. Casualty in here was a no no.

Luckily, I found an empty table and sat down. The waiter came after a while and took my order. Waiting for the food to arrive, I decided to call Shelly since I've also been ignoring her calls. Unlike Mom, she picked up on the third ring, breathing heavily into the phone.

"What are you doing?" That's the first thing I asked, highly disgusted.

She laughed, but more like panted as she replied, and out of breath, "Y-you are so funny, Jay-Jay. I'm jogging down the neighborhood. Just get your mind out of the gutter."

I chuckled. "Shouldn't you be like at home cooking for your family?"

"No. Mike does that now, since he's trying to spend time with his family," she replied, calmed down and her breathing under control.

"Why is he trying to spend time with his family?"

"Because, duh! He was busy the whole week, working on a major project that needed his utmost attention."

"Oh."

"Yes. Now," she started, her tone taking the serious route. She continued, “why were you ignoring me?"

I cleared my throat, preparing my thoughts and keeping my emotions under control. I started, a lump forming in my throat.

"Shelly... I-uhm... I was not ignoring you. I've been busy these last few days an-"

"Busy buying unprescribed medication, huh?" her tone was bitter and firm.

"You've talked to Mom, I guess. I'm just tired, Shelly. Going to the therapist got tiring and I ended up not going. She's asking me the same old questions every single freaking time. If it's not 'How are you holding up', then it's 'Are you okay'. A-and her medication, it was not working, Shelly. I guess my body got used to them and they became ineffective."

Silence was all that occurred. It was not that bad. After a minute or two, she replied, "Tell me the truth, Jason. Why were they becoming ineffective?"

I sighed, about to talk, but was stopped by the waiter bringing my food. I smiled at him and mouthed a thanks. He nodded and put them on the table, then left.

"Are you still there, Jason?" she asked.

I nodded as if she could see me, but realized my mistake and replied, "Yeah. My order just arrived and I'm starving. Why don't we continue this conversation later, yeah?"

I was not getting out of this that easily. She refused and pressured me into telling her.

"I-I was getting worse, Shelly. I started to take more than I was told to take because I just wanted to be fine. I wanted to be normal and happy. A day turned into two, then three and four. They started to become ineffective and that's when I stopped seeing her. I started to buy my medication in the chemist near where I work. T-they work, Shelly."

Why was my voice breaking? Why am I this weak?

"Jason, I..."

"It's okay, Shelly. I'm getting better. I'll call you back some other time, okay?"

"Y-yeah. I love you very much, okay? Just don't slip back. Don't go back, please. I love you," she said, her voice breaking just like mine. I wiped the tears that were threatening to fall with the sleeve of my sweater and chuckled. I felt awkward all of a sudden, vulnerable even.

"I love you too. Greet Michael and Lily for me."

"Will do. Drive safely and enjoy your meal,"

I laughed at that and hung up. I put my phone on the table and ate my food.

Even though I was eating, my appetite was long gone. This was hell. My life was hell and I was slowly burning to ash. I paid the bill and took my wallet, car keys and phone, then stood up.

I was walking and very much attentive, but not attentive enough because I did not see the figure that crashed into me. I lost my grip on my phone and it fell.

I swear I cursed the person to the pits of hell. In my head.

"What the hell! Look where you are going, dude!" he yelled, his hand with the phone connected to his ear.

His eyes then darkened when I just stared at him. Then his eyes were filled with recognition, a sneer painting his face.

"It's you!" he snarled.

I raised a brow at him, then bent down to retrieve my phone. At least it was still in one piece.

"Sorry, my man. I don't think we've ever met," I replied.

I think he was reaching a hundred degrees because the glare he sent my way was burning me alive.

"You ruined my Armani shirt, asshole! You spilled coffee on me!"

Okay. This dude has got anger issues and I'm not about to let him trample all over me.

"Calling me an asshole, huh? Guess it takes one to know one. And that was your coffee. If you had your eyes on your ass, it was not my fault. You crashed into me, just like right now! And get out of my way," I whisper-yelled, but I didn't know why because we already had eyes on us.

He was gaping like a fish, anger swimming in his emerald eyes. I pushed him aside so that he could stop standing in my way. I was about to reach the door, but I felt him grab my arm, pulling me towards him. Then I felt the pain afterwards, my nose burning.

"What the fuck!" I bellowed, swung my fist at his jaw and punched his abdomen. He doubled over in pain, groaning.

When he recovered, he retaliated by punching my jaw. My hand was midway to punching him again but was grabbed by someone.

"You're going to pay for this!" he yelled when grabbed from behind. Someone was holding me back too.

"You better have bodyguards next time I see you, asshole!" I yelled back, the adrenaline still fully intact. His hate-filled glare was real, but I returned it.