To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 199: Make it back Home

Ars walking straight ahead. His destination is unknown. 

He just felt like walking, without thinking about stopping.

His mind was empty. To walk is the only thing he could think of. Walking straight ahead to the white space.

"Home late again, Sinaga boy?"

Until he found that he were in somewhere else; a place he shouldn't be. 

"What do you mean you are not cheating?!"

"I am not! She is just a co-worker!"

Ars stopped. 

If he not mistaken, he should be in  

"Where am I again?"

He turned his head, identifying the location around.

A place that looks like a housing complex. He was standing in front of one certain house. 

He was standing in front of the house. Wearing office clothes and briefcase.

The time is at night. The lamp from the house lit up where he was standing. Like the house was waiting for him to come home.

"I am home."

He entered the unknown house. Surprisingly enough, he felt like home when going inside. 

"Welcome home!"

A gentle woman's voice called him. The voice came from the kitchen. 

He put his bag on the living room chair. Then head directly to the kitchen.

Somehow, he really wants to meet the person who waiting for him. 

He found it. A beautiful middle-aged woman sits in the dining room chair while sewing a shirt. 

The woman looked at him with a sincere, relieved gaze. Then once again said: "Welcome home."

"I'm home."

He takes a sit close to his mother. 

His mother stopped her sewing to take a plate and spoon and give them to him.

"How is work?"

Mother asked him as she brew a tea. 

That question already being asked a few times since he starts working. 

"Same like usual."

He will always respond with that kind of answer. Everything just fine. Nothing peculiar. Because, yeah, every day is the same as before. 

"It's been a month since you started working. Aren't there any interesting stories that you can share with your mom?"

He took rice and a side dish, which was only fried tofu. Cover it with soy sauce to make it taste sweet.

Mother gets him the tea as he begins to eat. 

"You're handsome. Aren't there any female co-workers interested in you?"

Mother asked that with a teasing, curious expression. 

Ars already adult enough to find a spouse. As his mother, of course, she wanted for her son to have children so she could carry a grandchild.

Sipping tea before eating, he smirked: "What kind of daughter-in-law do you want?"

Her son was really confidence of himself. 

"Ooh! You want to hear mother's request?!"

Of course, that makes her excited as a mother. 

"But, do you really can make mom's expectation comes true? You might not realize it, but mom has a high expectation for future daughter-in-law!"

Before he gets home, atmosphere inside the house was quiet and mellow. But that's all chance to lively and fun when both of them get together. 

"Yeah-yeah. I'll listen to it after this."

He finally starts to eat.

Mother gets back to sewing.

They both get quiet to finish their work. 

Before Ars finishes his meals, mother finished her sewing and gets up from the chair. 

"Alright, this might be an old shirt. But you still can wear it as changes."

Ars has been working for a month. But he only had two clothes that he could wear to work.

"Is that father's?"

But Mother took the shirt from father's old clothes box. So he kinda disappointed. 

"You don't want to wear it?"

Might be. 

He is already an adult, after all. So wearing So wearing his father's used clothes feels less.

"Why do you think I don't want? Wearing the two same clothes for one month is boring. So having three might be a good thing for a better mood." 

Good thing he did not refuse to wear it. 

"Is that so?! There are still lots of used clothes belonging to your father that you might be able to wear. Mom, can fix them if you want. If you want, mom can modify them to make them a cool clothes like that are trending nowadays!"

Mother was burning in spirit. 

If mom is so excited like that, how can he refuse?

"As long as it doesn't get too eccentric."

If a mother confidently said she can make nowadays thing, you can't expect much on them. 

Done with dinner, he goes to living room and sits with mom who is watching drama. 

He plays mobile games and uses earphones to block out outside sounds. Especially the sound from the tv drama, which is annoying.

When playing, he likes to lose track of time.

"Let's go sleep, Arsen."

At that time, mom will always make sure he can get enough sleep because tomorrow he still has to work.

"Alright, good night."

"Good night, son."

They both entered their own rooms to sleep.

Even though he said 'alright', he's not really going to sleep.

At the study table, he would open his laptop to finish the unfinished work he had brought home.

When he said 'everything just fine at worl', he lied. He's under a lot of pressure at work.

It's because he works at his father's workplace. The father who caused losses to the company and plunged their family into debt.

The father was thrown in prison because he could not compensate for the loss. 

Him, as the son given the responsibility to pay off a very large debt.

Despite all the burdens, he wouldn't complain. Because there is a gentle person who feels a greater burden.

For that person, he won't complain and will move forward.

~~~~~~~~~

When the next day came, he woke up on time despite the lack of sleep. Taking a shower and breakfast to recharge energy.

Every time he wants to go to work, mother will always tie his necktie.

"Okay, you are ready."

Mom will always take him to work with a genuine smile on his face.

"Have a great day at work."

Ars started walking away from the house. 

Mother still saw his departure from the front of the house.

He's going to work. His goal is the office.

But for some reason, he had a feeling that, after he crossed the white barrier ahead, he won't be able to go back to his house. 

So he stopped. 

In front of the house, his mother wondering. 

He doesn't know why, but he doesn't want to go to work. But if he doesn't work, he won't be able to pay off the debt that has gripped his family.

He actually okay with that. Because he can be with mother for the day. 

"What's wrong, son?"

Suddenly, mother already stands behind him. Showed a questioning expression.

He turned back and unconsciously showing off a sadness like a little child face.

"Mom, what I have to do?"

He threw away his confidence as a tough guy and started crying in front of his mother. The cry that he had endured for so long finally poured out.

"What happened?"

As mother asked him, his sadness became greater. He felt a deep sense of guilt in his chest.

"Is there anything mom can do?"

After crying for quite long, the tears finally stopped coming out. His head refreshed and he could think better. 

"Actually, my work is not okay."

"Is there anything wrong in the office? Did you get bullied?"

Mom showed actual worryness. She had thought that her child would get bad treatment at work.

"No, is not that kind of problem."

That could make mom less worried. 

"So, what kind of problem? If mom can help, mom will help you in any way mom can do."

"Actually, this problem only mother can handle."

Mom tilted her head. "A problem only mom can handle? But is just an ordinary woman. The only skills that mom can be proud of are cooking and sewing."

"Are you not confident in advising your children?"

Mom at first wondering at her son's question. But after examining the question just now, she came to her senses and showed a serious face with both hands folded.

"So, what bad things has this mother's son done at work?"

Ars laughs a little at mom attitude. 

"Well, I'm just being an arrogant person and many people, whether it's at work or in society, everyone doesn't like me. So, I want you to scold me and said, 'stop become arrogant'."

Ars closes his eyes while revealing his mistakes. He doesn't want to see his mother mad at him. 

But what he gets is a head pat instead of scolding. 

"Mom didn't know what kind of arrogance you were done. Mom didn't even think you could be someone like that. But, if you didn't to get disliked by people, well, just don't do bad things, and done many good things instead. Know that you will get twice as much reward for the kindness you do."

"That was, a simple suggestion."

"Sometimes the simplest are the best."

He can't deny that. 

"Okay, I will give it in mind."

"Isn't there anything else?"

Mother seemed to be able to read his mind.

There was indeed one more problem he can't solve. 

"About this one, I have a project I and my team are working on. But, because of my arrogance, we are stuck and can't get out."

"Mom didn't get the detail, but, have you tried to cooperate with your colleagues?"

"Cooperate?"

Now that he remembers. 

Ever since their project started, all Ars did was stand at the front and leave his subordinates behind. They are like two different teams with the same goal.

"If you didn't cooperate with your friends on a teamwork, you will surely encounter difficulties that you cannot solve on your own. Plus, don't try to be cocky when you're not an expert."

Ars laugh at himself because of that last sentence. 

His mother really has the right advice and understands the state of his son.

"Is there anything else mom can do for you?"

Ars shook his head. "No. I think I can figure it out the rest myself."

Mom smiled happily in her son's confidence. 

"I know you are not real and this is just a dream. But, thank you so much for everything. I will make sure to be able to get home. So you don't have to keep waiting for me in sadness."

"Mom believe in you. So, get going. There are people who waiting for your return."

"Alright."

Finally, Ars could be able to turn back, heading to work. 

But before he go  

"About a daughter-in-law, I probably won't just bring home one."

"Has mom son become a playboy now?"

Ars smiled a little, a little amused at the question.

"Okay, I will get going now!"

Ars running towards the white space. He knows he won't be able to be back to that place and that person. 

"But I promise I will make it back home, one day."