For someone who is in the payroll of a firm, or doing something on a regular basis for a living, a Friday means the last day of the work-week, and as such, a lazy day for an employee. However, it is a complete opposite for Jeff, who is in a battle at the moment – one that involves wit and wisdom and not power nor force.

Able to pass the HR-level interview with Golf, Jeff's next challenge is against Beer Rapeewish Sangiamwong, the lead of the Information Technology Group in CBOT and the hiring manager who will decide if the applicant is in or out. However, Beer is not alone in this last interview. Along with him is his triumvirate of subordinates: . Among the three, Jump is the most junior, while Yacht and Gun, because of their long service to the company, can already have a room be named after them.

Before the actual four-against-one, Jeff is asked to write a code that would perform a specific task or event. This is particularly hard for Jeff since he has more than a year off without having any means to – at least – practice. During the time when he was still working in Le Cargaison, he had the scripts he created saved in a secure network folder, so that it was easy for him to get one – or ten – out in case there was a need. However, in today's coding test, he has nothing but memories and instincts. His only consolation is that they allowed him to use the internet so he can do some little research for basis. Fortunately for him, the problems he was given were relatively easy to moderately difficult, which a few recalling and Google-ing could fix.

After the exam, the interview begins almost immediately, with the interviewers bombarding Jeff with direct questions, particularly "Why did you stop working for over a year?" which Beer asked; and "What were you imprisoned for?" which Gun inquired. At this, like what he did with Golf earlier, Jeff tells the truth – all of it – leaving no doubts unaddressed for his panel. Whenever the mood starts to turn serious, it is Yacht who provides the ice-breakers, which never failed to make Jeff smile or even chuckle. Oppositely, when the queries are getting too personal, and whose answers shouldn't be shared with any other soul, it is Beer who mediates and gives Jeff the choice to respond or not.

"Right. I think I've asked all that I need," said Beer, stacking the papers he is holding. "How about you three? Do you have any more questions for Jeff?" he continued, turning to his subordinate.

"I do have one," said Yacht, raising a hand.

"Go ahead," said Jeff, nodding.

"Do you still love Gameplay?"

"Yacht, cut it out!" rebuked Beer, looking snappishly at one of his senior members. "It's okay if you don't answer that, Jeff," he said again, looking at the interviewee this time.

"Nah, it's okay," said Jeff with a smile in his face. He never backs down in responding to questions like that, as Gameplay is the reason why he was able to endure every moment of that four-hundred-and-sixty-six day incarceration. "I do. I still love my ex-fiancé," he answered, looking at Yacht eye-to-eye. The pang in saying the last word is like a stingray's tail piercing his heart and fatally wounding him.

Giggling on his seat, Yacht bows his head as he writes something in a paper that is with him – the evaluation sheet from Golf, which Beer, Gun, Jump, and he have.

"Happy?" asked Beer, looking at Yacht, with his arms crossed by his chest.

Yacht nods with a smirk on his face, making Beer roll his eyes his eyes.

"Gun? Jump? Do you have any intelligent questions for Jeff?" asked Beer, emphasizing strongly on the adjective.

"I'm good," said Gun, while Jump shakes his head in response.

"Right." Beer extends his hands, and the three others each give their evaluation sheets to him. "You may now go back to the floor," he said, dismissing the three.

With only the two of them inside the meeting room – one of three in the IT Group's office – Jeff exhales deeply, as if to blow out all the pressure inside him, which has built up since the interview with Beer and his team started.

"You'll have to forgive Yacht. I think he asked all the questions that had nothing to do with work," started Beer.

"It's okay. I like his being funny, though: it's always on cue."

"He is only behaved when he is around his boyfriend – James? Were you able to meet him – ? He is with Golf in HR, and he is our Benefits and Coverage Supervisor."

"No. I only met Golf and Folk earlier."

"I see. Now that it is only the two of us here, Jeff," said Beer. He is much more serious now than when he was with Gun, Yacht, and Jump. "I would like you to answer me this."

"What is it?"

"I did not ask this earlier because Yacht and the other two might make fun of it," said Beer, putting his arms on the table, providing a wall for the pile of paper in front of him. "Are you ready to go back to the corporate setup?"

"Of course, I am?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Jeff forces a smile out of the annoyance. "It's better to work here than rot at home. Besides, now that I'm free, I think it's time for me to get back to the flow."

"Forgive me. You've been out for barely more than a week, and here you are already wanting to return to work. That is something not normal – for me, at least. In most cases, some will prefer to take a longer break before even attempting to look for a job again."

"Not me."

"I see; I admire your determination. I just hope that I am not going to regret my decision to hire you – if ever."

"I don't follow, Beer."

"From a manager's point-of-view, I see this as something that you need to do to get your mind off the things that had happened to you – the bad things in particular. This is not something that you want to do."

"Not really, Beer. I'd like to get back something I lost, and I think this is my first step in doing that."

Grabbing the evaluation papers he stacked earlier, Beer stands up from his seat and said, "Nice to hear that from you, Jeff. Now, I'd like you to wait here. I'll just give these to Golf for the next step."

"Okay. Thank you." Jeff slides both hands into his pants' pockets and does a fingers crossed gesture that no one – not even he – can see.

"You're welcome. Just relax while you wait for him here."

"But, won't someone else use this room."

"I've booked this until lunch time," said Beer, looking at his watch – it is only 11:25 a.m.

"Okay. Just making sure in case someone sends me out." Jeff beams over his soon-to-be boss.

"Right, and let me just say welcome to the IT Department." Beer walks out of the room after saying his receiving statement, which he says to applicants whom he is 98% sure of hiring.

Carrying his backpack on his shoulders – with his car keys on one hand, and a duffle bag on the other – Jeff walks out of the building of the Commercial Bank Of Thailand with a smile on his face – a victorious smile. He steps to the side and looks at what is inside his duffle bag.

"Congratulations, Jeff. Welcome to CBOT." Golf's voice reverberates inside his head as he holds and looks at the complementary notebook – hardbound – whose leaves have been secured by a spring, with the front and back covers having separate designs. Afterwards, he drops the notebook and picks up a set of writing instruments comprising of two sign pen, two markers, and a pencil. Next and lastly, he raises in front of his face the lanyard with a plastic frame at the end that will fit a thick card.

"Never use other ID laces except for this one while you are in the building," Golf's firm command is audible as if he himself is beside Jeff saying it.

Turning over the plastic frame, Jeff hears his own voice in his head, asking Golf a question. "When will I receive my ID card?"

"On your first day of work, which is seven days from now. You will have one week to complete the employment requirements on this list," said Golf's voice while Jeff is holding a small piece of paper to which eight items have been printed in bulleted format.

Checking the bag for other things he has yet to see, Jeff suddenly hears a rumbling sound in his stomach. When he sees that there are no more items to look at, Jeff turns to his watch, and it is displaying 12:07 p.m. in its small LED screen.

"I guess it's chow time," murmured Jeff to himself as he ties the handle of his small cloth back to somehow lock it. After putting it inside his backpack, he looks around for a place to sate his hunger.

Turning his head to the right, he sees nothing but a couple of office spaces. Before looking to the opposite side, something clicks inside his head.

"Cocotte is somewhere around here. I saw it in Google Maps," he said to himself again as he puts his car keys in his pocket. Afterwards, he approaches the man standing by the door where he made his way out of earlier.

"Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me the directions to Cocotte Restaurant?" said Jeff to the security officer.

"Sure. Go left and walk until you reach the next building. Cocotte is one of the establishments on the ground floor of that building. You won't miss it," answered the security guard, extending a hand towards the way Jeff should take.

"Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome." The officer makes a curt nod, then turns his attention back to the walkthrough metal detector to check on the guests coming in.

"GP," Jeff said as he walks to his destination.

------

Author's Note

I published this a little earlier than usual: I will be busy in the next couple of days, that I might forget to do it. Hahaha!

Well, I'd like to give Jeff a round of applause for getting a job at CBOT and surviving the interview with Yacht as one of the interviewers. I could only imagine how that went. Hats off to you Jeff - mah men.

What excites me, however, is that he will be going to Cocotte restaurant. GOOD HEAVENS!!! Is this the moment that Jeff and Gameplay will finally meet after such a long time of not seeing each other? Are they finally going to talk and patch things up?

It will be so cute if Gameplay cooks and serves Jeff's order: that's going to be a moment to remember. 

Stay tuned for the release of the next chapter - A Ticket To Remember - in the following days.

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