Ring... Ring... Ring...

-beep-

A: "Sinthia? It's me, Abe."

S: "..."

A: "Hey... Are you okay?"

S: "Um, hi. I'm sorry to bother you at, like.. 3 am in the morning."

A: "That's all right. I wasn't going to sleep anyway. Sleep is for the weak."

S: "You're silly... but I'm glad."

A: "It's nice to hear your voice. No flattery."

S: "I know, right? Even though I got the sniffles, how could my voice be anything but awesome?"

A: "Haha, indeed. So what's up? What's wrong, Sinth?"

S: "Hold on a sec."

A: "Are you in bed?"

S: "Hmm? Oh, yes. Couldn't sleep."

A: "I'm jealous. I'm still at my desk with a ton of things to do-- but work can wait."

S: "You sure? Thanks."

A: "No problem."

S: "Hah...I'm grateful for the company, but now I don't really know what to say."

A: "Whatever you want to say is fine. I'm here to listen. If you have nothing to say, that's fine too."

S: "Well... Remember what I told you about my boss?"

A: "Yeah."

S: "I finally got evidence."

A: "Go on."

S: "Yeah. I was able to get a video clip of him groping me."

A: "That deepshi-- Sorry, go on."

S: "I submitted the evidence to HIS boss with a letter of complaint."

A: "So I take it you've been planning his downfall?"

S: "Damn right. I'm finally doing something for the greater good of the female staff in our workplace."

A: "You're pretty brave, Sinthia. That's good."

S: "Hah, I try."

A: "So was that it? Your email sounded much more desperate than that."

S: "Oh... no. I'm just sad. Not really... Oh, I don't know."

A: "Hmm... What's bothering you, really?"

S: "I'm jobless. I quit my job after I turned in the evidence."

A: "Sorry? Jobless?"

S: "Yes."

A: "Why?"

S: "What else could it be? I'm not that strong. I already told HR about it. I don't want to have to face that guy ever.

A: "I see. I understand. What are you going to do now?"

S: "I have savings, but the next thing will be to look for another job."

A: "You're a very brave and capable person, Sinth. You'll get through this."

S: "Haha, you think? I don't feel brave at all. I feel like a coward quitting after doing all that."

A: "You did well. Be proud."

S: "Thanks. That makes me feel better hearing you say that."

A: "That's the truth."

S: "Yeah, thanks for listening to me."

A: "No problem."

"..."

"..."

S: "You know..."

A: "Yes?"

S: "Your voice is oddly familiar to me."

A: "I could say the same to you."

S: "But maybe that's just me. You have a wonderful voice, Abe."

A: "You tempt me to say, 'Only for you, baby'."

S: "Hahaha!"

A: "Yes! Finally, a laugh. That sounds really nice to my ears."

S: "You're so silly."

A: "Maybe I am... but I hope I'm helping you feel better. Do you feel better?"

S: "Yes, I actually do feel better. Are you not going to sleep?"

A: "Hmm..."

S: "You are human, aren't you?"

A: "Yes, I am. A very hardworking human."

S: "So... what do you do?"

A: "That's a personal question. If I answer that, then I get to ask a personal question and you must answer."

S: "Hmmm... Let's skip that part then."

A: "You're not very trusting, are you?"

S: "That's probably right. But also, being close like this and still have that mystery of anonymity is rather exciting, too."

A: "Hmm... Yeah, I guess."

S: "Are you tired?"

A: "Why are you asking?"

S: "'Coz I want you to go to bed and relax with me."

A: "Oho... Is this an invitation?"

S: "Oh, shut up. No silly thoughts."

A: "Aww... But all right. Give me a sec."

S: "..."

A: "Hnnnghh... Right, back. I'm in bed now.

S: "Welcome back."

A: "Hey there, sexy."

S: "Haha..."

A: "That's the reply I wanted. Okay, so I'm in bed. Now what?"

S: "Now we talk more til we feel sleepy. Is that okay?"

A: "That's fine."

S: "Okay so... Um..."

A: "Hmmm...?"

S: "Haha, it's strange. I'm at a loss for words. Hold on, let me think."

A: "Take your time. Thanks for telling me to go to bed. I'm starting to relax now."

S: "So yeah, your email address."

A: "What about it?"

S: "Ode Abe? What's that supposed to mean?"

A: "Oh... I'm no nerd, ok? That was my favorite game growing up. Abe's Oddysee. You know it?"

S: "Sounds nerdy."

A: "..."

S: "I'm kidding. I know that game. I played it, too."

A: "Haha, cool. I used to have a different email address too."

S: "Oh?"

A: "Yeah. People didn't get it, though so I stopped using it."

S: "Oh? Tell me."

A: "This is even weirder. But yeah, it was bokettoman at goomail."

S: "Spell that for me?"

A: "B-o-k-e-t-t-o and man."

S: "Is that a Japanese word?"

A: "You're good. It is."

S: "Does it mean 'pervert'?"

A: "Ouch, Sinth. You're hurting me."

S: "I'm kidding! No, I don't know what it means. Tell me?"

A: "It's the term to describe staring vacantly without thinking of anything or getting lost in your own thoughts."

S: "That's... pretty deep."

A: "Sounds cool, huh?"

S: "Yeah. So you liked the term?"

A: "Yes. It resonated with me."

S: "Meaning you're always lost in thought?"

A: "Yeah, kind of like that."

S: "My sleepy brain can't quite comprehend what you're saying."

A: "All right. Let's see... Close your eyes and imagine this..."

S: "Hmmm? Uh, okay."

A: "Did you close your eyes?"

S: "Yes."

A: "Good girl. So you are walking quietly to sit by the window. It's raining. The outside world loses its clarity because the rain's too heavy."

S: "Mmmhmm..."

A: "You look out. Your eyes are transfixed, but there's no processing of thought. You just look outside the window. It's just you and the sound of rain. Instead of thoughts, you feel. Peace settles in."

S: "Mmmm... That's nice."

A: "That's how I understand 'boketto'. Sometimes you just have to press the pause button in your life. If things become too hard or difficult, if there were too many deadlines or workload that stress me out, I pause. I pause and stop thinking to regain the calmness within me."

S: "Abe?"

A: "Yes?"

S: "You're a pretty cool guy. That was beautiful. Thank you."

A: "You're welcome.

S: "I never expected you to be so... deep."

A: "I'm probably not what you think I am. I sound like it, but I'm still just a regular guy. Tonight's just special though. I'm glad I could talk to you."

S: "Mmmm..."

A: "Are you sleepy now?"

S: "Yeah."

A: "That's good.  Maybe it's time to say good night."

S: "Thanks, Abe. But yes... Good night, Bokettoman."

A: "Good night, Sinthia. May you have the sweetest dreams."

S: "Bye, Abe."

-beep-

.
.
.

12:23 p.m.

Calling Sinthia...

.
.
.

Ring... Ring... Ring...

Ring... Ring... Ring...

-beep-

A: "Hey! Thought you'd never pick up."

?: "..."

A: "Sinth?"

?: "Who is this?"

A: "Oh sorry, man. I might have dialed the wrong number."

-beep-

A: "..."

.
.
.

Calling Sinthia...

Ring... Ring... Ring...

-beep-

?: "You again?"

A: "Sorry. Uh, is Sinthia there?"

?: "I don't fucking know any Sinthia! Stop calling my girlfriend!"

-beep-