The Ending of my Shift

The sun was about to begin to fading. Ryota look down with the corner of his eye his watch at his left hand. 

It was about 17:36, it was normal the sundown was about to begin considering the fact that it was  Autumn Fall and the winter was about to begin.

Ryota blow a clood of smoke with a small sigh, "about 20 minutes left to the end of my shift" he thought. It wasn't sad neither exhausted sigh, today was a productive and rather peaceful day. He finished the paperwork about the orders of some recent clients, and he also finished to archive the logistics and the invoices of them into the company system.

So it was a rather average today. He didn't seem happy neither sad about that thought, it was just a simple weekday at his work in the office.

Ryota blew another cloud of smoke as he was leaning on the window, thinking about what he will have for dinner. "I don't want to have meat again, i would  prefer something lighter for dinner, perhaps i will grab some tsukemono on my way home" he was thinking as he put off the ash of his cigarette on his ashtray.

"Yo Ryota, are you coming to finish that invoices already" Ryota turn around and look at his co-worker Reiji

"I'm at my cigarette break now" 

"We are clock out in less than 20 minutes so you can smoke later"

"Fine" he said as he put of his cigarette on the ashtray "But do not expect from me to help you finish your invoices in the system"

Reiji groaned as he heard that "Come on pal, please don't leave your dear friend alone" 

"It's your own fault for taking your sweet time arguing around with that client of yours" 

"That old fart wanted me to send him a copy from a every order he did to our company from the last 4 months, what am i, his secretary?!" Reiji yelled angrily remembering the incident.

"Even so, you should inform the boss about the situation"

"I know that, i just get really pissed of, by people who their trying to push their work to others"

"You mean the same way you do to me this moment" Ryota said to him playfully with a smirk on his face

"Arghhh" Reiji groaned dramatically "Please help me old pal, i promise to treat you after this"

"Anyway fine, just keep your mind focused"

" Yayyy, you're the best pal" said to him energetically 

 Reiji was always energetic and in high-spirits so it wasn't hard for him to be willing. He was the spirit of the whole office. Always trying to share his energy with other on work, and make everyone laughing with his jokes on their breaks. He was also very popular with the newbies based on his cheery personality, especially with women who were also attracted with his good looks. 

Ryota on the other hand wasn't so easy to approach. He gave very gloomy and lonely vibes, also he was very tall and his expressions were lacking energy and feeling. He gave the vibe of a tired 45 years old man when he was just 37. His expressions were considered by many co-workers as scary and when he was trying to smile, he made things worse. Nevertheless, Ryota was much more reliable than Rejiki considering his great informatics skills and his kind-hearted nature, in conclusion many rookies, once the ice had melted between them, will go to him for any kind of trouble, seeking guidance and help.

After their shift was over Rejiki leave satisfied moan while he was stretching his arms.

"Pheewww, finally it's over, now we are free to do whatever we want'

"You sound like a middle-schooler after his exams were ended"

"Arggh please, don't spoil the fun with such miserable memories, but i get you, my incredible looks make me look like a youngster" he said striking a cool pose with hand on his cheek.

"More like your immaturity makes you sound like a kiddo" Ryota said with sarcasm.

"You're so mean man, anyway you helped me today, so your good looking friend won't let you down, so let's gooo, Drinks are on me tonight" he yelled with excitement raising his fist up as they both took their coats and walk through the exit of the building.

"May i remind you that it's the middle of the week, and if we drink tonight will be unproductive for the rest of the week?"

"Your killjoy it's really something else, I'm really scared at the thought how you will be at your fifties." 

"I don't know about you, but i don't find attractive the idea of waking with a hangover tomorrow, i still didn't forget how you convinced the last time for drinking  and then i spent a whole week  working with a headache at the office." Ryota said apathetic by the sarcastic comment of Rejiki as they walk away from the building.

"Hey it's not my fault that my birthday was at a weekday, anyway okay for today we pass the drinks, how about some food?" 

" I was thinking on buying some tsukemono for home"

"What ! Again something with no meat ? You really should look to your diet man,"

"You should look on your diet Rejiki, i mean you want to eat meat every day"

"I like meat, i want every day to eat something i like, so my days never been wasted by something i don't like"

"Very poetic of you, anyway you better eat also other things if you want to keep your health in good shape kiddo"

"Haha very funny mister 'i pay attention to everything' you really are a fine example for good health he said sarcastically as he put his arm behind Ryota shoulders giving them an empathetic squeeze, "Don't worry old sport, with the pass of the years you will get pretier, if not, then you can at least find some comfort from your cool buddy"

"I prefer anything else than be at your mercy, you good for nothing narcissist" he said as he was pushing Rejiki away from him.

"Ouch, you hurt my feelings, hehe better with someone than alone with your gloomy scary face"

They both walk into the road of full street food stores, as Rejiki continue laughing and teasing Ryota. Neither of them didn't seem to notice some meters behind them a couple following them into the shadows from the moment they left the working building.