LOUD MIND

THREE HUNDRED THIRTHY-SIX DAYS IN THE IT ROOM

‘Back then, her life was quiet, but her mind had a lot of things to say. If she could write everything she thought, she could finish a book in just a day.’

Life changed when the covid-19 occurred, but not the life of Rae Abbey, a 22-year-old girl who lived in Sawara Island, a 24-hour ride from Tokyo. That was three years ago when she got her feet off the city. She still remembers how it felt like going home, far from crowded people, noisy busses, and polluted air that would only make her nose sneeze. Although she knew that life on the Island was far different from the city, she also knew what was at risk if she stayed. She never regretted everything she did. She was really like an early bird who had just gotten out of a cage for a very long time. She couldn’t even wait to feel her feet touch the sea and scream her heart out at the top of a cliff. Nobody knew what she was going through or what she was feeling, maybe if you had time to ask her. However, even if you tried to ask, she would never tell you; she was not the girl who would like to talk about her life with just whoever.

He would never know Abbey if he hadn’t read her writing that day. Abbey wouldn’t be the girl he cared about nor the girl he wanted to date. A sudden call of urgency interrupted his thoughts for Abbey at work. Meanwhile, he had to put his interest and manage the stuff an IT professional always does.

The entire company was in trouble because of COVID-19, and everyone was talking about the economic crises that would soon appear; all IT came together in the conference room when he arrived. All eyes were on him when he entered the room.

“Drake! Thank God you’re here!” The CEO exclaimed. He looked awful worried by the formed of his appearance. Drake stayed calm and looked at the other computer specialists that were there. All of them were quiet and lifeless.

All the computer specialists inside the room were part of Drake’s team. They function under his command. Drake’s primary role was to supervise the installation and maintenance of computer network systems within the company. However, he had more work than people knew.

Drake talked with the CEO while others were waiting. He gave the CEO a reassuring look and told him the solution to the problem. He faced the entire team telling them what to do.

“Come on! We need to move! We’ve got tons of things to work on!” Drake called out, regaining their energy.

Drake sat on his desk and jumped his fingers on the keyboard as the keys made their sounds. None of his team dared to get their faces and butt off their desk without his permission. Each of them inside the room had given their complete expertise to support the migration of all users from office set-up to work from home status. The company’s management immediately arranged meetings with all the employees to make them aware of the migration.

The government implemented lockdown earlier than planned; that upset the employees, and so as the members of his team. They had migrated ¾ of the employees. He had no choice but to manage the rest on his own. Although the COVID-19 had changed the work set-up, his work became much heavier than it was. He had had little sleep and hadn’t gone home for a bit of one week, a good thing, his boss had prepared at least a shower in case something like this happened.

He just got out from a shower with his towel covering half of his body when he heard a knock on the door. It was Ryan, his boss, the CEO of the company.

“Drake! I bought you food for dinner.” Ryan entered the room and gave Drake a worried look. “I don’t want you to die here, man! We still need you; the company needs you!” He said dramatically, putting all food on the table.

Drake looked at his boss’s silly facial expression.

"You’re exaggerating." He said in a bored tone.

Ryan was Drake’s friend in college, but it was all Ryan’s idea, and Drake had no time to refuse the friendship. Drake witnessed everything from the first day Ryan courted Clara. However, he went overseas and worked with several companies after Ryan and Clara got married. Drake traveled to different countries as an IT SOLUTION ARCHITECT, depending on the assigned country. For a friend’s request, he went back to Tokyo. Ryan took over their family business and asked for his help.

Drake took a shirt and pants from the closet while Ryan unpacked the food.

“Why this food so many?” Drake asked.

“Clara suggested; you need to eat a lot to boost the immune system since you’ll be working for long hours. I’m very sorry, Drake, you’re supposed to be at home now.” Ryan said with a saddened facial expression.

If Drake didn’t get used to Ryan’s swings of moods, he’d find Ryan so feminine; but that’s the thing Ryan had that Drake hadn’t. Even if time would turn, he knew Clara would still choose Ryan over him.

“Say no more; I don’t want you to come home crying like a baby in front of Clara telling her you’re guilty of keeping me,” Drake said, playing with Ryan’s conscience. Ryan’s face turned sad, which made Drake turns into laughter. “Haha… I joke! Tell Clara, thank you.”

“Consider it done!” He saluted with a wide grin.

“Here’s your access to monitor all the users.” Drake handed a microchip with directions on how to use it.

“Woah! You’re the best man!” Said Ryan, tapping Drake on his shoulder. “Haha! I can finally figure out those who have worked tediously in my company! The side-to-side dominant has awakened!” He slightly shoved his thick glasses on his nose with a determined look.

‘ Geez… he’s still into mystery by that sound of his. No wonder the kids are into mystery as well.’ Drake thought with amusement.

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