12 Chapter 12- A Preview (1/2)
Hao Mei groaned and rubbed his eyes. The couch beneath his back was lumpy and felt stiff and sore. Fabric slid across his face and he frowned. He distinctly remembered going to sleep on the keyboard couch without a blanket... so why would he be waking up with one covering him? Slowly drawing it down his face, he peered over the edge of what he could now tell was the sleeping bag he stowed under his desk for emergency naps. The office was lit up and enough people were bustling about that he could tell he'd slept past the start of work. Before he could dwell on that unfortunate fact, and wonder why no one had woken him, an enticing aroma filled his nostrils.
”Coffee....” He breathed in, absorbing the smell through every fibre of his being. ”Elixir of life... health boost for tired programmers...” Sitting up, he discovered a hot cup of coffee on the table next to the couch. His caffeine fix was not alone; someone had left a covered plate of steamed buns and a note.
Food before notes. No, coffee before all else. Coffee, food, then note. Hao Mei took his first, warming sip and sighed as he imagined the caffeine coursing through his vein, waking him up fully. Someone flopped onto the couch beside him.
”Those smell good.” Ban Shan eyed off the plate of buns, shamelessly begging for one.
Automatically reaching for the plate to offer him one, Mei found himself trapped in a pair of dark brown eyes. There was an imperceptible shake of the head, just the slightest movement but enough that Mei grabbed the note instead of the plate.
<< Drink. Eat. Sleep on a proper bed. Food tonight?>>
Looking up, Hao Mei caught KO's eye again and grinned his reply. The other man ducked his head then returned his iron gaze to the computer screen in front of him. Taking advantage of Mei's distraction, Ban Shan tried to reach past him and sneak a bun. Catching the movement from the corner of his eye, Mei whacked his friend on the bag of the head and grabbed the plate.
”Hands off.”
”Eh? You always share?”
”Always share, my ass. Go away.”
”Just one.” A small tussle broke out with Hao Mei sheltering the plate of buns with his body, and Ban Shan trying to reach through him. They only broke apart when a computer started blaring a siren.
”Eh?” Everyone in the office looked up, trying to work out which computer it was. Qui Yong Hou suddenly burst in to laughter, pointing at Ban Shan's monitor. The siren blared from his speakers and a ”do not touch” symbol flashed red on the screen.
Mei took the advantage, and the buns, and ran for his desk. Flopping in to his chair, he grinned at KO. ”Thanks for breakfast.”
”Hmm.”
”Say, I thought Laosan was letting you work from home; why did you still come in?”
”Don't keep sleeping on the couch. It's bad for your back.”
”Eh? What does that have to do.... oh...” Mei grinned and waved a finger at KO. ”Don't tell me you're coming in to the office so you can keep an eye on me? Wow... such concern for my health, I'm touched.”
”No.”
”You're not? Then why aren't you working from home?”
”You said don't tell you.”
Hao Mei blinked. ”Was that a... joke?”
”I don't joke.”