LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 25: Chapter 25
The usual buzz of the office continued, punctuated by the occasional jokes, teasing, and the ever-present complaints about work. It had become a comfortable routine for Alex—everyone had settled back into their roles after the arrival of the new boss, Dan. The initial tension had dissipated, and it felt like everything was back to normal.
But something was different. It was subtle, something that most of his colleagues hadn't noticed or chose to ignore, but Alex's heightened awareness picked up on it. One of the more beautiful female colleagues, Emily, who had always been cheerful and involved in the banter, wasn't quite the same lately.
She had become distant, almost preoccupied. Emily was always busy, frequently going in and out of Dan's office. She no longer joined in the jokes or laughed with the rest of them during breaks. Her bright smile, once a constant in the office, seemed dimmed. People noticed, but no one said anything directly. It was easier to let it slide, to chalk it up to work stress or personal matters.
But Alex's mind lingered on it now and then. He wasn't one to pry, but his intuition told him that something was off. He'd catch her glancing at her phone more often than usual, and there were moments when she looked like she wanted to say something but quickly thought better of it. Still, he kept his thoughts to himself, unwilling to speculate too much.
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Meanwhile, life outside of work was becoming a bit of a challenge for Alex. His quiet meditation sessions at home were being disrupted more frequently. His sister's lively nature and the general noise in their shared space made it harder to find peace. At work, his colleagues joked about his meditation during breaks, calling him "Zen Alex" in good humor, but it was a constant reminder of how noisy his environment had become.
Sitting at his desk one afternoon, Alex absentmindedly stared at the progress bar in his mind's eye. It had been moving so slowly lately, almost like it wasn't moving at all. He was used to slow progress, but this was different. He couldn't help but feel that the constant distractions—both at home and at work—were holding him back.
If only I could find a quieter place to live, he thought, somewhere without all the noise and interruptions.
The idea had been in the back of his mind for a while now. The thought of living alone in a more peaceful environment where he could meditate without being disturbed was becoming more appealing by the day. His current situation wasn't bad, but it wasn't ideal for someone who was trying to push the limits of mental strength. He felt stagnant, stuck in place while the world around him moved on.
And then there was the added pressure of his friends. At every gathering, his friends teased him about his habits, about how he should "lighten up" or "take a break from all the meditation." Alex took it all in stride, knowing they meant well, but deep down, he felt that quiet frustration growing. They didn't understand the challenge he was facing—the slow progress, the endless disruptions, the need for focus.
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At work, Emily's behavior continued to puzzle him. While everyone else seemed content with their usual routines, she remained distant, focused entirely on whatever was happening behind the closed door of the boss's office. Sometimes, Alex would glance over and see her rushing in or out, her face tight with concentration. She rarely spoke to anyone outside of Dan, and when she did, it was brief and businesslike.
"Emily seems... different lately," Jane remarked one afternoon as she and Alex sat across from each other during their break. "You notice that?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah, she's been going in and out of Dan's office a lot. Maybe she's just got more responsibilities now."
"Maybe," Jane agreed, but she didn't look convinced. "It's weird, though. She used to be so involved with us. Now it's like she's in her own world."
They both shrugged it off, knowing there was little they could do about it. Office politics had a way of creating distance between people, and maybe this was just one of those things. Still, Alex couldn't help but wonder if something more was going on.
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As the week went on, Alex's thoughts kept circling back to his need for quiet. The idea of living alone, of finding a peaceful space where he could meditate without distraction, grew stronger. He started imagining what it would be like—how much faster the progress bar might move if he could just focus fully, without the constant noise and interruptions.
But for now, he had to manage with what he had. His colleagues continued to joke, the office continued its usual rhythm, and Emily remained a distant figure, constantly moving in and out of the boss's office like clockwork.
Alex leaned back in his chair, glancing at the clock on the wall. Break time was almost over. He closed his eyes briefly, taking a moment to center himself, pushing the noise and distractions to the back of his mind. He could feel the weight of the slow progress, the steady grind of his daily routine, but he also knew that he had to be patient.