Bam!!
"Again…"
A heavy male voice echoed through the empty bar as a jug slammed onto the table, the sound bouncing off the walls.
It was a small bar in one of the low-end districts of the city , the last one still open at this hour. Everyone else had long since left, and silence filled the space.
Only two people remained.
One was the drunk man demanding another drink.
The other was an old man.
A tired sigh followed the slow sound of footsteps.
The drunk man turned, squinting his unfocused eyes.
"Old Man Jenkins…" he muttered, struggling to stay awake.
The elderly man sighed again.
"Young man, it's already late. You know bars in this district can't stay open past one. It's already two in the morning," Old Man Jenkins said, his voice hoarse and frail as he looked at the man before him.
They were not strangers. In fact, they were long-time acquaintances.
Five years ago, this young man had moved into the area with his wife. Back then, he drank in moderation, laughing and talking like any normal customer.
But after what happened two years ago…
He changed.
Now he had fallen into this.
The drunk man hiccupped, his body reeking of alcohol.
"Old man… just a little more. I… I want to lose consciousness…"
A smile formed on the young man's face, but Old Man Jenkins felt as though needles pierced his heart.
Only he understood the sorrow behind that smile.
Such a promising young man… yet…
He sighed.
"Tok, you can't continue like this. Even if you lost everything, you can still start again. Rise up. Pursue your goals. You don't have to—"
"Old man, leave the chatter… give me another beer," Tok interrupted, swaying as he leaned back in his chair.
The old man's body trembled slightly, but instead of bringing another drink, he pulled a chair and sat beside him.
"Tok… I have something to tell you."
He paused, watching Tok's drunken expression.
Tok tightened his grip around the jug, staring at the old man with a faint smile.
"Today is the last day of the bar."
Clank.
The jug slipped from Tok's hand and shattered on the floor.
His eyes widened. His body trembled.
"I've made up my mind," Old Man Jenkins continued firmly. "After months of thinking, I've decided. I'm old. I only kept this bar to avoid idleness. My children are married and doing well. I've done everything I can for them. Now it's time to close this place, sell it, and move into an elderly home near them."
He finished speaking, his expression steady though his heart was not.
Over the years, he had grown fond of this bar. The customers. The laughter. The chaos. The memories.
But all good things come to an end.
He had worked his entire life. Even walking had become tiring now.
It was time to rest.
Tok lowered his head, his hair falling over his face.
"Old man… why? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Tok asked, his voice hoarse, eyes burning.
The old man sighed.
"I know you. If I told you before deciding, you would've tried to stop me. I didn't want to waver. I'm leaving tomorrow morning. My children will pick me up at the station."
Crack.
The chair scraped backward as old man Jenkins stood up slowly.
"Tok, you're still young. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don't ruin it because of one mistake. We all fall. We all learn. You need to live," the old man said softly before walking away.
"…Old man… it isn't that easy. I lost everything I built with my own hands…"
The words came out in a broken whisper as tears fell onto his trousers.
His eyes reddened as he struggled to stand properly.
On nights like this, the old man would help him home.
But tonight was different.
Tonight was the last time.
Tok staggered toward the door.
Click.
He pushed it open, tears blurring his vision.
"Thank you…" he whispered before stepping out.
Ding.
The door closed.
From behind the counter, Old Man Jenkins stared at it silently.
"Live well, young man…"
---
Later That Morning
Warm sunlight streamed through a window, revealing a messy, neglected room.
Food packs scattered everywhere. Clothes thrown across the floor. Torn manga and comics littering the ground.
And in the middle of it all, a young man lay on the bed.
Tok.
"Sigh… another miserable day. Why don't I just die…" he muttered, covering his face with his hand.
His eyes were hollow as he blocked the sunlight.
His mind drifted.
His life had not always been like this.
Once, he had everything.
He was the manager of a rapidly rising company. He had a beautiful, loving wife. Loyal friends. Close relatives.
A large house. Luxury cars. A respected name.
And then…
Everything changed in a single day.