Chapter 39: Better Late Than Never

As Jason stepped out of his car and walked into the lounge, he felt a mix of excitement and nostalgia. At the entrance, he saw a coworker and exchanged pleasantries. "Hey, Jason! What brings you here?" his coworker asked with a smile. "I'm meeting an old friend," Jason replied. "What about you?" "Just here to have a nice time with my girlfriend," the coworker said, pointing towards the bar where a woman waved at them. "Enjoy your evening," Jason said as they shook hands before he made his way to the inner chamber of the lounge. Mike hadn’t arrived yet, and Jason muttered, "Typical of Mike." If there was one thing Jason remembered vividly about Mike, it was his perpetual tardiness. Mike was always late to class in elementary school. Jason recalled a school sports day when Mike's 100 meters race competitor had to wait for over 30 minutes because Mike didn’t show up on time. Jason signaled a waiter, who promptly came over. "Can I get a glass of rum, please?" "Right away, sir," the w