After leaving Carla at her house and bidding her a somewhat lukewarm farewell, Benicio went to his apartment. As soon as he arrived, he took a shower. While standing under the shower, he leaned one hand against the wall and began to reflect. Both his family and Carla were pressuring him to marry soon. However, at the same time that he considered this as a solution to his problem, he imagined himself trapped in an unhappy and frustrating marriage.
After getting out of the shower, Benicio sent a message to his therapist, asking him to schedule an appointment because he was in need. He felt like he was on the verge of a panic attack. Then, Benicio poured himself a drink and went to the large glass window in his living room. He stood there, absorbed in his thoughts. He knew it would be another sleepless night.
While Benicio was worried and reflective that night, Adrian finished reading a few pages of the book he was reading and then prepared to sleep. He wanted to rest well for the important day ahead. He had been given another chance and was determined not to waste it.
The next morning, both of them went about their routines. However, Adrian tried to stay focused during his commute, avoiding the anxiety that had affected him the day before to prevent any setbacks. On the other hand, Benicio woke up in a terrible mood. He couldn't get enough sleep, had a headache, and felt extremely irritated.
Due to his condition, Benicio chose not to drive that day and let his driver take him to work. His headache was bothering him too much, and he didn't want to risk driving and causing another accident like the one that had happened before. Upon arriving at the office, he immediately went to his office and asked his secretary to provide him with a migraine medication. He had a lot of tasks to accomplish that day and needed to be in good condition to face them.
Adrian managed to arrive at the interview location on time. The first stage of the interview would be conducted by the human resources department, and those who passed this phase would be interviewed in person by the company president, as one of the positions was for the assistant to the president.
Adrian stood out among the candidates, being one of the three selected for the second phase. His resume impressed, and his answers during the interview were precise and coherent. He became a strong contender for the position.
The three candidates waited in an anteroom before being called for the interview with the president, which would take place in the conference room. The first candidate went in and took a while before coming out. Then, it was Adrian's turn, who was already imagining how the president would react upon seeing him as one of the potential candidates for the position.
When Adrian entered the room, he found Benicio near the window. Benicio seemed uneasy, adjusting his tie, but he spoke to Adrian without looking at him.
"Please, have a seat. We're about to start," he said, while continuing to adjust his tie.
Adrian did as Benicio suggested and sat down but narrowed his eyes in Benicio's direction, noticing that he wasn't feeling well. Soon, the man in front of him turned around and stared at him in surprise.
"You!?"
"Good morning, sir. I'm here for the interview," Adrian explained immediately.
"Don't tell me it was for this interview that you were coming yesterday?" Benicio was genuinely surprised.
"Yes, but I was lucky that the interview got postponed," Adrian replied with a slight smile.
"I wasn't in the condition to do it yesterday, but it's quite interesting. I didn't imagine that I could have hit a candidate for a position in my company. However, since you're here, it means you're competent. Please, have a seat again; let's continue."
Benicio began analyzing Adrian's resume and asking questions. Despite having the opportunity to compensate him for the previous incident, he continued to act like a business man, determined to choose the most qualified candidate for the position.
In a way, he was glad that Adrian was a qualified candidate, so that he could offer the position to the man he had accidentally hurt. Benicio was about to announce that Adrian had passed, but suddenly, he started to feel a strong shortness of breath.
Benicio placed his hand on his chest and loosened his tie even more. His breathing accelerated and his hands visibly trembled. What he feared had happened; he was facing another panic attack.
Adrian noticed that Benicio was not well from the moment he entered the room. Seeing the situation worsen, he stood up from his chair and went to help Benicio. Adrian loosened Benicio's tie even more, unbuttoned two buttons, and started talking to him.
"Sir, listen to me. Pay attention to my voice and look at me." He held Benicio's hands, placing them against his own chest. "Follow my breathing and try to keep up."
Adrian continued to talk to Benicio, staying leaned forward, close, and doing everything he could to make him feel safe. Benicio started to look deeply into the green eyes of the man in front of him, which seemed to convey calmness and peace, something he desperately needed to overcome the crisis.
Only after a few minutes, Benicio managed to calm down a bit. His breathing started to return to normal, but he still didn't let go of Adrian's hand.
"I'll get you some water, sir," Adrian said calmly.
It was only after Adrian spoke those words that Benicio realized he was holding his hand tightly. He let go and looked away. Adrian hurried to get a glass of water for Benicio, and after drinking a bit, he felt well enough to speak.
"Thank you for your help. How did you know what to do? You stayed calm very well."
"I've had panic attacks before too, after my parents died in a car accident. I went through it as well. I was on the phone with my mom when everything happened."
Adrian opened his heart at that moment. Talking about his anxieties might help Benicio open up and share his own feelings. Keeping everything to oneself was never a good solution. The guilt he felt for his parents' death led him to develop this syndrome, but with the right help, he managed to overcome that phase in his life. Maybe he could do the same for Benicio, and he was willing to help.
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