Requesting Leave
Evan sat at his desk, opened his laptop, and began typing a leave request email to HR.
Subject: Request for Leave of Absence
To: HR Department
Cc: Reza (direct supervisor)
Dear HR,
I would like to request a leave of absence on [donor date] due to a family matter.
I kindly ask for your approval.
Thank you.
Regards,
Nathaniel Evan
He reread the email briefly, then clicked send.
Less than five minutes later, a reply notification popped up on the screen:
Subject: Re: Request for Leave of Absence
To: Nathaniel Evan
Cc: Reza (direct supervisor)
Dear Evan,
Your leave request has been approved.
Thank you for informing us.
Best regards,
HR Department
Done. No further questions asked.
Evan leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Reza standing outside his office with folded arms.
"You actually submitted a formal leave request?" Reza asked, walking in uninvited.
Evan just shrugged. "Have I ever slacked off enough for you to question that?"
"That's not it," Reza sighed. "You usually disappear without a word. Now you're asking for leave properly. What's going on?"
Evan looked at him for a moment before replying, "Family matters."
Reza scoffed. "That's the answer you give HR. What's the answer for me?"
Evan gave a faint smile. "Same thing, Rez. Family matters."
Reza stared at him for a long moment before finally giving up. "Whatever. Just don't make other people suspicious."
Evan nodded slightly, knowing full well this was more than just a "family matter."
This was a matter of life and death.
Reza Remembers Evan's Past
Reza walked out of Evan's office, but his steps slowed in the hallway. Something had been bothering him—not just the fact that Evan had suddenly started submitting formal leave requests, but how much the guy had changed.
Back then, Evan wasn't the type to follow rules. A rebellious kid. Always looking for trouble. Lucky he never got into drugs.
Reza had heard plenty of stories. About Evan drinking at bars, skipping classes, even rumors that he got a girlfriend pregnant. True or not, Reza clearly remembered how Evan suddenly "disappeared" after December 2015, then came back with a completely different personality.
The boss's once-wild son had turned into a serious, responsible man at work. Many believed it was because of the accident in late 2015—an incident said to have caused Evan to lose part of his memory.
But now… everything felt off.
"Family matters," Reza muttered, echoing Evan's earlier words.
If this was about family, then it must be about his child, right?
So, the rumor that once felt like mere gossip… was actually true?
Evan Meets Raka
Evan sat in one of the hospital's waiting chairs, waiting for Ayla, who was speaking with the doctor. In front of him, a young boy sat on a small chair, coloring with crayons in a sketchbook.
That boy… his son.
His son.
The fact was still hard to grasp. In his original life, he was a 27-year-old bachelor. But in this version of his life, he suddenly became the father of an almost seven-year-old child.
"Raka," Ayla's voice made the boy lift his head. "This is Uncle Evan. He's Mommy's friend, and he's here to help you."
Raka turned toward Evan, gazing at him with innocent eyes. There was a hint of hesitation on his face, but no fear.
"Uncle Evan?" he repeated, as if trying to remember the name.
Evan cleared his throat and tried to smile. "Hi, Raka."
The boy paused, then gave a small nod. "Thank you, Uncle," he said softly, before going back to his drawing.
Evan swallowed hard. Something twisted in his chest.
Ayla had introduced him as a "friend." Technically true—they barely knew each other. But right in front of him sat a little boy who shared his blood.
A strange feeling crept into Evan's chest.
Not shock. Not confusion.
But… affection.
He couldn't explain why, but he wanted to pat Raka's head. He wanted to know his favorite food. He wanted to hear him laugh.
As if something inside him had always been missing—and now, finally, he had found the piece that filled the void.
Evan's Parents Arrive
Evan was still in his seat, watching Raka as he kept drawing. The foreign feeling inside him hadn't gone away. He didn't even notice when Ayla glanced at him briefly before turning her attention back to Raka.
Then hurried footsteps echoed down the hospital hallway.
"Evan!"
Evan looked up. His parents, Nathaniel William and his wife, were walking toward him briskly. Their faces were serious, their eyes clearly scanning for someone.
When their gaze landed on the small boy sitting beside Evan, his mother's expression changed instantly.
"Oh my God…" she whispered, reflexively covering her mouth with her hand.
Evan's father stood frozen, his eyes locked on the boy as if seeing a ghost from the past.
Ayla tensed. She stood and took a small step forward, as if to shield Raka.
Evan stood up from his chair. "Dad, Mom… what are you doing here?"
His mother looked at her son with a complex mix of emotions. "We heard everything from the doctor. Why didn't you tell us, Evan?"
Evan glanced briefly at Ayla before turning back to his parents. "I only found out a few days ago, Mom. I'm still trying to understand it myself."
Nathaniel William, silent until now, finally spoke. "Is that your child, Evan?"
That deep baritone voice made the room even more tense. Everyone turned toward Raka, who looked confused.
Evan looked at the boy. For the first time, he noticed something he hadn't before.
His face. His eyes.
God.
He really was his child.
The Truth Revealed
"He looks exactly like a young version of you, Van!" Evan's mother exclaimed, her voice trembling with unspoken emotion. "The resemblance is uncanny."
Evan hated to admit it, but it was true. Raka wasn't just similar—he was practically a mirror image of Evan's childhood photos. His facial structure, his eyebrows, even the sharp gaze in his eyes… all too familiar.
His eyes shifted to Ayla, who stood slightly tense. She seemed uneasy with the presence of Evan's parents but tried to maintain her composure.
Evan's mother sighed, then turned her gaze to Ayla.
"You're Ayla?" she asked, her voice much softer this time.
Ayla looked at her for a moment before nodding quietly.