PROTAGONIST'S POV147Please respect copyright.PENANA9t9B5UFYnP
Everything was normal on Friday. I mean, nothing was actually different before. The office's atmosphere was the same as usual. 147Please respect copyright.PENANA0PgEDeq0sk
Did I really hope that something would change just because she smiled at me at the restaurant? 147Please respect copyright.PENANAgjrR88saAl
Some employees at least nodded in my direction as acknowledgement at the office.147Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8INKJA9T7
I haven't been working long at the office, probably for six months. It was difficult to get this job, even if it was a mere one.147Please respect copyright.PENANARj7hEhIJmw
As a clerk, I wasn't expecting anyone to be friends with me because what I did for money was to clean mess in the office, serve coffee, and print and scan the stuff given to me. It didn't bother me. But for a change it'd feel nice to have someone to whom I could talk to. But then again, I don't trust people easily. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAHwl75FJZ3l
They'll just abandon me in the end. The fear of abandonment led me to loneliness. I feared being abandoned. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAKaLBaUrH5I
But then why did that smile mean something more to me?147Please respect copyright.PENANA4BV2vAvqhz
It felt as if she cared. That she acknowledges me outside of the only place I probably go, work.147Please respect copyright.PENANAK6mlgrUDeI
The way she smiled that day reminded me of her, yet she didn't. The woman who scarred me for life. Both mentally and physically.147Please respect copyright.PENANAgq5wsMWdE5
A voice disrupted my thoughts.147Please respect copyright.PENANAJwUF9Affk0
"Hey! Is it done yet? Do it fast! Stop daydreaming. We have a meeting to attend!" 147Please respect copyright.PENANAWiyCK3YxBN
It was Mr.Kim yelling at me from his desk, urging me to finish the printing fast. It's not my fault that the printer is slow. Fucking do it yourself. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAYA9O2cIr0m
You see what I mean? 147Please respect copyright.PENANAOXW6kuhtKq
Bet you $5 that he doesn't even remember or know my name. 147Please respect copyright.PENANA5M87k74avF
I finished printing the documents as quickly as I could and handed them over to Ms.Cook who was impatiently waiting outside the meeting room along with Ms.Baxi. Celia passed the prints to Zaira.147Please respect copyright.PENANAkRhJWTVUl2
"Thanks" 147Please respect copyright.PENANA8nUv41ML5M
Zaira Baxi said in a small voice while flipping the pages of the documents, probably making sure everything is in order. Her eyes glued to the pages. While Celia Cook just walked inside the translucent glass of the meeting room. She gave me a small smile before following Celia's footsteps.147Please respect copyright.PENANARXmTidXN2p
Was she always kind or did I just notice it today?147Please respect copyright.PENANAqrwsWaweKh
Probably the latter.147Please respect copyright.PENANAgLEt3zaH2m
Zaira Baxi was an eye appealing half-Indian girl. She had clear olive skin tone with big doe eyes and a cute button nose. Her smallness and her soft cheeks reminded me of those anime girls with big eyes. Her dark brown hair almost black fell straight till the middle of her back. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAYBSYIRorqt
I got back to my work of cleaning, leaving the thoughts of little kind gestures in the back of my head. After cleaning the coffee spilled on the desk, I didn't have work to do because the whole department was busy with some meetings. Everything else was done. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAF6bxEnGtUd
Time couldn't move any slower. I didn't like to be sitting idle, alone with my thoughts. Because no matter how hard I try I keep thinking about my past. That's why, by the time the clock hit 7:00 pm, I was so ready to dash out of here and go to sleep. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAQrOFw5SEWm
I purchased a meal from the nearby McDonalds on my way and arrived at my fortress of comfort.147Please respect copyright.PENANA6XIiaVnd8h
Fake gold painted metal '01' sign on my door glinted under the yellow hallway light. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAztZ5H7ENNh
As I closed the door behind me, noise from the crying kid coming from downstairs subsided a little, to a level where it didnt hurt my ear anymore but it was still there. Kids were obnoxious, self centered little piece of shits and straight up aggravating.147Please respect copyright.PENANAn2CwHSppoX
My loft was a home to all sorts of noise because it was literally situated above a bigass toy store on the main street. The rent was a little cheap because no one wanted to live in such a noisy place; I was the only one willing.147Please respect copyright.PENANA75leCz7Dja
After freshening up, I climbed the stairs which led me to the top of my bedbox. Its a space overlooking the street. A small wooden table kept near the edge of the area with two sets of cushions kept against the wall.147Please respect copyright.PENANAumPVSuLHgI
I settle down and take a large bite of my burger and sip coke as my R&B playlist plays on shuffle in the background. The loudness of the music numbed the ruckus around the apartment.147Please respect copyright.PENANA5AzeoEnKHL
After finishing my chicken burger meal, I throw the trash and crawl into my bed. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAGfmT5ZJeQH
I laid on the soft mattress, thinking about Zairas smile while staring into the black bedbox ceiling. 147Please respect copyright.PENANANWutpVRFcq
Why is she stuck on my mind?147Please respect copyright.PENANAc6XPxgZaOo
I dont like thinking about the woman she reminded me of yet there was a longingness for that smile. 147Please respect copyright.PENANA4d164sA8Xg
I closed my eyes, dark consuming me and I fell into a dreamless sleep. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAklSAEtuTuc
The next morning I woke up and went to work.147Please respect copyright.PENANA2B3TRNBO0r
Rest of the whole week was like a clock.147Please respect copyright.PENANAQjZtX4EmAp
Wake up, 147Please respect copyright.PENANAVNi1B86I6y
go to work, 147Please respect copyright.PENANAWzHYjq0QA8
clean, 147Please respect copyright.PENANANBEvdSNmiE
print or scan, 147Please respect copyright.PENANA8net3Vb9Pu
make coffee, 147Please respect copyright.PENANAsa6hXXSMTr
serve it, 147Please respect copyright.PENANAdpcqqAcLuu
get insulted because employees are frustrated, 147Please respect copyright.PENANAEIk4aqBV6z
go home, 147Please respect copyright.PENANAeYtCKa8KrB
eat,147Please respect copyright.PENANANQu12oymgk
sleep 147Please respect copyright.PENANAfGMeCPwr2q
and repeat. 147Please respect copyright.PENANASu5UngOLkv
Boring as hell but a few kind gestures and smiles from Zaira made me get through the week.147Please respect copyright.PENANASCSRZ5yjxU
It was now Sunday and I was sitting in a famous local café because I wanted to treat myself with the best chocolate chip pancakes for surviving the week. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAzAVlNWr3mA
The aroma of coffee and chocolate filled my nostrils, soothing my soul. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAmvf1GKBmUx
It wasn't that crowded but almost all the tables and couches were occupied.147Please respect copyright.PENANAENkln8VSyk
I was impatiently waiting for my pancakes so I looked at the authorised personnel only door behind the counter every passing 5 seconds. I don't think I ate dinner yesterday. My stomach was growling. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAONe5JT3rfk
The whole week wasn't worth mentioning until now. I looked at the door again but this time before I could divert my attention elsewhere, my eyes landed on the familiar back at the counter that I see everyday. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAcbDzMbd5YW
It was her again, Zaira. But the man behind her, held her hand and made her laugh.147Please respect copyright.PENANAACcnE0BcQS
I wanted to see if she would look and smile at me or not. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAty7lNrQEO9
I wondered if my longingness would be fulfilled or not. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAfOw7JyaVXf
I don't even know if I like her as a woman or not but why does she seem to sooth and ache the wound in my heart at the same time? 147Please respect copyright.PENANAUxjGftxS9B
Her smile reminded me too much of her, 147Please respect copyright.PENANAR465LyLLfd
too much of that monster. 147Please respect copyright.PENANAE89kkFL7rS
Too much of my dear dead mother.147Please respect copyright.PENANAK4dOghKuPc
——————147Please respect copyright.PENANAkCsVbqxB8q
Here is the second chapter! 147Please respect copyright.PENANAFcpp31ZVPG
We're you expecting this? 147Please respect copyright.PENANAxpU4cOJh5c
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lee147Please respect copyright.PENANAuRUgnfql8O