PROTAGONIST'S POV145Please respect copyright.PENANAQjWlHKbQIE
Everything was normal on Friday. I mean, nothing was actually different before. The office's atmosphere was the same as usual. 145Please respect copyright.PENANADYOD18frII
Did I really hope that something would change just because she smiled at me at the restaurant? 145Please respect copyright.PENANAfzd3kQ6x36
Some employees at least nodded in my direction as acknowledgement at the office.145Please respect copyright.PENANAUMrGXEUEQo
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.145Please respect copyright.PENANAFE3LqB9vYc
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. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAqZ0KNNiBqx
They'll just abandon me in the end. The fear of abandonment led me to loneliness. I feared being abandoned. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAUeobZ04nQC
But then why did that smile mean something more to me?145Please respect copyright.PENANAlQMYzKjEPW
It felt as if she cared. That she acknowledges me outside of the only place I probably go, work.145Please respect copyright.PENANAkgmJZ3miMf
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.145Please respect copyright.PENANAlFDGINCxUh
A voice disrupted my thoughts.145Please respect copyright.PENANADMO1AxUJqj
"Hey! Is it done yet? Do it fast! Stop daydreaming. We have a meeting to attend!" 145Please respect copyright.PENANA8R2EzbPIbF
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. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAXTFZ8h0cfG
You see what I mean? 145Please respect copyright.PENANAvB0DdaUHKd
Bet you $5 that he doesn't even remember or know my name. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAIFEAuqlmXb
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.145Please respect copyright.PENANABobu3TeoP2
"Thanks" 145Please respect copyright.PENANADwMBjM721N
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.145Please respect copyright.PENANAAUhZWM3tca
Was she always kind or did I just notice it today?145Please respect copyright.PENANAwniPRYocdy
Probably the latter.145Please respect copyright.PENANA1D8w03nqwt
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. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAGXsn1L2zHr
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. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAPvQAW42ych
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. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAzHI279RIwc
I purchased a meal from the nearby McDonalds on my way and arrived at my fortress of comfort.145Please respect copyright.PENANACW5qgKAnV0
Fake gold painted metal '01' sign on my door glinted under the yellow hallway light. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAP5J2CyB3UZ
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.145Please respect copyright.PENANANuM3eFkHOk
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.145Please respect copyright.PENANATDoLCyv4df
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.145Please respect copyright.PENANAmoHp9dIKaE
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.145Please respect copyright.PENANAudMnmgFvQG
After finishing my chicken burger meal, I throw the trash and crawl into my bed. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAuOx7dGe9Gh
I laid on the soft mattress, thinking about Zairas smile while staring into the black bedbox ceiling. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAtNetvbixHG
Why is she stuck on my mind?145Please respect copyright.PENANAaHXO8O3yKb
I dont like thinking about the woman she reminded me of yet there was a longingness for that smile. 145Please respect copyright.PENANA9wysNqOJ5G
I closed my eyes, dark consuming me and I fell into a dreamless sleep. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAVDwcV9Rz22
The next morning I woke up and went to work.145Please respect copyright.PENANA3Mq1iDmAzt
Rest of the whole week was like a clock.145Please respect copyright.PENANApaq0v83hkK
Wake up, 145Please respect copyright.PENANAXHFzKBnj31
go to work, 145Please respect copyright.PENANASTD0bxgJqI
clean, 145Please respect copyright.PENANA5GlfS1qeOb
print or scan, 145Please respect copyright.PENANALY9J2OKbJb
make coffee, 145Please respect copyright.PENANA8pCBNb9SNY
serve it, 145Please respect copyright.PENANAYyxeA79j2Y
get insulted because employees are frustrated, 145Please respect copyright.PENANA1ml27WS5ed
go home, 145Please respect copyright.PENANAKmiHBTAPFU
eat,145Please respect copyright.PENANAa4dOUsVy5e
sleep 145Please respect copyright.PENANAL2b1D4COiG
and repeat. 145Please respect copyright.PENANA7n6Q5H85vi
Boring as hell but a few kind gestures and smiles from Zaira made me get through the week.145Please respect copyright.PENANAQARHNV3ltK
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. 145Please respect copyright.PENANASjVHSCqE9o
The aroma of coffee and chocolate filled my nostrils, soothing my soul. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAqvokmrknPe
It wasn't that crowded but almost all the tables and couches were occupied.145Please respect copyright.PENANAE8sSVICOH5
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. 145Please respect copyright.PENANArwQBc76Sy9
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. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAy3MTSAU9k4
It was her again, Zaira. But the man behind her, held her hand and made her laugh.145Please respect copyright.PENANAYxSx6E64Iu
I wanted to see if she would look and smile at me or not. 145Please respect copyright.PENANACsTU8xQ7cr
I wondered if my longingness would be fulfilled or not. 145Please respect copyright.PENANA7V6bITLSLy
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? 145Please respect copyright.PENANAoZl9JmBjCt
Her smile reminded me too much of her, 145Please respect copyright.PENANAybEq8kUxPq
too much of that monster. 145Please respect copyright.PENANAllrQmxV8BU
Too much of my dear dead mother.145Please respect copyright.PENANAiu05nlMYwR
——————145Please respect copyright.PENANAl8kqKDfgHS
Here is the second chapter! 145Please respect copyright.PENANANGNoAu5une
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