PROTAGONIST'S POV142Please respect copyright.PENANA4yLYEbGUiS
Everything was normal on Friday. I mean, nothing was actually different before. The office's atmosphere was the same as usual. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAS7feqGdANA
Did I really hope that something would change just because she smiled at me at the restaurant? 142Please respect copyright.PENANAitEaBNLQdS
Some employees at least nodded in my direction as acknowledgement at the office.142Please respect copyright.PENANA8t5f5ahud2
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.142Please respect copyright.PENANAALhR1dEZ3I
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. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAmCiYeZOc8Q
They'll just abandon me in the end. The fear of abandonment led me to loneliness. I feared being abandoned. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAvF3grHja85
But then why did that smile mean something more to me?142Please respect copyright.PENANAGAdwAa71yP
It felt as if she cared. That she acknowledges me outside of the only place I probably go, work.142Please respect copyright.PENANA5woA10twnU
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.142Please respect copyright.PENANAH1iZTMKL1v
A voice disrupted my thoughts.142Please respect copyright.PENANAyuTc2FjyA4
"Hey! Is it done yet? Do it fast! Stop daydreaming. We have a meeting to attend!" 142Please respect copyright.PENANAABv3FeB0zG
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. 142Please respect copyright.PENANA7gwM9mbSmY
You see what I mean? 142Please respect copyright.PENANAB3JY3ITaSg
Bet you $5 that he doesn't even remember or know my name. 142Please respect copyright.PENANACOb9E6rCd4
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.142Please respect copyright.PENANAbkCKzGiuJd
"Thanks" 142Please respect copyright.PENANASSw0qCMJAT
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.142Please respect copyright.PENANA2JCqHPNkL8
Was she always kind or did I just notice it today?142Please respect copyright.PENANALksF9J78Is
Probably the latter.142Please respect copyright.PENANA37ln0EtBiD
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. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAUFZ7YX1mlB
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. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAhDwXeepyHn
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. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAnbeV8u5AFn
I purchased a meal from the nearby McDonalds on my way and arrived at my fortress of comfort.142Please respect copyright.PENANAIc6zSfU92J
Fake gold painted metal '01' sign on my door glinted under the yellow hallway light. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAutlqq4kHfA
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.142Please respect copyright.PENANA9h8u0Zi32Z
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.142Please respect copyright.PENANA8yyN6qPEqR
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.142Please respect copyright.PENANAbEf7ct20f3
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.142Please respect copyright.PENANAgEk4YohOxW
After finishing my chicken burger meal, I throw the trash and crawl into my bed. 142Please respect copyright.PENANARIiRJpyIOF
I laid on the soft mattress, thinking about Zairas smile while staring into the black bedbox ceiling. 142Please respect copyright.PENANA8dPO7hIG1t
Why is she stuck on my mind?142Please respect copyright.PENANAx5bAIqfezy
I dont like thinking about the woman she reminded me of yet there was a longingness for that smile. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAjnDUOO68Ay
I closed my eyes, dark consuming me and I fell into a dreamless sleep. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAqlYNPeg2o8
The next morning I woke up and went to work.142Please respect copyright.PENANAGooem2IqJY
Rest of the whole week was like a clock.142Please respect copyright.PENANAAFkK0B8ZNC
Wake up, 142Please respect copyright.PENANAEnupXNGyyr
go to work, 142Please respect copyright.PENANAfEFVRetBI1
clean, 142Please respect copyright.PENANAKJnxC1afWV
print or scan, 142Please respect copyright.PENANAIcCXZ8IMMv
make coffee, 142Please respect copyright.PENANAV96XEI5hDW
serve it, 142Please respect copyright.PENANA9uV45Ez4OB
get insulted because employees are frustrated, 142Please respect copyright.PENANAkCGcV4sfRb
go home, 142Please respect copyright.PENANAS2nuWtcdMs
eat,142Please respect copyright.PENANAXnkqofhPlV
sleep 142Please respect copyright.PENANAMif5mSGJZv
and repeat. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAWcBbgUZnXe
Boring as hell but a few kind gestures and smiles from Zaira made me get through the week.142Please respect copyright.PENANArwdbUr6KcT
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. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAgJRBWGJfII
The aroma of coffee and chocolate filled my nostrils, soothing my soul. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAdJQKb2acpq
It wasn't that crowded but almost all the tables and couches were occupied.142Please respect copyright.PENANAwM7NJB2bKM
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. 142Please respect copyright.PENANATxRx9QeyTQ
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. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAKgWQfc1mPq
It was her again, Zaira. But the man behind her, held her hand and made her laugh.142Please respect copyright.PENANAa4QKN1OFiA
I wanted to see if she would look and smile at me or not. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAeRwFZNQFWS
I wondered if my longingness would be fulfilled or not. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAyWSAZiMjMp
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? 142Please respect copyright.PENANA8oumJ6G2s6
Her smile reminded me too much of her, 142Please respect copyright.PENANAXtWRxIeqKV
too much of that monster. 142Please respect copyright.PENANAAHP7ZnTJaW
Too much of my dear dead mother.142Please respect copyright.PENANAkmijdUhwAd
——————142Please respect copyright.PENANASfMMsb2xzb
Here is the second chapter! 142Please respect copyright.PENANAicXEbDnp64
We're you expecting this? 142Please respect copyright.PENANA4xY9Mj7fm1
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lee142Please respect copyright.PENANArY32ydR4Rj