PROTAGONIST'S POV146Please respect copyright.PENANAMACwcIinp6
Everything was normal on Friday. I mean, nothing was actually different before. The office's atmosphere was the same as usual. 146Please respect copyright.PENANABVTxmvOkbs
Did I really hope that something would change just because she smiled at me at the restaurant? 146Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ky27ADu9t
Some employees at least nodded in my direction as acknowledgement at the office.146Please respect copyright.PENANAvFFt759HgM
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.146Please respect copyright.PENANAL7tNsy2cYN
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. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAvtCLQG80D3
They'll just abandon me in the end. The fear of abandonment led me to loneliness. I feared being abandoned. 146Please respect copyright.PENANA9ybupeaYil
But then why did that smile mean something more to me?146Please respect copyright.PENANAmNhaTKIbVD
It felt as if she cared. That she acknowledges me outside of the only place I probably go, work.146Please respect copyright.PENANAa08n60neQQ
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.146Please respect copyright.PENANAlyr4QPo6WF
A voice disrupted my thoughts.146Please respect copyright.PENANAlRna4xrguK
"Hey! Is it done yet? Do it fast! Stop daydreaming. We have a meeting to attend!" 146Please respect copyright.PENANAmxveNIyi5u
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. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAOiOsXcA3bS
You see what I mean? 146Please respect copyright.PENANAdqSdBtlYaj
Bet you $5 that he doesn't even remember or know my name. 146Please respect copyright.PENANApbsTvBliOV
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.146Please respect copyright.PENANAeNwbhB59ol
"Thanks" 146Please respect copyright.PENANAk8beAplgh9
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.146Please respect copyright.PENANA2tC4cqM29Z
Was she always kind or did I just notice it today?146Please respect copyright.PENANAEEE3zRVX28
Probably the latter.146Please respect copyright.PENANA0gnDrVRma4
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. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAM7dsu4bOJB
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. 146Please respect copyright.PENANA5L8hda7AY2
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. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAFdPbBPELqc
I purchased a meal from the nearby McDonalds on my way and arrived at my fortress of comfort.146Please respect copyright.PENANASRIw6iEAk8
Fake gold painted metal '01' sign on my door glinted under the yellow hallway light. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAAD2IiDVGUY
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.146Please respect copyright.PENANAkShmKpxAH2
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.146Please respect copyright.PENANAl4GBMSFUCI
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.146Please respect copyright.PENANALHozieIyvO
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.146Please respect copyright.PENANAZCSqIP0ppo
After finishing my chicken burger meal, I throw the trash and crawl into my bed. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAyI4eavDYU4
I laid on the soft mattress, thinking about Zairas smile while staring into the black bedbox ceiling. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAHBcqfKNt5t
Why is she stuck on my mind?146Please respect copyright.PENANAFMvVvlLE45
I dont like thinking about the woman she reminded me of yet there was a longingness for that smile. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAEaChXRI5R6
I closed my eyes, dark consuming me and I fell into a dreamless sleep. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAxbbAMrs6lY
The next morning I woke up and went to work.146Please respect copyright.PENANAJjzFH5W7CF
Rest of the whole week was like a clock.146Please respect copyright.PENANAjfa3EToXsX
Wake up, 146Please respect copyright.PENANANxsBG10l7l
go to work, 146Please respect copyright.PENANAgRVl9wxELh
clean, 146Please respect copyright.PENANAudQLyjqw4P
print or scan, 146Please respect copyright.PENANA3Xiumggq7J
make coffee, 146Please respect copyright.PENANA38T0FfLPqq
serve it, 146Please respect copyright.PENANAEX62wtlOCq
get insulted because employees are frustrated, 146Please respect copyright.PENANAADWOgrQwbK
go home, 146Please respect copyright.PENANA58CYh5pNyO
eat,146Please respect copyright.PENANAmvdHngA2qy
sleep 146Please respect copyright.PENANAEdS9vreQcO
and repeat. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAk106Cc6uLT
Boring as hell but a few kind gestures and smiles from Zaira made me get through the week.146Please respect copyright.PENANA0wS799rUKs
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. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAKw7j6Xl07G
The aroma of coffee and chocolate filled my nostrils, soothing my soul. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAJTqZJ3N9M5
It wasn't that crowded but almost all the tables and couches were occupied.146Please respect copyright.PENANAUVjMU5qVWQ
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. 146Please respect copyright.PENANA5veYjPEAO8
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. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAN37uabxRcx
It was her again, Zaira. But the man behind her, held her hand and made her laugh.146Please respect copyright.PENANA1uAmbgOF47
I wanted to see if she would look and smile at me or not. 146Please respect copyright.PENANAg4eivNVMg8
I wondered if my longingness would be fulfilled or not. 146Please respect copyright.PENANA4KFi5SKXub
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? 146Please respect copyright.PENANABeS2ISCn9N
Her smile reminded me too much of her, 146Please respect copyright.PENANASKPIFNTfWw
too much of that monster. 146Please respect copyright.PENANA7OGrNYvmF2
Too much of my dear dead mother.146Please respect copyright.PENANAh8B1hvFqrJ
——————146Please respect copyright.PENANAd2FTbiaLbx
Here is the second chapter! 146Please respect copyright.PENANAPnwD0ukVCv
We're you expecting this? 146Please respect copyright.PENANAxo3qbgHN5p
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lee146Please respect copyright.PENANAlxSPa22cAy