In a blink of an eye, two days have passed. Everyone in the team is excited with the overnight stay at the exclusive Arya Resort. It's a membership based, and the company reserved villas to accommodate the entire project team. To the only reluctant participant in this event, she dreads to get this done and over with.
Pam did not want another issue to come up from the debrief they had. She forced herself to join, pretend nothing happened and moved her business trip back to Singapore headquarters. NextGen has arranged for a limousine bus to take the entire project team to the resort. Its going to be a 2 ½ hours of drive so the meeting time is 6am at the Pacific Building where NextGen is.
The sun has not completely shone, and people are already down the building waiting for the bus. It was a good thing that Pacific was just walking distance from Pam's apartment. She doesn't need to be too in hurry. She wore an oversized white flower printed shirt, a black leggings that goes below the knee and a pair of purple running shoes. Her hair was tide into ponytail. She looks like she is going to the gym with her duffle bag. She chose this outfit for her to easily move around in case there would be physical activities.
She was about to cross the street when she saw a familiar figure wearing a relaxed easy short in light blue paired with white body fit polo shirt and boat shoes in dark blue. Without hesitation, Pam opened her bag. She pretended to look for something inside. She stopped for a moment and then went back inside her apartment's building. She went through the exercise of going up her building only to go down again. She is not in the mood to walk in the same road with him today or put up a front. He was good in making her feel bad. 'I don't care if he thinks I am avoiding him, it's for the best.'
Her tactic was half effective. Yes, she did not need to walk in front or behind Tim however she was amongst the few of the last to arrive in the meeting place. They were about 7 who remains to board the bus. She immediately saw Ronna and Jim seated together waving at her. They were seated towards the back. The 6 others immediately settled. The bus had two seats on both sides with limited seating capacity for extra comfort and space. Getting seated next to Tim was the last thing she wanted. There is no choice.
"I hope you don't mind if I seat here." She is just being polite but its obvious that there is no other seat to choose from. As Tim is an esteemed member of the project, he was seated at the third row from the left. The first two rows were used to seat event materials, this means no one is seated in front of them.
"Would you stand if I mind?" he said chuckling with a serious face. If someone would hear, it sounded like a joke. Looking at Tim, he is mocking her.
"Thanks." She placed her bag on top took her mobile and earphones. There were consultants hired to arrange for the event's flow. The one assigned to their bus started to welcome everyone explaining some reminders. Pam pretended to listen intently to the marshal to avoid any possible interaction or contact with Tim.
Her phone was buzzing, messages were coming in. Several of which came from Ronna and there was one from Vince.
Ronna: This is called fate
Pam: '….'
Ronna: Just enjoy the view and talk light.
Pam: I am sleeping, stop chatting.
The she read the conversation with Vince~
Vince: Are you on the second bus?
Pam: Yup see you there
Tim was wearing sunglasses; Pam could tell from her peripheral vision. She has no intention of making small talk as what Ronna suggested neither to enjoy the view near or far from where she is seated. She is determined to sleep and listen to her Spotify Playlist.
Pam was not lying when she said she is tired. She has been sleepless for two days since that last encounter with Tim. She is sold that they cannot exist together. Where there is his presence, she had to find a way to move out. However, no matter how determined she is even fate is testing her grounds.
Tim has rested his head, not moving behind the dark sunglasses he is observing Pam. God knows how he wanted to ask her why she left her 7 years ago. He wanted to play it cool, so he never attempted to ask for the longest time since they first bumped to each other.
'Where is the naïve, fun and bright Pim I used to adore.' She still got those beautiful eyes, but it seems to have lost its sparkle. She must have gained some weight enough to emphasize the curves in her body. He suddenly thought of touching her breast. There appears to be improvement. Back then he had the habit of kneading them when she is around.
The announcement from the bus marshal removed the indecent thoughts brewing in his mind. The thought of Lissy made him feel slight guilt. However, he is man after all, and the lady next to her was his ex.
The marshal was annoyingly loud. The entire bus suddenly was wide awake, and Pam was not spared. She was still in daze looking confused when she heard the marshal talked about some fun games.
"This is a very simple game. I have with me here a box full of cases and scenarios. If you happen to fit the description raise your hand. "The marshal started to share the game full of enthusiasm. "This is purely for fun and for each of you to be familiar and relaxed with each other. Is this okay?"
A roaring 'Yes!' was heard.
"Just a reminder its not a matter of raising you hand, the winner for each round is determined by total number of people that fit or did not fit the description. In other words, even if you raise don't raise you hand the chances of you getting to be interrogated will still be there."
"We are all mature adults here, be honest!
Let's enjoy and get to know everyone with open mind"
The bus yet again went into a frenzy. Laughing and clapping their hands.
The marshal picked the first question and declared over the microphone," I am single and ready to mingle."
Of the 20-plus people in the bus only 5 raised their hand and this include Ronna and Jim.
"Hey! How come someone did not raise her hand," the protest came from Ronna.
Pam was not paying attention.
"The lady at the back is protesting, can you name who is not being honest here?" The marshal said in joking manner.
"Our Program Manager!" Ronna shouted.
"Who is?"
Pam quickly looked at the back and said, "are you not paying attention? It was clear single and ready to mingle!"
Tim for some reasons was holding his breath curious.
"Yes, I am single but will never be ready to mingle."
Everyone laughed at the reasoning. There was some truth to this, someone can be single but is not necessarily ready to mingle.