We just had our lunch together here in the pantry with my fellow interns from another school and since it was the first day, expect the unexpected. We are oriented about rules and regulations inside the company. They are strict with the rules and they must be followed according to what supposed to be. I understand because this is a company that holds a lot of responsibility.
"My legs hurt," Marga mumbled while massaging her legs, she's from other schools. "I can't help but feel the pain. Imagine we didn't have the time to take a sit even if it is orientation?" She added.
"But at least, we are allowed to take a sit while eating," Halley said jokingly.
I just listened intently to their chitchat, laughing at the funny stories of the two while eating food. I have nothing to add to their story. It's not that I can't relate to what they're telling, I just don't feel like responding to the conversation. However, I don't feel like I'm out of place even if we get to know each other. They are not like those whom I met that judge me immediately.
"Anyway, Andrea, where's Sheldon? I can't see him after the orientation," Halley asked.
"I don't know the exact details but he told me that he will drop by somewhere. He didn't tell me where is that somewhere," I explained and covered my lunch box because I had finished eating while the two hadn't.
"I thought, you were close?"
"He's so cute. Anyway, does she have a girlfriend?" Marga suddenly said that made me chuckle a bit, an unexpected question from her behind her innocent look. "Hey, I'm just asking. No offence," she said but sounds defensive. Halley, even, teased her.
"It's not what you think," she defended herself even though we're not telling anything. I sighed.
"To tell you the truth. I do not know anything about him, yet we are classmates from junior high until now," I said. I can't say that he always made fun of me before and he didn't want me in his presence and it is not noteworthy, anymore. That he has only been kind to me lately without knowing the reason. It's just that, I'm glad that one person was out of the list who hated me.
"Oh, Marga. Now, you know!" Halley said in her teasing demeanour.
"Is it bad to ask?" Halley and I exchange our gaze and it seems we have some thoughts running in our minds. Halley even tapped Marga's shoulder. "Please, spare some time to understand, my friend." She addresses it to me.
From their introduction earlier, Marga and Halley were friends since preschool and was studying in the same school but they came from a different section. I admired their closeness. I suddenly remember Amber who deployed in their company as expected and how is she.
In the afternoon, we took a tour or overview of the whole building for us to familiarize the different departments and their different functions.
I expected that Chua's company was huge but I didn't expect that it was huge than I expected. It manages a different kind of business. All I thought was that the articles and magazines that Auntie Julie want me to read were exaggerating but I was wrong. I'm thankful to Auntie Julie for the heads up and I am no longer ignorant.
Yes, I'm here in Chua's company as Auntie Julie wishes. I bet; she pulled some strings.
The staff guide us to the other building. It was an engineering and architectural firm.
When we reach the building, I gradually felt discomfort in my legs and feet. I felt like I was going to get blisters that made me walk slowly.
"Are you okay?" Sheldon asked and there is a glimpse of concern in his eyes. He probably notices my actions.
"Yeah," I answered and continue to go with their pace.
As we walked around, I noticed a familiar back figure of someone I knew. I blinked twice but the figure I'm seeing were gone so I let it slide and focused on what the staff told to us. No matter how I want to listen, I still lose my focus because of the pain in my feet and legs. Fortunately, our staff tour guide gave us a few minutes break that made me relief.
I immediately seat on the nearest seating beams where we were stopped to rest my feet and legs without further ado. Sheldon followed me and seat a few inches away from me but in just a few minutes, he stood up and went in front of me. "Do you need anything? Are you not hungry?"
"No, I'm okay," I replied but he seems not to convince of my answer.
After assuring him that I'm fine, he dismissed himself and I saw him turn right, the path going to the pantry. When I have no sight of him, I slowly take off my feet in my shoes. It came to my view that the foot sock I'm wearing was given up because there were two small holes in my soul and it was getting reddish and small blisters. I unexpectedly regret that I wear 4 inches heel black shoes because it was Auntie's suggestion and I am having a hard time. Damn this shoe and I'm not used to wearing it like this!
I put my shoes back on and wiped them with the tissue I had picked up earlier in the pantry. There was dirt that stuck in my shoes due to the spilt juice in the pantry earlier and I couldn't wipe it even though I had already a tissue to be used.
Then I put the used tissue in a nearby trash can. I took my phone out of my pocket and saw that there were notifications. I was about to open it but I halted when I notice someone sitting next to me. I glance at him and a familiar figure came into my view. I blinked many times to confirm if I was seeing a human that is not like earlier but upon waving his right hand near my face, I confirmed that I was not.
"Why? Are your pair of eyes okay?" he worriedly asked and I shook my head instantly. "It hurts." And acting as if the heart is aching while holding the chest to make it look real.
When I realized that he was real, a thorn in my side seemed to have pulled me out. "Sorry," I sincerely said.
"Why makes you say sorry?" he said in confusion as I stared at him intently. "Why?"
"Nothing," I said and went back my attention to my phone to read the notifications. I didn't expect that the one who delivered a message to me was the one who sit next to me.
"It hurts," he said again. "It made me sad that you just read my message."
I immediately looked at him because of what he said and I saw his smiling face that made me drown to it.
"Just kidding," Asher uttered. "What made you think that I'm not Asher?" I suddenly felt my cheeks heated with his question. Who would be insane to think that way?
I cleared my throat. If I dare to tell the truth, I will get embarrassed thinking that I thought I saw him earlier but it's not. It doesn't seem good to look to say I saw him because it looks like I yearn to see him and I still don't have enough courage in case he asks me why.
I looked at him and he was smiling from ear to ear. I smiled as well because of his contagious smile as I shifted back my gaze in front. "All I thought, you are going to deploy in your firm. All I thought it's finalized. I saw it in the bulletin board."
"Ah, it just that, something happened. I just realized one thing," he said. Gone with his contagious smile and turned into a serious and sincere one. I instantly got curious.
"Okay, may I know why?" I asked and based on his actions, he seems not to expect that I will ask the reason. It was out of my character to ask personally. "No. Don't answer it if you didn't feel like answering my question."
"Ah, it's okay." He paused. "I will answer your question after our work immersion is over."
I nodded. After that, someone called him that their break is over. He bid his goodbye and went to his block.
At the same time, I was called.
The next day and the following days, we observed personnel and the amount of effort and hard work they put into their jobs, as well as a sample of their work. We've had the opportunity to observe and train to work in the same manner as the workers, and it's not simply because we've had the opportunity to do so while standing for over eight hours. Nonetheless, I'm happy for the opportunity to see what others are up to outside.
Working in your chosen field, their chosen field I must say should be a lot easier because you already have a background in it, but everything my mind expects is wrong. Working in the real world is like being a youngster who must adjust to their surroundings, the people around them, and everything else.
Combine various emotions shows. I'm both nervous and excited to see what happens.
Then a magical statement says. "Okay, dismissed and good job everyone!" Mrs Jung said and we all looked like released in prison.
We all organized our desks and were ready to go home but deep inside I don't want to go home. There is two exit path and I chose the less walked away because I'm expecting it not to be crowded. I discovered it when my curiosity strikes when I saw one employee go this way.
An introvert like me preferred to be alone but from what I have learned, I need to go outside the box and based on what others say, I tried my best to break out because I was taking the business world. But this time, I need to be alone because I was exhausted.
However, my peaceful walk turned into hearing a noise. Eavesdropping was not in the plan if I didn't hear familiar voices and if only I hadn't heard my name mentioned. I feel it often happens to me to listen to the talk of others but I can't help but be intrigued because there are things I want to know and questions I want to know the answer to. I feel like they are part of who I am.
I just don't know whose voice it came from.
There is an office that is not too close to where the voice comes from but enough to see who's involved. I approached a little and I confirmed that Mrs Chua and Auntie Julie were talking. Auntie turned her back and Mrs Chua was on her side.
"Do you think your husband doing was right? Hiding what supposed to be?" Mrs Chua said firmly. Now, Dad was involved in the conversation. I don't even know what they are talking about but why do I feel my chest tightened and holding back the story? Why am I hurting for no reason? Is that possible?
"What do you think is my reason why I made her come to your company?" Auntie blurted out as in cue, I made me push the door accidentally.
They both alarm after confirming it was me and we all both left down founded. What I have done?