Her day started out boring but it was turning out to be productive.
Smooth elevator music played in the background as Nalé typed up her schedule for the week.
From the meeting with the IT team, to speaking to the companies' partners about the time limit for the project, and then her reporting all of this to the CEO, she was booked for the remainder of the week.
Luckily, today was her planning day so she would not be doing any of this until later.
She breathed out a sigh of relief as she looked at the clock on her computer. "It's 12! Phew, I managed to finish right on time."
"I got half of my schedule planned for this new project, sent some questionnaires to the other departments, and managed to do it all while reading this Black Clover fanfiction."
She grinned.
"Someone should congratulate me on my expert multitasking skills."
"Welp!" she stood up abruptly.
"Time to get some lunch! I've already ordered my Chow Mei Fun," she looked at her phone, "and it should be here right about now."
Blinded by the enthusiasm her hunger brought forth, she ran to her office door, swinging it wildly and hitting something with an audible "thunk".
She gasped and peeked behind the door to find Moria, one of her only friends in the workplace sprawled on the floor, leg bent dramatically as if portraying a crime scene.
"Moria!" she exclaimed, trying to calm down her avid urge to laugh.
"Are you ok?" She asks as she helps up her friend.
Moria twists and turns, stretching her limbs to make sure all of them are in working order before she responds. "Yea, I'm good. My boobs cushioned the impact of the door, so I was safe on that front, unfortunately there was nothing to cushion my fall from the back, so my ass hurts now."
Nalé chuckles as she hooks her arm around Moria, dragging her along to the cafeteria.
"I'm sorry ," she says, " I'll pay for your next three visits to the chiropractor..."
she turns to face Moria, who's face is alight with glee at this offer.
"Deal?" she asks, as they step into the elevator.
"Deal," Moria replies, leaning her head against Nalé's shoulders.
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦? Nalé thinks, smiling as she pats Moria's head, attempting to comfort her further.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Mmmmm, no matter how many times I order this meal, I never get tired of it!" Nalé exclaims, mouth full, devouring the meal she had previously ordered.
"Have you heard about that mysterious sickness that's been spreading in China lately?" Moria asks as she chews on her Italian sausage pizza.
"Yea, I've heard about it, It's in Wuhan right now, I think. I hear it's spreading quickly, I hope everyone involved stays safe." Nalé responds, continuing her meal.
The subject quickly changes from disease to dating.
"So I went on my first date a week ago.."
"What?!" Moria exclaims.
"It took you a week to tell me that? I'm hurt.." she pouts.
"Heh, just be glad I told you."
" What was it like?" Moria asks, leaning in closer, curious to hear how it went.
"It started off well," Nalé begins, leaning back in her chair, remembering the details.
" The food was good, the man was hot, intelligent and we had so many things in common . But I think it ended up a little too well, I was in his bed a few hours later.."
Moria gasps.
"Girl, I had the time of my life… round 1,2,3,4" Nalé begins to count and gestures towards Moria.
"Count with me, babe."
Moria joins in "5,6,7,8"
"I almost saw Lucifer, The man, myth and legend almost came to greet me himself.
"Whew, It was nice,'' Nalé whispers, smiling.
Moria has a smile on her face as well, but then she prompts, "and then what?"
Nalé's smile drops quickly. "He said it was a one time thing, and told me to leave afterwards."
"Bruh."
Moria's expression is one of disgust.
"Didn't you explicitly state on your dating profile that you weren't into hookups?"
"I did!"
"I even asked him during the date and he said he saw it, and that he agreed as well."
"I felt good about this one so I didn't mind doing that with him, because I was at least expecting a second date to get to know him better and speak more about ourselves, and more on our expectations towards each other."
" But this is how it turned out instead…" Nalé slowly lowered her head down onto the table.
"I was tricked…I feel so dumb."
Moria pats Nalé's head, sighing at the misfortune that befell her friend once again.
She notices her friend's teardrops on the table, so she leans in closer and whispers, "let's do something tonight, a home cooked dinner and some movies, then we'll cuddle your cats and rant about life. I can't take your pain away, but I can be here for you, Nalé. Always."
"It'll be oka-"
Bang!
A loud sound rings out, Moria's comforting caresses cease
and then a thud.
It all happened so fast.
The woman with her head on the table lifts up her head, startled at the sound, only to see blood... everywhere, the table, on the walls, on her hands and...on the floor.
The floor which happened to be cradling Moria...Kind, soft Moria who has now passed on, expression frozen in confusion, body lax.
𝘉𝘶-𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵-Nalé almost starts to hyperventilate.
But before that happens she looks up once more and catches the eye of the killer, who happens to be looking right back at her.
His head tilts.
She knew him. She greeted him yesterday, in fact.
It's hard to breathe.
She tries to take her next breath, but the bullet steals it from her.
The one embedded in her chest.
She falls down.
The world slows down, a blink later and she's on the floor.
She lays there bleeding ,tears and blood pooling around her body as she watches the red liquid gushing out of her precious friend's skull before darkness eventually settles in.