" Miss Kate, have you understood your next assignment? "
I nod even though I have no idea which assignment is she referring to. It is now getting worse, I can rarely focus on my office work and keep zoning out frequently. Earlier today, a car was almost going to knock me off if the old woman, whom I was supposed to help cross the road, had not pulled me back on time. How ironic. A helper ended up being helped. But then, I was never a helper, couldn't be one. Kate Marker, the failure of Peacock High School, was someone with whom everyone empathized. Teachers grouped me with students who were the high achievers only so they could help me learn, help me observe brainstorming, help me think creatively, help help help.... I was only able to survive with someone's assistance. Other students looked down on me, made fun of my eccentric behaviour, mocked me for being different, called me names; God knows how many times I had corrected those immature brats that I was Kate Marker and not some dull marker or kate misfit or dumby. Not that I cared, the truth is I don't give a shit about what others think of me, trash bags speak trash anyway. Also, it has always been the adults who agitate me and not the kids. Every time an adult would see me playing with my hands constantly or staring at the floor thinking about my pencil I kept on the table two days ago, they would feel sorry, not for me, but for my parents. For them, my parents were the sufferers and not me. With two daughters already on their shoulders and one diagnosed with ADHD, my parents were the victims and not the little girl who was actually having sleepless nights because she couldn't help thinking about all the efforts she could do to fit in her school, to make friends and for once to stop having all those thoughts. Doctor Susanah told me I could get better if I take proper medication and talk to her about the myriad of thoughts wavering in my mind. At first, it took me ages to convince myself to confess to Dr. Suu (that's what I called her because all the minutes I spent in calling her long name could be consumed for some of my other significant thoughts) that I have a 50% doubt that therapists are psychopaths and she might end up killing me someday. However, after....
" Miss Kate! "
A deep, manly voice that always poised me to focus, brings me back to reality yet again. Another session of 'lost in your own thoughts' has ended Kate, GET BACK TO WORK!
'" Yes sir, how can I help you? "
" Where are you lost today? The entire office now knows about the assignment that Laurel has been shoving on your face for the past half hour except you. "
Mister Steven Ruiz, the most successful CEO of the country and also ranked among the top most handsome faces globally, is the only hurdle in my placid life. Oh the urge to call my life 'placid'. The first time I had stepped into this company, three years ago, he was the one who welcomed me with a bright smile. I had found an advertisement for hiring a web editor at Systems.in online and immediately applied here least expecting to be hired at all. Although I am a smart web editor and my IQ is a lot better than others, but given my weak academic background and poor communication skills, I didn't even have a slight hope of getting a job. However, I was taken aback by the way Steven sir recruited me without a second thought. "I wanted a web editor so badly that I now regret the consequences of my hasty decision back then" , he says, every time I screw up something, which I keep doing every now and then. Perhaps the only thing that's helping me to stay in this job is my sister's prayers. Since the day of my recruitment, I have never ever seen him smile again, I wonder if he even has those dopamine hormones. My co-workers call him Eternal Grumpy but even with all the grimness inundated in him, there's something different in the way he talks to me, more like concern concealed beneath those fierce eyes. Even when he's angry at me, I don't feel ashamed or mortified or failed, instead it arises in me a motivation to do better and to try harder. And the fact that when he had discovered about my ADHD, he didn't fire me or considered me incompetent in any way, instead showed care, and hasn't brought it up again ever since that day, makes me have thoughts that I shouldn't have. Well, I tried real hard to keep my mental instability a secret but I couldn't hide it longer either. It's a disease that can be observed easily, and of course they'll know if I incessantly move my leg, do that thing with my fingers and keep cleaning my desk every other minute. Most of my colleagues had known it long before and treated me quite similar to the way my classmates did in school. But when it spread throughout my whole department and even reached the ears of my boss, I was so worried, I literally played clash of clans the whole night. The next day when I went to the office, sir Steven came up to me himself and said, "I am not nosy but I have ears, two of them which are sadly not dysfunctional so please sleep well. It's not good for your health and for your work as well. You know, I hate pending tasks." There was something in his tone that felt sweet, I know if I tell this to my colleagues they will probably laugh at me because our boss is just about being sour. And not to forget he just showed concern for his work, not for me. I won't deny though, it did give me butterflies. What? No. I mean hands, play with hands, that's better than some sassy boss. No. Not hands right now. He's talking to me, I have to reply back.
"Only if she had been a little louder, the entire office wouldn't have known about my assignment", I mutter bluntly.
I wonder why everyone is staring at me shockingly. Is it misconduct again?
He stares at me for a whole minute before saying, "Kate. In my office. In five minutes."
Oh, no. Danger alert. Ava, please save me again through your prayers.