Rita's POVPractically, I'm starting a new life today. I'm gonna stop doing some things and start some new things. I can't believe that I'm kinda eager to find a partner, all of a sudden. Let's see how it goes, how long it would last, and if it'll make me happy atlas!
I woke up very early that day, engaged in some simple domestic chores which didn't take much of my time because I have the whole small house to myself.
Although I dressed shabbily yesterday, it won't be the same today.
I searched for and jostled a nice outfit out of my wardrobe, with matching pretty footwear. I'm fashion-conscious but these days I've been less concerned about whatever I put on simply because I have this sort of mentality that there's no guy out there to wear a dress to kill for. But today I say Bye- bye to that mindset.
Also, even while I walked out of the house, I noticed I had drawn and captured the attention of men. I blushed and smiled secretly. Gosh! When and why did I start thinking about guys? Yet I won't give them a minute to talk to me. Ain't being too pompous or full of myself instead, I see them as strangers. I'd choose Friends to lovers rather than strangers to lovers.
Come to think of it;
Why then did I dress to attract?
Oops! Back to the former mentality isn't it?
But hold on, I prefer friends to lovers yet I've got no friends other than Evelyn and Adam.
Oh! The main point is that I have to meet and mingle with people.
Several thoughts ran through my head and it's like I've got two personalities arguing.
*
I got to work earlier than yesterday and I perfunctorily greeted many colleagues that were already around. I looked around, searching for Evelyn. Yeah, she arrives at the company before me but today, I did. Talk of the devil, Evelyn walked in.
"I guessed right, I saw you coming out of a cab but since I only saw you from behind, I wasn't so sure. So I didn't wanna yell out your name" Evelyn said as she walked closer and gave me a greeting peck.
"We were gonna meet here anyways," I responded. "You don't need to embarrass yourself by yelling out my name"
"Oh, another stressful day." She sighed and took a seat.
"Good morning Rita" She added.
"Good morning to you too" I suddenly remember what she did yesterday. "And Evelyn what have you done?"
"What have I done? Like what? How? I don't understand" She pretended.
"I don't understand" I mimicked her with an ugly expression.
"You told Janet Johnson to hook me up with a guy!" I fired.
"Well that's not a bad one, I was only helping as a friend," She said, ignoring the fact that I was mad at what she did.
I stared at her, waiting for her to at least apologize or give me better reasons why she did that.
"So how did it go with the guy she introduced you to?" Evelyn asked me instead.
I rolled my eyes. "It will never go well"
"Don't tell me you ignored him?"
I snubbed her and sat properly "I didn't, but sure I will, soon"
"C'mon, Rita..."
Just then my phone rang, it was an unknown number, I picked it up anyways because it could be someone important or an urgent call.
"Good morning, You're speaking with Rita Martinez, please who is this and how may I help you?" I spoke politely and officially.
<>"Oh Goodness, I got the right number. Hello, Rita" The voice of an unfamiliar muscular voice.
"Hmmn Hi, please who am I into?" I asked again.
<>"Zane"
Now the name sounds familiar.
<>" From Kikachat. Hello? remember me? From Janet Johnson?" He added when I didn't say anything.
"Oh," I shot a glare at Evelyn. Yeah 'cos it's all her fault. She caused all this.
"Who's that?" She mouthed back but I scowled.
"Hello Zane, it's great hearing from you" I responded, acting all nice.
<>"Same here, you have a lovely voice Rita" He complimented and I smiled.
"You do not sound bad as well," I told him.
"Hmmn but how did you get my contact?" I inquired.
<>"Oh that, err... It's online, easy to find" He said.
"Really?" I exclaimed. I thought I took down my contact a long time ago because of this same reason. Avoiding calls from strangers.
<>"So where are you right now?" He asked.
"At work"
<>"Oh right, it's a work day. So what are you presently doing?" He asked me, being all nice, friendly, and perhaps romantic too.
I blushed a little; apart from my parents. there was no one else to ask after me and my day. That's probably why I'm flattered.
"Hello? You are blushing! You got a guy Rita!" Evelyn said aloud and everyone initially minding their business started to stare at me.
"Uh..noo" I stammered.
Oh shit! I covered her mouth with my palm right away. I've almost forgotten that she's here, watching me, noting down my expression being the upcoming love doctor that she is.
"Uhh. I'm at work, I'm working Zane!" I said rudely as if I'm upset with his caring attitude.
<>"Oh sorry, I'm probably disturbing you" He innocently apologized.
Evelyn and I were still busy struggling. I managed to hold the cell phone on my ear while I covered her mouth with the other hand to stop her from spewing nonsense again. And she was just there trying to get herself free from me and she also wanna listen to my conversation with Zane. As we were still struggling, I didn't know I clicked on the loudspeaker icon.
<>"So when would you be free? We have a lot to catch up on, you know. What time would you leave your workplace?" Zane asked and it was loud and clear.
Jez... I trembled and quickly reduced the volume.
"4:00 pm!" Evelyn yelled.
"Evelyn!!" I Hollander her name.
"Bye Zane, Bye." I hung up the call instantly and confronted Evelyn.
"Why are you shy that there's a guy who's into you or who you eventually might be into? Look, you were blushing" Evelyn said before I could even vent my anger on her.
"Stop saying nonsense, I don't even know him yet" I fired back but when I noticed that everyone in here was staring at us.
"C'mon," I lowered my voice.
"Okay. Like you just said 'Not yet'. So is he the guy you were matchmade with?" She whispered curiously.
"We were not matchmade, he was only introduced to me" I scorned.
"Whatever, it's the same thing in terms that you likely end up with him," She said.
"Rita got a guy?" Adam walked in interrupting us.
"Oh, baby.." His girlfriend stood up and gave him a tight hug and he reciprocated by kissing her on the forehead.
"So is there anything I've missed?" He asked again and I gave Evelyn a-don't-you-dare-speak look.
I know I'm exaggerating by being unnecessarily shy and embarrassed but enough of this humiliation. She dare not tell him yet that there's a guy I'm hooked up with and I may eventually trip for along the line. Oh nah! What did I just think of?
"Are you guys hiding things from me now? I thought we were best cliques, best friends?" He suspected when he noticed our voiceless communication.
"Well dear, it's ladies' stuff..hmmm?" She said, romantically pinching her boyfriend's cheek.
"Hymn accepted but little do you know that some people are eavesdropping.. plus that guy over there" He pointed and we traced his finger.
"Who?" We simultaneously asked.. because there was no one at the entrance.
"Uhh, I'm sure I saw a guy there before I walked in.. he was watching you two with keen, so much interest, his arms were folded, and he was tall. I know for sure he was listening to you guys - girly conversation" Adams rushed his words trying to convince us.
" You cooked up this tale just because Evelyn said it's a girly conversation?" I disbelieved him.
"No. it's true. I swear" He added.
And I smiled. "Okay"
"Alright," Evelyn said too, acting like we believed him.
"Is that what you guys are gonna say? Okay? Alright?"
"What else? Fine, we believe you but we still not gonna tell you what we were discussing about" I said, making him more suspicious by having a high five with Evelyn.
"What if he's a spy? An intruder or something? Remember guys, yesterday a guy was spying on us. Now again. wait a minute, they kinda look alike. Familiar rather. I guess it's the same guy who was peeping at us yesterday, he's the same person!" Adam said.
"Hmm, Adam?"
"Yeah, Rita" He called my name just like I did to his.
"You guys don't believe me?" He said.
"I do, kind of. I mean yesterday you saw a guy spying on us. Same guy, spying on us again? But remember, it's just you. We didn't even see the person" I said, chuckling.
"Whatever," Adam remarked with a false humiliated expression.
"Oh! It's work O'clock" Evelyn announced as two ladies walked in, headed in our direction.
"Okay. See you guys during the lunch break" Adam said, kissed his girlfriend on the cheek then walked away.
I noticed my cell phone ringing again but when I realized that the strange number calling me might be Zane, I turned down the phone which halt it from ringing aloud. Ain't ready to continue this boyfriend conversation with Evelyn and I'm glad that, Adam indirectly seized the messed-up conversation I had with Evelyn about Zane.
**
"As good employees, I think we should check up on Mrs. Blakeston, we have her contact do we not?" Evelyn said as we walked down to the bus stop together.
"You are being sarcastic right now, aren't you?" I laughed, knowing fully well that she is never comfortable whenever Mrs Blakeston is around. All of us...do not like her.
"Of course, I am kidding. I have been as free as a dove ever since yesterday, I hope she resigns and assigns someone else to take over the company, preferably one of us" Evelyn said.
"Ah well, I have no issues with Mrs. Blakeston, except that she should treat us like the adults we are. We are not high school students" I said. "Also, I wish that she can promote us to the main office too"
"Exactly. I wish the same" Evelyn agreed, hopefully.
I thought Evelyn has forgotten to have her usual conversation with me because she didn't mention anything regarding the boyfriend issue since this morning but I was wrong, she suddenly brought it up again like she was reading my mind.
"Hmmm Rita, you know, you are meant to go on a date with that Zane guy"
Ugh! back to this conversation.
"How do you know his name?"
"I figured"
"Evelyn, you need to stop intruding into my private life"
"Point of correction, your private single life"
"Argh! You are just so annoying Evelyn!"
"It's the truth, Rita, you broke that innocent dude's heart, he probably wanted to spend some time with you and know you more that's why he asked for the closing hour"
"We met only yesterday. we didn't even meet like we were only introduced yesterday, and should we be meeting already today?"
"Of course" She answered sharply.
"Well, I'm sure he heard you yell the exact closing hour. If he wants to meet me and spend some time with me, then he should have come over already"
"He wouldn't, did you even tell him where you work at? How would he find his way?"
"Uhn…well we haven't talked about that. We briefly talked about ourselves last night" I told her.
"Uhm Rita, something keeps telling me you would like this guy you would fall for him hard," She said observing my facial expression, she could even scrutinize the hidden inner expression.
"Ah! Well, I don't think so but you know what Evelyn, you are right, I might fall for him probably if we had to meet physically. Also, from friends first to lovers. Not from strangers to lovers. I don't think it's gonna work" I concluded.
"Till now, I still don't get your taste of man. You are just weird Rita"
"I know" I smiled awkwardly.
Then the bus arrived and we walked in. We sat at the last seats because it was more spacious while the remaining seats could contain only two passengers.
We took our seats and the bus was about to move when someone came in, he walked straight towards us and sat next to me (in between Evelyn and I).
I recognized him immediately.
"Oh, Friday" I called his name.
"Finn" He corrected with a smile.
"Hello Rita," He said to me, smiling widely.
***********
To Be Continued