"Sis, are you heading to work?" Sara asked, her voice edged with anxiety as she watched Maya carefully apply the final touches to her makeup.
"Yeah, do you need something?" Maya replied, turning to face her sister, adjusting her hair in the mirror. Her eyes softened as she took in Sara's nervous expression.
"Oh, I'll come with you then. I've got a big exam today, and I'm seriously freaking out. Maybe being with you will help calm me down," Sara said, her voice trembling slightly as she showed Maya her sweaty palms for emphasis.
Maya fully turned to face her sister, her expression melting into one of concern and understanding. "Don't worry, Sara. As long as you're prepared, you'll be fine. But I have to get off three stops earlier," she said, pouting slightly, her eyes reflecting the support she wanted to convey.
"That's okay," Sara replied, trying to muster a smile despite the butterflies doing a tango in her stomach. "Cheer up, okay?"
"Thanks, I'll be quick. Wait for me downstairs," Maya said, pulling her sister into a reassuring hug, hoping to transfer some of her calmness to Sara.
The sisters left home earlier than usual. Sara couldn't afford to be late for her exam; it was crucial, determining the top ten students who would get to assist the professor with new experiments—a dream Sara had long nurtured. As they reached the bus stop, Maya spotted Shonn sitting on a bench, his headphones on, completely lost in his music. She nudged Sara gently.
"Hey, isn't that Shonn?" Maya pointed, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Sara looked over, and as soon as Shonn noticed her, he smiled warmly and removed his headphones. He walked over, greeting Maya with a slight nod.
"Hey, Ms. Larson," he said, his voice warm and friendly.
"Just call me Maya," she replied with a smile that reached her eyes.
"Alright, Maya. Are you two going together today?" Shonn asked, his gaze shifting to Sara, who seemed a bit flustered under his direct attention.
"Yeah, but I have to get off three stops earlier. Just look at her—she's so nervous she's sweating," Maya said, giving Sara a sympathetic look that made Sara blush.
"Oh, really? Why are you so nervous?" Shonn reached out and took Sara's hands in his, his touch gentle and reassuring. Sara's blush deepened, and Maya stifled a giggle at her sister's obvious embarrassment.
"I told you. It's my exam today. I have to ace it to get into Professor Yang's team. It's really important," Sara explained, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled to maintain eye contact with Shonn.
Shonn, noticing her discomfort, handed her a packet of tissues. "Looks like you might need these."
"Thanks," Sara said, taking the tissues with a grateful smile, her heart pounding in her chest.
"And here," Shonn added, pulling a chocolate bar from his bag and handing it to her.
"A chocolate bar? Thanks, but why?" Sara asked, puzzled by the gesture.
"To help you relax," Shonn said, looking ahead as the bus approached. "I always keep a few on me."
"That's cute," Sara remarked, trying to hide her smile but failing miserably.
"What's so cute about that? Don't worry about the exam; it doesn't affect your grade. Just go for it and take it as an experience," Shonn said, his cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.
Maya remembered Levi mentioning his little brother's habit of carrying chocolates. Curious, she asked, "Shonn, what was your last name again?"
"Turner, Shonn Turner," he replied, his voice steady and clear.
"Oh, look, the bus is here," Maya said, spotting the approaching bus and dismissing her earlier thought that Shonn might be Levi's brother, deciding it was just a coincidence.
As they boarded the bus, Maya found a seat by the window and motioned for Sara to sit beside her. Shonn sat across from them, and Sara's anxiety seemed to lessen in his presence. They chatted about trivial things, trying to keep Sara's mind off the impending exam.
"So, Shonn, do you have any tips for staying calm during an exam?" Maya asked, hoping his advice might ease Sara's nerves.
Shonn thought for a moment before replying, "I usually take deep breaths and remind myself that I've prepared as best as I can. And if I start to panic, I take a small break, even if it's just in my head."
"That sounds helpful," Sara said, her voice steadier now.
"You'll do great, Sara," Shonn said, his tone encouraging. "And remember, it's just one exam. It doesn't define you."
"Thanks, Shonn," Sara said, her confidence slowly returning. "I needed to hear that."
The bus ride seemed shorter with Shonn's calming presence and Maya's supportive smiles. When it was time for Maya to get off, she gave Sara one last hug and whispered, "You've got this. I believe in you."
As the bus doors closed behind Maya, Sara took a deep breath and turned to Shonn. "Thanks for the chocolate and the pep talk. It really helped."
"Anytime, Sara. Good luck," Shonn said, giving her a reassuring smile.
. . .
As Maya walked into her department, the weight of the workday settled on her shoulders like a familiar, unwelcome friend. The office buzzed with activity, everyone already deep in their tasks. Nira, her closest friend at work, sighed and pointed at the clock on her desk. Confused, Maya checked the time—she wasn't late. But something felt off.
"Ms. Larson, over here," Steven's sharp voice cut through the noise, pulling her out of her thoughts. His tone was demanding, as usual.
"Is this the time you come in, Ms. Larson?" Steven's voice carried an edge that made Maya's heart sink.
"But I'm not late, sir," Maya replied, furrowing her brows. She could feel her heart starting to race.
"Yes, not by regular office hours. But you were supposed to come in earlier today. Did you not check your email last night?" Steven's frustration was palpable.
"I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't check. Please, let it slide this time," Maya pleaded, her pulse quickening as she realized her mistake.
"This is the first and last warning, Ms. Larson. You can't work here with no sense of time. I don't know how you survived in the UK," he said sternly, his gaze unwavering.
"Yes, sir," Maya muttered, feeling a lump form in her throat.
"I'll add 60 more files for you to check. Don't take it as a punishment but as a lesson. You need to finish them by today, no excuses," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Yes, sir. Thank you," Maya said as he walked away, her shoulders drooping under the weight of the additional workload.
"Cheer up, Maya," Nira said softly, trying to lift her friend's spirits. "How many files in total?" Maya asked.
"140," Nira said with an awkward smile, trying to gauge Maya's reaction.
"Eh?!" Maya screamed, her voice echoing through the office. Steven, hearing her from his room, just scoffed and shook his head.
"Larson, you're loud!" an employee said, raising an eyebrow at the commotion.
"Sorry," Maya muttered, sinking into her chair, feeling overwhelmed and defeated.
Determined to get through the mountain of work, Maya skipped lunch at the cafeteria, opting to stay at her desk. Nira, noticing her friend's dedication, brought her a hamburger.
"Aww, thanks, Nira," Maya said, her voice tinged with exhaustion but gratitude shining in her eyes.
"You're welcome," Nira replied, patting her shoulder encouragingly.
The monotony of the office was broken by a delivery boy entering. "Maya Larson? Anyone?" he called out, looking around the room.
"That's me," Maya said, approaching him with a puzzled expression. "But I didn't order anything."
"Really? Let me check," the delivery boy said, glancing at his phone. "It says your name."
"I think there's a mistake. I'll pay for it," Maya offered, still confused.
"It's already paid for," he replied.
"What?" Maya asked, even more puzzled.
"Maybe someone sent it to you. Alright, have a good day," the delivery boy said, leaving her more confused than ever.
Maya opened the package and found a note with the lunch box: "Cheer up and eat. Hang in there."
"Who could have sent this?" Nira asked, peeking over Maya's shoulder, her curiosity piqued.
"I don't know. But it really cheered me up," Maya said with a wide grin, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at the thoughtful gesture.
She savored the surprise lunch, the mystery of the sender lingering in her mind. Despite the daunting stack of files waiting for her, Maya felt a renewed sense of determination. Someone out there was rooting for her, and that little act of kindness gave her the strength to push through the day.
. . .
Levi made his way down the hall, stopping by Steven's office for a quick check-in. Leaning casually against the doorframe, he asked, "How's it going?"
Steven, eyes glued to his computer screen, replied, "Had a little trouble, but it's going well."
Levi's curiosity was piqued. "What kind of trouble?"
Steven hesitated, not wanting to show any signs of struggle. "It's nothing, really."
"New recruits?" Levi prodded. "I know you, Steven. Someone didn't finish their work, made a mistake, or was late." Steven's silence was all the confirmation Levi needed. "So, someone was late, and you had to lay down the law?"
Steven sighed. "Alright, it's my job now to cheer them up," Levi said, turning to leave.
"Wait! You don't have to. It's really nothing," Steven insisted, trying to downplay the situation.
"Judging by your face, it was Larson, wasn't it?" Levi's tone grew serious. Steven leaned back, defeated, "Alright, she was late. We are having a busy day, I emailed everyone to come early and everyone did, except her."
"She messed up this time, but if I see you treating her unfairly, I'll step in," Levi warned.
"I was fair with my comment Levi. You cannot judge me for that."
"Not judging you, Steven. I said if I see you treat her unfairly anytime, I'll protect her."
Steven scoffed, "Protect her? What am I gonna do, eat her?"
Levi's tone was low and serious. "I'll send her to another department if I have to. Now, I'm getting coffee. Want one?"
Steven chuckled. "No, thanks. You're something else, Levi."
As Levi walked past Maya's desk, he noticed everyone standing except her. She was engrossed in her work until Levi gently coughed behind her. "How's it going?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.
Maya spun around, eyes wide with surprise. "Sorry, I didn't see you, Mr. Thompson."
"Here. You drink coffee, right?" He handed her a cup, noticing the tiredness in her eyes.
"Yes. Thanks," Maya said, accepting the coffee with a grateful smile as she felt the weight of everyone's stares. "And here," Levi added, handing her a chocolate bar.
"A chocolate bar, again?" she smiled, recalling the morning's encounter with Shonn.
"To help you relax. I heard you have a lot on your plate today. Are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern in his eyes.
"Yes, I'm okay. Thanks for asking," she replied, feeling a bit lighter.
"Are you sure you can finish by office hours?" he asked, still concerned.
"No. It will take some time, but I'll try to wrap it up tonight," she assured him.
"Alright then. Cheer up," Levi said, leaving with a smile.
As she settled back into her work, ignoring the stares, Nira leaned over and whispered, "Maya, do you really have something going on with him?"
"No! What are you talking about?" Maya shook her head, exasperated.
"Well, some folks saw him giving you a chocolate bar during the interview, and now this. Plus, they saw you getting out of his car at orientation," Nira said, raising an eyebrow.
"Where did you hear this?" Maya asked, feeling cornered.
"I've got detective ears. Overheard it in the cafeteria," Nira replied, grinning.
"Great. It's true, but it's not what you think. He was just trying to cheer me up. That's all," Maya explained, feeling her cheeks heat up.
"Okay, okay. You don't have to panic. But don't you think he treats you differently?" Nira asked, winking.
Maya slapped her face lightly, trying to dispel the thoughts. "It's all nonsense. He was just being nice, right?" she thought, trying to convince herself.