Rosel let out a groan, her reluctance to go to work palpable. "What if I just don't go?" she mused, reaching for her phone on the bedside table. She turned off the insistent alarm and, after putting on her glasses, was met with a barrage of spam messages in her chat.
'It's too early for this,' she thought, feeling the weight of her grogginess. With a heavy heart, she dragged herself out of bed and prepared for the day. It was a casual day, so she threw on a random sweater, slipped into her jeans, and completed her look with a pair of worn sneakers and a cap before heading out to work. She swiped through her playlist, skipping several songs as she failed to find the right mood. Before she knew it, she had arrived at her desk. She sank into her chair, a mix of polymer and cotton, with a deep sigh. A notification popped up in the corner of her screen.
Benjamin, her colleague for the project, had sent her a message on Teams. "All good? You look like you could use a coffee or two."
Rosel sighed again and typed a quick reply: "Maybe a shot of ethanol from the lab would be more effective." Within moments, a reply came back with lunch plans and a series of laughing emojis. She responded with a brief "ok" just as she was startled by someone's presence behind her.
"Someone sure is popular."
It was Rachel, her coworker. Before Rosel could say anything, she was struck by Rachel's new hairstyle and fashion sense.
"That's new," Rosel remarked, noting that Rachel's butterfly cut was now almost the same length as her own. Rachel's attire was more tomboyish compared to her usual preppy or coquette style. It seemed Rosel wasn't the only one caught off guard; the office buzzed with excitement as colleagues gathered around, commenting on Rachel's fresh new look.
A weird feeling churned in her, but Rachel's demeanour to her was still the same old. 'Maybe I'm overthinking again.' Rosel replied, attempting a smile. "Your new look is quite the change. I like it." Rosel took a deep breath, trying to shake off the morning's discontent.
Rachel's grin widened. "Thanks! I figured it was time for something different. What do you think, a good change of pace?"
"Definitely," Rosel agreed, though she was still feeling a bit out of sorts.
She glanced at Rachel, whose new look was the center of attention. As the buzz of her colleagues continued, Rachel caught Rosel's eye and gave her a wry smile.
As Rachel's new hairstyle became the hot topic of the morning, Rosel tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting. The usual office chatter seemed louder than usual, with colleagues offering their opinions on Rachel's makeover and discussing weekend plans. The usual hum of productivity was replaced by a more social atmosphere, and Rosel found it hard to concentrate.
Benjamin appeared at her desk, a coffee cup in hand. "Thought you might need this," he said, handing her a steaming cup. "How's your day going so far?"
"Not great, to be honest," Rosel admitted, taking a grateful sip of the coffee. "I'm just not feeling it today."
Benjamin nodded sympathetically. "I get it. Mornings can be rough. How about we take that lunch break together? It might help to get out of here for a bit."
Rosel hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Sure, that sounds good. A change of scenery might be just what I need."
As the morning progressed, Rosel and Benjamin engaged in a lively discussion about work, upcoming projects, and the quirks of office life. Their conversation provided Rosel with a sense of grounding, and by the time lunchtime arrived, she was more than ready for a break.
Rachel, having noticed their departure, approached them as they prepared to leave. "Mind if I join you guys? I could use a breather too."
The trio made their way to a nearby café, where the relaxed setting and comforting aroma of fresh coffee began to lift Rosel's spirits. The cozy atmosphere and Rachel's new look sparked a lively discussion, and Rosel found herself genuinely enjoying the banter.
"So, Rosel, you seem to know Jun pretty well. What kind of girl do you think would catch his eye?" Rachel asked suddenly.
The unexpected question about Jun caught Rosel off guard, causing her to momentarily choke on her coffee. 'What is it with me and coffee these days?' she mused, reflecting on the number of times she'd nearly had an accident with her favorite drink recently.
"We're not exactly close," Rosel said, grabbing a napkin from Benjamin to dab at her mouth. "I just know him from way back."
Rachel's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered before anyone could notice. It was becoming clear what she was angling for.
'Maybe someone as charming as Rachel is just the type he'd be interested in,' Rosel thought to herself.
Maintaining a slight smile, Rosel looked at Rachel. "Well, for starters, Jun doesn't hesitate to show when he's uninterested in something or someone. Despite his tough exterior, he has a soft spot for sweets. I'll be rooting for you, Rachel."
Rachel's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You promise?!" she asked eagerly.
Rosel nodded in response. Benjamin observed the exchange quietly, his gaze shifting between Rosel and Rachel.
The tension in the air was palpable as Rachel leaned in closer, her eyes filled with anticipation. Rosel could sense her eagerness, and though she felt a twinge of unease, she kept her expression neutral. "Of course, Rachel," Rosel said with a smile, trying to mask the conflicted feelings bubbling beneath the surface. "But just be yourself. That's what really matters."
Rachel beamed, clearly thrilled by Rosel's words. "Thanks, Rosel! I appreciate the support. I've heard a lot about him, and I'm kind of excited to see where things might go."
Rosel's heart sank slightly at Rachel's enthusiasm. She couldn't help but wonder if her friend was heading down a path that could lead to more complications, especially given her own complicated history with Jun. But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment.
Benjamin, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally spoke up. "Well, if Jun's as interesting as you say, Rachel, he's in for quite a surprise." His tone was light, but there was a hint of something else—something that made Rosel glance at him curiously. Benjamin had always been a supportive colleague, but today, his attention seemed more focused on her.
Rachel laughed, taking Benjamin's comment as a compliment. "I hope so!" she said, her confidence renewed.
As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Rosel tried to push aside her doubts. The rest of the lunch passed by in a blur of casual banter and shared laughs. But as they returned to the office, Rosel couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something was shifting—both in her relationships and in the dynamics at work.
Back at her desk, Rosel found herself distracted, her thoughts constantly drifting back to the lunch conversation. Rachel's newfound interest in Jun, her own emotions, her past, it was all a mess right now.
As the afternoon wore on, Rosel tried to refocus on her work, but the looming presence of the past and the uncertainty of the future made it difficult. She found herself glancing at the clock more often than usual, counting down the hours until she could escape the confines of the office and sort through her tangled emotions in the solitude of her apartment.
When the day finally ended, Rosel gathered her things and left the office in a hurry. She needed to clear her head, to figure out what exactly was bothering her so much. The cool evening air was a welcome relief as she walked home, the bustle of the city around her offering a temporary distraction from her thoughts.
But deep down, Rosel knew she couldn't avoid the growing complications forever. Whether it was dealing with Rachel's crush on Jun, managing her own unresolved feelings, or navigating the complexities of her work life, the flames of change were licking at the edges of her carefully constructed world. And sooner or later, something was bound to ignite.