I recently experienced a breakup from a situationship, and I can't bear to continue working at the same company as him. Seeing him hurts deeply, and the pain he caused has affected my trust in men. The term "breakup" doesn't fully capture what happened since we never labeled our relationship; we just went with the flow. Now, I'm looking forward to starting fresh at my new job.

One year ago…

In a company meeting room… The interviewer smiled as he asked, "Ms. Lyn Peterson, if we were to hire you, where do you see yourself in this company five years from now?" He appeared clean and friendly, with a pleasant scent.

"I am determined to become a trainer and share my knowledge, helping others succeed as they grow in the industry. Through hard work and dedication, I am committed to achieving that goal," I replied, hoping I sounded confident.

"Thank you, Ms. Lyn Peterson. Please wait outside. We will inform you about the test and interview results." he said.

In the lobby… Who is that attractive man who keeps looking my way? His eyes are captivating, and he wears that pink polo shirt with such confidence—it really suits him. I know I shouldn't stare, but I can't help it. Is he an applicant too? He seems a bit nervous. I hope we both pass. Wait, is he coming over here?!

"Hey there! Are you here applying for a job too? I saw you coming out of that room just now," he said with a smile and warmth in his eyes.

"Hi! Yes, you're right. I just wrapped up my final interview," I replied, trying to match his friendly vibe.

"Same here! I hope we both pass and get to see each other again," he said just as his name was called—he passed the application.

After his name was called, mine followed right after. We both got hired! I'm overflowing with happiness, and the thought of possibly seeing him again fills me with excited butterflies.

First day of training at work… I jumped out of bed and took a quick shower, drying my hair with a towel as I put on my jeans and a loose formal blouse. How did I oversleep? Luckily, Mom remembered I had work today. I rushed through my makeup.

"Mom! I'm heading out now! Love you!" I called as I finished combing my hair and stepped outside to catch my ride.

"Hope you didn't forget the sandwiches I packed! Love you too!" she replied, but I could barely hear her as I rushed out.

I love my mother so much—she's all I have. My father passed away when I was young, so she worked hard to raise my older brother and me. Even though I'm the youngest, I'm more responsible than my brother, who is now married with three kids but struggles to support them. That's why I work hard for my mother; I know she relies on me.

My office is on the 19th floor of a building in a bustling business center. It's convenient—there's a grocery store, mall, hotel, casino, and even condos nearby. It feels like a small city where everything you need is right at your fingertips.

The training room is clean and simple, painted white. It has MacBook computers at each seat, accommodating up to twenty people. 

I made it on time! I felt a sense of relief. I am looking for a vacant seat when suddenly…

"Hey, it's great to see you again! I'm really happy we're in the same batch—what a nice coincidence!" he said, grinning widely.

I was pleasantly surprised to see him again, feeling a bit shy. I stammered, "Hi, it's nice to see you again!"

"Would you like to grab lunch together later? If you're up for it," he asked, a little shy but grinning.

"Of course!" I replied, trying not to show how happy I was that he asked me.

"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm William Lee, but you can call me Will," he said.

"I'm Lyn Peterson. Well, my name is already short, so there," I said, surprising myself with a hint of humor. Did I just try to be funny?

The lesson had started with Mr. John Yap, our tall and imposing instructor. He looks good for his age and has a strict demeanor, but he also jokes with us. When he teaches, he expects us to pay attention and stay quiet unless he asks a question.

After two hours, Mr. Yap announced a surprise quiz to test our understanding and wake us up. I panicked; I had dozed off a bit and wasn't sure I grasped everything.

Ugh! I only got 4 out of 10 on my quiz. I thought to myself, feeling pretty disappointed.

Jay Cane, my tall, slender best friend with glasses, spotted my quiz score and leaned in, eyeing the biscuits I had snuck in. "Looks like you've got a crush on that Will guy, huh?" he said with a smirk.

"Why do you say that?" I wondered if I was being too obvious.

"Well, your quiz score tells a different story. Just kidding! Seriously, your eyes are practically sparkling! You look like a lovesick puppy!" he teased, still grinning.

"Alright, fine! I do have a crush on him; it started when I first saw him. Are you happy now that I answered?" I admitted, feeling a bit defeated that he knew me so well.

"Nope! Can I have some of those biscuits?" he continued teasing.

"Here! Take as many as you want and just be quiet!" I said, slightly annoyed. 

"Thanks! These biscuits are all I need to stay quiet. But you know they only work for a little while, right?" he said with a sarcastic grin.

"I know! Now shoo!" I replied, still irritated.

"Hey, chill! Thanks for the biscuits!" he said, unfazed by my annoyance. He was used to it, just as I was used to him.

Jay has been my best friend since high school. Even though he annoys me sometimes, he knows me well and I can always lean on him for emotional support—and a little financial support, though he can be a tightwad. We're always together, even at work. 

During Lunch… "Hey Lyn! I'm eating lunch with them! You know I want your happiness!" Jay called out loudly as he walked outside the room. I felt so embarrassed.

Will and I had lunch together in the office cafeteria. I took out the egg sandwiches my mom packed for me, while Will brought rice and fried chicken.

"Did you make those sandwiches?" Will asked while eating his lunch.

"Nope! My mom made them for me," I replied, feeling proud.

"Your mom really loves you! It shows in how she made that sandwich for you," he said, trying to keep the conversation going.

"What about yours? Who cooked your lunch?" I asked, returning the question.

"My sister cooked this for me. She's like a mother to me, stepping in after our mom left," he replied, his expression turning sad.

"I'm sorry," is all I could say after he shared that. I understand how it feels when a loved one leaves. In his case, his mother is still alive, and he might see her again. But it's different for me with my father.

Will noticed I was already teary-eyed.

"Hey, I didn't mean to make you cry this early," he said, trying to crack a joke. It worked; I couldn't help but smile.

"There you go! You look more beautiful when you smile," he said, looking into my eyes. I noticed his beautiful brown eyes and quickly looked away, realizing I had been staring for too long. I blushed.

"I think lunch is over. We have to get back now," I said, rushing to get up from my seat to avoid facing him. But before I turned away, I caught his smile.

Back to the training room… Jay sat to my left, and Will was two rows behind me.

"How was lunch?" Jay asked, teasing as usual.

"It was so embarrassing," I replied, recounting what had happened during lunch.

"Yep! So embarrassing!" he said, a bit too loudly, causing Mr. Yap and the others to turn toward him.

"Jay Cane, care to share? I assume since you're not paying attention, you already know what I'm teaching?" Mr. Yap said sternly.

Jay, now the center of attention, quickly responded, "I'm sorry, Mr. Yap. It won't happen again," clearly embarrassed.

Mr. Yap gave him a brief, serious stare, then turned back to continue his lecture. 

"You should have lowered your voice!" I whispered, annoyance in my tone.

"I'm sorry, okay? I just got carried away. But anyway…" he continued, casually shifting the conversation back to me as if nothing had happened.

"Just take it slow, okay?" he said, concerned. That brief advice from him touched my heart.

"Thank you," I whispered back. We then continued listening to Mr. Yap's lecture.

After the first day of training at work ended… Jay called out, "Bye Lyn! Say hi to your mom for me,"as he left with our colleagues who were heading the same way home as him.

I was just about to leave when I heard someone call my name.

"Hey, Lyn! Mind if I walk with you?" Will asked, catching up to me.

"Sure, I don't mind," I replied, feeling a little shy as I smiled at him.

He fell into step beside me. "So, where do you live?" His tone was curious, like he genuinely wanted to know more.

"I live in Fairview with my mom. How about you?" I asked, glancing over at him.

He grinned. "No way! I live in Fairview too. I guess we'll be heading home together after shifts," he said, sounding happy.

The warmth in his smile made the idea of walking together feel much less intimidating.

"Is it okay if I add you on Facenote so I can message you on Messender too?" he asked, pulling out his cellphone and waiting for my response

I felt butterflies in my stomach. Did this mean he wanted to exchange messages? That he wanted to get to know me better? My heart raced at the thought.

"Sure," I stammered, typing my name into his cellphone on Facenote. He sent me a friend request and smiled, saying, "I hope you'll accept me." We both laughed, the connection between us feeling special.

From that moment on, we were inseparable. He always sat beside me, and our conversations were filled with laughter. I found him really funny—maybe it was because I liked him so much. When I looked sad, he had a way of saying just the right things to comfort me. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a crush; I was falling in love with him. But I couldn't help wondering if he felt the same way. Why was I always the one to fall first?