Finally, I made it to the dorm and got ready for work. Makeup isn't really my thing because, honestly, the moment I put it on, all I can think about is, What if it melts off? Thanks to my talent for sweating like I'm training for the Olympics, it usually does. So, I slapped on some minimal makeup—just enough to look alive—and declared myself ready for my first day at work.
Finally, I reached the office. My workplace is on the 53rd floor, and I hadn't even had breakfast. Taking the elevator was my only option. I sprinted to catch one, but to my horror, there was a massive crowd waiting in front of it.
I stood there for a while, hoping for my chance, but the elevator was constantly full. Frustrated, I decided to take a risk and use the stairs. By the time I reached the 4th floor, my body was completely exhausted. I felt like I was about to meet my end (LOL). I couldn't go any further, so I decided to walk around that floor instead.
Being new to the office, I had no idea where I was going. Eventually, I stumbled upon another elevator. Surprisingly, no one was waiting in front of it. Strange, I thought, but I didn't care. I pressed the button, and the doors opened. I stepped in, relieved, and ready to move on.
As the doors were closing, a few people walked by. I kindly invited them to join me, but they refused, said something I couldn't understand, and laughed as they walked away. I shrugged it off and let the doors close.
The elevator started moving, but after a few moments, it stopped abruptly. The power went out, and I was stuck. Panic set in as I tried calling for help, but no one came. The longer I waited, the more I sweated, and eventually, I started feeling lightheaded. Slowly, I totally lost my consciousness.
When I woke up, I found myself in the hospital. Alex was sitting beside me, looking concerned. "What happened to you?" he asked.
I suddenly felt a strong sense of déjà vu. My brain was still buffering, so I just stared at him in silence, completely clueless. He kept asking, over and over, like hitting refresh on a frozen webpage.
Before I could answer, an arrogant voice cut through the air. Oh no, not him again. It was none other than Lehan, the king of unnecessary drama.
"There she is! Fainting Queen strikes again!" he shouted, pointing at me like I was a criminal on trial. "What is your problem? Why do you keep fainting everywhere I go? Are you trying to haunt me or something?"
I blinked at him, utterly confused. Honestly, I had no idea what was happening either. But judging by the way he was acting, you'd think I had planned this whole fainting stunt just to annoy him.
I quietly asked Alex, "What happened to me? Why are you guys here?"
Alex sighed. "We found you unconscious in the elevator at the office. Turns out, the elevator was out of order, and the workers forgot to put up an out of service sign."
That's when it hit me—Oh, so that's why those people in front of the elevator laughed at me! I felt a mix of embarrassment and rage. Why are people in this world so cruel?
I managed to mumble, "Okay, thanks, Alex." But then something clicked, and I sat up, wide-eyed. "Wait… what did you just say? Our office?"
Alex looked at me like I'd missed the obvious. "Yes, I'm talking about LGC. That's our office." He casually pointed at Lehan. "And, by the way, he's the CEO of LGC."
If I'd been faint before, I was ready to faint again. CEO? Lehan, the human megaphone of arrogance? My breath hitched, and I felt like I was going into cardiac arrest. "Okay," I thought, that's it. This is officially my first and last day at work.
Lehan, of course, wasn't done being dramatic. "Call your family or friends to pick you up," he said, waving dismissively. "We've got to go."
I swallowed hard and muttered, "I… uh… my family isn't here. And I don't have any friends."
Lehan gave me a death stare so intense, I felt like a bug under a magnifying glass. I didn't even have the courage to look him in the eye. After a moment of silence that felt like an eternity, he turned to Alex and said, "Discharge her and get her a taxi." Then, without waiting for a response, he started walking away, as if this whole situation was ruining his very existence.
Alex, the saint that he is, helped me with the discharge paperwork and even found a taxi for me. Bless his kind soul. As I sat in the taxi, still recovering from the emotional whiplash of the day, I couldn't help but wonder: How does Alex handle that walking tornado of arrogance called Lehan?
It was like watching a gentle lamb coexist with a roaring lion. Except in this case, the lion wore a designer suit and seemed perpetually annoyed at the universe.
After I reached the dorm, I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted. But instead of relaxing, my anxiety decided to throw a party in my head. What if Lehan fires me? What will I do? I can't go back home. But let's be real—he's definitely going to fire me. I just know it.
I lay there, ranting to myself like a drama queen auditioning for a soap opera. The uncertainty was killing me. I need to know if I still have a job!
Remembering that Alex had given me his number to confirm I'd reached safely, I decided to text him.
"Hi, I've reached the dorm," I wrote.
He replied almost immediately, "Okay, fine. Rest well."
But I couldn't leave it at that. My fingers hovered over the screen before I finally asked, "Am I fired?"
There was a brief pause, and then he replied with a laughing emoji. "He's not that kind of boss. You're not fired. But just be careful—don't keep messing with him."
I let out a long, dramatic sigh of relief, like I'd just escaped certain doom. "Thanks, Alex," I typed back, genuinely grateful.
After hearing that I wasn't fired, I finally ate dinner. Yes, actual food! It was the first thing I'd eaten all day, and honestly, it felt like a victory meal.
As I sat there eating, I couldn't help but sigh. How many dramas can one person experience in a single day? Elevator trauma, hospital drama, death stares from the CEO—I was practically living in a reality show.
But at least now, with my belly full and my job miraculously intact, I could finally sleep. Survived day one. Barely.