You've Reached?

3. Mr. stranger

Elena

Packing up my belongings to leave for the day, I couldn't help but tense up at the sound of my boss's gruff voice cutting through the office chatter.

"You're done with the assignment?" Mr. Harrison's voice rang out, causing me to turn towards him with a slight apprehension.

"Yes, Mr. Harrison," I replied, handing over the completed files. He accepted them with a curt nod, his gaze fixated on the documents as I stood there, feeling like a statue amidst the departing crowd of coworkers. With a sense of relief, I realized that I was now alone with my grumpy boss.

"Hmm, good. I didn't expect you to finish it so soon, but great job anyways," he grumbled, offering a begrudging acknowledgment of my efforts. Of course, he hadn't expected me to complete the task promptly; after all, he had dumped a whole stack of articles on my desk to review and revise, all because I had taken a half-day yesterday. As I recalled the delicious meal I had enjoyed yesterday, I couldn't help but feel a pang of hunger at the memory, contrasting sharply with the emptiness in my stomach at this moment.

Relaxing a bit after the brief interaction, I offered a polite thank you before making my way towards the exit. Stepping out of the company building, I spotted Sophia waiting for me in her car, engrossed in conversation on her phone. It struck me as odd since Sophia, being a temporary employee, usually didn't have much work to keep her late. Glancing at my watch, I noted the time - 9 PM, well past her usual leave time of 8:00.

Approaching her car, I noticed that she hadn't yet noticed my presence, her attention focused solely on the phone call. "Don't worry about her. She wil-" Sophia paused abruptly as she caught sight of me, swiftly ending the call with a furrowed brow. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her tone sharp.

Returning her gaze with equal intensity, I shot back, "What are YOU doing here?" Confusion flickered across her features before her expression softened. "I was waiting for you," she explained with an easy smile, her sudden change in demeanor catching me off guard. "Oh," I replied, taken aback by her unexpected act of waiting for me. It was a rare occurrence considering Sophia's strict adherence to her beauty sleep schedule.

"Come on, hop in, lemme drop you," she offered, gesturing to the passenger seat.

"Okay," I agreed, sliding into the car seat beside her, my mind buzzing with questions about what had prompted her unusual behavior.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I watch the city lights blur past as Sophia begins to drive. "How was your date yesterday?" she asks, breaking the silence.

"It was fine," I reply, trying to sound nonchalant. Sophia smirks at my response. "Good, when are you going on your second date?" she prods, her smirk widening.

"I don't know," I answer truthfully, my mind drifting back to the text exchange with Leo after I got home from our first date. He had asked about a second date, but I wasn't sure if I was ready for that step yet.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Sophia interrupts my thoughts, her tone tinged with irritation. "I don't know, it's just too fast for me," I explain, feeling a pang of guilt at disappointing her.

"Too fast?! You're 26, Elena. If you don't start dating now, how do you expect to get married in your early thirties, or even better, your late twenties? Listen, Leo is a nice guy, and I doubt you'll find anyone better. Stop being stubborn and go on a second date with him," Sophia urges, her frustration evident.

"I'll think about it," I say weakly, feeling overwhelmed by Sophia's insistence. She rolls her eyes in response, and the rest of the drive is filled with tense silence.

As we arrive at my apartment building, I'm left alone with my thoughts once again. Do I actually want to go on a second date with Leo? I ponder, feeling torn between my own reservations and Sophia's persuasive arguments. Maybe she's right, and I should give it a try.

Before I can dwell on it further, Sophia's voice interrupts my thoughts. "We're here," she announces, bringing me back to reality. I thank her for the ride and step out of the car, feeling a mix of uncertainty and determination swirling within me.

As I ride the elevator up to my apartment, my phone buzzes with a notification. Pulling it out, I see a text from an unknown number from yesterday who I thought was Leo.

Unknown: you've reached?

A small smile tugs at my lips as I read his message.

Me: Yes, thank you for asking.

Unknown: No problem.

Me: What about you?

Unknown: Not yet, still working.

Me: It's 9:30, and you're still working? That's bad. I think all bosses are assholes.

Unknown: Ha, unfortunately, I am the boss. And you're right, all bosses are assholes.

Me: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were the boss.

I feel a twinge of guilt as I realize my candidness with a stranger, but at the same time, there's a strange sense of liberation in being honest.

Unknown: No problem. By the way, what did your boss do to earn that title?

Me: Don't ask. He made me review and alter a stack of files because I took a half day yesterday to go on a date. I swear, that old man wants me to stay single forever.

Unknown: *laughing emoji* Well, be careful of that old man then. I think he has a thing for you.

Unknown: And let me guess. You thought I was your date when you texted me.

Me: Well, he doesn't have a thing for me, he's just an asshole. And yeah, I assumed you were Leo.

I chuckle to myself as I sink onto the couch in my small apartment, feeling strangely comforted by the lighthearted banter with the unknown sender.

As I sat on my couch, engrossed in the text exchange with the unknown sender, a sense of relief washed over me. It felt strangely liberating to confide in someone I had never met, knowing they wouldn't judge me.

Unknown: How was your date then?

Me: I don't know, I mean he was a nice guy but something felt off and I want to take it slow and think about it but my bestie is forcing me to go on a date with him again. I don't want to go but I can't say no to her and Leo.

Me: I said too much. I'm sorry.

Unknown: it's ok. If you don't want to go then tell them that you don't want to go it's your life don't let them decide for you.

Me: you're right. I'll tell them tomorrow. Thank you for guiding me. Well, I have to go. By the way, I'm Elena and please don't look for me on social media, I would be embarrassing judging by the way I vomited thoughts here.

I felt a flush of embarrassment as I hit send, wondering if I had revealed too much to this stranger.

Unknown: No worries. I won't look out for you unless you want to, and I hope you do the same. I'm Marco.

Me: Don't worry Spiderman, your secret is safe with me. Okay, bye. Good night.

Unknown: Bye. Good night.

As I set my phone down, a small smile played at the corners of my lips. Having a conversation with Marco had indeed lightened my mind, and I felt more certain about what I should do regarding Leo and Sophia's pressure.