I am reading contracts from possible suppliers when suddenly the office door opened.
"What are these?" Gulf stormed in my office with a face barely containing anger. In his hand are my post-it notes.
I leaned at my office chair and crossed my arms in my chest not saying anything. Then he moves closer and leaned on my desk. "What part of straight don't you understand, Mew? This is borderline insanity."
"They're just notes. If you don't like them, don't read them."
"How can I not when they're staring right at me in the coffee cup you leave at my desk, which by the way I told you numerous times that you don't have to do, even before I arrive in my office?"
Just then, Olive came into my office with the documents I told her to bring.
"Is everything okay?" She said while she approached my desk and put the files down.
I looked at the files, nonchalant on Gulf's issues. "It wasn't me who brought those coffee. It was Olive."
Gulf was getting irritated, "Semantics! You're still the one who told her to do it."
Olive was looking at us back and forth, confused at what's happening.
"If you don't like my love notes, you can just throw them away." I said, quite disappointed at how Gulf can react to my post-its. The messages there were all my personal thoughts and feelings.
"So you admit that they're love notes?" Gulf looks exasperated.
"Of course they are. But why will you throw them away, they're quite romantic." Olive said with her dreamy eyes. She read all my notes before she posts them on the coffee cups I tell her to leave on Gulf's desk every morning.
Gulf stared at her hard.
"Okay, you can throw them away then. Or I can throw them away for you Sir G." Olive said.
"Great," then he snapped the post its on my desk. "And no more coffee in the morning, I can buy them on my own." He stormed out.
"Ohhh Sir Mew, don't be so sad." Olive said looking at me with pityful eyes.
"Who said I'm sad?" I told her masking how I really feel.
"Right. You don't do sad." She said while backing away to the door.
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It's Friday today. I spent all my time in the office reading the weekly reports coming from the different department heads. The week always ends with me doing this. My employees though, have a happy hour after office which everyone celebrates at the ground floor of this building. A band gets invited to sing and the employees are served refreshments to enjoy the end of the week and de-stress. I don't go to these events.
"Sir?" Olive silently said.
"Yes Olive?"
"It's almost 7, can I go ahead?" I looked at my watch.
"I didn't notice the time. Yes you may. Are you going to the open bar?" I asked.
"Ummm, yes Sir. Sir G told me to come to join him and the others."
I raised my brow, "Did he invite you personally?"
"Yes Sir. Didn't he invite you?"
I looked at my computer and typed away. "Even if he did, I wouldn't be able to come anyway. I'm quite busy as you can see, but you go ahead and enjoy." I glanced at her, dismissing her.
I didn't see her leave. I tried to concentrate on what I am doing instead, brushing off emotions I don't plan to entertain tonight.
Around 9 pm, I decided to call it a day. I've had enough budget adjustments and proposals stored in my head that can last me the whole weekend to think about.
As I was walking on the ground floor to crossover to another set of elevators leading to the parking lot, I passed by the bar where my employees were gathered together. From my periphery, I see a band playing and people hollering. I smiled a bit. Back in college, I remember Jeremy and I used to play in campus. We both sing, he plays the guitar and I the piano, happy times. I only have those to look back to now.
I let my mind drift somewhere when someone bumped into me, "Hey."
"Mew?"
I looked up to see a familiar face, "James?"
"Hey dude! Finally, I came across the owner of this place." He said.
"Huh?" I asked puzzled.
"My band has been playing for your company every first fridays of the month. The band that's playing," he pointed at the band in the stage, "I manage them."
"Oh really? Why didn't you tell me? I would have dropped by more often." James has been producing bands way back college. He would scout talents from different campuses to look for the next big hit.
"Well you can drop by now. Do you still play?" He asked, already dragging me inside.
"Oh no, no." I tried to get away but failed. "James I don't do this anymore." I said starting to panic.
As I said this, I see people starting to notice us, the hollering stopping slowly. Soon, the hall became quiet.
"Hey, you might as well play man. I think your employees just froze."
"James this is not a good idea." I gritted my teeth. I tried to go back where I came from, but he blocked me. "Man, you're already here, what's the harm?"
The thing is, I forgot this part of me. I chose to forget. James is looking at me expectantly.
"Come on Mew, one song." He pushed.
I sighed deeply and looked at the stage. "Yes, what harm can this do."
I walked to the stage with James. He signalled his band to stop then they went off stage.
My heart beat rapidly.I positioned myself behind the piano. I tested it to tune in first, tried to play a few notes to get myself acquainted with it. Five years, that's the last time I played. I looked at my employees, all dumbfounded and waiting, no one was moving. My nervousness just increased tenfold. I closed my eyes and released a deep breath then started to move my fingers. After a few notes, I started to sing.
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I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me
This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy
I need somebody to heal
Somebody to know
Somebody to have
Somebody to hold
It's easy to say
But it's never the same
I guess I kinda liked the way you numbed all the pain
Now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved
I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to turn to
This all or nothing way of loving got me sleeping without you
Now, I need somebody to know
Somebody to heal
Somebody to have
Just to know how it feels
It's easy to say but it's never the same
I guess I kinda liked the way you helped me escape.......
And I tend to close my eyes when it hurts sometimes
I fall into your arms
I'll be safe in your sound 'til I come back around
For now the day bleeds
Into nightfall
And you're not here
To get me through it all
I let my guard down
And then you pulled the rug
I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved....
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I opened my eyes after I finished singing. The audience who became blurry when I started to feel the music, now becoming clear again.
I scanned the audience, they looked so shocked, the silence became deafening. Then someone started clapping. I turned to the sound, at the very back, close to the bar, I see Gulf clapping his hand. Then everyone followed, someone started hollering.
"Way to go boss!"
"One more song boss!"
"I'll be your fan club's president boss!"
I smiled and turned my head left to right then went off the stage. I waved at them then tapped James to say goodbye.
"You're still the same soulful singer I remember Mew. Stay for a drink."
"Oh no, no. This has been more than enough." I got my leather bag and bid him goodbye.
As I walked to the parking elevator, I heard someone calling me. I turned around to see Gulf on his way to me.
"Mew." He said when he is of hearing distance. "Not staying?"
My chest started to thump. "No. I plan to go home now."
"I didn't know you can sing." He said looking straight at me.
"I don't advertise my talent." I said looking back at him.
"I guess there are a lot of things I don't know about you." He said.
The elevator pinged and opened. I entered. I looked at him while the door closes. "Because you haven't given me a chance."
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Author's Note: Song by Lewis Capaldi, Someone You Loved