The Dream

Love

-Zain Danial-

I stretched from my seat in my office, turning to the window on the side of the room. I had been working in here all day, file after files, papers after papers. I didn't need to attend any meetings today which was a relief but it meant that I had been sitting in this same spot for a long period of time and it was exhausting. 

I had four cups of coffee today already but they didn't seem to give me the boost that I had wanted so I took out my snus and put a packet in my mouth. This pack was significantly stronger than my last few so it hit like a train and with it, I was able to finish my last pieces of compulsory work for the day. I smiled after the fact because I was able to do it before 5 meaning I could go home early. 

Picking up some folders I walked out of my office and headed to Carla's. I hadn't seen her all day but I knew her schedule and today was pretty packed for her too. She was on her feet for most of it, doing presentations for 3 groups of people and then going around to her scheduled meetings. She also had her own documents to go through and finalise. It must be hard, doing the job she does. I couldn't imagine myself doing so much but that's what makes me appreciate her so much, her and her dedication. I've never seen her once complain or dread a day she has to come in. 

"Carla?" I knock on her door and I hear her telling me to come in. She sounded tired which made my facial expression soften. When I opened the door she was on a phone call with someone but didn't fail to give me a grin as I came in. 

"Hai, Yamanaka-san, getsuyoubi ni shukka ga touchaku su ru yotei desu.(Yes, Mr Yamanaka, the shipment is scheduled to arrive on Monday.)" I raise my eyebrows, impressed as I put the folders down on her table and go to make some tea for us on the side of the room. I hadn't known she could speak Japanese but I guess considering the number of anime she's watched it couldn't be too much of a shock. Still, impressive as hell.  "Ie ie, watashi wa made sore ni torikunde imasu, haha. Domo arigatogozaimasu. (No no, I'm still working on it, haha. Thank you so much.)" 

She ended her phone call by the time I was done so I handed her her cup which she took gratefully. "Are there any other languages you speak besides Japanese?" I ask and she nods back at me,

"Persian, Arabic, and Italian," she tells me. 

"Quite the mix," I comment and as she drinks her tea she tells me that she learnt them because they sounded the most beautiful to her. She then asked me if I spoke any other languages to which I told her about how I could speak French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese and Arabic as well but my reason for speaking them wasn't as thoughtful as hers. Nothing about me was. I learnt them because I was bored and they look good on my CV but when I told her her eyes sparkled and she looked impressed regardless of that fact. 

I then noticed the ring on her hand, not the one I had given her despite that also being there but rather the one she always wore even before she met me. I hadn't really paid much attention to it until now. It was a gold signet ring with a crest engraved on it.