The System

Chapter 5

Recap:

He turns around and I think of all the profanities I can.

Internally groaning, I manage to keep a smile.

But in front of me stood the most annoying man in the universe.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Kinate Nashig.

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Now, you must know that I do not despise him. It's just that he's ******* annoying.

So basically, we were in the same class for as long as I can remember. And however hard I tried, I always, and I mean ALWAYS came second while he came first. And now I'm going to be working under him?

What have I done to deserve this.

He looks first at Andrea and then at me. When he looks at me, I see an eyebrow lift and his eyes glint behind his glasses. This sends an unexpected shiver down my spine, though I don't know why.

Anyway, he comes forward. Andrea shoots me a nervous glance and I return it.

"I'm Kinate Nashig. You may call me Mr. Nashig."

Looks like his voice remained the same- just as annoying as before. But I should seriously stop judging the person who will possibly determine my future in this job.

"You might already know me," he says and gives me the briefest of a glance. This confuses me, but my smile remains plastered. "So I won't introduce myself." Andrea nods. She does know him? I never knew that. I make a mental note to myself to ask her later.

Walking back to the huge desk, he turns back to us and gives us a customary announcement about how the standard of work is very high. I choose to focus on the words, and find myself nodding my head.

"Now it's time to give you your positions. Ms.Brokovich, you'll be working position 3. Your workspace is on the 2nd floor. Ms.Razia, you'll be working position 1.5, your workspace being on the 4th floor. Give me your transpods and I'll transfer the maps."

I was surprised and handed over my pod in a daze. 1.5!! That was a high position!! The only one higher would be 1, and that's only available after years of working. Maybe - maybe he had learnt to do things fairly. I was happy for Andrea too. 3 is also very high, considering that the lowest position you can get is 25.

Having our transpods returned to us, a small seed of doubt arises in my mind.

"Okay, that's it. I wish you both good luck and I hope you do well."

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We both thank him and leave the room; once we do, both of us let out a breath I didn't know we were holding.

"He gives you the shivers, doesn't he?" asks Andrea with a nervous look.

"Yeah. How in the world do you know him?"

"My dad was a teacher in his school. I've heard stories." She says and shrugs.

"Really? Who was your dad?"

"Herman Brokovich."

"Oh yeah, he used to teach us physics."

"So you were in the same school?"

"Unfortunately."

"Why so?"

I tell her everything.

"Oh he's that kind of person. Well, he's being pretty fair to us."

"Yeah...." I say and check my pod. I know I shouldn't be so judgemental, but I was always curious. What I find makes my eyes grow big.