Just my cup of tea

Twist the tip

The weekend came rolling by and that's our busiest time at work so of course we were all dragging our feet on the way to the blue and yellow spotted building. "Why do Saturday's make feel like I want to just lay in the road and let a car ride right over me." I mumbled. "You know just the leg would be fine. Then you could at least get some money out of it." I eyed Bella. "You thought way too hard about his before." She shrugged.

"We got someone new starting today apparently." We both turn to Daniel "too bad you made it official with Ashley." "Hey come on! I'm not that bad ok. I'm committed this time." Bella and I laughed. "yeah let's see how committed you are when you see this one. She's pretty." "wait Bella you met her?" "Yeah, the local staff had to go in for some training."

We reached the building and practically forced ourselves up the stairs like it were a mountain. Finally reaching the top I could hear excited chatter from some of the local staff about the new employee. "She's so tall." "Her face is flawless." "I'm jealous!" "She's kinda quiet though." "Maybe shy because it's her first day." "I want her hair, it's long and wavy and perfect." I walked up behind them "So where is she then?" They all turned in a shocked. "Oh Alice! Hi! Wait till you see her! She's in the office with Cara" (our local staff manager).

Not that interested in the fuss I strolled over to my desk and started unpacking. Everyone rushed back in followed by Cara and behind her was the new employee. My face heated up instantly at the sight of her. Sure she is pretty but there was something else about her. It wasn't just that she was tall and flawless. "Ah! And let me introduce you to our foreign staff, this is Daniel, Robyn, Nancy, Andrew and Alice, Everyone this is Leyla." A round of greetings could be heard as she smiled at each person individually but when she looked me the eye I just couldn't bring myself to really speak. All I could manage was a nod and smile.

What was it about her? I've seen so many pretty girls around here in China but not one really sparked an interest or curiosity in me at all till now. Cara showed her to her seat which was opposite me in the far right corner. Daniel dashed to me and asked if I wanted to smoke a cigarette. I agreed and we left towards the stairs. As soon as we got out the office doors Daniel started, "Ok so she's pretty but I think they hyped her up too much." "Dude don't be rude." "What? I'm just saying the way the others were going on about her, they made her sound like a model or something."

I was getting a bit annoyed with him. "Let's drop it." "oooh someone didn't have her coffee." "You know what, I actually didn't. Let's go down and grab one and drop the conversation of her while we at it." He shrugged as we smoked and made our way downstairs to the coffee shop. We place our orders and then the cashier come up and tried to tell us something which unfortunately was not a part of my Chinese vocabulary yet. We struggled back and forth using our translators but the damn network was so bad down here. "She said there's no cream today and asked if you guys mind."

We both turned to see Leyla next to us. "Oh thanks!" Daniel replied and proceeded to to tell her that we didn't mind. "Coffee?" Was all I could muster up. "No I don't really like coffee, I came to get some tea." She politely responded. My insides were turning, what is it about her?? Why am I feeling like this, I don't even know her. I smiled, nodded and grabbed my coffee. "Well see you upstairs." We headed out back to the office.

The rest of the day was spent trying to not to look at her too much. I didn't want to freak her out. We all sat together in the lunch area to eat our takeaways and I just listened along while the other asked her questions.

Bella was next to me, "I don't like her." She whispered. I turned to Bella looking rather surprised as that came out of nowhere. "What do you mean? You don't even know her." She eyed out Leyla suspiciously, "I don't know what it is but I just don't like her." "Well why don't you try talking to her?" She shrugged, "I have no interest in that. Anyway I'm always a good judge of character and this one is dangerous." I looked towards Bella as she softly smiled while listening to the others. Then she turns to my direction and notices me looking at her and smiles softly. I smile back.

What was it? She seems so familiar..This all feels familiar and also after Bella's assessment, dangerous.

I got home and headed to shower. Keen to feel the heat wash away the day of long work. After a relaxing shower I roll and walk over to the balcony to have a smoke. When I'm alone I feel the balcony is the appropriate place to smoke. To look out at the busy nightlife streets of Zhengzhou. My mind always wonders to Kate everytime I smoke. Wondering if across the sea, maybe she too is enjoying a spliff. Wondering if it ever makes her think of me

Finally I'm in bed and my eyes become heavy, my mind still swarming with thoughts of Kate as it usually is before I drift off to my dreams.

I'm walking through a corridor. Walls lined in light wood with a silky shine. Glass windows reveal empty dimly lit square rooms to the right every few steps. There are people walking passed here and there but all are unrecognizable. I turn a corner and continue left to -with what seems to be purpose- a large court room. Through the glass windows I see sitting high up in the witness seat, Kate. I try to follow her with my eyes and I head towards the door but the people walking hurriedly around me cause me to lose sight of her. When I finally reach the door and enter I look to the witness stand and to my surprise it wasn't Kate but rather Leyla. No no I was sure it was Kate. I looked around trying to find someone I know to help me make sense of this but I couldn't.

All too sudden before I could get a clue of what was happening I woke up. My heart was beating fast. I looked at my phone to check the time and what do I find? I message from Kate. Just a simple "Heyy". I messaged back, "Heey" and then waited to for a reply. sensing I wasn't going to get one anytime soon I put my phone on loud and left it next to me and went back to sleep.