The next day, I see Maribel pull up a few parking spots away from me in the workplace. A wave of guilt rushes over me, and I instinctively duck down in my seat, hoping to avoid her gaze because I'm a freaking coward. I wait for what feels like an eternity to make sure the coast is clear. All clear, good! Then, I cautiously make my way inside, checking over my shoulder to ensure Maribel isn't following.
I scurry into the building like a mouse in the kitchen in the middle of the night after someone walks in and flips on a light. Yet again, I check around to make sure that Maribel is nowhere in sight. I can't face her after all the hurtful things I said to her. As I reach my desk, disaster strikes.
Wham!
I slip and fall, my purse inexplicably unzipped, its contents spilling onto the floor. The hairs on my neck stand up, as a feel a presence lurking around me.
"Smooth, Moshiin."
I look up and Maribel is standing behind me trying to suppress a laugh.
"All that for what, Jaen? I saw your attempts to serpentine through here the whole time, you klutz." She says with an eyebrow raise. Despite my embarrassment, she kneels down to help me gather my belongings. The moment is awkward, for me at least. But, I muster up the courage to apologize for my callousness the day before.
"Maribel, about yesterday..I—"
She abruptly interrupts me midsentence and smiles. "Jaen, it's all good. You were right about some things. You're my friend and I do have the tendency to not respect your clear boundaries. I know I tease you and jokingly flirt because I find it funny. But, I will tone it down. However, I stand by what I said about the engagement. And please just hear me out. I feel like these last couple of weeks, you just haven't been yourself. It's completely out of character for you to be sporadic. If you truly love this dude and choose to marry him, I'll support you. But, my feelings on it will remain." She extends her hand and helps me back on to my feet.
Friend. That's the first time I heard this word from Maribel. She's always been a colleague to me. Someone I work with but will respond if I need her. But, I haven't thought of her as actually being my friend. I start to think that maybe I've been taking advantage of her kindness because she's always there. She's been a friend to me, but I haven't been one to her. But today, that's going to change. I will be her friend. And right now, I need a friend.
YOU ARE READING
Lover
Romance"...the effects of love are similar to the effects of oxidation. They can either benefit me or harm me." Jaen Moshiin is a young woman on the quest for true love. Once a believer that love would find her, she decides to take matters into her own han...
