Hide and Seek | GeminiFourth

Chapter 2: Little Fun

Working as a janitor was not that bad. I'd thought it would be the worst job ever before coming here. Who would choose to be a janitor if they had other options. You literally clean after people, pick up their garbage and you have to clean blood, like all of the other substances that you clean daily is not enough. But it really wasn't that bad.

First of all, almost everybody was respectful in the hospital. People greeted each other. Even if they didn't like someone, or something, they didn't show it. They didn't act on it. It was obvious some of the other job occupants, like doctors, saw themselves above the janitors or the cooks or the secretaries but they just didn't make them feel small or act arrogant in front of them. Which was surprising to be honest, thinking how toxic the work environment can get in Thailand. Or maybe it was just this hospital. Because it belonged to one of the best universities in the country and had a reputation to keep. These good vibes were obviously affecting the patients and their families too. Nobody really lost their temper with anyone here. Of course, it was inevitable to have problems with inpatient people sometimes, especially in the emergency ward. But it had nothing to do with me. Whenever I clocked in, I felt like a part of a team. Greeted and respected.

The job itself wasn't as disgusting as I once thought, either. We always wore face masks and gloves while working. Used an ungodly amount of disinfectants everywhere. Some sights were better than the others but I felt like the job was mostly about refilling the toilet papers and liquid soap to dispensers anyway. I could even go as far as to say driving the floor scrubber car was fun. Watching people avoid it like it would hurt them somehow, and the others respecting the wet brush trail you leave behind and trying to walk around the spots you just cleaned. It was kind of satisfying.

Also none of the other janitors were my age. Every one of them were way older than forty. I had no idea what that said about me, and what they made up about it in their minds about me, but I didn't care. I was always babied by my coworkers. They brought me cookies to eat after lunch and homemade side dishes for me to take home. They would always make sure I ate enough, slept enough, drank water enough. Would try to put a clean towel on my back under my uniform when I got sweaty, because 'the air conditioner was too high.' I got sick once and the amount of nagging I endured... So they started making me eat fruits everyday too, because I needed more vitamins apparently.

The only downside of this job, other than it being not what I expected myself to do, was Dr. Norawit. Him. That charming boy. Way too innocent and way too pure. Smiling and bowing with a wai to everyone he saw. Loved by everyone. Hard worker, overachiever, dreamer. Always after me and driving me crazy.

Literally crazy.

I wanted to go up to the roof and scream my insides out daily because of him. I was going to go mad before I finished what I had to do and left. I knew I wasn't going to be able to walk out of this building safe and sound and breathing because I was going to hit my head to one of the columns here one day and die in the ancient Chinese lady style. He was making me that desperate.

Everyday, when I returned home I literally had no idea how my day went. If someone asked me, I would have nothing to say. Because all I did was hide in the corners and walk with rushed steps. Always eyeing behind, getting jumpy at every white doctor coat or blue scrubs I saw. Always run run run... And still get caught somehow. It was getting on my nerves at this point.

It all started around three months ago when I just started working here. It was my second week and I was still anxious and scared of everything. Trying to fit in without showing my real colors and trying to blend in with the background so no one would be suspicious of me. I was a little too smiley and cheerful to everyone. Always showing that I was working hard, not slacking, and certainly not doing anything else.