When Love Falls Silent

Liam

The bustling city streets create a symphony of honking cars, hurried footsteps, and a relentless hum of activity. Amidst this urban chaos, a towering glass structure stands as a testament to ambition and success—the headquarters of a thriving company, and I find my place here as a Developer, crafting software and tackling various challenges. Inside, the air is thick with anticipation and the scent of boundless possibility.

As the morning unfolds, I stick to my routine of quietly making coffee in the office kitchen, not one for an early morning meet and greets. I cast fleeting glances at my colleagues who shuffle about. Many of their faces are familiar, and a few offer friendly waves and smiles upon spotting me through the glass mirror wall that separates the kitchen. Positioned discreetly, I remain mostly hidden from view, observed only by those who know I'm here.

But then, a moment unfolds that jolts me from my usual morning reverie. A young woman in her twenties enters the scene, dressed in a charming pink floral dress that drapes gracefully from head to toe. Her long, straight, black hair cascades down her back, and a white clutch hangs from her right shoulder. Her petite hands, though barely visible, hint at her delicate nature.

When she was done talking with the receptionist, she turned and headed towards the office entrance, my heart skipped a beat. It's a moment of recognition that leaves me momentarily breathless. My classmate from university, or rather, my long-standing crush, Grace, has unexpectedly materialized here. A four-year-long infatuation, one I could never summon the courage to confess, comes flooding back. She passes by me, entirely unaware of my presence, and disappears into the HR department.

I'm still processing the astonishing realization of her presence in my office as I settle into my seat and power up the computer. The fact that she doesn't know I work here adds an intriguing layer to this unexpected encounter. What I remember about her is that she went abroad for higher education after our university days, a chapter that seemingly disconnected us. I'm unaware of her whereabouts or her chosen field of study during her time abroad; she never reached out, nor did I, aside from the occasional university-related interactions involving assignments and projects. Intriguingly, her contact details linger in my phone, save for a moment of courage that has yet to arrive. Over time, the idea of reaching out to confess my feelings or reconnect has remained unfulfilled.

As I ponder the situation, I can't help but wonder how she might react upon realizing that I work in the same office. Her presence in the HR department suggests she's either a new employee or here for an interview. I took my seat, my attention fixated on the HR department's entrance, anxiously awaiting her appearance.

Then, as the door swung open and the HR representative emerged, my eyes tracked their every move, and there she was, right behind them. A hush fell over the office as the HR representative cleared his throat, signaling that an announcement was imminent. Everyone's attention was immediately drawn, but I already knew what this meant - she might be joining our team today, completely unaware of my presence. She appeared slightly nervous, yet her smile exuded a sense of quiet confidence. For now, she remained oblivious to my presence, and I silently awaited the twist of fate that awaited her.

"Announcement," he declared, and in an instant, all eyes were fixed on him. However, I had already grasped the significance. She might soon become my colleague without even realizing I was here. As the announcement continued, revealing her role as our new Data Analyst and marking today as her first day, my colleagues began offering their heartfelt wishes and best of luck. I, on the other hand, remained somewhat concealed, aided by the computer screen before me.

Lucy, one of my coworkers, rose from her seat and approached Grace. Whatever she said brought an even brighter smile to Grace's face. Together, they made their way to an unoccupied desk not too far from mine, effectively claiming it as Grace's official workspace. Grace moved gracefully among my other colleagues, exchanging soft glances and responding with polite "thank you" to each well-wisher.

As she reached her desk, she still hadn't looked in my direction. I wasn't known for being the most interactive person, but perhaps later, after the initial rush, I could approach her, offer my congratulations, and trust that she would understand the reasons behind my current anonymity. Little does she know that today, her path is about to cross with someone from her past.

...

As lunchtime approached, Grace appeared wholly engrossed in her tasks. I found myself doing less actual work and more surreptitious glances in her direction. I had always admired her back when we were in class together. She ranked among the top students, radiating cheerfulness and an open-minded nature. She possessed a good-hearted disposition, always ready to assist and engage in conversation. That same inviting smile she wore back then remained a magnetic quality that drew my attention.

Unable to resist, I continued to steal glances at her. Her passion and dedication to her work were as apparent as ever. I couldn't help but wonder how she had been faring and how much she had moved forward in life. Finally, summoning the courage, I ventured in her direction. Unaware of my approach, she remained absorbed in her tasks. I knocked on her table twice, and as the sound reached her ears, she spun around.

It wasn't a mere turn of her head; she swiveled her chair a full ninety degrees to face me, locking her gaze with mine. Without a word, she appeared to be in shock at the sight of me. I gave her a moment to collect herself, and then she uttered, "Liam... you... here."

I looked down at her, finding myself somewhat captivated by her hairstyle. She had always had long hair, and I reminisced about the various hairstyles she had sported during our university days—some days a ponytail, others a bun, and yet others, like today, with her front hair tucked behind her ears, the rest flowing down her back. She looked stunning, more mature.

My admiration was interrupted when I realized she was awaiting my response. I quickly replied, "Yeah, good to see you again, Grace." Her face immediately lit up with a smile, as if she was relieved to see a familiar face in this unfamiliar place. "You work here?" she inquired.

I nodded and added, "Yeah." She cast a quick look around until her eyes settled on my workstation. Pointing, she asked, "That's where you were? I didn't notice." I nodded again and remarked, "Congrats on getting this job. Can't get any later than this." My comment elicited a laugh from her, and she replied with a simple "Thank you." "Wanna grab lunch?" I suggested, and she nodded in agreement. We made our way to the restaurant across the street.

Over lunch and coffee, our conversation flowed, with Grace doing most of the talking and me, content to listen. I enjoyed it this way. She shared that she had pursued a Master's degree in Data Science in Germany and had returned almost a year ago. Now 25, she was leading an independent life here. For the rest of the office hours, we didn't speak much, and she left before me, leaving me with the lingering question: Is she married?