OLI

Dawn

I was wrapping up my day. It’s been a long and tiresome day at work actually. Not that I care much about it because this has been my routine since a year ago. But still, I let out an acrimonious sigh just to emphasize how exhausted I was. At the back of my head, I kinda knew that working as a call center agent was indubitably challenging. Nevertheless, I have chosen this career path not because I was passionate about it, but rather it’s the closest propitious, well-paying career that I can work on considering my educational attainment. 

I took my headset off, leaned slightly backwards and did a little stretch in my gray swivel chair as I extended both my arms and legs - a little. The floor seems to be bustling already as the rest of my co-workers are also preparing to clock out for the day. And as my eyes wandered around the room, I realized that all our smiles are just a masquerade of delight. Happy to be going home? Yes, maybe. But the fact that we will all be in this same cubicle half a day later to deal with yet another stressful hour is just so depressing. Or is it just me?

I snapped back into reality and returned my focus on the things that I should be doing. I shutdown my computer and shoved my hoodie into my backpack. My hands are a bit tremulous already which reminds me I hadn’t had lunch earlier. Maybe I should grab a bite before heading straight home? I got up and glanced outside through the fiberglass walls of our office. The sun wasn’t up yet but the horizon was already dancing in its magnificent varying shades of blue - from twilight blue, to periwinkle, blue gray and so on. From across the street, the well-lit 7/11 convenience store is starting to get crowded with employees from  BPO companies. I even saw some of my coworkers there.

While I was too absorbed in taking my day slow, a hand suddenly patted me on my left shoulder. “Hey,” the familiar voice said. I turned around to face her. “Hey… sup?” I grinned as I turned towards her.

“Hungry?”
“The usual?”
“I’m surprised you never get tired of it,” she laughed
“Neither do you” I teased her back.

We laughed softly and headed towards the BAS to clock out. I went first, she followed suit. I pressed the elevator button and a few seconds later, we heard that familiar “ding” as the elevator door opened. Some of our office mates also rushed to catch on the lift. “Wait!” one of them pleaded. My best friend held the elevator door for them as I just leaned back against the walls. Four other guys entered - all looking haggard from a day’s work. “Thanks,” one of them said to my best friend. If it is just me, I’d probably be examining everyone from head to toe while my mind lingers elsewhere. Fortunately with Olivia around, I don’t have to do that. She’s fun to talk to. Like, she never ran out of topics to share with me. I’m mostly the quiet one but I enjoy her company a lot.

“Where to, ladies?” Frank, one of my coworkers asked.
“Oh, ground floor please. Thanks Frankie”, Oli replied.
“I forgot to press the button, sorry”, I whispered to Oli.
“You never did unless you’re alone,” she giggled.
“Makes sense”

The elevator door opened at the ground floor and we pushed our way out from the guys. Most of them owned a vehicle so they’ll be getting off at the parking lot. I wrapped my arms around Oli’s waist while she placed her other hand on my shoulder. “McDonald’s could be a bit crowded today, y'know. ‘Tis Friday”, Oli reminded me.

“Oh yeah, right. But I’m badly craving for some cheeseburger right now”, I replied in between my breaths.
“Has something happened again?”
“Uh-uh. You can say that.”
Silence.
“I was in an embroilment with an irate customer earlier. ‘Thought the dispute will never end till luckily Miss Kate handled the situation.”
“Oh?”
“He couldn’t accept that his account was on hold because of his frozen credit. I dunno what happened and how it happened but then he started throwing aspersions at me as if it was my fault that his credit was frozen.”
“That’s mean..”
“His pertinacity about the idea that we can solve all his problems in the world really pisses me off. Like, we aren’t God. Duhhhh”,
“God is a woman” Oli teases,
“I hate you”
“I love you too”