Sunbeams fall across my face, coming through an open patch in the densely-leaved tree I was sitting under, eating salmon sushi while reading The Time Traveller's Wife. I'm on my lunch break at Madison Square Park after working 3 long and focused hours at Buzzfeed.
Today's lunch break was different to the others, the breeze was cooler and the walkways were bustling with a range of old couples, bikers, runners and little kids with their parents. I put my headphones in, listening to some classical tunes as I get up to head back to the office.
I walk by Starbucks to grab a coffee for Sarah and I, one of my closest friends and workmate, then enter the building Buzzfeed is located in and head up the elevator to the 8th floor. The doors open and I walk to reception and check myself back in. Walking over to my desk, I see Sarah standing there with a chocolate cake in her hands,
"Hey Jane, Happy 2 year anniversary at Buzzfeed! I know the cake isn't great, but it will taste so good." She said.
Sarah hands me the chocolate cake and hugs me, trying to avoid dropping the cake. I completely forgot how long I've been here for. We both sit on my desk, giving a slice of cake to our workmates and talk about every thought that came into our heads,
"You know what Jane, I don't get it, you're 22 and you've never mentioned about your love life, ever! Don't you have someone special?"
"I'm just not looking for a relationship right now. I'm always busy with work and finances and I don't really see the point of having a boyfriend." I say. I never really bothered about the subject, because I've never been into dating. Of course I'll eventually get married, but dating, it isn't my thing.
Sarah heads of to get back on what she was doing and I sit back on my chair, still pretty warm, having the shape of my butt still imprinted into it. I get back into the article I was working on, 10 ways people eat bananas, while sipping on the coffee I bought earlier. I look over my computer and see Sarah, who sits across from me, very focused on her article too.
A couple of hours later, I get a sudden tap on my back, which leads me to slam my fingers on the keyboard. I turn and see the publisher, with a man standing next to her,
"Jane, if you don't mind, this is Daniel, he's the newest member of Buzzfeed and I thought you could show him around?"
I can't say no, so I stand up and greet Daniel. The publisher left and Daniel stood there gazing around. He turns quickly and smiles as he catches me staring directly at him. I couldn't takes my eyes of his, they where such a deep blue. I come back into reality and realised Daniel is waiting for me to show him around.
"I'm sorry, do you want to get started." I say.
He nodded as I directed him to the first room, the break room, and from there we took off. I showed him around all the room and sections of Buzzfeed. I took him to all 3 levels and introduced him to the people that were around. The last stop was 8th floor, where my workspace was located, I guided him to his desk which was not that far away from mine. I smiled as I ended the tour. I checked my watch and realise my hours are up.
"Thanks for showing me around, really appreciate it." He said,
"Maybe someday you could show me around New York City."
He then walked backwards slowly, with the largest smile in his face, expecting me to reply.
"Um, yea - yea sure, maybe tomorrow after we finish work." I said. Confused, didn't know how to reply to that, all my anxiety kicked in and I just froze there, rubbing my other arm, "Count me in."
Then Daniel, waved at the woman at the front desk and left and I was just there, standing in front of the elevator looking as awkward as possible.
I snapped back after Sarah continuously waved her hand over my face, realising that I should've headed home by now, so I ran back to my desk, with Sarah holding the elevator doors for me, grabbed my bag filled with papers and my laptop, than ran back to Sarah.
"So, how was showing him around? Was he interesting?" Sarah says with her face fully locked on mine, not paying attention to anything in front of her.
"He asked me to show him around New York City tomorrow." That's when Sarah's smile grew wider and wider, but suddenly disappeared.
"Wait, I though you told me that he was born and raised in New York City?"
"Yea, that's the thing, he is born and raised in New York City and want me to show him around." I said smiling for a bit.
Sarah waved goodbye as I exited out of the elevator, she was going down to basement because she used a car to get here. My apartment was in walking distance and I'd only use my car when a storm occurs.
When I entered my apartment, I threw everything on the bench and went straight for my bed. I fell back on my bed, with my eyes looking up to my detailed ceiling. All these thoughts wrap around my head. Everything that happened today was beyond different, I don't understand why? The gesture that Daniel pull right before he left. Was it an act of kindness, did he want to get to know me? Those were the thoughts that needed answering when the day came. I got up and changed into, had some dinner then went to bed, prepared and ready for another day being Jane.
@Lwamseyoum
