Truth Untold

1

Serendipity

If people were to tell me that the simplest hello changed my life, I wouldn't have believed them. Matter of fact, I would've laughed seven shades of different laughter at those who had the audacity to tell me so. Life-in my sickly twisted mind of too much binge-watching Disney-shall be a huge grandiosity; a cliché shall we call it. Take my job for example. As cliché as it sounds, I am a huge believer that one shall really be passionate at what they do, they have to do what they love. We have to really love one thing before we get good at it. Totally Cliche, right? I know. That was how you found me at one of the most prestigious company in the creative industry, the rising sector in States. In conjunction to my undying love of aesthetic and graphic design, this was inevitable.

Now we move onto the talk of soulmate, potential lover of a lifetime. As mentioned above, the simplest hello does not change my life, or so I thought. Because I was hoping that he would ring a bell at the very least. I was hoping that there would be spark when it came to his presence. I have always pictured the scene would flip out like in movies, you know when you turn around and there he was: all sparkly with touch of confetti, smiles so wide with a hint of softness in his eyes as Guy Sebastian sings in the background. Now that would hardly happen, wouldn't it?

I've heard people saying that when the right one comes, we will feel the spark. We will know instantly that he's the one, sparks or none. And I have always believed the sweet lie.

My expectations however fell flat as I looked back on how the first time meeting him went like. It was only two months ago since we met, which already felt like it had been an eternity away. The phrase "I feel like I've known him forever" could really describe these two months into knowing him.

Meeting him felt like the first strap of the belt before a roller coaster ride. Nothing happened except for the unpleasant churning of anxiety. I knew he would roll out to be something - or, well, someone - as I flip out the next page of my book of life. As I did flip the page though, his presence proved to be a significance, mostly a highlight of my days. The next days of living my life knowing him felt exactly like riding roller coaster. We had our fair share of ups and downs, in which each of the happening ignite adrenaline rush within my bloodstream, truly making me feel alive.

Do you know the feeling when dawn greets and you're so damn excited about to spend the day at your favorite amusement park? Well, he used to be my favorite reason to wake up for another new day. I thought to myself then as realization hit me; even if this ride wouldn't last forever, I knew I once was a happy school girl bailing out of school for a day at my favorite amusement park.

December 4th, 2017

It is always a good idea to listen to the cover version of New York State of Mind by Glee Cast while walking up from Tribeca to Rockefeller Center. The song has been my serenity despite the bush of Manhattan at 8 in the morning. Thumbs up to Lea Michelle and her unique character of a voice that is so strong yet calming somehow.

"Good morning. How may I help you?" The clerk behind the cashier machine asked just as I made my way into the Magnolia bakery store, a smile adoring her face. I groaned internally. Just what on earth do her parents feed this girl that she smiled so brightly on Monday morning? Daisies and sunshine?

The smell of their fresh banana pudding struck my nostrils. I knew then, perhaps the sweet banana smell helped to lighten up her mood. "Can I get two of those, please?" I mirrored a smile, a lazy one, pointing out the banana pudding displayed on clear glass case.

She nodded and inputted the price onto the machine. Shortly after that, I walked out of the store with two puddings in one hand and the biggest chagrin that pictured the perfect happiness held in my hand. Happiness is simple, just a little bit pricey.

The ride from Rockefeller Center to Upper East side didn't take long. It was a quarter to nine when I arrived. Clearly, too early for 9.30 appointment. Damn, Manhattan, I was striving for on time not forty five minutes in time. Sighing wasn't gonna help but neither was whining. So I might as well made the most of my banana pudding.

I walked straight to the front office; the lady sitting behind the marble counter was wearing fitted black suit, her hair was neatly put into a bun, a smile fresh from the oven as she stood tall on her pair of three inches heels. "Good morning, I'm a new recruit of the Runway. I was filed for a 9.30 meeting with Emily Young from HR."

"What's your name?"

"Constance. Constance Clairé."

"Of Columbia University? There will be this first meeting that you and the rest of the new recruits must attend. The meeting will be held at the meeting room on 7th floor. Take the elevator, the room will be the one on your right. The HR team will join you shortly. This is your visitor card. May I have your ID, please?"

I passed her my ID card, exchanging it for the visitor card, "Here you go." Taking the visitor card, I hurriedly got inside the humongous place. Let's do this.

On level 7, the room on my right wasn't entirely spacious, but enough for about thirty others to fit in there. As I arrived too early, there was barely anyone in there but two men had beaten me into arriving even earlier. "Hey, there. Sorry, I, uh, is this the place for the new recruit first meeting?" I asked to no one in particular.

One of the men, even though he barely cast a side glance on me, nodded. "Uh huh, just take a seat somewhere." He let me in, clearly not even minding my business. I looked for any hint if he was one of the HR staffs only to be met with the same visitor card hanging on the left pocket of his white dress shirt.

He noticed that I was still stuck at the doorway. He lifted his head up then, warm dark brown irises framed in full black glasses. One brow raised, "Are you just gonna stand there all day or do you have this princess complex that I have to hold your hand as you walk to your seat?" He asked, eyes glaring into mine, giving zero shit about it.

I had to hold the urge to roll my eyes, striding into the room and taking a direct seat across from his. He smirked. Brat. "I am Efrain by the way, Efrain Harris. I specialized in content, design and mostly social media activities." He introduced himself, offering his right hand for a handshake I presumed.

I nodded, plastering a straight expression that probably looked more like a bitching face. "Nice to meet you, Efrain Harris." I said, firmly shaking his hand.

He chuckled, "Usually, when one introduces themselves the other party acknowledge and tell their names, too, you know? In your case, you just stopped at the acknowledgment phase. Are you not gonna tell me your name?"

I shook my head and muttered a quiet no.

He scoffed, "Alright, Princess, suit yourself." I rolled my eyes, first time that day.

I have had my fair share of meeting unkind people in the first meeting; People who took me a bitch for my facial expression, people who had the nerve to call out bad names behind my back, people who took me for granted. Been there, done that. On contrary, meeting the nicest ones would be such a huge privilege in this harsh neighborhood. Too many infamous opinion that people in general began to notice the act of kindness as creepy. It sounded so fucked up, I know.

Meeting someone who acted a like a brat on the first meeting was not new. I had my fair share of meeting guys who are quite handful many times before and also ones who seemed to have no manners-one of this kind. People like that do not change to the nicer types later on. They kept being the biggest asshole in the span of my twenty one years of living. Once an asshole, so the next time being. And I had always been right about my first impression on people. I took pride knowing my judgment was rarely wrong.

But Efrain Harris, he was an anomaly. If only someone warned me that this simple hello would turn my life upside down in the next couple of months, it would've been so much easier to prepare myself mentally. Who knows the brat was just had a rough start this morning like running out of his favorite hazelnut chocolate spread? Or losing the mobile game he was playing?

If only someone warned me about my new found serendipity: one extremely annoying (yet adorably unmissable) Efrain Harris, it would've been so much easier to remind my poor heart not to fall too deep, too fast.

My parents always warned me about the drugs sold on the street, but never about the ones with deep brown eyes and a heart beat.