One Shot Stories

Temporary Butterfly

Venus' Point of View

It's frustrating to know that I am that type of person na mas matagal pa mag-move on kaysa sa pinagsamahan.

Sometimes, I just think about waking up with amnesia so no memories of him could bother me any longer. But then, it doesn't work that way, and my only memory of him, even though it breaks my heart reminiscing it, makes my heart happy at the same time. I can't just let go of that. And I can still remember it too well... too well that I know it would take time to forget about it even though it just happened within a short span of time.

I can still remember walking in that aisle... in that aisle where my workstation is...

Blue carpet, blue workstation dividers, and oh, there's him, wearing blue shirt with his headset on, taking customer calls. Yes, a call center. I'm working in a call center. Nah, I mean I worked. Past tense. It was just for a summer job because I was bored and I need money. That's his reason as well. And that's why we met which I wish we shouldn't have if I could just turn back time.

Drew. A common name. But now it doesn't feel like that anymore. Well, not for me. I really like his name now. Hearing his name sounds romantic enough for me. Yes, it's insane, I know.

I was late on my first day after I passed the nesting. It is the last stage in training where we take real calls, get evaluated, and get endorsed to the real work or the production if passed. I was trembling and still catching my breath when I arrived at the bay assigned to our team. The first thing I did was...

"Liz, san yung supervisor natin?"

She placed the call on mute. She was my wavemate or batchmate during the training since right now, we have different teammates already. It's my first time to meet them except Liz.

"Nandun," she pointed.

"Bakit ka late?"

"Traffic eh. Wait, puntahan ko na. Patay ako," I said. Then binalikan niya na yung customer.

I'm nervous! Paano ba naman kasi, I'm an hour late on my first day with my new teammates.

Paglingon ko sa gilid ng station niya, I saw Drew. I don't know his name yet that time. Our eyes met while he's talking with a customer. Didn't really capture my attention at first. But that was our first encounter.

The next day, I wore pink... Pink sleeveless with pink blazer, pink pants, pink shoes, and I'm holding a pink tumbler with my name on it.

"Wow, birthday mo?"

I was logging in on my computer that time so I can get my tools ready before my shift starts. Yes, this time I didn't get late. I looked at the guy who told me that. It was Drew. I knew him by that time because we have our groupchat online.

"Huh? Bakit?" I asked.

"Nakapink ka eh."

"So? Shouldn't it be red?"

May masabi lang?

"Hindi ah."

I just ignored him and continued working on my station.

Later that day, we had a team huddle but instead of listening, he was asking me about random things and kept telling me things about himself that don't even matter to me... before.

He's really enthusiastic, friendly, and cute. Wait, what? Okay, maybe he is. A little bit.

"May lahi kang Chinese?"

Ang weird!!! Super weird talaga nito!

"Huh? Paano mo naman nasabi?"

He didn't answer. He just stared at my confused face. I sighed then I answered him, yet still confused. I don't know where the questions are coming from.