Love Stories Over A Cup Of Coffee

Twelve: Real Talk

"Ugh, I hate him." Earth said as he sits in front of me.

I just looked at him while I continue eating my lunch. He also started eating. When his anger seemed to have subsided a little bit, I asked him.

"What's up?" I asked. He frowned.

"My new boss. He wanted me to change everything in the approved design! Phi, it's already the approved design, for goodness sake! Why does he want to change everything now? If I know" then he rolled his eyes.

"What?" I asked him again.

"The new boss is quite a senior. He is old. He is so old fashion. And I heard that he is not really in good terms with my previous boss. Which I get because my previous boss is so open and modern. While the new one is not. Also, can you imagine, he brought in someone with him, like he requested the HQ to send that person here as his assistant. And now that guy is tasked to do some of my work. What is he trying to do? Ugh he is being bias and unfair. He's asking me to do the revision until Saturday. UGH, I hate him!" He said. Basing from the tone of his voice, he is indeed angry.

"Be careful, look at those wrinkles." I teased him. His eyes widened, he might have been surprised of what I've said.

"P'Kao!!!" He said as if complaining. I just subtly laughed at him.

"Kidding aside, I didn't see any bias or unfair there." He raised an eyebrow. "Look, he gave you the task of revising the whole design," Earth nodded, "doesn't that mean he trusts you?"

I saw a puzzled look on Earth's face. Or maybe not. Maybe he is still processing what I said.

"But Phi, he only gave me a week to do it!!! Don't you think it's too much?" He complained again.

"But, have you seen it from the perspective that maybe he have so much confidence in you?" This became more puzzling to him.

"P'Kao, are you siding with him?" Now his anger is shifted to me.

"No." I said, as calm as I can. "What I'm trying to tell you is, maybe he has his reasons. As you've said, he is old, meaning he might be in the industry for quite sometime now. Meaning, he has enough experience to see something that the younger generation can't. After all, he won't make you redesign everything if he didn't get a go signal" I explained.

"What are you trying to say? I still don't get it." He is now frowning intensely. And I can feel any moment, he will bite me.

"Listen to the wisdom of the antiquity. Do what he is asking of you. Don't tell me you are complaining like this because you can't do it?" I said this to challenge him. After all, Earth loves challenging things. Unfortunately, even in love, he loves the challenging ones.

"Yah! Phi, of course I can do it!" He said with pride. If I know, he said that because he doesn't want to look weak and scared. That's  totally a no-no for him.

"Also, about the new guy, don't you like it, someone will be there to help you?"

"But, Phi, I'm doing fine! I mean, I can manage them!" He said with conviction. He looks very determined now.

"Earth, having someone to help you at work doesn't always mean that you are underperforming or not doing your job properly. Maybe your boss wants you to really focus on the design because he believes that you can make something good if you put your everything into it."

The look in his face tells me that he is not still buying what I'm saying.

I stood up because I'm done eating and I have to assist to an operation in a few minutes.