We were colleagues for the past two years and yet we did not get close to one another until recently. It was all thanks to a change in seating arrangement made by the superiors. I’ve heard of your name before in the office, and seen some for your silly acts at times. Like for example, after every lunch break, you would enjoy heading to the toilet and spend 10 minutes in front of the sink while all you just do is to style your hair and makes sure it stays for the rest of the day. I have also observed that you are slightly different from us. While many of us couldn’t wait for the clock to strike 6 in the evening so that we can head home to our families, idols, dramas, pets, and many other activities planned after work, you would sit back and relax at 6 in the evening and would see us leaving one by one until the last staff leaves except you. And then, you would grab your skateboard that is placed under your table, head to the toilet to change out of the office suit that you are wearing to a street outfit. After coming out of the toilet, all changed and ready to head out of office, you would glide through the marble hallways, a smile would be plastered onto your face before pressing the button, commanding for the lift to come.

How do I know you may ask? I forgot my car keys once and headed back to take it which I carelessly left it on the table and I saw you emerging out from your table with a skateboard in your hands, and clothing in the other before walking to the toilet. I saw all of the mentioned actions, and actually took note of how different you are from us.

Being arranged to sit side-by-side with you started all of our interactions. There would be times where you are unable to understand on how to use Microsoft Excel and would peek your head into my area and ask for some help. I am not someone well-liked in the office and have received a fair share of comments about me behind my back. People call me an ice-princess, a rude b*tch, a proud woman, bossy, you name it, they have said it. But you were different. You treated me like how you treated the others. A warm smile across your face whenever you talk to me and the others and a pair of eyes as though they could talk. And then there was once, during a short break from a meeting, and you are gathered with the rest of the colleagues in the pantry. I have accidentally overheard what you guys were talking about since I was making my way to the washroom and I have to pass by the pantry. Your topic of discussion was me, and coincidentally, none of you saw me while I was walking pass.

“Hey! So how’s sitting beside Krystal?”

“Uhhhhh… she’s pretty alright?”

“Really?! Wow that is a first!”

Unknowingly, I leaned against the wall near the pantry, getting engrossed in the conversation.

“Eh?” you questioned with curiosity.

“Don’t you know that she is someone really rude? There was once she knocked onto me by accident and did not even bothered to apologise!”

“I did! But you walked away straight after that knock!” I thought.

“I believe she isn’t someone like that! She’s pretty nice!”

The few shocked colleagues didn’t know what to do. But too bad, it was time to continue with the meeting.

And before I even realise it, our colleagues started shipping us together and this thing started spreading like wildfire. It was pretty alright at first… until I fell for you for real.

“Hey Krystal! Amber said she enjoyed your company at work!” Sulli, one of my closest friend and probably the few friends I have in the office came up to me for a short chat and teased me while you were out for a business meeting.

“Nahh, it was nothing she just enjoys working here” I said, totally not buying all of these shipping thing within the office.

“What she said is true! Amber blushed when she said that she liked your company!” Victoria interrupted.

“Oh… did she?”

“Look! Now, you are blushing!” Luna appeared out of nowhere.

“Aaaaawwwwwwww!” The three girls went.

I shook my head, thinking of how childish they were and the other colleagues were for shipping us both even if we are already in our 20s.

This carried on for months, and none of us stopped them. Our silence encouraged them to carry on with the teasing between us since none of us denied anything. At first, I thought it was just a childish act that would stop after some time. And whenever we interacted, Luna, who was sitting opposite me could see every actions and would squeal like a dolphin whenever the ship sailed. And I would always shake my head. And as time passes, we got used to the teasing and whenever the girls mentioned to me about you, they would follow up by saying how red my face went when I didn’t agree to the blushing at all. I mean, I would have known I am blushing or not and I knew that I wasn’t. And thanks to their teasing, I saw your good qualities.

You are someone who is really warm. When I fell sick the other day, instead of asking how am I feeling, you went straight out of the office and bought a bottle of herbal tea for me from the shop located just below the office. And there was once when you saw a Chihuahua who is black coated with golden brown fur near the chest near the office one rainy day, you brought it into the office and placed it in the cardboard box under you table and reminding me to keep it a secret from the boss who hates dogs. You made me realise how good of a person you are and without me realising, all of these shipping stuff made me fall for you.

Ever since I realised my feelings, I would actually blush whenever you are mentioned and of course, colleagues shipped us harder.

Then the day came. It was our company’s Dinner and Dance, so we were all dressed to the 9s, ready to enjoy the night, not forgetting the teasing. You were dressed in a casual black suit, while I was wearing a short black dress with a pair of black heels. A gift from my sister last year for my birthday. Us being in couple outfits brought a lot of attention to the colleagues especially Luna. She even requested us to stand side-by-side for a picture! And she didn’t forget her signature dolphin squeals after seeing the picture before running towards Sulli and Victoria who are 10 metres away from us, talking to some of the other colleagues. We both laughed to shake off the awkward atmosphere between us before exchanging greetings with one another.

Then… it happened… I didn’t expect you to grab my wrist and drag me to somewhere private where I realised was a garden just outside a ballroom. I looked at you with questioning eyes.

“H-h-hey! You looked stunning today!” did you just… stutter?

“Thanks! This dress was a gift!” I looked down to avoid eye contact with you in case you found out that I was blushing.

“O-oh” you stuttered again.

“A-actually, I wanted to…” I raised my head and looked at you, waiting for you to finish you sentence.

“I wanted to ask you out for a date if you don’t mind…?” you scratched the back of your head.

Silence between us pursued.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to go out with me! I am fine with that!” you showed me a not-so-wide-smile like you used to. 

“Okay.”

“W-what?!”

“I said okay! For the date!”

“Really?!”

“Of course! I’ve started to fall in you 2 months ago…”

“Wow… I….” and before you could finish what you wanted to say…

“OMG”

“Is this really happening?!”

“For real?! What we have been hoping for is coming true?!”

Of course, those came from Sulli, Victoria and Luna who popped out of nowhere again.