That One True Love

They Met

Five years ago

Lila joined the Blue Electronics immediately after graduation.  Not everyone can enter this fast-rising IT company but given her excellent academic performance and acing the test, she was hired as a programmer. This is where she met Timothy as the Lead Architect for one of the big projects that the company is working on. One incident turned Lila’s word 180 degrees.

All the programmers in the project were pushed to their limits. They worked over-time ensuring the application delivery meets its target.  They were required to test and retest their own program.  Tim was ruthless to the team.

“It’s integration testing later, argh!” One of the senior programmers exclaimed. 

“I have tested my program in silo, i hope no errors would fall on me,” the other one muttered.

“Why don’t we simulate an end to end test?” Lila suggested.  This garnered mix agreement or complaint others believe this is a good idea while the rest think it is over processing and they had so much spent so much time already.

After the integration test, there was a fix required and one who complained got scolded so badly by Tim.  The programmer happens to be a girl a year senior than Lila.

“Hey don’t cry…let’s work together I can help QA your program.”  Lila became soft hearted to the sobbing colleague.

“It’s fine thank you, Lead Architect Timothy is right…i hard coded some parameters. It’s my fault.”

“It’s good that you acknowledged your fault.  Crying will not fix the issue.  Stop being emotional.”  Everyone respected Tim with his no non-sense temper.  He does not say flowery words or sugar coat scenarios.  He goes straight into the issue and says it in your face.  They Tim turned to Lila, “and you just focus on your own task, do you have so much time? Create a test script then to make it worthwhile than to dip your nose into someone else’s task.”

Lila felt the heat spreading from her face to her ears and neck.  She was trying to comfort a teammate and project is teamwork.  She gazed at the emotionless face of Tim, “I certainly can do the test script.”  She clenched her fist trying not to show an outburst and headed to her station.

Tim flashed a faint smile.  This young lady is an interesting kitten, she had claws but looked so harmless.

Days and weeks passed for some odd reasons Lila has been under Tim’s nose.  By then Lila is accustomed to his sharp tongue and no bullshit kind of attitude.  Her coding skills went from good to excellent under constant review and analysis.

One late night, there were very few people in the floor already. She was so engrossed in what she was doing and did not notice that most of her colleague has left.  She was on her headset listening to music while working. Her back is aching from sitting all day. She stretched her arms raising it on top of her head bending her back against the chair while slightly turning her head left and right to ease her strained neck.  Her hand unexpectedly poked on something not too hard or soft which made her open her eyes to her surprise.  “OMG!” She quickly bounced back and removed her headset and stood facing the towering man.  She blushed at the thought of what he may have hit earlier.

Tim swallowed air causing his Adam’s apple to move up and down.  His brows are slightly knitted, looking at Lila whose face looked pale. “Programmers are not spared from work life balance.” He stepped closer and bended forward to look into her face.  “Are you sick?” Lila’s heart pounded facing Tim this close.  Previously they discussed program seated side by side and she never paid attention to him even if they were close. “Or did I scare you?”

She cleared her throat, “I was so engrossed on this.” Pointing on her monitor and continued, “and that scared me bit.”  Deep inside she was so embarrassed by accidentally touching Tim somewhere and standing face to face this close.

Tim sensed she is awkward and straightened himself.  “So are you planning to close the office floor?”

“No!” Lila scrambled to save her work and close her computer.  When she stood seems like she is the only one left in the floor.  ‘Wow like he really left me all by myself, what a prick’. She hastily headed towards the elevator to see Tim standing leaning on the wall. ‘Was he waiting for me?’  Lila felt a little relieved that the stone-cold Tim was human enough to wait for her.

Ding! Elevator opened. Tim signaled for her to enter first only to rush back.

“Hey!” Tim pulled her back in.  “Why are you running back?” His brows knitted.  ‘Did this young lady feared being alone with him on the elevator?!’

“I forgot my takeaway.” It was her dinner and she don’t intent to cook or spend again.  “I’d go back.”

“Leave it there. I have not had dinner yet; we can go together if you don’t mind.”

Lila felt blessed with a free meal but felt it was such a waste not to take the food when she is still in the building premises.  However, she seemed left with no choice as Tim ushered her to go out of the elevator lightly touching her back as if guiding her where to go.   

Tim took her to a nearby southern style restaurant.  They talked mostly of software, career aspirations mostly about work.  It was very casual. They were intently listening to each other.  Lila understood that even people of different status in life can be connected by shared passion on something.   She wanted to do her best to be independent and she is fortunate that she finished a course that she liked and not forced by her parents.  In fact, she envied friends and classmates who ranted that they were forced by parents to take this and that.   If only her parents are both alive.  She grew up with her grandfather.  Tim on the other hand was passionate about technology.  Clearly he is in the job not because he is in dire need to earn money but he is doing something he liked and he has been very independent from his well off family back in his home country, US.

Little did she know that this was the beginning of something, an entry to a new chapter of her plain life.