Stranger

Little Hope

One week later.

As planned, I submitted my resignation letter to our superior one week ago. I knocked on her office's door, I heard her say, "Come in.". I was surprised a little because she did not even asked me why did I come to her office unannounced. She did not even threw me a glance. I was infront of her desk while she's busy signing cheques. I was waiting for her to finish what she was doing when she suddenly said, "Leave it there and you can leave." Then pointed the table on the side. I walked to the side, put down the envelope on the table and told her I will leave the room. She just nodded. The cold Ma'am Cath, as usual.

The next day, I was more surprised because I, submitting my resignation letter was all over the workplace. So, my colleagues kept on asking me why will I resign, where am I going and other stuffs. I told some that I found a new job and told the others I am no longer happy, that's why.

-

I am back here in my new job to pass the requirements. I am sitting in the lobby together with all the new hires waiting for my name to be called by HR.

I looked around and can't help but be amazed by this new workplace. This company have a pantry that looks like someone booked a catering service and as big as two basketball courts. It also provides game stations and computers that employees can use during their vacant times. In my current job, using the computer for social medias and stuffs not related to work are strictly prohibited even during lunch. This company is also located on the top floor of a 4-story mall, which is perfect if you want to relieve stress before or after work hours.

"Via Manahan?" The HR said loudly while looking at our direction. I raised my right hand. She looked at me, "Come. Follow me." I stand up and followed her to the HR office. "Seat here." Pointing to the swivel chair beside her. I sat down next to her. "I'm Helen." She said. I replied , "Via" and smiled at her. Helen seems to be kind and very approachable. She took out the documents from the envelope and began checking the requirements she collected earlier before she told us, the new hires, to sit in the couch.

After a while, she put back the documents in the envelope and faced me, "Cool! You sumbitted all the requirements on time." I just gave her a smile as an answer.

"Helen, let's eat l--" Someone opened the door and stopped halfway on what she was saying when she saw me. "Sorry, I thought you're alone." She added looking at me and to Helen. "That's okay. We're done anyway." Helen said. "Her name is Joyce. My co-worker." Joyce smiled at me and I smiled back. She entered the room and sat down on the swivel chair beside me and started browsing her phone.

"So, goodluck on your first day next week." Helen said and showed me a fighting gesture. I laughed a little and stare at Joyce.

I am still staring at her because she is familiar. I think I know her, I just can't remember "Via, think, think, think." I am saying to myself at the back of my mind.

*lightbulb* (when you finally got the answer hehe)

I asked, "Joyce, did you attend Sinclair Academy in your elementary?". She was surprised, "Why? Did you study there?" She asked with confusion all over her face. "Yes." I said smiling. "What's your name?" She asked again. I replied, "Via." When she heard my name, she was surprised and the confusion was replaced with excitement. "Oh my God, Ate Via. Is that you? What happened? Why you're so skinny?"

(Ate means big or older sister in Filipino)

Helen is the confused one right now and shifting glaze to me and Joyce. "You knew each other?" She said. We smiled. Joyce said, "Yes, I know her. She was Kuya's classmate in elementary." Helen is still in awe and can only say, "Small world."

(Kuya means older brother in Filipino)

-

I went back to work after that. I only asked my superior to allow me to take my lunch one hour earlier so that I can submit my requirements.

I started taking my things home. The week that passed and this week until my last day, all I did and will do is to teach my replacement all my jobs and hand her over all the important documents I have.

Just like any normal day, it's already 7 in the evening and we are all still in the office. It's almost the end of the month so there are tons of paper works that needs to be done and be submitted on time.

I am sitting beside Rose, the one who will take over my job. I was advised earlier that starting today, I will not teach her anymore but will only supervise her work and see if she already learned everything. She can only ask me questions if she can't really understand or don't no what to do anymore.

"Via, I checked several times, still this inventory does not match with the written report." Rose sounds so frustrated. I can see myself on her when I was starting two and a half years ago. This job is not that easy. I stood up from my seat, "Can I?" I asked her, pouting my lips and pointing it to our monoblock chairs, simply asking her to exchange seats with me. She understood and stood up and sit on my chair and I sit on hers. I moved the chair closer to the desk and began checking the inventory she input. "Every monthly inventory, it never happened that the actual count in the system matched the physical count in the warehouse. I don't know why it's always been that way but I got tired questioning them everytime." I explained to Rose while still going through the inventory.

"Finally! Gotcha!" I exclaimed. "Here." I said to Rose and pointed my index finger to the monitor. "When they counted it as pieces in the warehouse, though it can be counted as a sack or box, input it in pieces." She looked at me with amazement. "Oh, I see. That was my honest mistake. I converted the pieces into a sack." She replied. "I stood up from her seat and gesture for us to ecxhange seats again. "Double check again then update the system inventory. It will be even now." I said to her with a reassuring tone. 

Rose immediately go back to work. It only took her like 10 minutes and viola, it is a job well done. It's almost 8 pm, "Girls, let eat outside." Judy invited us. We're only four left in the office. I, Rose, Judy and Sarah. Judy is Sarah's partner. We're all done with our work for today so we are just packing our things. We always eat just outside our office. There's plenty of foods to choose from. Our favorites are barbecue, dos tres and fishball.

(To those whose not familiar, barbecue is grilled pork meat, chicken intestine and other pig and chicken parts; dos tres is cow's intestine and lungs; and fishball is made of fish paste and then fried.)

While we're eating, my phone vibrated. I took it out from my pocket. A smile suddenly formed in my face with the sight of the notification on my phone. I had a little bit of hope earlier that this might happen but not this fast. I put back my phone in my pocket and continued eating.

~~~