Lyka stepped cautiously into the towering building, her nerves fluttering with anticipation. Today marked the beginning of her new job as a content moderator at the bustling BPO company. Beside her, Jingboy walked confidently, offering quiet reassurance as they navigated the crowded hallway.
As they moved deeper into the office, Lyka’s gaze was drawn to a striking figure near the reception area—Veronica. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest, a strange mixture of admiration and nervousness. Unable to look away, Lyka found herself instinctively hiding behind a nearby corner, mesmerized by Veronica’s radiant presence. She watched intently, her breath catching as Veronica’s effortless elegance and confident smile seemed to light up the room.
Caught in the moment, Lyka wondered if Veronica sensed her gaze, or if she was just another face in the crowd. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but her eyes remained fixed on the beautiful woman captivated by the aura of mystery that surrounded her.
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Veronica sat alone in her dimly lit apartment, the soft hum of the city outside barely registering in her mind. It had been a month since the painful breakup with Teresa, yet the ache still lingered like an unhealed wound. She tried to keep herself busy, throwing herself into work, but tonight, memories haunted her more than ever.
Tomorrow marked a significant day—Lyka was finally entering the production floor after completing her training. Veronica had been waiting for this moment, not just for Lyka’s arrival, but because she had a plan. As a newly promoted Team Leader, she had requested to be assigned to handle the new agents personally. Lyka, in particular, was part of her carefully laid-out strategy.
She closed her eyes briefly, trying to steady her nerves. The ache from Teresa’s absence still haunted her, but she knew she had to focus. Tomorrow was more than just Lyka’s first day; it was her chance to regain control, to prove to herself that she could move forward, even if the pain still lingered beneath the surface.
As dawn approached, Veronica prepared her mind. She would greet Lyka with professionalism.
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Lyka took a deep breath as she stepped into the sleek, modern building for her first day as a content moderator. Her friend Jingboy walked beside her, both of them excited and a little nervous after passing the rigorous training together. The bright lobby was bustling with activity—people hurried past, some on their phones, others chatting quietly.
As they approached the reception area, a friendly trainer noticed them and waved warmly. He gestured politely, signaling for them to wait in the comfortable lounge area nearby.
"Please wait here a moment," he said with a smile. "I will introduce your team lead."
Lyka glanced around, taking in the vibrant environment filled with posters about online safety and guidelines.
Jingboy nudged her playfully, whispering, "First day, huh? Just breathe, you'll do great."
They settled onto the plush couches, exchanging nervous but excited glances. The trainer disappeared briefly into an adjacent room, leaving Lyka and Jingboy and there team to prepare themselves for what was to come.
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After a few moments, the trainer walked back toward Lyka and Jingboy and with there team, a warm smile on her face.As he approached, Lyka’s eyes were drawn to a woman entering the lounge.
The woman had a beautiful face, with features that seemed to radiate confidence and kindness. She was dressed in a fitted black polo that accentuated her curves, and her presence was both calm and commanding.
Lyka’s heart beat faster as she caught sight of her. She realized immediately that this was Veronica.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Veronica. She’ll be your Team Leader moving forward.” Veronica stepped forward, offering a warm smile.
As she looked at Lyka and Jingboy, her gaze lingered a moment longer on Lyka, prompting her to say, “Nice to see you again.”
Lyka’s heart pounded fiercely in her chest as Veronica’s eyes met hers. The intensity of Veronica’s gaze made her feel a rush of heat rising to her cheeks. As Lyka took in Veronica’s striking appearance—the confident demeanor, the poised expression—memories flooded back of that night in the secret room, causing her face to flush even more with a mix of embarrassment and anticipation.
Veronica stepped forward confidently, her smile calm and reassuring.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Veronica,” she began, her voice smooth and clear.
“I’ll be your new Team Leader from now on. Just a quick note about my background—I’ve been in this line of work for a few years, handling various accounts, and I’m here to help guide you through this journey.”
She paused briefly, then added with a slight grin, “And for the record, I’m 31 years old.”
The team exchanged surprised glances. Jingboy’s eyes widened, and Lyka’s jaw nearly dropped. They couldn’t help but stare, because Veronica certainly didn’t look like she was in her thirties.
Her youthful features, radiant skin, and energetic presence made her appear to be in her early twenties at most.
Lyka felt her mind whirl with confusion and curiosity. How could someone so strikingly youthful be already 31? The more she looked at Veronica, the more she realized that her appearance defied her age, adding an intriguing layer to her commanding presence.
The team, still processing, nodded in acknowledgment, feeling a mix of admiration and curiosity about their new leader.
As the team absorbed Veronica’s introduction, one of the younger boys, curious and a bit playful, raised a hand.
“Hey, Veronica,” he asked with a teasing smile, “why do you look so young for being 31? Do you already have a family?”
Veronica tilted her head slightly, a composed smile on her face.
“No, I don’t have a family,” she responded straightforwardly.
“If you’re referring to a husband and children, that’s the reason I look young cause i don’t have any issues with Husband and child.
But if you’re talking about my parents—yes, I still have my parents.”
The team’s eyes widened in surprise, and then a few of them couldn’t help but laugh, amused by her directness. Veronica’s confident, no-nonsense attitude seemed to add to her youthful appearance, making everyone even more intrigued by her.
After the laughter died down, the atmosphere shifted as the boys’ curiosity about Veronica grew even more. One of them, a bit shy but clearly interested, hesitantly asked, “Uh, Veronica… do you have a boyfriend?”
Veronica’s eyes flicked to him with a steady, confident gaze.
“No,” she replied simply.
“I’m not into boys.
I’m interested only in women.” Her tone was firm, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
As she said this, her eyes didn't leave Lyka for a moment. Lyka felt her cheeks flush red under Veronica’s intense stare, a mix of surprise and a strange flutter of nervousness. The sudden focus made her feel self-conscious, as if Veronica’s gaze was piercing right through her.
The team’s chatter quieted slightly, sensing the shift in the room. Lyka looked away quickly, trying to hide her embarrassment, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Veronica’s eyes had left a lasting impression.
After Veronica finished her brief introduction, she looked around at the team. “Alright, everyone, let’s go around and introduce ourselves, one by one,” she said with a commanding but friendly tone.
One by one, each team member shared their name, specialty, and a little fun fact about themselves. When it was Lyka’s turn, she hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of the earlier gaze. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Veronica’s eyes suddenly softened with curiosity. “And you, Lyka? Tell us a little about yourself,” she prompted.
Lyka blinked, a little flustered, then quickly responded, “I’m not into boys,” she said frankly, her voice a little defensive.
Without thinking much, she pointed at Veronica and added, “Just so you know.”
The team erupted into light teasing laughter, amused by the straightforwardness.
Veronica’s lips twitched into a small smirk as she looked at Lyka, her eyes gleaming with playful mischief.
“Is that so?” Veronica said softly, her tone teasing. “Good to know. We’re all different, after all.”
Lyka’s cheeks turned even redder, her eyes dropping to the floor as the team chuckled and exchanged amused glances. The teasing bond between them was clear, and Veronica’s smirk hinted that she enjoyed the friendly banter.
After the introductions, Veronica took the lead, guiding her team through some quick training exercises in their content moderation tasks. She moved around confidently, offering tips and support to each team member as they worked at their stations.
When it was Lyka’s turn, Veronica called out with a friendly smile, “Lyka, come sit beside me here.” Lyka hesitated for a moment but then made her way over to Veronica’s desk, feeling a little nervous as she sat down beside her.
She opened her laptop to review some guidelines, but suddenly noticed that her keyboard was acting up — some keys weren’t responding properly. Frustrated, she looked up at Veronica.
“Hey, Veronica, can you help me fix this? My keyboard’s having issues,” she asked softly, trying to keep her tone steady.
Veronica leaned in to assist, offering a gentle smile. As she reached over to help troubleshoot, her elbow accidentally brushed against Lyka’s chest.
Lyka’s eyes widened in surprise, and her face flushed bright red as she felt the unintended contact. Veronica quickly pulled back, her expression apologetic.
“Oh, sorry about that,” she said softly, her voice warm.
Lyka, still feeling the heat from the accidental touch, tried to steady herself while Veronica continued to assist her with the keyboard problem.
The small, unintended moment lingered briefly between them, unnoticed by the rest of the team immersed in their tasks inside production.
As the clock struck the end of their shift, the team began to pack up and punch out from their stations. Everyone gathered their belongings, a mixture of tiredness and satisfaction from a productive day. Veronica was last to log off her computer, then approached Lyka quietly as she was about to leave.
In a subtle, hushed tone, Veronica leaned in slightly and whispered into Lyka’s ear, “After you punch out, come to my office for a quick talk.”
Lyka’s eyes widened slightly at the unexpected whisper, her cheeks flushing again as she nodded softly in response. She quickly gathered her things, casting a quick glance at Veronica before heading towards the exit, curious and a little nervous about what the call might be about.
Veronica watched her go with a faint smile, then turned back to her own desk, already contemplating what the conversation might involve.
A few moments later, Lyka knocked softly on Veronica’s office door and then gently pushed it open. She stepped inside, finding Veronica seated comfortably at her desk, looking up with a welcoming smile.
Veronica tilted her head and asked softly, “Are you okay, Lyka?”
Lyka’s face lit up with a bright smile, and she nodded happily.
“Yes, I’m okay. Thank you for asking,” she replied cheerfully.
Veronica’s expression softened with relief and happiness. “That’s good to hear,” she said warmly.
“If you ever need any help or have questions, don’t hesitate to ask me, okay?”
Lyka smiled more confidently, feeling reassured by Veronica’s kind words. “Thank you, Veronica. I really appreciate it,” she said genuinely.
Veronica nodded with a satisfied smile, feeling glad to have such a supportive team member. The atmosphere in the office was calm and friendly as they continued their brief, reassuring conversation.
A few days had gone by since their quiet conversation in Veronica’s office. Things between Lyka and Veronica returned to their usual coworker dynamic—friendly, professional, but with an unspoken tension lingering beneath the surface.
Lyka often found herself glancing at Veronica when she thought no one was looking, her heart fluttering at the memory of their secret moments, especially the one in the secluded room at the bar.
Despite the familiarity, Lyka couldn't shake the feeling of sadness that crept into her chest. It seemed to her that for Veronica, she was just another colleague—someone to work with, talk to, but nothing more.
The warmth she felt during their private encounter now felt distant, like a fleeting dream.
One afternoon, as Lyka sat at her desk, she caught Veronica passing by and offered a polite smile. Veronica responded with a quick nod, her expression neutral but kind.
Lyka’s heart sank a little; she wondered if Veronica even remembered the depth of what they shared, or if it was just a moment that had slipped away into the past.
Lyka sighed softly to herself, feeling a bittersweet ache. She wondered if she should tell Veronica how she truly felt, or if she should just continue to cherish their secret moments in silence, pretending everything was still the same.
Lyka sat on her small sofa, her phone resting on her lap. The room was quiet, except for the soft hum of the city outside her window. Jingboy sat beside her, concern evident in his eyes as he looked at her.
“Lyka,” Jingboy said softly, leaning forward slightly.
“How are you really doing? I noticed you seem a bit down lately. Is everything okay with Veronica?”
Lyka looked away, her expression a mix of sadness and longing.
She hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice timid.
“Honestly, Jingboy… I don’t know anymore. After everything that happened, it feels like Veronica just sees me as a coworker. Like I’m nothing more than someone to work with. Sometimes, I feel like she’s just being polite, but she doesn’t really care about how I feel.”
Jingboy reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder. “Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re special, Lyka. Maybe Veronica doesn’t realize how much she means to you. Sometimes, people are just afraid to show their true feelings.”
Lyka looked down, tears threatening to well up. “I wish I knew what she really thinks… because right now, it just feels like I’m invisible to her. Like all those moments we shared in the secret room—did they even mean anything to her?”
Jingboy gave her a reassuring look. “Whatever her feelings are, you deserve to be happy and loved. Don’t forget that.”
Lyka took a deep breath, trying to hold back her tears, but the sadness lingered in her heart. She appreciated Jingboy’s kindness, but deep down, she couldn’t help feeling lost in her own emotions.
The dim glow of the bar’s ambient lights cast a warm, intimate atmosphere. Veronica sat comfortably on a stool, her eyes flickering with a mix of determination and resolve. Krisha and Karina were beside her, nursing their drinks as they listened intently.
Krisha leaned in slightly, a teasing smile on her lips.
“So, Veronica, how’s the plan for your revenge coming along? Are you getting closer?”
Veronica took a slow sip from her glass, then looked directly at Krisha, her expression steady.
“It’s going well,” she replied confidently. “I’m taking my time with this. I’ll do it slowly but surely.”
She paused, a sly smile creeping onto her face. “My goal is to make her fall in love with me—completely unaware that it’s part of the plan. Patience is key. I want her to believe everything is natural, genuine. That way, when I finally reveal everything… it’ll hit her even harder.”
Karina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So, you’re playing the long game?”
Veronica nodded firmly. “Exactly. No rushing. The more she trusts me, the more I can manipulate her feelings.
When the time comes, she won’t see it coming.”
Krisha chuckled softly. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. Just don’t forget—sometimes, the best revenge is making her realize what she lost.”
Veronica’s eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity. “Oh, I plan to make her see exactly that.”