Behind the Lens

Chapter 3

Jordan froze at the sight of this on her phone screen. She had thought of some possible outcomes that might ensue if she tried to tell a man she had never met about her life.

Misshearty: "[or we can talk about something else]" including a smiling emoji.

Aceking: "[I am actually out of ideas on what might interest you. So I thought talking about what you do will make you feel better]"

That caught Jordan unaware as she never had anyone care for her feeling so much as that, not even Cynthia, her best friend. She adjusted her position on the mattress and reviewed her posture getting really comfortable with the flow of the conversation. Her smile shone on her phone's and one could hardly see the phone's screen content because of it.

Misshearty: "[No, let's talk about anything else. We've both been stressed by our work mates, so let's take a break from 'work']"

Aceking: "[then you should know now that I am very bad initiating a conversation.]"

Misshearty: "[guess that is why you wanted me to talk about my work]"

Aceking: "[busted!]"

That was the longest chat either of them ever had in their entire life. However, they are not ready to tell their respective friends about how well the conversation is going.

Aceking: "[I think talking about this with you made my day already. It is surprising though how well you chat as if you had been brought from another planet. I mean, my coworker acts so hostile towards me and every time we chat, I despise her entire attitude towards me.]"

Jordan felt it as she cannot actually judge the referenced woman at Aceking's work place. She tried so much for the conversation to be changed.

Misshearty: "[oh, look at that. It's almost my bedtime as I've got to wake up early tomorrow.]"

Aceking: "[should not have been though. I'm actually now enjoying the conversation more and more, but now you have to go. That's so sad! Have a good night's rest.]"

Jordan didn't reply to the message and rushed to her fridge. As she was about to bring out the milk, she could only replay that conversation of the person Aceking compared her with.

Jordan: "for real, I cannot actually be the only one acting to guys like that, but I really feel bad for Aceking for having to deal with such a woman. I mean, Alex does not also give me a hard time, so I might be justified. But what if Aceking is also not innocent? I mean, one cannot be acting in such a way without being stimulated first. But he is so sweet while he chats with me, so he is probably just too nice and the lady is taking advantage of that", soliliquising to herself and getting her crisp ready. She sat quietly thinking, and finally dragged herself to bed.

The brightness of the sun through his window flashed his eyes, making him realize he did not draw his curtain before sleeping the other night. He smiled gently as he dragged himself out of the bed to get himself prepared for the day. Through his drive to the workplace, he hoped that Misshearty would be whom he would meet instead of Jordan.

Paradoxically, Jordan could not agree more with that idea as she already put on a sad face with the idea that she might never get to meet Aceking and would be stuck with his archenemy, Alex.

Director: "it's so nice of you to join us after more than an hour I had asked you over to my office." He smirked, looking at him with disgust.

Jordan was surprised at the tensed atmosphere he found in the office and noticed Jordan's eyes turned to the ground and noticed her legs a bit shaky and shivery. He could feel the enragement of his boss diffusing across the office.

Director: "So I recently learnt the feud going on between you two and I decided not to intervene. It is actually not my problem but, when it comes to my work, I will definitely intervene. I cannot allow you to bring your personal problem to my workplace as that would affect my work. Just as it does this one" throwing a letter in an envelope at them, "which I specifically called both of you to my office so you could do a reasonable job on It, but you just prove to me that you are both selfish and insolent people who always do not care about other people but themselves.

You," pointing at Jordan, "came here the other day asking me, you want another photographer like you know any photographer who can do a better job than Alex here. And you, Mr. Alex, I warned you not to let this happen, but here we are, with our works rejected back to us. So all the resources of the company which you have wasted will be removed from your salary."

They both looked down the whole time of the speech addressing and shamefully walked out the door. Their facial expressions felt like they wanted to be swallowed while by the earth to take them away from the shame they would have to bear.

This is what they feel they are very good at and the fact that it was rejected showed that they have to bury their differences and work together, at least according to Alex.

Jordan had a very different idea about that. She felt like it was all about Alex who could not concentrate and is obsessed with her. She felt if he only could focus on his job, that would not have happened.

Alex: "It would be advisable if you would be reasonable enough and act professional, if not for your own sake, try and be selfless for once and do that for my sake."

He left her staring face angrily and went up to analyse the picture he took along his way to work. His face broadened and widened, teeth grinding on each other, he could not concentrate on himself and had to take a break from work. He was about to bring out his phone when Cynthia came over to his side and tried to start up a conversation.

Cynthia: "if I did not know you better, I would say you were angry at someone, but what do i know?" She adjusted herself across the rail and balanced over, sitting by his side. "Care to share your burden, Mr!?"

Alex: "Why am I always the one to take the blame every time something goes sideways in the work? Why is it that men are always at the receiving end of every situation as if we can ever not be victims? How hard can it be for someone to be just nice as you are or even slightly more than they are? The ideology that one experiences with one person determining how you relate with other people is very annoying" with so much intensity, he expelled everything out of his system rapidly which Cynthia hardly understood any of it.

Cynthia: "firstly, if you really are asking me these questions, which I want to believe is not the matter here, you can go easy on me, and the fact that you projected these shows they clearly ain't meant for me. Again, what experience are you talking about? Is it Jordan we are still talking about here or has any other lady treated you badly as she's been doing? Anyways, I guess that is your personal problem. You guys can sort it out."

Alex: "of course, you also will not listen. It is fine" walked away, with disappointment growing all over his face.

Cynthia stared at him as he walked off her vicinity. Just as she was about to leave the terrace, her eyes caught Jordan from afar. She hastenly moved towards her and tried to explain what just happened with Alex but realized she was in a very bad mood.

Jordan: "it'd be very hard for me to work with someone who looks down on me every time."

Cynthia: "I really think it is high time you both grew up and behave like the professionals you are. I don't think I can be part of this drama you both are involved in. Right now, Alex just transferred all of his aggression he has against you at me, with my offense only being your friend."

The weird silence in the exposed her to hear different cracking and skewing sounds all over the room. Jordan had never seen Cynthia this angry and seems it was very serious. However, there was no word that could come to his mind to make that subside, thus having to leave her alone at that and quietly left her to get back to work.

A phone buzz brought Jordan's attention to where she had left her phone, beside Cynthia. She knew perfectly well that it couldn't be any other person than Aceking. Cynthia could not help but peep I to her phone and saw a message notification popped up on her phone's screen reading "Are you free now?"

Cynthia: "were you ever going to tell me how far you've gone in your new "relationship"?"

Jordan: "are you ever going to stop checking my phone? By the way, I thought you were angry at me, why are we still talking?"

Cynthia: shrugs slowly and changes her posture, "have him meet you."

Jordan raised her eyes in agreement and asked Aceking for a date out.

Aceking: "[That'd be very nice, if you don't feel it is too soon. Send me the place and time.]"

Now, she has dinner to plan for which she had never done.