Chapter Three: A Promise To Myself
1038 Words
Days went by, and activities flowed smoothly as usual.
I got regular calls from home, my family checking up on me, curious to know more about my new city and the firm. It felt good talking to them, hearing their voices, and sharing little pieces of my daily life. We often had long conversations, sometimes stretching into late nights.
“What does your new city feel like?” they’d ask with excitement.
I’d smile and eagerly unwrap the gist like it was a storybook. FaceTime calls, weekend chats, late-night texts, those moments kept me grounded.
But reality hit me at intervals, quietly reminding me why I left home in the first place.
It pushed me into deep reflection.
“Ronda, you owe yourself and these people a good life,” I whispered to myself one night. “You have to be responsible. You have to stay focused. No distractions.”
Those words replayed in my head over and over. So I made a quiet pledge to myself: no distractions, no unnecessary drama.
Whenever I got to the office, I fixed my attention on my work. No rolling eyes at a handsome face. No daydreaming about Karl.
And about those girls openly crushing on him? I told myself it didn’t bother me.
“You know what? You guys can have him. I don’t care. I didn’t come here for that,” I muttered one morning, convincing myself.
But did I truly mean it?
By all means, I began avoiding situations where I might cross paths with Karl.
Then one afternoon, he approached me after a session.
“Hey, Ronda,” he said with that warm voice that could melt ice. “I’d like to take you out on a lunch date. Do you mind?”
Without hesitation, I put on a polite smile.
“No, Karl. I’m sorry… I’ve got a lot on my table.”
He didn’t push. He just gave a calm smile.
“It’s okay. I won’t take no some other time.”
I laughed lightly but stayed firm in my little mission to keep things professional.
Weeks passed, and one evening after a long, exhausting day, I was heading home when Karl’s voice stopped me.
“Hi,” he called softly. “I know it’s late and you must be tired. Would you mind if I drop you off on my way?”
I didn’t hesitate.
“No, thank you. It’s not far. I’ll be fine,” I said with a smirk.
He nodded gently.
“That’s alright,” he replied. Then he added, almost casually, “We’ll talk later. Can we? Maybe tomorrow. What do you think?”
His words lingered in the air, heavier than they should have.
And for the first time in a while, I didn’t have a ready answer.
I nodded, smirked, and we went our separate ways.
New dream, alert.
On a random workday during my leisure period, I stumbled on an educational video that caught my attention.
An easier route to becoming a chartered accountant?
I leaned closer, listening carefully as the speaker broke it down step by step. I felt an unexpected rush of excitement.
“I don’t even need to have so many requirements to get started,” I whispered to myself, grinning. I had caught the vision.
To make this dream real, I drafted a strategic plan and got to work immediately. I made enquiries from different sources. My level of curiosity was unmatched.
The thirst to chase this new dream felt enthusiastic and surreal.
Fortunately, I was lucky to join an open orientation that gave out valuable information about my interest. I asked questions during the interactive session, cleared my doubts, fed my curiosity, and did more research. It was a golden moment.
Through all these, my office work didn’t suffer. I stayed diligent as always, keeping my head in the game.
Not even the quiet affection I felt for Karl managed to distract me. I was too focused on what life was hitting me with.
Then, as silence crept in one evening, it hit me.
The unanswered question.
The one Karl had left hanging.
“What could it be that he wants to talk to me about?” I asked myself, heart skipping a little.
“Is he going to confess his feelings for me?” I doubted myself, but the thought refused to leave.
Anyway, I still had to maintain my focus. No distractions.
So I wished.
I aimed high, spirited to achieve my dreams despite the distractions that could come in the form of “l**t” rather than love.
Handling office work alongside the pursuit of becoming a chartered accountant wasn’t easy, but it was worth every effort.
Diving deeper into this new dream made me happy in ways I couldn’t fully explain. For the first time, I truly believed I could become that successful star accountant my family would be proud of.
I began taking courses, attending tutorials, and gradually saw myself walking confidently in that field in the near future. My weekends became fully booked with this new purpose.
One noon at my workspace, a soft knock snapped me out of my focus.
A voice, soft as honey, followed.
“How are you?” Karl asked.
My heart skipped. I wasn’t expecting him.
“I’m good, you? How’s your day going?” I responded, trying to stay composed.
“Better now that you asked,” he said with a smile before walking away.
I froze for a moment, replaying his words. Did he really mean that flirty response? I wasn’t sure. Karl joked with everyone, so I brushed it off. But deep down, I couldn’t deny how warm it made me feel.
Still, another thought crept in.
“Has he forgotten his request to see me?”
But I didn’t let my mind linger there. The goal was clear, and my dreams were louder than any distraction.
This was my new dawn, my new dream.
I sighed softly, and looked out of the window, watching the sun gently paint the sky.
“We can only hope for the best.” I whispered to myself.
And in that quiet moment, I felt a calm determination settle in my heart.
- Writer
