PILOT
1112 Words
1
He was like every regular guy. Nobody takes notice of him at work except his best friend, Anthony who works in the same office as him. He doesn't care anyway. He went about his daily activities like he was the only human on earth.
Like today, he was on his usual pale blue shirt which matches his personality. The shirt was tucked in his slightly baggy black trousers with a dull red tie poorly knotted at the collar of his shirt. His thick fully squared black glasses were firm on his eyes. He sat in his corner ignoring every form of life surrounding him. Anthony was on leave so he felt he had no reason to communicate with his other colleagues at work.
He was one of the clerical staff at Trust Insurance Plc. His monthly salary was never at par with his efficiency but he doesn't seem to mind. He was an introverted bachelor who doesn't spend much on outings like most bachelor's tends to do. His relationship with his colleagues at work except Anthony was strictly business. He saw them as his coworkers; not friends, not acquaintances but coworkers.
"Hey, John" A female worker whose name he couldn't remember calling him
"yeah," He answered wondering what she wanted from him.
"My birthday party is tomorrow. Wanna come?"
Initially, the lady didn't want to invite John to her party. However, she had invited everyone in the office and felt that it wouldn't be nice if John wasn't invited to the merriment. After all, they work in the same office as a team.
"Tomorrow?" John struggled.
"Yeah"
"Um... my sister's wedding is tomorrow and I won't be able to come around"
"Oh... alright then" The lady replied feeling disappointed.
John doesn't have a sister whatsoever. He was the only child of his parents. He was looking for a credible reason to avoid any form of social gathering. He preferred being alone or being with Anthony than to be with anyone else.
***
She was the crush of several male workers in Trust Insurance Plc. She had a charm on everyone around her and drew people to herself. She wasn't exactly beautiful but her disposition and her character made men run over heels for her. Everyone in the company liked her for her geniality and savvy. Well, everyone except a few envious ladies who wish to get a few of the ogling masculine stares she got daily.
Today, she dressed to kill with her scarlet red dress barely reaching her knees. Her blazing red lipstick made her admirers salivate with lust. Her dark hair braids danced gracefully at her back with her eyes glistening with confidence and cheerfulness.
She was an auditor working in the Account department of the company. The reasonable monthly sum she got for her services was up by the tuition fees of her two sisters and her cancer patient of a father's medical bills. Nevertheless, she was bold to carry all her burdens without asking for assistance from anyone.
"Stella" Deji, the colleague directly beside her office desk called her.
"How far?" She replied with the usual Nigerian greeting slang.
"I'm good. So, I was wondering if you can come over to my house this Saturday"
"Tomorrow? Why?" Stella inquired.
"Just to hang out, now. Blow off some steam" Deji replied pleadingly.
Stella smirked surreptitiously. She was used to this kind of request. However, she wasn't ready to add any man to her life right now. She had so much on her desk and wasn't ready to add a romantic relationship to the pile.
"I... um, have other plans, Deji. I'm sorry" She turned him down.
"It's okay" Deji replied visibly disappointed.
She returned to her work. Her right hand was placed gently over the mouse and her eyes glued to the Excel Spreadsheet on the computer before her. She was required to audit three accounts before the end of the day and she wanted to make it to the deadline.
"Do you hate me?" Deji asked after a short period of awkward silence.
"I'm sorry, were you talking to me?" Stella asked astonished.
"Yeah. Did you ever like me?" Deji queried hurtfully.
"UH... I guess so. I mean you are my colleague" Stella stuttered.
"Then how come you always turned down my invitations" Deji pressed on.
"I'm sorry. it's just that I've been extremely busy lately." Stella apologized.
"I don't want to date you, Stella" Deji stated.
"What?" She felt uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I like you and all but I just want to be your friend. Why do you keep turning me down?"
"I... I... Uh," Stella broke into a short awkward laugh.
"How about Sunday?" She negotiated.
"Okay then. I will pick you up?"
"No! Please don't" Stella was alarmed.
"Text me the address and I will come" She added.
Stella didn't want her family to think Deji is her new boyfriend. Besides, she didn't want any man to come close to her family. AT least, for now.
***
It was late evening. John reunited with his ostensibly sick friend, Anthony. To his surprise, Anthony looked anything but ill. He was on a long brown robe munching a packet of chin-chin on a brown couch. His eyes were glued to the TV series playing on the six-inch flat-screen television.
"So you lied about being sick just so you could get off work?" John queried.
"What?!" John was startled.
"When did you get here?" He questioned.
"You are so engrossed in what you are watching that you didn't even notice me come in" John reprimanded.
"Yeah, so what? I lied!" Anthony retorted nonchalantly.
"Why?"I can't be working like a slave, man. Nine solid hours of sitting in a chair with my eyes getting bloodshot red because of the light rays from the computer. I am tired!"
"Why don't you quit?"John suggested half-jokingly.
"Quit? With the high unemployment rate in Nigeria?" Anthony scoffed.
"Then take your job seriously so you don't lose it" John advised.
"This is the third leave you are taking in two months" He added.
"Yes, 'Mum'" Anthony whined.
"By the way, are you coming over to Titi's birthday party? She invited everyone at work" Anthony inquired with his eyes glistening with hope.
"Oh, so that's her name" John realized.
"No, I'm not" He answered brusquely.
"At least, go for this one. You don't even know the people you work with every day" Anthony urged.
'I know you" John retorted.
"That's not the point. Point is to go and socialize.
"Not my thing. I don't care about them anyway"
"Who? Our colleagues?"Besides, parties are too loud"
"Alright then. If you say so" Anthony gave it up.
- Writer
