*(All thoughts are in italics)
I woke up the next day feeling a little green and blue and all the colors in between, after downing a bottle of antacid and spending extra half hour in the toilet, i was effectively a bright shade of purple by the time i reached my office floor. I was greeted by my friend-for-life, my la-confidante, my blood brother, my only-ray-of-hope, Nathan running down the aisle towards me, his mane billowing behind him and i thought ‘Ya, Simba is perfect for you’, Damn i wish i had a cool nickname.
“Ronny!” he laughed, “ I am guessing you already saw the hot stuff?”
“Hot stuff? Whats that? i asked perplexed.
“ Oh! come on. Heard you gave him a tour yesterday? He is so your type isn’t he?” Simba guffawed. “Eh? you mean Fernando? Its a no go for me dude. He has a mate!?” I replied trying to keep the bitter to the minimum.
“ What? eh? No way. But man did you see the goods on him?Wow is all i can say. Wish i could have him. Ahahhha” he rattled on.
“Simba” I said sternly, “ That guy has a lover, i am guessing he hasn’t come out yet, so better not talk about it. And yes he is so my type man. I tried to get his attention yesterday and failed miserably dude. Miserably”
“ Eh? seriously? Someone who din’t fall for your charms? Ah! a wise guy. I respect him already”
“ Oh shut up Simba. I am really miserable right now” i said walking towards the cubicle and waving for my team mates to join me in the room. Simba, i realized was part of Vehicle safety team, which meant right with Fernando. Simba was actually tipped to take over except that the management felt he din’t have enough experience, for Simba right after graduating went home to New zealand to take care of his family’s farm for a year and came back looking like a sheep himself, maybe the top heads thought he was an idiot. Ya, who goes back to a farm after finishing with top honors in your masters? Oh in case i failed to mention, Simba was the first guy i slept with.Ya he is gay. Not a bi. But gay. We were together until we graduated, then went our separate ways. But we still remain best of friends, you know the sort where we will give up our underwear for the other.
I stood near the huge drawing board waiting for my team mates to assemble, ‘My Team’ i grinned proudly. “Woah, Boss you are creeping us out” rang a highly aggravating voice. Arthur, Yusuf, Robert are the fellows in my team. A Reverse Harem i could say, all decent looking scoundrels, but predictably not my type. We are of pretty much the same age, so we get along pretty fine. In fact too well much to my chagrin.
“So boss, am guessing your creepy grin is because of Fernando?”.
“Ah Fernando? So did you make a move yet Boss?” Yusuf said punching me on my arm.
“ Not answering that Yusuf,Any case settle down now and behave cause The other team will be here and i want to put up a good impression else She-Devil will kick my ass” i warned as i pulled up a chair and sat down next to Arthur. I started explaining the new project to the boys and handed out the folders designating tasks for each member of the team, it was actually quite easy because this current project is our fourth together and first with me as the team lead. I might not sound too excited bout my first job but then ever since i joined the team i have pretty much been the lead as my previous team boss loved to pile the work on my head, so this is like my fourth job as the lead.
“ Enough of self gloating Ronny” Simba called out as he entered the room couple of hours later, followed by Fernando and the rest. Fernando. Fernando.’There was something in the air that night,The stars were bright, fernando’ the lyrics played out in my head. What!? what?! my heart thumped loudly as i looked straight at Fernando."There was something in the air that night,The stars were bright, fernando. Argh!! Stop i muttered out loud, shaking my head vigorously.
“Are you alright Ronny?” Simba laughed out loud, the rest of my team did the same and i could feel my cheeks radiate heat. ‘Oh god.what did i just do?!’
“ Ya. Ya am fine, Slightly distracted that is all” i said feigning normality, i looked up to see Fernando, trying to block out the sneer and laughter around me. Fernando, he was looking straight at me. His eyes were looking right into mine and i could feel my cheeks colour, His gaze was so thoughtful, like he was trying to see something that wasn’t there. ‘Oh please, don’t tell me he realized. You guys shut up’. I was urging my legs to bolt out the door when mercifully Arthur called out for all of us to settle down. I took a sip of water and muttered some words urging my heart to calm down and not look at Fernando. I din’t want to make an ass of myself (any more than i already have) in front of 10 other people. Anyway i walked to the projector screen and started my presentation as i was a complete professional when it came to my job. Through out the presentation my eyes kept darting towards Fernando, and occasionally i smiled up at him, willing him to see me in good fluorescent light, knowing very well that full frontal view was my best angle. Fernando for his part, returned my smile and asked questions at the right situations. When my part was done, i tool my seat and Simba continued on. I was looking at simba intently when i felt a hand creep up my thigh slowly, and jerked my head to see Michael grinning at me slightly while rubbing my thighs,
“Cut it out” i hissed swatting at his arm
“Aww come on ronny, its just me”
“ We are at work Michael, you should know better”.
"Hmph, whatever!” he muttered folding his arms and sulking.
I shook my head and turned back towards simba wondering what the heck i saw in Michael and deciding to end it today after work. Out of the corner of my eye i saw Fernando looking at me with a slight frown on his face. ‘ Shit. Shit! did he see that?’ i started panicking trying not to look at Fernando, i stared intently at Simba who was finishing up his presentation. Fernando got up and cleared his throat “Hello guys, i haven’t formally introduced myself, my name is Fernando Villa, pleased to meet you all. Hence forth i will be taking care of the Vehicle safety department. Lets all work well together” he said,smiling at everyone and as his eyes met mine, i grinned back and gave him a thumbs up sign and he returned my gesture. ‘oh thank god, nothing is amiss’ i thought while walking out of the room towards my desk when Michael called out to me.
“Ronnnny” he drawled running his hand through his hair, “ Listen, i was thinking of coming over tonight...
“Michael, i am busy tonight. I don’t have time for you right now” i replied curtly hoping he would leave me alone.
“ Eh? come on man. I know you have nothing scheduled for today”.
“What are you? A stalker” i huffed at him, cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
“ Just so you know, i am meeting Simba for dinner and drinks and no you are not welcome ”. i finished grandly. Although i previously had no intention of doing such a thing. Impulsive is a new trait that i am adding to my character as of today
“What? Why are you leaving me out?” Michael asked
“Ssshh. Keep it down fool”.
“But why?” michael asked looking flustered.
“Thats because i want to move on.Look i can’t explain things to you right now but we can talk later ok. i have to go now”
“ But you seemed to have lot of fun when i was riding you the day before” michael said in a raised voice.
“Oh for pete’s sake! will you keep it down?" I said while clamping his mouth with my hand. "Look i have to go. Will you move?"
“ No!”
“What? What do you mean no?”
“ It means i am not moving until i get a proper response from you”. ‘Jeez!’ i mentally cursed my new character trait.
“Fine, if you have to know, i happen to like someone else.Ok? Now will you move?”
“Who? ahh no way! don’t tell me. Fernando? He is your type isn’t he?
“Oh shit” michael howled in pain as i kicked his shin,
“Keep it down or next time it will be your balls. Now move”. i said pushing michael aside. ‘Seriously!’ i fumed.
Why does everyone assume i would have fallen for Fernando. Eh? Am i that easy to read or what? I could feel my anger radiate and if you would have come near me, you could remove the crease off your fine suit. Still muttering i looked up to see Fernando standing right above me. When i say right above me, i literally mean right above, the place wherein i was talking to Michael is sort of like a cove, and the Vehicle Safety Department is situated just above it. It forms a half ‘T’ from the side view. Ha thats the designer in me speaking.
I was startled to see him, was putting it mildly, It must have shown on my face because Fernando narrowed his eyes even further when our eyes met. I have never once in my entire life wished the floor would swallow me, EVER. But right now, i would give anything for the railing in which Fernando was leaning to collapse and he to fall and me to catch him like they do in the movies just so i could raise my points up by say a million in his eyes. Was that scorn? disdain perhaps? or anger i saw in his eyes?
“Quite a presumptuous snob aren’t you?” Fernando whispered.
That was when i realized even if i saved Fernando, his mom, his little sister( if he had one), his entire clan, his ancestors, right down to the cave men when the railing collapse, i would still be no less than a ‘presumptuous snob’ in his eyes.
I did the best thing i could at that point. I spluttered.
Without replying, or so much as a glance again at me Fernando walked off.
“He heard din’t he?” Michael looked delighted and slightly evil as he grinned at me and i swear at that moment i really did see black fumes emitting from his mouth.
“ Having fun at my expense aren’t you.Thanks a lot for that Michael. But see i don’t care what he thinks about me. Well then, see you around”. i fought back and walked off with my head held high unwilling to let Michael bask in his victory. ‘Victorious, you can only feel when the defeated lets you feel’ my russian grandmom used to say and she should know.
I spent the rest of the day not moving an inch from my seat, replaying what Fernando said over and over again and feeling even more depressed with each replay. 7pm could not come any sooner, all i wanted was Simba to comfort me. Simba you see, has a knack of cheering me up. No one else can do it the way he does. ‘Ah!Simba’ my heart felt spring again, even if it was for a fraction of a second.