Abyss
The room buzzed with excitement. The others started directing me on my job. It sounded a bit fun. It meant I could spend more time with my friend.
I didn't often get to try as many new things as I do now. "You seem to adapt quickly," said a lady named Rung.
I beamed at the compliment. "Thank you! I'm eager to learn," I said politely.
The computer tasks were a bit foreign, but I had little trouble easing into them. I was sure it would get more difficult over time, though. "It really is so nice to meet you all," I said to the people I hear are called Mae.
Some were more experienced than I, but they welcomed me in sweetly. "Of course, we're like a family here," one said. "A very chaotic one," said another cheekily.
I laughed a bit at that, thinking Sarit would probably get along greatly with this sass.
I saw one getting up to give coffee to the artists. "I can help you with that. I'm good at juggling multiple things," I said.
She turned to me, waving nervously. "Ah, no no, I can handle it." I needed to create an opportunity, so I said, "No, really, is there anything I can do to help?"
She said, "Well, maybe you can go outside, turn to your left and straight down the hall to the right, pick up some archives for this."
"Sure thing!" I replied. I started walking my way down the hall. This place sure is big. Did she say to go to the end of the hall or turn right? I kept walking, wondering where I was supposed to go.
All of a sudden I bumped into a figure. It was a tall, slender man in a suit I bumped into. "Ah, my apologies," I said. I wasn't watching where I was going. I clearly lost my coordination on land like this.
I looked up and saw deep, very deep dark eyes staring back at me. His black hair hung down; as he looked down at me it brushed my hair by my forehead. For a second, time seemed to stop.
Coincidentally, I had run into exactly whom I was in search of; I didn't expect to run into him so soon. For a moment, I only saw softness in his gaze. He seemed to snap into his senses, though, returning to that stone-cold demeanor.
I apologized again, but he did not respond. He looked a bit pale to me. I thought to myself, "now's my chance." I reached out my hand, while asking, "are you okay?"
I was about to brush the hair hanging off his face when he snapped back properly into reality.
He didn't look quite okay to me, but I mustn't be hasty. He barely knows me right now. I internally reminded myself, "Be patient. Let him believe he's the one coming to me." I paused, not sure what to say or do next. How am I supposed to get closer to him without being creepy?
"Are you looking for room 42?" he asked, making me focus again. "Ah yes, this building is quite big; I got lost," I grinned sheepishly. I peeked out the corner of my eyes, checking his reaction shyly.
He hardly reacted, instead leading me in the direction. I was hesitant to follow, but then he turned back, waiting for me, so I continued.
The door we stood in front of was labeled "The quest for life's answers, the meaning. Often holds more weight than the answers themselves." I thought that was a funny name for a door. "Why is it labeled like this?" I asked in curiosity.
"Because 42 can symbolize the intersection of science and philosophy... and I just happen to love poems," he said, slightly abashed at the last statement.
I felt that was lovely actually, truly. I found myself thinking that sounded interesting. He then added "this isn't the only room but a great many in this building have their names and meanings. At least, that means every door we open has meaning"
I had never heard of anyone getting philosophical about such unimportant matters as an entrance, but funnily enough it made sense.
We both walked into the room; it was a tad cramped. Did they not have enough budget to make more spacious accommodations? He asked me some questions about what I was looking for and offered to help.
I accepted, but I did not understand why someone like him would want to help me. Doesn't he have CEO stuff to do? I wished I had my limbs to reach everything at once, but instead he stretched his slender body up to the taller shelf, pulling down a box I needed.
The way he stretched made me admire his figure. I found myself subconsciously thinking, "He looks like he couldn't harm anyone." It was a ridiculous thought as I shook it free from my head. As he came back down he stumbled a bit, falling into my arms this time. His stony face broke for a bit, instead looking at me with surprise.
I had to stumble to hold him upright, grasping the bars of the shelves as tightly as I could. "Ah Shell- ah heck," I said. I looked at him a bit shy. "This is so cliché," he said a bit nervously.
I scratched my head. He reached out, putting down his book now to fix my hair.
Right after touching me he stopped nervously. "Ah, uh, may I?" he asked. I nodded tentatively. He was so gentle for some reason.
This definitely was far from professional, but who am I to complain. I'm not even truly here to work.
He quickly brushed my hair back into place, stopping briefly to linger, making eye contact.
I cleared my throat anxiously. I thought his skin felt a bit funny. I looked at his book. "The Tail of the Flower, huh?" I said, looking at him sideways a bit. "What's it about if I may inquire?"
He picked it up, turning it to read the back. It was in English from the looks of it, rather than any Thai or dialect I'm familiar with.
"It's about the ultimate question in life, in a world where we can't help but question everything but understand nothing," he said, gauging my reaction.
"That sounds really interesting but isn't it a tiring thing to think about?" I responded.
"Well, living without purpose can be even more painful. However, the story isn't all philosophy. It follows a girl a bit like me who comes from a higher echelon of life but feels like she's the lowest," he cringed, saying, "I can't believe I just told you that. Take it as my ramblings."
I was about to tell him it was okay, that I was far from bothered, but he asked to excuse himself, looking more pale now than he had before.
I turned, watching him exit the room briskly. From behind his back, he didn't look like an unshakable barrier wall.
He looked... fragile.