intro

The Girl Speaks:

How can it be he did not know I was in love with him? How can it be that after everything we’ve shared, he still sees me as his little sister, nothing more, nothing less?

I first met him during our training days. He was the ultimate gentleman. Yes, he was the eldest in the batch – we were all in awe of him. He was already an accomplished professor from some prestigious university in the North. He even had his master’s credits. What he was doing in the BPO company, I was unsure of. He could have passed already as our trainer – given all the credentials he has. But I was glad he was our co-trainee – it gave me a reason and excuse to draw close to him.

He wasn’t the cutest guy in the batch. Oh, there were a couple of guys who were cuter than him. But it was his maturity that gave him his unique appeal. His eyes mirrored the experience and wisdom that only years could bring and his demeanor and bearing was that of someone who had seen a lot in life and survived them. He stood out amongst the rest, though he probably knew not. He appeared aloof at first. What could I expect? He was older than all of us. But I was determined to break the ice and reach out first. I was determined to get to know the person behind the mask and to see if he is the knight I have been waiting for. I am a sucker for guys who are weathered with experience and wisdom.

It took several days for me to gain courage to approach him. Although we all share the same dormitory, he was constantly by himself, with those earphones plug in his ears and looking lost in his own dream world. I guess he just couldn’t get the drift of our generation or maybe he found our conversations childish and boring. Yet this aloofness was what attracted me further to him. I wanted to get to know the man deep within. When he speaks in class, there is unmistakable knowledge and wisdom in his words. When he speaks, it’s as if there is some edge to his voice – a hint of a challenge, a hint of mystery, a hint of the unknown. I was determined to unravel that mystery; reveal the unknown; take over the challenge. Opportunity knocked on the 5th day of our training; the day before the first weekend when training started.

The Guy Speaks:

Why have I not known her earlier? Why have I not met her sooner? Forever life is a constant question of what if’s and what not’s. Yet I am content with what I have. I am happy where I am.

I do not know why I ever sought greener pasture in a far away land. I do not really know why I ever dreamt that I should leave home to be here in this place, surrounded by people going through a part of life I’ve already passed. I cannot even imagine what the heck I am doing, wasting my degree, my experience, my credentials for a job a college drop-out could do. Yet I guess I wanted a better life, a better future. Maybe I just wanted to see the world, to leave the confines of the four corners of my previous life. Maybe that’s why I am here.

I didn’t notice her at first. I never knew she existed. To me she was part of the throng of giggling girls in our class – too young to be really out in the real world; mere debutantes of the season, thinking becoming legal is enough reason to quit school and start working. Maybe they have other reasons for wanting to work, yet I resent them. I loathe the fact that they are in the same level as I am – accomplished, titled, experienced.

Yet life in this foreign land is not at all disastrous. I can see some light in the end of the dark tunnel. It was her laugh that first draw me to her. It was an infectious kind of laugh. I loved the way her eyes sort of sparkled when she speaks. Yet I knew she was young; full of such idealisms a guy like me has learned long ago to give up. Yet I cannot help but be drawn to her circle. How I long for those smile to cast its ray of sunshine on my forlorn shadow. Yet I must bid my time lest she gets scared and I drive her away.

Now what am I thinking? I cannot explore any other avenue apart from the friendship I crave in this lonely patch of land. Friendship is all I can offer. And friendship is what I’ll explore this weekend, the first weekend after training officially begun.

Next: beginning