Chapter Text
It was my fourth day at Axis Corp when someone asked me to submit a document to another department. "Fourth floor," I heard it... simple, easy.
Except somehow, I ended up on the fourth floor, staring at the directory like it was personally responsible for ruining my morning. I had a folder pressed against my chest, my phone in one hand, and absolutely no idea where I was supposed to go. I remember thinking: "Okay, Stacey! You have two choices: ask someone for help, or continue standing here until everyone assumes you're part of the furniture." I chose the latter, obviously.
I had been standing there for several minutes when I heard someone laugh, not loudly, not in a way that made me feel stupid, it was softer than that. Like someone had noticed my situation and found it a little funny, but not enough to make me feel embarrassed.
"New hire?"
I turned around...
And that was the first time I saw her. She was standing a few steps away, one hand wrapped around a paper coffee cup, her long dark hair was tied neatly behind her, a few loose strands framing her face after what was probably a long morning. Even in the standard Axis office uniform, she somehow looked effortlessly put together.
She looked like someone who knew exactly where she was going... I looked like someone who had accidentally wandered into someone else's life.
I let out an awkward laugh, instinctively hugging the folder against my chest like it might somehow save me, "hala, ganun ba talaga ka-obvious?"
One corner of her mouth twitched upward before she lifted an eyebrow, "actually?"
I laughed at myself, already feeling my face grow warm, "eh... nahihiya kasi ako mag approach, parang busy silang lahat." a little embarrassed.
She immediately shook her head, "sorry! no, I mean..."
I looked down at myself, "do I really look that lost?" I said shyly.
Her eyes dropped to the folder in my hands, then to the building directory, then back to me. There was a tiny pause before she smiled, "well, you've been standing here for eight minutes."
My eyes widened, "...so kanina ka pa nakatingin?"
She nodded without an ounce of guilt, "mhmm."
"And na-orasan mo pa talaga 'yung tayo ko rito?"
She took another sip of her coffee, "actually... yes."
"omg really? Nakakahiya... ugh!"
She laughed, shaking her head, "ano ka ba, okay lang 'yan." Her voice lost its teasing edge, "also, it's your first time mautusan niyan." She gave a small shrug. "We all have our first times... tsaka hinihintay lang naman kitang umalis."
She smiled sheepishly, "then when I realized na you don't know what you're going to do... I decided na lumapit."
I sighed. "omg! baka marami palang nakakita sakin kanina, andami ko na talagang embarrassing moments 4th day palang. tsk! pwede na bang mag resign this early?”
She almost laughed, but then she smiled. Not the polite smile people wore because they were in an office, not the practiced one people put on for coworkers, just a small, warm smile that reached her eyes, "teka." She stepped closer and looked at the paper in my hand, "third floor ka."
I blinked, "ha? eh... sabi sakin 4th daw"
"sa third floor ‘yan finoforward” She pointed toward the elevator, "you're going the wrong way."
I looked from the sign... to the paper... then back at her. I covered my face with one hand.
"Oh my gahhd, I swear 4th floor talaga narinig ko." I sighed dramatically. "What if magpalamon na lang ako sa lupa?" I glanced at the polished office floor. "...ay, wala palang lupa... magpalamon sa tiles na lang siguro."
She laughed as we stepped inside the elevator, "first day?"
"First week."
"Aah." She nodded, "okay. Makes sense."
"pinagtatawanan mo 'ko ha!"
"huh? hindi ah! what made you think that? nakita mo ba ako tumawa? her expression softened, "well... oo pero konti lang."
"grabe ka sakin, you were once a newbie rin naman ah."
"kaya nga, that’s why I’m helping."
I couldn't argue with that.
She shifted her weight against the elevator wall, coffee still in hand, "I'm Aiah, by the way."
"Stacey." I smiled politely.
"Nice to meet you, Stacey!"
She glanced at my ID, "fresh grad?"
"Yeah."
"First job?"
I nodded.
She smiled, "thought so."
"How do you know? ganun ba ako ka readable?"
She looked at me properly this time. The new company ID... The death grip I still had on my folder... Then she smiled, "you have the look kasi sooo..."
"What look? grabe over naman sa stereotype!"
"The 'I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm pretending I do' look, ganun."
I laughed because she was right, "what about you?" I asked
"What about me?"
"well, you don't look lost. baka mamaya boss pala kita ha!"
She let out a quiet laugh before glancing at the elevator display. "I've been here four years."
"grabe ang tagal mo na pala here."
She smiled slightly, "unfortunately."
I noticed that, the tiny pause, the way that word sounded heavier than it should have. But before I could ask, the elevator doors opened. She stepped out, then looked back at me,
"welcome to Axis Corp. By the way, we’re in the same department... and I'm not your boss, don't worry!”
The elevator doors began to slide shut, then a hand slipped between them, the doors bounced open again, "wait!" I looked up, she was still holding her coffee in one hand, the other resting against the door, "promise me something."
"What? another task ba 'yan?'
She pointed at me. "Don't stay invisible."
I blinked, "what? I'm not invisible, you're literally talking with me."
"You're new." She smiled, "you still have time. Ask questions, make mistakes, let people know you're here." Then she added: "And aim for promotion."
I laughed, "on my first week?"
"Yes."
"Grabe. Pressure agad?"
She smiled, "I'm serious." Then, almost like an afterthought, she said: "Huwag kang gagaya sa'kin."
Before I could ask what she meant, the doors closed... then Aiah disappeared.