CHAPTER 9: TIME WE NEVER EXPECTED

Ferns accepted the job offer and submitted his 30-day notice of resignation to his current employer. His manager already foreseen it and expected that it just a matter of time that Ferns will move on and will look for a more challenging role and better company.

Ferns' starts his first day with his new job with a new company. Until today, Andro still is not aware that Ferns is the person who will be filling the vacancy in the Finance department of the company. He knew though that there would be a new employee in the department but has no idea who would that is.

Ferns' reports to the human resources department office first to submit the company's requirements and fills-up another round of paperwork to finalize his employment. He spends more or less a couple of hours in the office of the human resources.

After completing the paper works, Renan takes him to the Finance department and endorses him formally to the department.

Ferns' boss is not yet around so Renan asks him to wait in his assigned workstation. Renan politely requests another staff in the department to look after Ferns for the meantime and if she could introduce Ferns to the entire staff as well.

Her name is Mhy. Ferns will be sitting opposite Mhy's desk. But before Renan leaves Ferns he reminds him that after the lunch break he will be touring Ferns around the building to introduce him to the other employees of the company.

As soon as Renan left, Mhy approaches Ferns to introduce herself and politely ask Ferns to come with her so that she could introduce him to everyone in the floor.

Mhy is quite popular to the entire Finance department.

Everybody likes her because of her funny and friendly personality.

While going around the floor she gives Ferns a little background of every staff especially about each owns personality.

She gives Ferns a few tips and little heads up especially on how to approach and handle every member of the finance staff.

Ferns' who is a funny person himself whispers and say something to Mhy. He said he noticed that majority of the staff in the department are matured and quite old. When Mhy hears it, she laughs so loud that almost everybody in the floor heard her while Ferns almost gag her mouth because he doesn't expect the reaction from her and what he said is very funny.

Ferns was so embarrassed that he immediately requests Mhy not to tell anyone about his impression with the other staff and if she could just pretends that he never said it.

Mhy finished introducing Ferns to everyone when their boss arrives.

She asks Ferns to step in to her office and they will have a close door meeting first.

It is almost 12-noon when they finish the meeting and Ferns comes out and sits in his desk.

Mhy is waiting for Ferns so that they could have lunch together and show him where the cafeteria is.

While walking towards the elevator Mhy says something funny again to Ferns. She said she is happy because finally she can have a lunch partner from her department who is the same age as her.

Ferns chuckles and softly laughs.

The canteen is located in the last floor of the building.

When Ferns and Mhy enters the cafeteria, it is almost full but Mhy's closest friends in the company who is the same age as them always reserve a table for the group.

They walk towards to the their table first where Mhy's other friends are already waiting.

Mhy introduces Ferns to everybody.

The whole group is not yet around.

Ferns is introduce to Jovy who works in the purchasing department and who always bring her own pack lunch. Another girl is Jing who is from the marketing department who always ahead of everyone and get to buy lunch first in the cafeteria and Richie who is from the clinic department who is the eldest in the group and acts as the big sister to the group.

There are also boys in the group but are not currently in their table because they are in the queue ordering their own food.

"Where are the boys?" Mhy asks Jovy.

Jovy says, "Ogie and Paul are still ordering for their food while I have not seen Renan and Andro yet. They must be on their way."

"By the way, this is Ferns. He is the new member of the finance department. Ferns these are Jovy, Jing and Richie!" Mhy cheerfully introduces Ferns to the girls.

"Hello Ferns, welcome aboard!" Jing cheerfully welcomes Ferns.

"Hope Mhy is not giving you a hard time so far?" Jovy jokes.

"Very nice to meet you, Ferns!" Richie said.

"Ha ha, Ferns is not under me. I think I will be under him." Mhy laughs.

"Hello girls, I am very happy to meet you!" Ferns' response to the ladies.

"Haha you don't need to be serious when you are with us, they are also crazy people like me. Wait until you meet the boys!" Mhy says.

"Speaking of the boys, here they are!" Jovy says.

Ogie and Paul approach the table with their own tray of food.

As soon as they placed their food on the table, they did not wait for Mhy and introduce themselves quickly to Ferns while offering a shake hand at the same time.

"I am Ogie from the budget department. We will be working much more often for sure." Ogie says.

"Welcome bro, I am Paul from the engineering department. I just started too a couple of weeks ago as well." Paul says.

"Nice to meet you both!" Ferns' says.

"Anyway, I know Ferns you must be hungry already. Let's check the food first and we can go back to the table." Mhy grabs Ferns arms and walks away from the table.

While in the queue, Mhy mention to Ferns that he would still be meeting two more boys in the group although she said that Ferns has already meet the other one - Renan while the other one which she is not sure but also works in the same department as Renan. She said these two always come together to the cafeteria and join the rest of the group for lunch.

Mhy and Ferns are ordering their food when someone taps Mhy's shoulder from behind. Mhy turns around and see it was Renan. Renan is with Andro as well.

"Aw, there you are. Of course, the two of you are always the last one to come up." Mhy jokes.

"Missing me already or should I say u miss Andro instead." Renan laughs.

"Don't start with me, Renan. Andro next time do not wait for him anymore, just come up already when its lunch time." Mhy winks at Andro.

"Don't worry, Mhy I waited for him because he will buy me lunch today." Andro says and makes a hand peace sign to Renan.

"Really? What about me, Renan? When are you going to buy lunch for me?" Mhy appeals.

"Perhaps on your last day?" Renan says and makes a hand peace sign to Mhy too.

"Funny?! By the way, you have already met Ferns." Mhy asks Renan.

"Do you have amnesia, Mhy? I introduced Ferns to you earlier." Renan says.

Ferns is already ordering his food but when overheard his name, he turns around and looks at them. He looks at Renan and Mhy and did not notice Andro from behind.

His world suddenly stops when Andro saw Ferns.

He could not believe his eyes. Is he dreaming right now?

It never crosses his mind that the new member of the finance department that they have been talking about is Ferns.

How could he miss that?

"Hello! Are you there?" Mhy snaps her finger in Andro's face.

Andro quickly came back to his senses from his brief daydreaming and says, "Sorry, I thought I just saw a ghost."

Renan and Mhy laughs while Ferns is a little bit confused about what Andro has just said.

Andro explains and says, "Sorry I mean last night I watched a ghost film."

Mhy says, "Whatever, Andro! By the way, Ferns lets go back to our table. Don't wait for them because they are still going to get their own food."

Mhy and Ferns left them and join the other group again.

Andro stares at Ferns and his eyes are following him as he walks away.

"Andro, are you okay? Did you know Ferns? Have you met him before?" Renan curiously asks Andro.

"No, we haven not. Come on let's order I am very hungry." Andro's response as he quickly change the topic.