9 Chapter 9: The New Girl

It was another day at Harmonix. Oliver and I are holding up well with the secret relationship. There were no problems between us, and working with him makes me more motivated and inspired.

As we were working, Emil makes an announcement. He said that there’s a new girl in the department. Of course, after hearing that, we started talking to one another thinking about what the new girl looks like, and probably throw her a welcome lunch party too. Emil forgot to mention that today is her first shift with us, and she’s already in the lobby waiting for the elevator.

I went to Oliver and Stephanie to join their conversation, and before I could even join the conversation, the new girl arrives and straight-up hugs Oliver even though she just arrived without any introduction to us. Oliver was surprised when that girl hugged him. Stephanie joined in the hug, which made me think that those three right now are like best friends. They finished hugging and the new girl introduces herself to the whole department. Her name is Christine, she was wearing a red dress along with a denim jacket and red heels.

Stephanie: Freddie, come over here and join us. This is Christine by the way. She’s part of our group of friends.

Freddie: Nice to meet you, Christine.

Christine: Nice to meet you too. You look kind of young to work here.

Oliver: I forgot to tell you, Freddie here is our intern.

Christine: That explains it. Anyways, I missed you two so much. I can’t believe we’re working in the same company.

Christine hugs Oliver once more and it was kind of a bit awkward for me because we were in the middle of a conversation then that happens. I started to have a feeling that things will get ugly from here. We continued with our work and Christine gets to sit beside Oliver.

It was time for lunch and Christine pulled Oliver away from us as she said they will have lunch together and Stephanie was left out. We were about to have lunch and I noticed Stephanie still sitting in her chair.

Freddie: Hey Stephanie, you okay?

Stephanie: Just kind of feel left out, that’s all.

Freddie: Well, I’m here as a good friend of yours and never left you.

Stephanie: You’re a good person Freddie. No wonder you and Oliver are… err… I mean you two are such good friends.

Freddie: C’mon let’s have lunch. We’re just hungry from working.

Before going to the pantry, both of us sighed as Stephanie made a close call about us. We reached the pantry, bought our food, and sat down at a table near the wall. We noticed Christine and Oliver sitting a few tables away from us, and they look like they’re having a great time having lunch together. We were eating then Stephanie looked shocked seeing them together and when I was about to look at them also, Stephanie distracted me by starting a conversation. She was talking a bit weirdly like it wasn’t her usual voice.

Stephanie: Freddie, I’m sorry for earlier. It almost slipped because of my bad mood.

Freddie: That’s okay, so about Christine. I did notice something strange about her. I know you three are good friends but is she always like this with Oliver?

Stephanie: No. I think this is the first time I saw her like this.

Freddie: Sorry for bringing it up, but she left you out just to have lunch with Oliver.

Stephanie: Maybe she just misses Oliver too much.

Freddie: But do you think that the two of them had any history between them than just friends?

Stephanie: Let’s just finished our food and go back to work early so that we can finish early and hang out afterward.

Freddie: Okay…

I noticed that Stephanie is acting strangely after looking shocked. I just that the two of them are just friends and not turn into lovers because that will just break my heart. We finished eating and the two of them still aren’t done, we went back to the office to continue work. I arrived at my workspace and told Stephanie I’m gonna go to the restroom to freshen up. While I was washing my face with my eyes closed, someone hugged me from behind. As I opened my eyes, it was Oliver. He looks he had a great time with Christine.

Freddie: Oliver not here please. You know the rules.

Oliver: C’mon it’s the restroom, there are no people here but us.

Freddie: So, how was lunch?

Oliver: Fine as usual.

Freddie: Really? You looked like you had a great time with Christine.

Oliver: You’re just jealous of the two of us.

Freddie: Me? Jealous? No, I don’t get jealous.

Oliver: It seems like you do.

Freddie: No, I’m just having a bad feeling about Christine. If you guys are friends, why have lunch with her? You two left me and Stephanie behind. Do you have any idea how the two of us felt after you two left?

Oliver: I’m sorry, but Christine insisted as she pulled me.

Freddie: Look, I need to get back to work. Just please, spend time with me and Stephanie later after work. That would be great for us later.

Oliver: Okay.

I went ahead and started working. Christine approached me as I sat down.

Christine: Freddie, how’s internship treating you?

Freddie: Uhm, fine I guess.

Christine: Good to hear.

Freddie: Weird to ask you this but, why choose to work here?

Christine: I want to work with my friends and I’m a great developer.

Freddie: Not to be rude but can you go back to your station, I need to get back to work.

Christine: Sure thing.

Before I started working, I saw Oliver sitting down while Christine is holding his shoulders. The feeling before went back and I just ignored it as I continued my work.

I finished early with my work, so as Stephanie, and we decided to wait for Oliver and Christine to finish so that we can spend time together after. I suddenly got a strange feeling after seeing Oliver working happily with Christine. It’s not that I’m jealous and all but Christine looks like she wants Oliver all by herself. She did try to avoid us earlier and that I know hugging is normal when you get to see your friends, but hugging your friend for the second time looks like a trouble for me and Oliver.

They finished their work and we all decided that we should have dinner together. We all agreed and Christine looked like she didn’t want to but agreed. Oliver said he will get the car from the basement parking area, while we wait outside the building. We chatted as we wait for Oliver. Everything seems fine, then when Oliver arrives and told me that I should sit in front while the two girls catch up, Christine suddenly grabs the door and sat in front even though Oliver asked me to sit there. She even asked me if it’s okay for her to sit there even though it was offered to me. I said that it’s fine but in reality, it’s not. In fact, what she did was beyond rude.

We were on the road and the worst thing happened. The two of them are holding and Oliver is like, ”This is fine, nothing to worry about”. While Stephanie and I already find it strange and suspicious.

We arrived at a restaurant that serves roasted chicken, and the name is Roasters. Oliver said he needs to find a parking spot while we look for a table for the four of us.

As we found a table, I left a vacant seat beside me for Oliver. We ordered our food so that by the time Oliver arrives, we can all eat. While waiting for Oliver, we didn’t make conversation and there was an awkward silence while we all sat there, scrolling through our phones like we were strangers.

Oliver arrives and I told him to sit down beside me, then Christine was like death glaring at me. Our food was served to our table then Christine is like shoving foods into Oliver's mouth while she was saying, "You should try this Oliver. It looks delicious." And Oliver is like taking it all, not trying to look friendly and nice but something else, I just can't put my finger on it. Of course, Stephanie and I still find that strange and suspicious. Stephanie then looks at me with the "I feel like you noticed" face and whispers to me that the two of them are exes. That's when I found out that the two of them still have feelings for one another.