After a week of sub-zero temperatures with smatterings of snow and sludge, London settled into warmer, rainy days with no sunshine. It had been at least three days since I last saw the sun, and the lack of vitamin D was starting to make me feel addled. I picked up my handbag to search for my pack of vitamin D tablets. While rifling through my bag, something sharp sliced through the skin on the back of my index finger.
“Ouch!” I half-screamed under my breath. “What on earth was that?” I asked myself as I gently opened the middle compartment of my bag again to see what the culprit was. It was a lone sticky note from my friend Anna reminding me to leave my desk at 7 for drinks with Ese two weeks ago. I kissed my teeth. That served me right for being a lazy gump and not clearing out my bag over the weekend.
I crumpled up the sticky note and pulled out my supplements. Hopefully, two tablets in one go will do the trick. “Besides, they are tiny tablets; it’s not like I can choke on them,” I reminded myself as I popped them into my mouth and grabbed my mug.
It all happened quite slowly and with the exact amount of campy drama you would find in a telenovela or an Indian soap opera. Just as I was about to take a big swig of water to wash down my medication, Nnamdi—my office crush—pops out from behind me on his way to speak to Lydia, who sits next to me, and I immediately choke on my water. It felt like it was happening in slow motion. The feeling of the water going down the wrong pipe as my hands flew to my chest. My life flashed before my eyes—all the puppy yoga classes I promised Anna I would attend but never made it to, as water spurted out of my mouth and nose.
Lydia’s eyes widened, and my choking noises drew attention from everyone within a 2-mile radius. Oh God, I am so mortified. How am I unable to drink water just because he is here. Nnamdi, in a heroic for him and embarrassing for me turn of events, jumped into action.
He grabbed one of my shoulders firmly, patting my back as I coughed to help get all the water out. My table and keyboard were wet from reflux water. I attempted to clear my throat when he was done, and it felt like the worst was over.
I couldn’t look him in the eye as I half-whispered, “Thank you so much for helping.”
Lydia scooted over to squeeze my hand. “Are you okay?” She asked with clear concern written all over her face.
“I am fine; thank you, and thanks to Nnamdi,” I said weakly. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, so I tried to give her a reassuring smile.
Okay, that’s good, she says as she squeezes my hand again and smiles back.
Nnamdi looks at me with a piercing gaze. It feels like his eyes are going to split my soul into two. “Are you sure?” You gave us quite the scare, and I’m glad I could help,” he says quite gently—an impressive feat, given how deep his voice is.
“No, honestly, I am good. Thanks." “You’re a hero.” I said to him as I forced a smile at him despite the Formula 1 race going on in my heart. I need to be able to not be a blubbering mess around this man in the office. Everyone is going to know how I feel about him, including him, if I keep this up.
He smiled back, and I went back to furiously wiping up all the water on my desk. What did they say about office romances again? Don’t hook up where you v-lookup? I mean, in this case, it technocally isn't even romance. It’s a crush that’s not going anywhere, but you get the gist, don’t you?
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