A Light That Never Goes Out (Chapter 1 – Online Dating Group)

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12th September 2024 | 5 Views | 0 Likes

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Oh no, not again!” I mumbled. 

My message notification alert wakes me up for the nth time. I don’t even need a goddamned alarm clock nowadays. 

“You’re so stupid,” I admonished myself. 

First of all, I’ve joined an online dating group to search for a tall, dark and handsome Romeo but all I’ve got so far is either a scammer or horny guy hoping to see naked woman for free. Secondly, I’ve uploaded my best photo on the app. My phone has been beeping ever since to let me know of incoming messages and calls which has the uncanny ability to wake me up because I keep on forgetting to mute it before sleeping; plain stupidity. 

Social media takes the world by storm. With billions of users around the world, it’s one of the most powerful tools to connect and share information with anyone on Earth, or with many people simultaneously. It could be both beneficial and harmful; depending on how it is being used. There are a lot scammers online. But on the positive side, it is bridging the gap between people who are so far from each other that distance doesn’t seem to be a great hindrance anymore. It’s amazing that in just a few clicks, I could talk to people wherever they are, see historical and beautiful places around the world without having to spend a lot of money in doing so.

I look at the clock, 6:39 am, a bit early to get up but no way I could go back to sleep now so I might as well do some workouts. I usually do squats and Pilates after work if I’m not so tired or in the morning if I wake up early. It’s important to maintain this healthy habit, not only to manage weight and reduce the risk of disease, but also to strengthen bones and muscles. If you go to the gym, you’ll see lots of hotties there because it’s exactly one of the reasons why many people do exercise – to look sexy. I remember a joke I once told Anne, my best friend and coworker. 

“Why do you exercise after work? Aren’t you tired? You should be resting.” Anne asked one time. 

“I exercise so I would look good in clothes and awesome when naked.” I was kidding her but later on explained that exercise is like an energy charger which improves the ability to do everyday activities without getting tired easily. In addition to that, I feel I could eat anything I like with less guilt. 

After an hour of exercising, I grab a towel and head to the bathroom. The water is slightly cool and refreshing. I’m not one who sing in the shower. How the hell some people manage that with the water full blast on the face and cascading down the throat and tummy? Then my thoughts start running, the way I usually do it when I’m preoccupied with doing something. I think of the things that require my immediate attention in the office. 

I always want to do my work if not perfectly, at least correctly so my boss would yell at somebody else and not at me. I’m an office assistant to a manager who notoriously terrorizes not only her own staff but also her clients’ as well; the ones who usually come to our office to pick up the products preordered by their boss. Ours is a wholesale company specializing in electronic gadgets. 

Shower is done, I turn on the electric kettle for my other energy booster. I can’t start my day without it. Hmmm, I love the smell of freshly brewed coffee. I grab my phone and check the messages while sipping. I scroll down and read the senders’ names randomly. I reply “hi” and “good morning” to some familiar ones, but nobody seems interesting enough to be the Romeo I’m searching for. Then a new message comes in. It’s my mom. In response, I call her. 

“Hi mom, you’re up early as usual. What’s up?” I greeted.

“Oh I’m glad you still remember I’m your mom. I forgot I have a daughter.” Mom replied with sarcasm.

“Mommmm, please don’t go into that again. I told you, it’s peak season and we are so busy in the office at this time of the year. I promise I’ll come when I get the chance. I miss everybody. How are things there?” 

“I’m just kidding. We miss you too and don’t worry about us. We’re fine; except that your dad worries too much when you forget to even text us.” 

“I’m so sorry but you can’t expect me to text or call a hundred times a day.” I heard laughter in the background. 

“Hi, baby! I miss you a lot. I can tell you are fine with that sharp tongue of yours but it would be nice if we can see for ourselves how you are doing.” My dad said after grabbing the phone from mom. 

“Hi dad, how are you? Don’t worry too much, I’m surviving here. I promise that when things slow down a bit, I’ll let you see for yourself how obese I am now, hahaha. I can’t wait to hug you.” 

“I’ll take your word for it. Okay baby, I’ll give the phone back to your mother. My jogging pals are waiting. Take care, love you and see you soon, munchkin!” 

This phone conversation is just a rerun of the previous one. I might as well record it. Well, I can’t blame my parents for doing this. My older and only brother, Francis, married with three kids, lives in a neighboring town who visits home as often as he likes, while I have to contend with visiting my parents once or twice a month. I work in a company located in Manila, a long drive from my hometown in the Southern part of Luzon in the Philippines. Because of the peak season, we are so busy at work that sometimes even on my day off my boss asks me to work. It has been more than three months since my last visit. 

At 27, I’m not getting any younger. My parents are practically begging me to at least find a suitable boyfriend so someone can take care of me as if I need to be taken care of. Again I can’t blame them because some parts of Manila are known to be unsafe and crimes are rampant. Therefore, dangerous for a woman to be living alone. Fortunately, it doesn’t extend to where I’m staying. Although I live alone, some co-workers are in the same building where my flat is. In my 6 years of living here, I’ve never encountered any untoward incident so it’s quite safe, I should say. But parents will always be parents; pampering and worrying too much, I suppose. 

I’m lucky to have found a stable company that offers free accommodation to the employees like me, who live from far flung areas. During the first two years of my employment, I shared a flat with two coworkers. But I moved to another place since I’ve been promoted as assistant manager. Although smaller in size, I have it all for myself, enjoying complete privacy. 

At 8:45 am, I’m ready for work. I put on my shoes, grab my bag and goes out. The guard on duty as usual greets me. 

“Good morning Ma’am. I hope you’ll have a nice day.” He greeted politely. 

“Thank you and good morning to you too.” I replied and smiled back.

I arrive in the office a few minutes earlier than usual but I start working right away. My office mates then start arriving one by one. I always know when Anne arrives. She comes bubbling into the room, laughs at her own jokes and keeps on talking about nothing in particular. Many are wondering how we became friends, considering that I’m her exact opposite. Unlike her, I’m not really sociable and not one to start a conversation. We started working in the company almost at the same time, only a few months apart. It’s probably one of the reasons we get along well. 

She often invites me to have dinner at her home; sometimes upon request by her mom whom I had grown so fond of. She’s one of the sweetest persons I’ve ever met. 

They have a small house in a crowded street in Pasig, a town in Manila. I wonder how they could all fit in, with the parents and five siblings. Anne is the eldest and the breadwinner of the family. Her dad helps by doing odd jobs like trike driving, carpentry works, street sweeping and others. To the casual observer, they seem hard put but it’s remarkable how they accept the situation wholeheartedly. They may be lacking in material things but the happiness they exude is enviable. One can’t help but imbibe the atmosphere. Every time I visit, I’d get caught up in the cheerful bantering, and feel like a family member. 

#Milyin #chatting #socialmedia #onlinedating 

CGB

@CGB

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