The Colleague

Yesterday, my colleague and I were about to close from work. I had been at the rest area all day since I had nothing to work on and I was exhausted from hunger. When it got to 4pm, I got to my work area to pack up. I had forgotten my snacks at home so I had nothing for lunch and my hunger pang was already getting the best of me.

While I made up my mind to join my colleague and head on home with the little energy that I have left, I got to my desk and saw a restaurant polythene with some contents in it arranged by my desktop. I knew immediately that it was my colleague because it's just us sharing the office.

I was about to sit on my chair and pack up when he said, “the pastry and drink in the polythene bag is for you.” Immediately, I started smiling because what are the odds lol. I thanked him and by trying to be modest, he said it's nothing.

Being that I was already starving, I didn't waste any more time before searching through the bag of pastries. The first thing that caught my attention is the chocolate drink which is one of my favourites and then there was also meat pies and scones. I thanked him again and immediately went straight to devouring the items.

“How did you know I was hungry?” I questioned with a mouth full while sipping on my drink to avoid choking.

“Oh, you didn't come out from the rest area for lunch so I checked the kitchen and didn't see you bring anything. I thought to order you something at least. I didn't know exactly what to order but I always see you consuming the chocolate drink and then you said for edible anything goes. But I also noticed that you are more of a meat pie girl. As for the scone, it is just an attachment. Hope you like it?”

“Like it? I love it. Thank you so much”. I appreciated him again then continued munching and drinking.

“Well, I should have brought it to you because then you would have had it sooner than later but I wanted it to be a surprise”. He chuckled, causing me to chuckle too as I informed him that I was overly surprised.

Working with my colleague has been a really beautiful experience for me. One that I never expected to blossom into what we have now. The thing is, having been working alone, I am so used to my space that I was quite devastated when HR informed me that I'll be having someone join me soon. What came to my mind immediately when I got the information was an intrusion to my time.

For me, working alone means that I get to be in full control of my time and I love it for me. But all that changed when I eventually got a work colleague. Before the arrival of my colleague a lot went through my mind how my personal activities would be affected. I thought about the days that I want to work from home and my colleague would want to be at the office. Really, It was such a conflicting time for me and also such bad timing because I was to be on a trip to see my best friend. I had slated that trip for the first week of January with no work activities. But since my colleague was relocating and coming to familiarise in that first week before activities would commence in the second week, my trip was cancelled.

Again, cancelling my trip because of his arrival made me detest the whole arrangement more. I mean, I'm already cancelling trips. What would I be cancelling again in the nearest future because I need to accommodate him? As much as I wasn't prepared for the changes, I knew that I needed to adapt. I started by resuming earlier than usual and just focusing my work time on office hours instead of the hybrid selection that I was doing, working from home some hours and going to the office that same day or the next.

Basically, in all my previous employment, I have been a one man squad. Now having a partner, I really didn't know how to start with the relationship but I had just concluded with myself that I would go with the flow and just give him back the same energy that he gives me. Then there was a time that I needed to attend my daughter’s school function and I also needed to travel for a religious seminar. Honestly I panicked because I would be gone for Thursday and Friday. Not only that but being the only person who has access to the office, it simply means that my colleague would have to work from home on those two days. I wasn't really sure if it's an arrangement that he would be comfortable with so I spoke to my mother about it and she inquired if I had told him about the activities at my daughter's school and the religious seminar. I haven't told him so I responded no.

Immediately my mother brushed me off, concluding that I was unserious.

“How am I unserious? Would I not ascertain the type of person that he is before giving him certain information?” I had questioned my mom while trying to not let what she said get to me. Because it seemed like she worsened my situation when she told me that I am unserious.

“Don't worry, if attending your daughter's function and the seminar is important to you, you'll find a way around with your colleague”. My mother excused herself to her room, leaving me to ponder on all she had said. And oh! I did ponder. That night, I didn't really sleep well as I thought of so many ways to inform my colleague and get him to cooperate with me. By the next morning, I had resigned to fate and was ready for whatever outcome.

“So would you be coming to work tomorrow?” I inquired. A not so intelligent question because definitely the following day is a working day so why wouldn't he be at work? I questioned myself again. But I felt it's the right question because I had expected him to ask me why I was asking and he did.

“Oh nothing, it's just that I have a couple of activities lined up for me. My daughter's school function and a seminar” I responded with high hopes.

“So you want to attend?” My colleague questioned

“Of course I would love to attend but that means being absent from work for the remaining two working days.” I had kept my fingers crossed and prayed fervently in my mind for him to concur with me. I had viewed him as the workaholic type and not one who would want to be absent from work not even for a day. I waited patiently for his answer and the brief second of waiting felt like forever.

Just when I had concluded for the worst, he questioned, “so if you would be absent from work, that also means I won't be able to be at work too?”

“Well technically yes because I am the one to open the office for you.”

“Two days you say?” he questioned again.

“Yes, two days, I will be back from the seminar on Sunday to resume at the office on Monday.”

“Oh ok, that's fine then. I've even been meaning to inform you of taking a day off to sort out some work related and personal issues. I would just use this as an opportunity to get them sorted out.”

Guys!!! You need to see my invisible smile lol. After the whole thing I heaved a sigh of relief and just said quietly within me, so I have been worried for nothing.

As time progressed, I also did discover that I actually misjudged my colleague. I soon realised that working with him actually made my job easier. Since he has a car, mobility became swift and easy. I also learned that we share a lot in common and then there is us always paying attention to each other to see how best we can come in to give the other support and a soft landing.