I went back to my desk, repeating to myself, “So Chak hates gays.” How will he react when he finds out about me?
I felt incredibly sad.
Why did I have to fall in love with him?
The office door opened, and Chak and Chai stepped out.
They were talking about something, but for a moment, I caught Chak’s gaze lingering on me.
Then they left.
I tried to continue working, but I couldn’t concentrate.
Non came up to me and said, “Chak is calling you to his office.”
When I entered his office, Chak watched me closely.
“Sit, Niran,” he said.
“What’s wrong? Tell me.”
“Nothing, sir,” I lied.
“I’m just tired, that’s all.”
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Go home,” he said.
“But sir, I haven’t finished yet…”
“Go home and get some rest,” he repeated firmly.
“Alright, sir,” I said, my voice trembling.
I stood up and slowly made my way home.
I stopped at the market to buy some fruit.
When I reached the pedestrian crossing, the light turned red.
Suddenly, I felt someone hug me and kiss me on the cheek.
I pushed him away and realized it was my ex-boyfriend, Lun.
“What are you doing?”
“What, can’t I hug you?” he asked.
“You can, but don’t kiss me on the cheek.”
“I just wanted to greet you,” he said.
At that moment, I saw Chak watching me from his car.
His eyes were filled with intense anger.
“Oh no,” I thought when I saw him.
“This is definitely not going to end well.” Chak then drove off.
“Lun, please go,” I said.
“Why?” he asked.
“I just want to be alone,” I replied, crossing the street.
When I got home, I gave Leo fresh food and water then I collapsed on the couch and fell asleep from exhaustion.
I woke up late in the evening.
I ate some yogurt, and while checking my phone, I saw that Chak had messaged me to come to his office tomorrow.
A lump formed in my throat.
I went to bed, but I couldn’t sleep.
The thought kept running through my mind: what if he fires me after seeing me with Lun?
The night passed quickly, and I went to work the next morning.
Non told me Chak was already in the office and in a very bad mood.
I went to see him, feeling nervous.
I knocked, and Chak’s cold voice said,
“Come in.”
When I entered, I found him reviewing documents.
“Good morning,” I said in a nervous voice.
Chak looked up and froze me with his cold reply,
“As if for anyone.”
“Sir,” I said, my voice shaking, “about what you saw yesterday…” Before I finished, he interrupted me with a raised hand.
“I don’t care,” he said.
“You’re working with me today,” he added.
“But why?” I asked.
“Because I said so,” he replied.
“You’ll review these documents and enter them into the spreadsheets. Understand?”
“I understand, sir,” I answered.
“Everything needs to be done today,” he continued, handing me a large stack of files.
“And if you think that’s all, you’re wrong.”
He pointed to the other boxes still on the floor.
I felt a wave of nausea looking at the pile.
“Go get your computer and come back,” he said.
“Alright, sir,” I replied.
As I went to get my computer, Non asked why I needed it.
“I’m going to work all day with Chak, sorting documents,” I told him.
“With Chak, who is in a really bad mood. Good luck,” he said.