Tummy Bug

Mandy stretched out her arms above her. It was almost 12 noon and the day is just great. The documents that went missing the day before had all been returned. Jane seemed to be in a good mood today and the return of her files added to her perky attitude. Rae and Carla were also working peacefully. Josh was out because Maia had sent him to do something. Josephine was also out on a meeting. The day was quietly uneventful.

When the clock hit 12 noon, the ladies, Jane, Carla and Mandy went out for lunch. Mandy had asked Rae to join them which she surprisingly did. Jane was annoyed a little but it wasn't enough to ruin her cheery mood.

"What is with you today? Did something happen last night that got you all happy?" Carla asked as they lined up in the cafeteria to get food.

"Nothing," Jane replied smiling. It was as if she knew some secret and she doesn't want to tell them.

"Okay…" Carla replied as she took a serving of some buttered vegetables from the counter.

"Well, if you must know," Jane started, as if someone had been forcing her to spill what she has to say, "Josh asked me out."

"Really?" Carla's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "Like on a date?"

"Uh, well, not exactly." Jane replied as she fished out a few bills from her wallet to pay for her food.

"What do you mean 'not exactly'? Either he asked you out or he didn't." Carla said as the four of them sat on a table.

"Well, actually, he asked ALL of us out."

"All of us? I don't understand," Mandy interjected into the conversation.

"He asked me to ask everyone if we could all go out this Friday, you know, to hang out as a group."

"Oh, I see," Carla said, "so he didn't ask you out but he asked you to ask us if we could all go out together."

"What's wrong with you? You just repeated what I said!" Jane said as she popped a carrot in her mouth.

"I don't think I can," Rae said.

"Why not?" Mandy asked her.

"Nothing. I just don't want to." Rae said and continued eating.

"How about you, Amanda? Are you free this Friday?" Jane asked after she swallowed the carrot she had been chewing.

"I don't have any plans yet." Mandy replied.

"Carla?"

Carla thought for a moment. "Yeah, I'm in. I don't have anything to do on Friday."

"Rae, you have to come!" Mandy insisted. "Everyone's going. Please come."

Rae looked at Mandy. She squinted her eyes as if in deep thought.

"Okay, I'll go with you guys. But if I ever get bored, I'm leaving," Rae said and then she drank some water.

"That's good enough." Mandy felt so excited. She doesn't know if it's because she had persuaded Rae to come or because she gets to spend more time with Josh on Friday, though they will go out as a group.

"So, where are we going on Friday?" Carla asked Jane.

Jane lost some of her happy mood because Rae was coming.

"I'm not sure. I think he mentioned bowling. Frankly, I just wanna hang out in a bar and drink."

"Bowling sounds good," Mandy said. She doesn't drink that much.

"Bowling? Really? Are we in high school?" Rae complained.

"Let's just ask Josh when we see him," Jane said.

"Hey, did you watch the news last night?"

And just like that, the topic has shifted.

. . .

It was after lunch now.

Mandy was feeling some discomfort in her stomach. She kept recalling what she might have eaten that upset her tummy. The last food she had was lunch but she thought that it might not be that because the effect couldn't be that fast. Then she remembered the buffalo wings she had for breakfast — the ones she had left on the table overnight because she locked herself out of her apartment.

"I knew I shouldn't have eaten those," she regretfully said to herself. Now she had to bear the consequence.

Maia came in the room.

"Hey, guys! Your attention please."

Everyone looked up from what they were doing to listen to Maia.

"I heard that the company has hired a new Director for Marketing. He will be introduced later by Josephine. Please behave." Maia looked directly at Mandy.

After that, Maia went to her desk and started working.

"I wonder who the new Director for Marketing is," Carla whispered to Jane.

"Well, if they hired her, then we definitely don't know her," Jane replied while she was typing on her computer.

"How do you know the Director's a 'she'?" Rae interrupted the two ladies but Jane ignored her.

Mandy wondered, too. But whether male or female, she hoped it would be somebody nice. She went back to work but her stomach pain was starting to bother her.

"I'm back!" It was Josh. "Did I miss anything?"

"There's a new Director for Marketing. And he OR she will be here later so you must behave - Mais's words, not mine," Rae said to Josh.

"I see. Then I better start working."

After a couple of minutes, the door opened and in came Josephine with a man in a business suit. He was standing behind Josephine, picking something on his coat so that Mandy couldn't clearly see his face.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I want to have a few minutes of your time." Josephine began.

Maia quickly stood from her desk and rushed to where Josephine and the new Director were standing.

"I would like you all to meet Alexander Green, the new Director for Marketing." Josephine stepped aside so that everyone can have a clear view of the Director.

Mandy's jaw dropped. It was Xander.

Xander straightened up as Josephine continued introducing him to Maia's group. Everyone was listening intently, all eyes on the new Director.

When Xander met Mandy's eyes, he smiled at her, which Mandy thought was odd. He didn't seem surprised to see her there.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you," was all Xander said when Josephine had finished introducing him.

"Well, then, let me take you to the next department. This way please." Josephine led the way. Xander glanced at Mandy one last time before following Josephine into the hallway.

"Do you know the new Director?" Jane didn't waste any time asking Mandy.

"Why would you say that?" Mandy replied, avoiding Jane's eyes.

"I saw how he looked at you before he went. He even smiled at you when he was being introduced to us. Don't deny it. You know each other."

"Really? I didn't notice he smiled," Mandy said, hoping to convince Jane. She had always been bad at lying.

"Yeah, I saw that, too." Carla had been eavesdropping in their conversation. "I also think you know him. Were you two a couple before?"

"Of course not!" Mandy protested.

"Okay, that's enough you three," Maia said. Mandy was thankful Maia had interrupted. She didn't know how to convince them that they don't know each other. Besides that, she couldn't think too much because of her stomachache.

Mandy sat down and tried to work again despite the pain. Her stomach felt like it was churning. She was so tempted to go back home while she can still drive.

After about an hour of working, Mandy started to really feel uncomfortable. Josh noticed she was sweating despite the air-conditioning.

"Are you all right?" Josh asked. "You look sick."

Mandy didn't deny it. "Yeah, my stomach hurts. I think it was something I ate."

"You should go home. I'll tell Maia."

Josh went off to Maia before she could even protest. She felt like she had to vomit but she tried so hard to keep it in. After a few minutes, Josh came back with Maia.

"You don't feel well?" Maia asked her and then she saw how pale she was. "You don't look good. You should go home and rest. Did you drive to work?"

"Yeah, I did. I think I can still drive." Mandy said.

"Okay, you should go."

"I'll take her to her car," Josh said to Maia.

"All right. See to it that she gets to her car safe," Maia said and then she went back to her desk.

Mandy packed away all her stuff. She put all that she was doing inside her drawer. She then got her bag and tried standing.

"Are you sure you can drive?" Rae asked her as she watched Mandy struggle to stand.

"Yeah," Mandy said, "it's just a short drive anyway."

"Take care, Mandy." Carla said. Jane waved at Mandy as she and Josh went out.

. . .

"Thank you for taking me to my car, Josh. But it's really not necessary," Mandy said as they both waited for the elevator.

"I just want to make sure you don't faint on the way. You really look sick."

Just then, the elevator opened. To Mandy's surprise, Xander was there.

"Hi there, Mandy! Going home already?" Xander said cheerfully but his smile faded when he noticed Mandy was looking pale and sick.

"Hey, are you okay?" Xander asked, concern in his voice.

"My stomach hurts."

"Well, I'm going home now. You can come with me. Just leave your car here."

"So they do know each other. Why would Amanda lie about it?" Josh thought to himself.

"Are you taking her to her car?" Xander asked Josh.

"Yes, I am."

"It's okay, there's no need. I'll take her home," Xander said firmly.

"Come on, Mandy."

Josh noticed Xander called her "Mandy" and not "Amanda" which to him, confirms that they do know each other.

"I said I can drive," Mandy insisted.

"No. Look at you. If something happens to you while you're driving… I'll tell you what… Let's take your car and I'll just go back later to get mine. Sounds good?"

Mandy nodded. She was starting to feel nauseous.

"Okay, it's settled. I'll take you home." Xander took her by the arm.

"You may go back to work. I'll take care of her," Xander said to Josh as he and Mandy stepped into the elevator.

Josh couldn't do anything but watch the elevator door close, with Mandy leaning onto Xander.