Chapter 3 - Ma'Kayla

Now that I'm thinking about it, who is that guy that my phone number? How did he get my phone number? It doesn't make sense. Since Monday, the guy has been sending me continuous messages about remembering me. Even after I've deleted and blocked his number, he still finds his ways to contact me. The fact is, I don't even know who this person is. But that really doesn't matter right now. I've got work to do.

Since the meeting from Wednesday, I've been working on this flier nonstop. So far, I've made good progress. The background and the writing are done, so now all I need to do is add some extra details. I wonder what time it is. I glance at the time on my computer. 13:10, it reads. Wow, I've been working for that long. I'm kind of hungry. I haven't eaten since I came to the building earlier this morning. Thankfully, there is a coffee shop right around the corner from the office. I can get something to eat from over there. I save my work and close my laptop. I grab my phone from the charger and leave my office. The cafe is only a couple minutes from here, so I can just walk there.

The scent of cake pops and coffee fills my nose as I walk into the cafe. I hear the comforting sounds of jazz in the air. This place reminds me of home, I enjoy it. I walk up to the counter, where I meet a good friend of mine, Blair.

"Well, well, look who finally decides to show up!" She calls out.

"How are you, Blair?"

"Oh, I'm fine, what about you?"

"I'm good. I just came here to take a break from working. Can I have a-"

"Mocha Frappuccino with a croissant?"

I'm shocked. "How do you know?"

"We've known each other for a year now, I know what you order."

I laugh. "Alright, thank you."

I pull my credit card out and pay her. "It'll be out in a minute."

Blair and I have known each other since I moved here two years ago. I was looking for a place near the building that has good coffee, and that's where I met Blair. I would always come here whenever I needed a break or just wanted something to eat. She remembered my orders, and we've been good friends ever since.

I grab a seat by the door as I wait for my order. Now, I can take this time to check my phone. Hopefully that creepy dude didn't send me anything. I unlock my phone and look at my notifications. The phone buzzes with a message.

It's from Kylie.

Kylie: Hey, did you start working on the flier?

I respond back.

Me: Yeah. I've been working on it since Thursday.

Kylie: How much did you get done?

Me: I got the base and the writing done, now I just need to add some details.

Kylie: Cool. Can you share what you have so far?

Me: I'll send it to you.

I look up from my phone, and I hear my call being called. The coffee and croissant must be done. I get up and walk to the counter. I retrieve my items and walk back to my seat, when I'm stopped by a familiar face.

"Ma'Kayla."

It's Hakeem. I never expected to see him here. "Hakeem. Uh, I'm surprised to see you here."

"You too."

I go back to my table, and he grabs a seat at my table too.

"So", I ask, "what brings you here?"

"I just come here from time to time, they have really great croissants here. How about yourself?"

"I was at the office for a couple hours and I was hungry, so I decided to take a little snack break."

"Oh. What are you doing at the office on a Sunday?" He asks intently.

"I was working on the flier. I want to have it done today so I don't have to do it tomorrow."

"That's understandable. How's the progress?"

"I finished the background and the writing, so I'm almost done."

"Nice."

Here enters a still quietness. But, it's not awkward. Instead, it feels a little bit comforting. I kind of want to stay like this. But it'd be weird for us just to sit in silence.

"So, when are you going back to the office?" Hakeem asks.

"After I'm done eating. Like I said, I wanna have this done as soon as possible."

"Maybe I can help you."

I smile. "Well, that's nice of you to offer. But I got it."

"I insist."

This man has a motive. He's nice for no reason. "Thank you."

"No problem. Also, I want to apologize about the meeting. I'm sorry about Noah, he can act like a child sometimes."

I shake my head. "No it's fine. I'm used to dealing with people like that."

"I can tell."

He smiles at me. His eyes are full of pure kindness and joy. My heart starts to race and my hands begin to sweat. Why am I feeling like this? What's going on?

"Ma'Kayla?"

I almost didn't hear him for a second. "I'm sorry, I must've zoned out. Um...I'm about to head back to the office. It's right around the corner from here, you wanna come with?"

He nods. "Yeah."

"You have a natural talent for this kind of stuff."

"It's nothing, really."

After a short walk, Hakeem and I made it back to the office. I showed him around the marketing department, and now he's looking at the prototype flier. But since I got back to the office, I've been stuck. My brain just stopped working when we got back from the cafe.

"I'm not gonna lie, the marketing floor is pretty nice. Maybe I should come here more often." He says.

I chortle. "Yeah, you should. We do some pretty interesting stuff here."

"So, what details are you thinking of adding?" Hakeem inquires.

"I already have a wreath in the background, so I might as well add some Christmas lights. I don't want it to be over-colored, but at the same time under-colored, ya know?"

I can tell he doesn't know because of the confused look on his face. It's cute.

"Is it alright if I say 'yeah'? Because I don't know anything about over or under coloring."

I chuckle. "That's kind of an already given detail."

"Yeah. I guess you can ask yourself what the message is. That way, you can try to convey the message when you're adding those details."

I think for a moment. I know someone who would say something like that to me. Definitely when I was in high school. I can't put a pin in it, but I remember someone who would always say those words to me. It would give me inspiration, consistently. But I can't remember who would tell me those words.

"Someone would always tell that me", I tell him, "when I was in high school."

"Really?"

"Yeah. But I can't remember who though. But it's alright."

He nods. Hakeem has a sad look on his face. I hope I didn't upset him.

"Do you know the details about the gala? Did Gomez ever tell anybody the date?"

"She wants it on Christmas night, seven o'clock."

I fix the wording on the flier. Ever since I said that to him, the whole room shifted. Well, not literally, but the mood has changed. I feel as if I've made Hakeem upset. Should I apologize? Do I just avoid the topic altogether? II don't know what to do.

"I think I might head out, Ma'Kayla." He tells me. "I'm glad I was of some help to you."

With that, he leaves the office. Dang it, why do I always have to ruin everything?

It still lingers. Why, I don't know. It's still bugging me; I still feel as if I upset him earlier today. Now I realize that I shouldn't have said anything. What do I do? Should I call him? I don't know what to do. I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Chantelle on speed dial.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me."

"Hey! How you been doin?"

"I've been fine, what about you?"

"I been good, it's been a minute since you called me."

I let out a long sigh. "I know. Work has been a pain in my neck lately."

"I can tell by ya voice. What's goin' on?"

"My boss is what's goin' on. She decided that the company would host a gala on Christmas and she told us about Monday. She wanted people to volunteer, and only four people did."

"Who all volunteered?" She asks.

"Me, Kylie, and these two guys from accounting. Hakeem and Noah."

The phone goes silent for a while. "Say those names again."

"Hakeem and Noah. Why, you know them or something?"

She stops. I wonder what's going on. "Chantelle? You alright?"

"Do you even know remember him?"

"Remember who?"

"You know who I'm talking about."

I shake my head. "No, I don't know who you're talking about."

She smacks her teeth. "Yo mama knew you needed therapy, but she never listened to anybody."

What is this girl talking about? "Chantelle, what are you talking about-"

She hung up. What was she talking about? And why did she get all serious when I said his name? I already made Hakeem upset, and now my best friend too. Why would I do that?

"Lord, why am I making everybody upset today? First Hakeem, now Chantelle? What's going on?"