Chapter 1 - The First Step

I do not know exactly when I started to notice her. She is always so cheerful and bright. The whole room seems brighten up whenever she is around. She is either giggling away or making those around her laughing away.

As I approached her place, my heart started to beat a little faster. I had texted her the night before that I would be picking her up for the event this morning. I saw 2 figures standing at the carpark corner, hers and him. She waved and hopped behind. He sat beside me. "Good morning! Thanks for coming.", she chirped. "Morning. No problem.", I replied back, a little louder than usual. My voice volume tends to escalate a little whenever I got nervous. Sharks! I hope she did not notice that.

It was a short 5 minutes drive and we reached our destination. We started unloading the equipments and setting them up for our event at the venue. Today we are providing free screening services for the general public.

"I need 2 persons to set up the exhibition panels and the rest to follow me to the screening room.", I said. Tom raised his hand and said, "Me and Jo will do the set-up." She smiled and moved towards him.

I packed the stuffs and moved into the room with the rest. My mind was a little distracted, thinking about she and Tom setting up the panels together. They stayed close-by and were come and go back together, most of the time. No big deal but I could tell Tom cares a lot about her and both of them seem to get along very well. He is always making her laugh while me, the block-head, could never even look straight into her eyes.

The event started on time and very soon the crowd started strolling in and our hands were full, checking one individual to another. I did not have much time to be bother about other things but whenever I had time to steal a glance or two, I would spot them, she and Tom, from the corner of my eyes, teaming up. She was giggling away as usual. I excused myself to do the registration outside.

By late afternoon, the crowd lessen and we could catch a little breathe. A kid was sitting outside waiting for his mother for the screening. I chatted up with the little boy and started to play Guess my finger game with him. I was a little engrossed and then I heard a giggle from behind. It was her. I did not know when she stood there. "You, sure has a way with kid.", she giggled. She came and sat beside me and added, "Not bored? All alone here doing registration." My heart nearly skipped with her sitting so close. Her eyes were neither too big or too small, just nice like the shape of an almond nut, but they were sparkling. We chatted a while and I asked if it's ok that she left Tom alone inside. She laughed, "Sure. He'll be fine."

After the event, the whole team went for dinner. She sat beside me. I was thrilled. She ordered the same drink as me. She also loves coke. On the way home, I was counting the number of words we exchanged today. We did speak more than usual. I got to know a little bit more about her. Behind that tom-boyish character of her, she got a softer sentimental side and loves to watch Korean soap drama. As I was lost in my thoughts, reminiscing our talk; the phone rang... Some thing in office cropped up and I needed to make a detour back to office. Being in a 24/7 IT job was really draining. I got call up in the wee hours of the night and even during weekends. Comeon, it's a sunday night!!

I needed to call up Mark with regards to this hiccup. The voice on the other side was a lady...

"Mark? Mark, please.", I asked.

"Sam? Jo here. I am not Mark."

It was her!! It was unintentionally. I guessed I pressed her number by mistake. It was God's sent. I was beaming.

I apologised. She laughed as usual. I love to hear her laughters. It filled up the whole car.

"Hey, thanks so much for helping me with the free screening today.", I added.

"No worries. I am just doing my part."

"Let me treat you for dinner."

"It's ok. You don't have to."

"No, no. I mean it. Miss Jo, you are entitled to a free dinner for rendering great help. Press 1 for chinese; 2 for indian; 3 for Japanese....", I said in a robotic-like voice.

More laughters from her...

"Ok. Ok. You let me know again once you fix up.", she giggled.

My heart sung.... My heart flew....

We will be going dinner together. YES!! YES!!

Is this our first date???

To be cont....