A Short Story: Because I Wanted To

You’ve had your eyes on her ever since she got introduced to the whole team. 

Natural hair up in two fat buns that baby-curled deliciously atop. Pink dress. Glossy strawberry lips. Fresh, dewy face. Everything about her drowned you in cuteness and tenderness.

You wanted to get to know her. But you also wanted to smack yourself in the face.

What’s up, Dara? Stop this nonsense. Now.

You sat upright in your seat, quickly averting your gaze and pretending to be typing something on your laptop. You’ve never so much as gotten attracted to a coworker, let alone, broken your sacred “no colleague-dating” rule.

A new girl wasn’t going to change that. Never.

“Deena,” Mr. Joseph pointed towards you now, smiling proudly. “This is Darasimi. He’s our head copywriter. You’ll be working closely with him on the Mastell Milk campaigns.”

Deena’s pure, bright smile nearly burst your heart open. “It’s nice to meet you, Darasimi,” her sweet as honey voice said.

You put on a straight face, swallowing and nodding as simply as you could. “It’s nice to meet you too. Welcome, Deena.”

The moment her name rolled out of your lips, despite not intending it to, you knew it was over.

It’s been two years since that introduction day, and you smile ruefully as you recollect the memory, watching Deena, who is still just your coworker, sleep on the desk beside you. Her breathing rising and falling peacefully. Everyone but you two have left the office, and the hands of the wall clock are almost striking 10.

You got up from your chair and lowered yourself to Deena, gazing at her, taking in her face and presence. Just as you rose to go pack up, she grabbed your hand; and shocked, you turned back. 

Deena nudged you to lower yourself back down, and slowly, you did. 

She lifted her head from the table, looked you in the eye, fluttered her lashes away for a moment, and then… put her lips to your cheek. 

It was a soft, gentle kiss that sent electricity sparking off in your veins.

“Let’s stop fighting it,” Her hoarse voice let out. “I like you, Dara. A lot.”

You stared at her, and because you wanted to – badly – you cupped a side of her face and took her lips in yours.

“Me too,” you finally said, finger-brushing her cheeks with all the affection flooding you.