MEN

Finally! After all these torturous years of attending classes, taking notes, and pulling all-nighters to cram for exams, it finally came to an end. I had graduated with a wide smile and a degree in my hand while wearing a ridiculously oversized gown. No matter how much I complain about having to study for 22 years of my life, it was worth it to go through all the trouble. The joyous grins lighting up my parents’ faces as I walked across the stage to receive my diploma was a sight I would never forget.

I had just returned home from my after-school football practice when my twin sister pounced on me, going off about some office event, dresses, perfumes, and shoes. Gently prying off the arms she had wrapped around me in a hug, I shushed her and went to search for my mother. She informed me that my dad was throwing an office party because he cracked a deal with some important French delegates. All four of us were supposed to attend the party.

It was the third week of February when my boss announced that we would be having a celebration party two weeks later for our company’s 15th anniversary. Everyone was pretty hyped about this since the last celebration we had had was the pre-Christmas party before our official holiday for Christmas and New Year in December. It was not long before the office hallways were filled with excited whispers of people discussing what to wear and their expectations regarding the celebration.

My senior year at high school was finally coming to an end. As cliché as it sounds, I would miss my high school now that a new chapter in my life was about to begin. From all the missed assignments and detentions to food fights in the cafeteria and sitting outside the principal’s office with my two best friends, everything was going to be a nostalgic memory. Although it seems like yesterday, I could vividly remember my first day.

Waiting for an aircraft inside the confinements of the airport can be bothersome. Yet, striking conversations with random strangers you will never meet again sounds interesting. The guy and I were scheduled for the same flight. The moment he walked past me was precisely when the tantalising smell blew me away. I was so mesmerised that I thought about starting a conversation and then gently inquiring about the perfume.

After an old friend casually commented that my wardrobe looks horrendously monotonous and dull, I was pretty disturbed. It made me reflect on my styling and choice of clothes. Unfortunately, his comments about my wardrobe were genuine. I decided that I needed to revamp my wardrobe. Sometimes, a change can be good. I reached out to another friend who made some excellent suggestions.