C14 Maybe To Congratulate Us

That morning, I wore my glasses, dressed simply in white sneakers, blue jeans and a white shirt.

It was old, but clean. I looked like what people called me, a Nerd. But I didn’t feel ashamed of it. I felt proud.

I had worked hard for everything I had learned and somehow, after losing Samantha, my work had become the only thing holding me together.

Before work even began, I was called to the Vice Director’s office. Something about it made me uneasy.

As I walked toward the office, I saw Chris approaching from the other side of the corridor. “Maybe it’s just a meeting to congratulate us,” I said quietly. Chris nodded. “Yeah, probably.” We both stepped inside together.

The moment we entered, the atmosphere changed. And then I saw him, Ben.

But this wasn’t the Ben I remembered. He sat in the Vice Director’s seat with a cold expression on his face. There was no friendliness, no familiarity only authority and irritation.

Chris tried to lighten the mood. “Ben! How have you been? Why are you ignoring our calls? Aren’t we still friends?”

I stood silently beside him, adjusting my glasses. I didn’t say anything. Ben didn’t smile. Instead, he looked straight at me.

“It’s your second day in this company,” he said coldly. “And this is how you come dressed to work?” I glanced at my clothes. There was nothing wrong with them.

He continued before I could respond. “White sneakers. Old jeans. A shirt that looks like it hasn’t been replaced in years. And those glasses…”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you think you’re a special technician or something?” I stayed quiet. Ben leaned back slightly, his voice sharper now. “And those sneakers… do you even know where they came from?