WHEN OFFICE WALLS BLUSHED

After university, everyone starts looking for a job. That’s exactly what I did. I applied to different places. It was exhausting because landing a job isn’t a walk in the park. One day, as I was relaxing and watching my comfort movie, my phone beeped. It was a job interview invitation. The message said I had one week to prepare. I immediately started getting ready. I researched how interviews are conducted and planned my outfit. The day came. I was a little nervous. I reached the interview office and realized I was a bit late. I walked in, the panel had three people. They asked me questions, and I answered confidently.

Two days later, I received a call informing me that I had passed the interview. It was a contract job. I jumped and screamed with joy. I was to start my corporate job on Monday. I met new people and it was fun. In my mind, I had planned to focus entirely on work, but life sometimes surprises us. I was shown my desk, it was in the last room on the second floor of the building. In that room, we were fifteen colleagues: ten men and five women. It was perfect in my eyes. I introduced myself and they were excited to have a new member. I was joyful. I felt I was starting on a high note. The bosses were helpful and welcoming.

What I didn’t know was that breakfast was provided for free every day, while lunch was paid for individually. In my first month, one lady already disliked me, I never knew why. One day, she came and shamed me about my tribe. One of my colleagues, Ryan, stood up for me. I felt protected. I didn’t know how to handle her words because she was older than me, but Ryan came through. Ryan and I sat next to each other. He continued to protect me. Little did I know that his girlfriend, Leah, also worked in the same organization. Eventually, Leah started giving me the cold shoulder. I reduced my communication with Ryan to avoid any problems.

I focused on my work and gave it my all. The bosses praised me often. That’s when I met Walter from the next room. He would buy me lunch and take me to different restaurants. This was especially helpful since the city was new to me and financially, I was struggling. My position was entry-level and my mum wasn’t able to fully support me. Walter always looked at me with what I’d call "crush eyes." His eyes would light up around me. He also helped me whenever I got stuck in my work. Later, the organization faced financial challenges and stopped offering free breakfast. Everyone had to buy their own.

One day, as I was walking through the corridor, a colleague named Larry called me. He asked me to help him finish his work before the deadline. I agreed and as we spoke, I noticed the way he moved his lips, it was clear he had a crush on me. I just smiled. Walter saw Larry asking for my number and appeared jealous. I gave Larry my number and five minutes later, Walter came running, I gave him my number too. I noticed they both had a crush on me, but I reminded myself that my main goal was to work hard and grow.

During a meeting, Walter chose me to accompany him. The session was productive and we were both challenged and inspired. Afterward, Walter gave me a sitting allowance and told me not to tell anyone. One day, Larry also gave me money under the desk. I giggled quietly. That evening, I told my mum. She was shocked and asked if I was dating either of them. I told her no, that they probably appreciated my good work or were just being kind.

By the third month, I had moved seats, from sitting near Ryan to sitting near Stanley. We became good friends. He was gentle and always asked how I was feeling. He once chose me for a meeting, and I was paid for it. I was thrilled. Some colleagues supported me, while others hated me. I began to realize I was a magnet for both admiration and jealousy. Then my former classmate Sandra was transferred to our organization. We often laughed about past memories. Unfortunately, one day while I was talking to her, our colleague Tony, who sat beside Sandra, chose me for a meeting. Sandra got upset. I didn’t know she had wanted to go. I distanced myself, not wanting to create more tension.

Another colleague I considered a friend, Sharon, wanted Tony to be on her side, so it didn’t surprise me that things became awkward. It got tough. Some colleagues who disliked me started wishing I would leave. When I passed by, they would whisper, “When is her contract ending?” They stared me down and made the environment toxic. I decided to resign. I gave my resignation letter to Walter, but he kept it instead of returning it. He didn’t want me to leave. He even offered to pay for a vacation just to convince me to stay.

After a month, he finally returned my letter. I resigned and finally felt free. But what stayed in my mind the most, were the crushes.

Linet Simiyu is a Kenyan writer passionate about storytelling and exploring real-life experiences through essays. Her work has been featured in The Kalahari Review and she contributes to literary platforms that celebrate authentic voices. Linet is also exploring opportunities in procurement and online writing, blending creativity with practical skills.