Lunch With Linh and the Jogging Man (Part 2)

A Delivery to Work-Cover

Ten minutes before it was time for me to have lunch Livia walked over to my section and as pleasant as she does sound, she politely asked if I could deliver a document for her to Work-Cover. Having run the idea of my having lunch at midday through with Esme, I figured ten minutes would be enough for me to drop off the document and then head off.

This earlier slot of time to which I headed out could have been useful to the ploys in mind. Anxious still loomed within in regards to how accepted I was into the group and as I also felt like having a quiet day to myself to which I could head for Circular Quay, I figured I would use this extra time to leave alone.

However, my faith was restored in Linh and the others accepting me into their group upon my walking out into the elevator lobby and seeing them. Themselves, being a touch early for lunch, they asked me where I was headed and when I noted that I would take five or ten minutes to deliver the package Linh remarked “That’s alright, we’ll come with you, come have lunch with us”. If ever I had a doubt about their acceptance, it was now banished from my mind.

The sun was gilding the buildings, the warmth across my face and such a beautiful day to contest with. It is in these days that my attitude comes out best-served and on our way towards Work-Cover I was glad that I wasn’t lowly in conversation anymore. Rather, bringing out my character, my hands were no longer in my pockets all the time sheltering my anxiety but rather, I was afire with my offhand conversation. Chatting with Linh about his plans to buy a Ninja motorbike with his $5,000 loan and then swapping around and chatting with Rhett and Linh, I was always amongst conversation, due to my now feeling a part of the group.

Crossing the road at an intersection, I pointed to a sandwich shop which quoted “In and out within sixty seconds”, I mentioned that they sold good sandwiches there. Surprised to what my subliminal message had created, Linh and Thao made steps towards the shop, hesitating as they looked back and noted “We’re going in here to buy some sandwiches”. Still upon hesitance, I asked Rhett if he was going to head down with me for my delivery to which he gladly walked alongside of me.

Sparking up some further conversation with Rhett on his background, we continued our short walk to the Work-Cover building. The attitude I was portraying had seriously changed from the morning hours. It usually takes me until lunch time to get accustomed against my anxiety. In the morning I was more prone to be timid, speak out less and start less conversation with people. To some degree, it has to do with my being enclosed and indoors.

Louder Outside Than In

Just like today when speaking with Cara on the train, I spoke less and in patches and didn’t raise myself higher than a murmur, afraid that people would judge me. However, as we stepped off the train, immediately our conversation picked up as did my voice which was on the verge of a shout. The difference was immense as Carly and I stopped despite my bus being just up the road and her having to walk home.

We were so into our conversation that it was hard to let go but alas, I had to catch my bus. Therefore, there is a distinguishable difference and understanding as to why I feel timid in enclosed areas whereas I let out my true self when best I am outdoors and feeling as if no one is listening upon my conversation. That is why I always used to think to myself, it would be much better if I had an interview outdoors instead of indoors because I could let so much more of my personality out that would otherwise be clenched up to anxiety and unease.

The real me had emerged in the one hour of lunch to which the high of my mettle continued in a slightly lesser degree at work. Metaphorically speaking or in best illustration, in the mornings, as in battle I do show defeat. There are no defenses and therefore, I surrender to myself and self-consciousness. However, when lunch arrives a burst of fervency grows upon me, acting as the strength in my shield in defense and my sword in sharp and witty attack.

With lunch’s conclusions, resilience prevails where I am like that warrior, tiring of bravery and being overcome by a shaft of flying arrows, upraised with a shield to shy away most trepidation. There might be one or two arrows that fly straight and wound my resilient body after lunch and with each wound, like stairs, I decline gradually in caliber and character, to timidity and anxiety alike.

The Jogging Man

The real me indeed was loose as I treated Rhett more as a close friend in my idle humor than a work friend. Pointing at a hot chick crossing the road as I usually do in each of our outings I uttered “Ooh”. Rhett looked at me, obviously confused at my taste and confused myself to find she wasn’t of bethought radiance I remarked “Come on, she’s deserved of an Ooh”. Handing in the package to the guard downstairs at Reception I asked “Can you make sure this gets to so and so” to which he babbled on saying “Yeah sure, I know him, I’ll make sure he gets it, yeah, he’s up there, I’ll make sure.”

From one schizophrenic to another, I noticed an old guy in shorts and singlet jogging inside a narrow doorway near my drop-off point. Looking ridiculous as he jogged on the spot I shook my head at the odd sight and as we walked out of Work-Cover I noticed the same guy jogging up a storm on the spot as he waited for the traffic to subside.

Eventually, he ended up just walking across the street which to Rhett was an anticlimax to all the energy he showed jogging on the spot. You get some weirdo’s in the City but as he was probably some executive who thought he was some Olympic jogger at his lunch break, we figured he was sane but just barely.

Pasta With Too Much Parmesan

Tracing back our steps to meet with Linh and Thao, the both of them were still choosing their sandwiches as Rhett and I entered. Rhett eventually succumbed to his hunger as he decided to buy himself a sandwich and as I was looked upon for my choice I explained “If we’re going to eat at HMV Food Court, I’ll probably just get something from there.

Heading to the front counter as they paid for their food, hearing a radio faintly in the background, just out of the blue I done a spot of light dancing, an elbow or two and that was it. Looking like it was too far to head for HMV’s Food Court, Rhett kept noting that it wasn’t too far and as we neared it street by street, they found themselves a table in the smoking section as I chose what I wanted to eat.

The day prior I knew that I wanted to try something from a new shop that dominantly sold Italian style gourmet. Friday I chose to buy pasta with chicken and mushroom which had some parmesan cheese thickly added on top. This addition to my already strong scented meal was now a touch on the stinky side. Parmesan cheese surely does have an acquired smell and as I sat down with the other three, you could see that they too thought the smell was overbearing.

As always, usually being the first to buy food and find seats as well as the last to finish a meal, as I tried to quickly eat and erode the foul smell, I was at ease somewhat when they started smoking near the end of my meal. They all do tend to eat fast while I enjoy my food that touch more.

Questions About Linh’s Girlfriend

When most conversation was added, I decided to add my own taste, bringing up the time that Linh was chatting away with Delphi on the way to the station to which he ended up meeting with a girl. “Was that your girlfriend” I asked him anxiously as he retorted, “No, no, that was an old school friend”. Relieved, I remarked “That’s good, because I thought she was your girlfriend and I thought when I mentioned that you talked up a storm with Delphi you looked at me as if to say ‘don’t say that’”.

Enjoying their smokes as I continued to dip into my dish Linh noted that his girlfriend was Asian, smiling as I revealed more of my suspicions. Glad that I cleared my conscience, when our time was up, we headed back to work to which they had quick smoke out the front and then it was time to head upstairs, for the second leg of the day. Making my way to the bathroom first, as I came out to wash my hands I bumped into Zebulon, the birthday boy.

Sparking up some more conversation, he told me how he’d gone to see Universal Soldier Two after I brought up the topic of movies. Warning me against seeing it, I figured that the sequel to an average movie wouldn’t be that great, especially as it was so long in the finalization process. Zebulon explained that the plot was so typical and as we talked all the way to the access door, we finally parted and were on our ways.