Zeriah's Love Formula

Chapter 4: Disapponted?

ZERIAH’S POV:

“Cuckoo-Cukoo-Cuckoo!”

I bolted up my bed at the sound of my annoying alarm clock. Another day, another work.

The moment I opened my eyes, I rushed to my computer on the other east side of the room to check on my emails. To be honest, I am quite nervous at what is going to be the response of Ms. Cornell to my letter of request. I just need to hope for the best, I know. But sometimes, my tendency of over-analyzing things is getting on my way.

And I know how Ms. Cornell deals with things. She has been my superior for almost 2 years now and I am pretty much aware of her meticulousness.

“Yes, you have my permission. Good luck on your study…”  I read on the screen as I adjusted my eyeglasses.

“YES!” I bit my lip and lowered my head before slamming the table in celebration of Ms. Cornell’s approval of my study.

“I am very much grateful for your permission, ma’am. I assure you, my study will not disappoint you and anyone in the committee.” I replied.

After I was done talking with her, I slid my chair to my other computer and continued to layout the design of the flyers I started last night. I plan to distribute as many papers as I can to random people today, after I finished work.

I clicked on the color schemes to choose the right one for my letters. I am looking for something that will easily catch the attention of the viewers even just by simply glancing because after a while, I know that many people will just toss it around the ground and the nearest available bin.

I foresee that it will hurt my feelings but, that is what I should expect of them.

I adjusted my glasses again before clicking on the brightest yellow available on the computer software I am using. I felt a slight smirk escaped from the corner of my mouth. I guess I am quite excited to fetch up participants this day.

After letting out a big yawn, I decided to make myself a cup coffee. It is already 6 o’clock in the morning now so I need to move quickly if I do not want to compromise my 7:30 am work. Nevertheless, I think I will be requesting a change to my working time when this research already started.

And if my superiors do not agree, I think I will be forcing myself to resign.

I proceeded to finalize the flyers before taking a shower and eating breakfast. I was amused by the final look. I placed a frame around the corners and the texts are big enough to complement the background. It will not hurt the eyes of whoever will read.

I took a deep breath.

I printed a sample copy after everything was finished.

“Wow, Zeriah. You did a great job. You should be a layout artist in your next life.”  I uttered to myself since I am proud of what I have done. I think people are going to like the idea of my research as well.

I cannott wait to present the greatest study of the century.

--

“Good morning, Zer!” I heard Bert greet me the moment I walked inside the office.

“Morning!” I greeted back by nodding a little.

“Good morning, Zeriah!” I turned around to see that Cynthia almost drooling at my appearance. She is chewing a gum and making a balloon out of it while staring seductively at me. This woman is also twisting the end of her hair in a curl as she winking at me. I sighed.

Women and their non-verbal cues of wanting to get laid.

 Girls are always like this and I am quite used to them by now. At first, I find those actions of females somewhat creepy but I came to realize that they are naturally inclined to show s****l behaviors when they are presented by an attractive man.

And in this case, I decipher that such attractive man is me.

“Hello, Cynthia. Good morning.” I responded formally as I tried my best not to counter her flirtatious attitude. I am seriously not interested in her.

I continued walking towards my cubicle to start my work early. I need to finish early as well. So I guess I will not take any break today. I packed my lunch and snacks in order to eat while working.

While I was searching my bag to check if everything I need is inside, I carelessly brought out the pile of flyers I was going to distribute later.

“Hey man, what’s that?”

Of course, Gerald, my ever so talkative and nosy co-worker will do his job to butt in my personal business.

“Hi Gerald, please ignore this. I have some personal stuff to deal with after work. I hope it does not bother you in any way.”  I explained as calm as I can.

“Nah come on, tell me.” He punched my shoulder lightly in an attempt to make me speak more about the flyers I stack on my desk.

I made a mistake in getting it out since briefly after he teased me. He forcefully grabbed a piece of it and read it out loud.

“Do not!” I yelled but it was too late. I felt the annoyance building up inside my system early this morning. But I tried my best to calm myself down. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before reminding myself to ignore such lowly creature like him.

“Wow Zer, you’re conducting a study about love? I mean, what is there to study about that?” He asked and basing from his tone of voice, I can say that his intention was not to know the details of my study but to mock and humiliate me instead.

He leaned back and brushed his chin. In my peripheral view, I saw my co-workers around the area whisper and laugh softly before staring at me.

“Give me back that paper Gerald…that is not intended for people like you.” I said as I extended my right arm to get the flyer from him while showing him a dead stare.

“Easy…I want to learn more. Can I be your participant then?” He teased me for the second time before standing up and reading the information in the paper once again. This time, he cleared his throat before speaking in an almost yelling manner.

This man is really testing my patience.

“Hey guys! I think our genius co-worker here is looking for participants in his study! Who’s interested? Huh?” He laughed while looking back and forth from the flyer to the surroundings.

“And guess what his study is all about? You won’t believe this! HAHAHA.” His voice is echoing all around the office now.

“He wants to prove that love is non-existent! You heard it right! Love as in romantic love! Let’s help this man get laid shall we? HAHAHAHA.” He added but he looks like a fool being the only one laughing.

“Guys? Can’t you hear me? Hello? HAHAHA”

I looked around and noticed that everyone else is now minding their own businesses just like what he is ABSOLUTELY NOT doing right now. With their response, I smirked before standing up and brushing my clothes.

“You know what…” I started walking towards him.

“You need to start minding your own business and save yourself from humiliation. Well, I expected that you will react like this…given that you do not have the level of comprehension that you need to have by your age.” I whispered and I saw his face turned red. He clenched his fist and I adjusted my glasses again, walking even closer to him.

“You are lucky I am not as obnoxious as you are.” I patted his shoulder.

He looked to me directly as he was about to reply but I did not allow a single word to escape from his empty brain down his foul mouth.

“This study is not intended for a lowly organism like you…you know actually, I am planning to conduct an experiment on worms next year. If you want to be my participant, just give me a call, okay?” I said before showing him an intimidating smile.

I saw a sweat drip down Gerald’s forehead and that was the only sign that I needed to know that he was threatened by my appearance without me lifting a hand to hurt him.

--

“Please list down your phone number if you are interested. Thank you!” I said towards the 6th person I handed a flyer with on the street.

It is currently 3:30 in the afternoon and I was officially done with office works for the day. I started distributing flyers throughout the vicinity and so far, I was able to invite 3 female teenagers and 2 males around mid-20’s. This was a good sign.

I intended to fish at least 20 people to sign up as a potential participant for my study so I guess I will allot a great time looking for interested people.

“Hey is the $2000 compensation for real?” The person in front of me asked. Luckily, he is a man.

“If you got chosen, yes. Amazing, right?” I said with the friendliest vibe I can show. Please list your name, please list your name.

“For love? hell yeah, I’m in!” He said and I could not be happier. My dream is slowly coming to life.  

“Thank you, please list down your name and contact number right here.” I pointed to the blank area of the notebook I carry in order to get his name and number.

“All the information you need is right there, okay? I’ll give you a call sir. I’ll be expecting you. Thank you so much and have a great day!” I stated before he walked away.

My afternoon went just like that. I said different phrases of invitation to different strangers I see such as:

“Hello ma’am, do you have a moment to look at this…”

“Yes…it’s about love, please join now…”

“Indeed, sir… the $2000 is real. I am not scamming you, here is my ID.”

After fishing up about 15 willing persons, I noticed that males are usually motivated to join by the monetary compensation. On the other hand, females are interested by the concept of studying romantic love.

Hmmm, Interesting.

Following my brief contemplation, I tried to execute another technique of inviting people’s attention. Instead of standing in the corner and speaking with the strangers passing by, I decided to knock on people’s car windows in the jam packed traffic in the city of Sta. Isabela.

I am not sure if my plan will work or if it is illegal or not but nevertheless, I tried.

I first came across a black Sedan with a plate number of COR – 1023. I wasted no time and knock on his window. The moment the driver rolled it down, I saw a male probably in his early 50’s, wearing a hat and a pair of sunglasses.

I was intimidated by his presence at first but he was kind enough to entertain me.

“May I help you?” He asked politely.

“Oh hello sir, I am so sorry to disturb you but here…please take a look.” I gave him the flyer and he removed the pair of sunglasses he was wearing. He crossed his eyebrows as he read the text written on it.

“Interesting.” He uttered before nodding.

“If you want to join, you can write down your name and contact details here…” I smiled before I extended my notebook.

He looked at me for a second before bowing down to observe my hands. My arms are quite hurting now but thankfully, he spoke again.

“How about you give me your contact details and I’ll be the one to give you a call?” He said.

“H-huh?” I asked foolishly. I was caught off guard by his request. I did not expect that a potential participant will ask me for this. This is new. I did not consider this possibility at all.

“Hello? Is it a yes or a no?” he asked before letting out a soft laugh.

In the end, I decided I have nothing left to lose.

“Oh of course, here it is…” I agreed. I wrote my number in the notebook I am carrying before tearing it up and handing it towards the man.

“You’ll hear from me again.” He said before nodding his head and taking off.

“T-thank you…I guess?” I whispered to myself as I witness the black car disappear from road.

--

At around 8 in the evening, I finally got home with 19 potential participants listed in my notebook. I decided to give up and take a rest at around 7:45 since I only need one final person to complete my list. It would not be hard to start fishing for that person again tomorrow.

I took off my shoes and lay straight over my bed. I closed my eyes for a while before proceeding to unbutton my shirt and removing my eyeglasses. I am exhausted.

Suddenly, I felt my stomach rumble in hunger. I bolted up my bed and walked straight to the refrigerator to heat up anything that I could find. I could not bear the thought of the acid inside my stomach eating itself because it does not have any chyme to digest freaks me all the time. Luckily, I found a frozen hotdog.

I proceeded to heat up the piece of processed meat in the oven toaster and browse through the names that are listed in my notebook while waiting for it to finish. I plan to do a light workout tonight before I go to bed just so I can sleep soundly, but I have a doubt that such plan will happen, considering I only have few energy left.

Just as I was about to take the hotdog out of the toaster, I heard my phone vibrate. I flipped up the cover and saw that an unregistered number was calling me.

“Hello?” I greeted before taking a bite.

“Zoey Anabello, she’s joining your study…” A voice of a man over the phone said.

“What? Who is this?” I crossed my eyebrows in confusion.

“I’ll text you her number. Just save it in your phone and update her.” He said before ending the call.

I am guessing that the man who owned a black Sedan earlier was the one who called me. He was true to his words because a few seconds later, my phone beeped and showed a text message from the same number who called me.

“+63904-356-2231…her number.” I read on the screen.

I decided to list the name “Zoey” and her number in my notebook to save me some time tomorrow. Besides, it is only one person that I am short off and the caller contacted me just in time. I thought the man was strange earlier. I expected that he would decline my offer but it surprised me that he actually called my number.

I put the hotdog down and drank a glass of water before closing my notebook and heading towards my room when all of a sudden, my phone vibrated again.

“By the way, she’s not from here…and I promise you, she does not disappoint.” I read on the screen.

“What do you mean?” I thought to myself but I did not actually reply to his text. I guess I will just wait and see what events will unfold next.

Why do I have a feeling that I will see that man again sometime in the future?