Levi is an office employee
Levi is one of those employees who are often not at work - business trips, meetings in other organizations are all about him. And even if he's at work, he hardly leaves the conference room in your office. And this fact surprises you the most, because Levi is not one of the sociable and talkative people who are usually put in such positions at work, but nevertheless no meeting takes place without him.
You didn't see much of him when you first came to work here. However, each time he respectfully wished you a good day as he passed by. Leaving behind a very pleasant fragrance - a mixture of perfume and conditioner for linen.
There are no work messages from him in the general chat, only sometimes a couple of times a month a photo of spoiled food arrives, which someone forgets in the refrigerator and a short "Get rid of it, it starts to stink." He has a very neat workplace, in particular, an empty desk with a couple of pens on it, since he hardly ever sits at it. He carries his small laptop with him everywhere. He's rarely seen talking to colleagues or anyone else, but he always greets everyone as he walks down the hall, holds the door, or helps bring the archive to the warehouse.
"The fewer things, the fewer questions."
"Good afternoon. No, I'm not busy. But not available either."
Levi is a mysterious "office ghost" whose presence is felt more by his scent and rare but apt comments than by personal communication.
"Good morning. Yes, the weather is weird. No, I'm not aware of what's in the accounting department." *takes a mug and goes to the kettle*
You've met Levi several times at general meetings, sitting across from each other. This man is a pleasure to watch. He listens to absolutely everything, makes notes, but in his eyes you can see absolute indifference to what is happening.
Some time later, you were transferred to another department of the office and Levi became your informal boss, in other words, he now had a little control over your work. And you started seeing each other more often.
One day you had to come to work earlier than usual, and when you entered the kitchen, you froze on the threshold: Levi was standing by the window, looking thoughtfully at the next street, holding a porcelain mug with an elegant floral pattern. There is a beautiful glass jar on the table.
"Your tea?" you suddenly ask.
He turns, and his usually impassive eyes narrow slightly:
"My outlet. This is an English Earl Grey with bergamot."
As you got closer to the countertop, you noticed a stand for a mug, beautiful white napkins and a silver spoon.
"You… Take tea drinking seriously," you couldn't help but blurt out.
Levi takes a leisurely sip, then suddenly hands you his cup:
"Try it. Unless, of course, you're one of those people who turns tea into syrup, adds three tablespoons of sugar and drowns cookies in it."
Your fingers accidentally touch his hand when you take the cup. He pulls his hand back a little faster than is polite. After taking a couple of sips, you smile easily. The tea was great. You and Levi just don't say anything for a couple of minutes.
"I noticed you're the only one who immediately washes a mug after lunch," he suddenly says, looking somewhere past your shoulder. "And leaves no crumbs on the table."
You felt your ears suddenly warm up:
"So that's it… A compliment?"
"I'm stating a fact," he puts the jar of tea and the stand in the back cabinet. "But if you need a compliment, then… You are the most careful employee in this office."
At this moment, a noisy group of colleagues enters the kitchen. Levi instantly "shuts down", picks up his laptop and heads for the exit. But as he passes by, he bends down and says so softly, almost in your ear:
"Same time tomorrow. Only… Don't tell anyone."
The next morning, a small tin box with the same tea appears on your table. Without a note. But you understand everything.
From that moment on, you start coming to work early, for that magical moment of having tea with Levi. Sometimes he just silently makes tea for the two of you, enjoying the silence and your cozy company, but lately you've been having light, friendly conversations.
"I'm going on a business trip today. If you're bored, write to me. But only as a last resort." (you already know what that means: "I'll be glad to hear from you.)
"Do you know why I put up with these stupid meetings? Because at least you can be silent there. But with you… you have to choose your words." (after he said that, you could have sworn that his cheeks turned pink).
"If they load you up with someone else's work again, tell them you have a "meeting with me". I'll confirm it."
It was a normal working day, until a downpour broke out outside the window. You were standing at the exit, wondering how to get to the subway without an umbrella, when Levi suddenly appeared next to you.
"You live near North Park, don't you?" he asked, looking at the trickles of water behind the glass. "I'll be passing by."
It was unusual. After all, during all the months of your "tea friendship", your communication did not go beyond work.
His car smelled of leather and citrus. The silence seemed awkward at first, until he turned on the music—something jazzy, not loud.
"You know, I always imagined that you were listening to classical music. Or complete silence. "
The corners of his lips twitched.
"I'm pleasantly surprised."
The rain was pounding on the roof when you were stuck in traffic. Levi turned to grab his bag from the back seat and took out a thermos.
"Just in case," he explained, pouring tea into a lidded cup.
It was the Earl Grey, of course. You sat in traffic for forty minutes, drinking tea and talking sweetly about books, how he hates corporate parties and your stupid habit of losing pens.
When he stopped at your house, the rain had just stopped.
"Thanks for…" you pointed at the empty cup.
"Tomorrow at the usual time," he nodded. "Don't be late."
But the next morning there was no Levi or tea in the kitchen. Instead, you found a thermos on the table with a note stuck on it:
"Business trip. I'll be back on Friday. Don't drink office trash."
And the signature is "L.".
You came earlier than usual on Friday. Levi was already waiting, with two cups and a new pack of tea. A smile involuntarily appeared on your face.
"Indian Darjeeling," he said, as if explaining something very important. "This is for you."
You drank tea in silence, but now this silence has become different — warm, familiar. And when your hands accidentally touched, he didn't move away.
Now you sometimes leave work together on Fridays. And he always has a spare umbrella in his car. Just in case.
The second "office-boy" did not take long to arrive. When I come up with something with Levi, I get more nervous than usual. I hope there's not too much "tea vibe" here.
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