Under The Cherry Blossoms – Chapter 3: Training

The morning sun rouses Lily, encouraging her to greet the day. She dons a chic, professional outfit that reflects her lively spirit and adds a playful touch with a favorite Hello Kitty-adorned bag. After breakfast, she heads to the bus stop, joining the awakening city.

During her bus ride, she gazes at the cityscape, her mind wandering and preparing for the work day ahead. The bus soon stops at her office building. As she gets off, she notices an amusing coincidence - the pink-haired lady from the day before is here again, at the same time. "What are the chances?" she muses. But, prioritizing her work, Lily puts aside her curiosity and enters the building, ready to tackle the day.

As Lily enters the office, Layla, her friend and the cheerful receptionist, greets her with a warm smile. "Good morning, Lily! It's great to see you."

"Good morning, Layla!" Lily replies, returning the smile. "I'm excited for today’s training."

"I bet you are! It's going to be an informative and fun-filled day," Layla says, her enthusiasm contagious.

Lily makes her way to her desk, greeted by the familiar surroundings of her workspace. She takes a moment to settle in, arranging her belongings and mentally preparing herself for the training ahead. The office buzzes with activity as colleagues exchange greetings and prepare for the day's tasks.

As Lily sits at her desk, engrossed in the notes she had meticulously prepared the previous day, she becomes aware of a looming figure behind her. She turns to find a man she doesn't recognize.

"Um, hi. Can I help you?" she ventures, her eyebrows furrowing in slight confusion.

"I've never seen an intern so invested in their work on their very first day," he drawls, his eyes roaming over the papers on her desk.

"Well, technically it's my third day," Lily corrects, trying to place his face. "And you are?"

"Chris," he says simply, tilting his head towards her notes. "Impressive work. Looks like you're taking your training seriously."

"Thank you...I guess?" Lily responds, puzzled by his seemingly backhanded compliment.

"I'm tech support. Sounds funny, right? A tech support guy in a tech company," Chris explains, his tone heavy with a resigned sort of humor. "It's like being a water salesman in an ocean."

"Oh, tech support. Yes, Miss Stone did mention you'd be in touch," Lily recalls, piecing together the puzzle.

"Indeed, about your laptop. Let's get you sorted," Chris invites, gesturing for her to follow him.

As they walk, Lily attempts to make small talk. "So, how many interns do we have?"

Chris raises an eyebrow, "Shouldn't you know? Weren't you at the welcome party?"

"Well, yes, but it's hard to remember everyone after just one meet and greet. I mean, there are over 40 employees," Lily defends, feeling her cheeks heat slightly.

"Yeah, somewhat true. I mean, I wouldn't expect you to remember me because, well, no one does. But the interns are your direct colleagues, so..." Chris trails off, an exaggerated sigh escaping his lips.

"Okay, point taken," Lily concedes, rolling her eyes slightly. His quirkiness was starting to grow on her, despite his somewhat abrasive nature.

Ignoring the playful tension, Chris reveals, "There are three interns, including you."

"Good to know, thanks," Lily replies, deciding to play along with his oddball behavior.

"And based on your notes, I think you will do well compared to the other two doofus," Chris remarks with a smirk.

"Umm, thanks? I think?" Lily responds, unsure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.

In the supply room, Chris shows her a range of laptops, and she completes the necessary paperwork for her assigned device. She thanks Chris, albeit hesitantly, and returns to her desk.

"What a peculiar guy," she ponders, her initial irritation giving way to a sense of intrigue about Chris's unusual persona.

Returning to her desk, Lily spots Ethan casually standing nearby. On seeing her, he gives a polite nod, "Hi Lily, hope you're settling in well."

"Hi Mr. Harris, yes, I'm adjusting well, thank you," Lily replies in kind.

"Please, call me Ethan. We're beyond the formalities," he responds playfully.

"Sure, Ethan," Lily responds, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"You ready for the training?" Ethan queries, a hint of professional curiosity in his tone.

"Yes, I'm eager to get started," Lily responds, her enthusiasm apparent.

"Great, follow me," Ethan instructs, leading the way towards the conference room. Lily trails behind him, her attention briefly caught by the other interns, Aisha and Daniel. They each acknowledge Lily with a nod, to which she responds with a polite smile.

"As I assume you've already met the rest of the team yesterday?" Ethan inquires, keeping up casual conversation as they navigate the office.

"Yes, I met them at the welcome party. Everyone seems really friendly," Lily responds, recalling the warm reception she'd received.

"Indeed, we have a good team here. For this new project, you'll be working closely with Aisha and Daniel. They're a bit ahead since they completed their training last month, but I'm sure you'll catch up," Ethan explains, offering words of encouragement.

As they enter the conference room, Lily takes in the professional setup - a large conference table in the middle and a mounted presentation board on one wall.

"I'm confident I'll catch up soon," Lily assures, her voice filled with determination.

"Good," Ethan acknowledges with a nod. "Now, did you bring along the files I prepared for your first task?" he asks, taking a seat and gesturing for Lily to do the same.

"Yes, I have them here. I've also prepared some additional notes," Lily says, her eagerness evident as she takes a seat beside Ethan.

"That's interesting," Ethan comments, a spark of curiosity in his eyes.

Lily hands over her notes. They are meticulous and well-prepared. Ethan's brow furrows slightly as he reads them, appreciating her efforts. "This is impressive work, Lily. You've done well," he compliments.

"So you do smile," Lily teases lightly, noticing the slight curve of his lips.

Caught off guard, Ethan swiftly regains his composure. A small, lingering smile remains.

"From what I've seen so far, I have high expectations for you. I trust you'll make a valuable contribution to our team," Ethan remarks, his trust in Lily palpable.

"I won't let you down," Lily promises, her resolve clear.

In the conference room, Ethan delves into the complex product they're developing, expounding upon Lily's crucial role in coordination and support. His fluent breakdown of the project elevates Lily's respect for him, both on a personal and professional level.

Ethan painstakingly outlines Lily's duties, stressing that her project management abilities will be instrumental to the project's success, more so than technical prowess. As Lily pens diligent notes, she begins to envisage the ways in which she can facilitate the team's efforts.

Regardless of her growing attraction to Ethan, Lily maintains her professionalism. His charm both spurs and intrigues her, and she values the opportunity to learn from his mentorship. As the meeting wraps up, Lily experiences a swirl of professional ambition and personal interest, eager to prove her worth and make a significant contribution to the project.

As the initial training session concludes, Ethan expresses his approval of Lily's active participation and comprehension of the material.

"You've shown a good understanding of the material, Lily, especially considering you're not from a tech background," Ethan commends, offering her an approving nod.

"Thank you, Ethan," Lily replies, gathering her notes and belongings from the table.

"The project you'll be working on, Raviga, is a kind of a pilot project," Ethan clarifies, giving Lily additional insight. "The actual project is being managed by other team members, but I'll also be assigning it to you so that we can gauge your performance at the end of the training period and compare your work to that of the main team."

"So the project I'll be working on won't have real-world implications?" Lily inquires, seeking further clarification.

"No, Lily, that's not the case," Ethan reassures her. "The project does hold value. We're designating it as a pilot project for the duration of your training period. It serves as a benchmark to assess how well you handle tasks that align with our team's work. Once the training period concludes, you'll be assigned actual projects that directly contribute to our ongoing work."

Lily digests Ethan's explanation and responds, "Understood, Ethan."

"Here at the company, we conduct performance reviews on a quarterly basis for both regular employees, however for interns it’s monthly," Ethan explains.

"That’s interesting," Lily remarks, intrigued by the constant feedback loop.

"Absolutely. While these reviews don't impact your job security as such, they will play a crucial role in the decision-making process of whether to onboard you as a regular employee post your three-month internship. However, based on your performance in our first training session, I have a feeling you'll do well," Ethan shares, projecting a confidence that instills a sense of reassurance in Lily.

"I certainly hope to live up to your expectations, Ethan," Lily responds, already resolved to give this opportunity her all.

"Your training and the remainder of your internship will be carefully evaluated. And remember, if you have any queries or need assistance with anything, you can always approach me," Ethan further assures.

"I will, Ethan," Lily affirms, appreciating his approachable demeanor.

"Alright then, we've had a productive day. Can't believe it's already lunchtime," Ethan glances at the clock, the morning having seemingly flown by.

"Haha, yes, it's the most awaited part of the day," Lily adds humorously, her eyes lighting up at the mention of food.

"I guess for some it might be," Ethan chuckles, sharing in the light-hearted banter. As Lily starts packing her laptop and notes into her bag, Ethan's attention is drawn to the Hello Kitty emblem on it. He grins and comments, "So, you're a fan of Hello Kitty?"

"Haha, yes-yes, she's quite adorable," Lily replies, her smile just as infectious.

"Good to know Lily is fond of cute things," Ethan teases good-naturedly.

"Isn't everyone?" Lily shoots back, her enthusiasm never faltering.

"True enough," Ethan concedes, a thoughtful look on his face.

Just as Lily prepares to rise from her chair, her pen slips from her hand, rolling under the table. Both Ethan and Lily bend down to retrieve it simultaneously, resulting in an unexpected proximity. A moment of awkward realization passes between them, and they quickly retreat, their faces flush. "I'll see you post lunch, Lily," Ethan says, breaking the moment before making a swift exit. With her pen in hand and a soft smile on her face, Lily heads out of the conference room, her mind already buzzing with anticipation for the journey ahead.

To Be Continued on Chapter 4