Cookie Treat

Effect

I walk in the cubicle with frustration, dumping my bag on my swivel chair. Sir Dino looks at me like nothing particular had happened except me being late.

The cookie humbly sits on the edge of my table, remembering what Diana had told me earlier. It was not the fact that me, alone, received a cookie today, but her tone touched a nerve. It is impossible having a ghost giving me a cookie but a human—a human only. Whoever this person is I would like to thank and talk to it!

“Stop slacking around and work” sir Dino ordered, snapping me back, front of my desk still staring at the cookie. Does it have something in it? Poison, potion, or nothing at all? I grab the cookie and bite on it anyway trying to detect something unfamiliar, there was nothing but chocolate on my tongue, then I pause for a minute, waiting for sudden dizziness, or falling ill any odd body reactions. Sir Dino sees this and turns back to his computer, saying nothing, there is none but the clicking of his mouse and the crunching in my mouth. I shrug the thought off and chomp cookie whole.

“Stop staring at me” I lightly rant at Diana. She had started glancing at me then staring until our coffee break. Boring out holes on me, maybe she wanted to take a peek in me, on me, or near me, hoping to find something weird happening to me.

“How’d you know?” she gasps “is it here? Does it tell you everything...” she hugs herself, scanning every corner of the pantry “have you eaten the cookie?” I glare at her to stop.

“I wish it would accompany you to your home” I blurt rolling my eyes with satisfaction of her shuddering. “What’s wrong with accepting a cookie?” I continued clinking on my mug with the spoon.

“It’s from a stranger—or from a ghost!” her voice rising partially in disbelief. Steph snickers at the delight of being our audience

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“Throw it away”

“No” I insist in disbelief “I will feel sorry if I’ll just throw them considering that it tastes good.”

“Then give it to the needy children”

“I’ll be feeling guiltier about that”

“How come?” she arches a brow. Her fear surprisingly subsides since this morning after the talk with me. Perhaps the thought that the ghost won’t be bothering her anymore—only me.

“Well” I pause to think of the words to say it without sounding senseless to them “I don’t want to make them feel that they can depend on me for a cookie per day”

They maintained the silence for a bit until Steph breaks it for me. “Give them to me instead”

I don’t know what answer I would give her. Truth is I want the cookie myself. It limits me from craving sweets this week. I don’t spend much money on sweets but sometimes, if the cravings are beginning to be unbearable.

“No I’m keeping them” I decide. Besides the cookie is a gift from a surely good person.

Steph leans back folding her arms together still smiling and looks at baffled Diana. “From now on” Steph grabs our attention, her eyes on Diana “stop bugging Keira about the cookie again” it almost sounds like a demand from an older sister to a toddler, I turn to Diana who’s likely to obey her.

I was about to pick my things and head out the office the moment my assigned works are done on time when sir Dino unexpectedly comes in, holding a dozen of paper works “photocopy them for me” he does not bother to say please—he is my senior after all and not the other way or the other. I take the folders from his hand, it was not too thick and it will only take away my fifteen minutes of walk to dorm. I silently grunt at the expectation that Mindy would rant at me being late.