Office Chad

I used to work at an organisation for over 10 years. After working for several of years I started knowing a lot of people. Though I may not know their names, I would still know their faces. This story is about one of such person. Let's call him the "Office Chad".

I used to see this man in my office cafeteria almost everyday. He had a significant personality. He was tall, muscular, had beard, long hair, and always used to tie a man bun. He had the typical Chad personality (hence the name). He would always be with his huge group. They were middle aged but they used to act like they were in their 20s. They were loud, obnoxious, and unruly. They would behave and act in such way that anyone would look at them. Typical attention seeking behaviour.

Coming back to Chad. I did not know what his name was. He was around that time probably in his early 40d. He would try to go around younger girls. He used to think that he is a really handsome. His group would hype him too. In fact one of my friends also used to think that he is a hunk. I never felt that way.

This had been going on for a quite some years. After that covid happened. There were lockdowns. We all started working from home. Approximately for 2 years we were strictly walking from home. During these 2 years a lot of people had left the organisation. My friend being one of them. I did not leave the organisation, neither did Chad.

When the office reopened and I went to the office, I saw him. This time he was sitting alone. His group was not with him. The time has not been kind with him. Now Chad was in his late 40s. His face was covered with wrinkles. Hiss voluptuous hair had lost the volume. His hair had started graying. It was little sad to see him dishevelled.

A few days later I saw him again. This time as well he was sitting alone. Nobody was with him. He had his lunch alone while watching something on his phone. He had kept his head down as if he did not want anyone to notice him. He was not looking around for trouble. I assumed that his group must have left the organisation and probably he is the only one left behind.

On another occasion I saw him. I was with my group. I went to the cutlery area to get spoon and fork. This time as well he was sitting alone with his head down, wearing your phones, and was watching some content on his mobile phone. Now I was convinced that nobody in his group is still with the organisation. Though he was not my friend or I did not have a crush on him I still felt bad for him. Once he was popular and now he is all alone. Suddenly he looked up and he directly made an eye contact with me. I looked in the other direction and went back to my group.

Then there was another occasion. I was in the cafeteria to collect coffee. I was with a colleague. While walking Chad suddenly came in front of me. He look at me and smiled. I did not smile back and I continued to walk. My colleague asked me if I knew him. I denied flat out.

Then there was another occasion. I was standing in the queue to collect my food. while I was collecting the food someone gently tapped on my shoulder. I turned around and that is when I came to know it was Chad. He said you look familiar. I did not respond. He said you are one of the very few people who were here before the lockedown and still here after the lockdown. I could not understand whether it was a compliment. I still hadn't spoken anything. He said it is good to see people who stick around. This place still feels familiar. I had nothing to say. I just sniled and move on.

I left the organisation shortly after that. I still think about the entire situation. I had been in the same situation as him. My friends who were with me before the lockdown left the organisation during the covid period. I know how it feels when your friends are no longer in the office. He spoke with me probably only for the sense of familiarity and nothing else. I hope that Chad finds a friend who can join him for lunch.