Group Politics Begin in Office

Shoaib! So good to see you! How’s everything?" Natalia's voice rings with warmth as she approaches the desk. She’s always been so welcoming, like she genuinely cares about how I'm doing. I can’t help but feel a little less like a stranger in this new environment.

"I’m good, just the usual," I reply, feeling a bit awkward as I set down my bag. I glance around, but it’s clear Natalia is more focused on the things I brought with me.

"Oh! You brought snacks?" she asks, her eyes lighting up. "For the group?"

I nod, somewhat unsure. "Thought we could all share. It’s a small thing, but you know, I thought it might help ease the tension around here."

"That's so sweet!" She smiles at me, before turning her attention to Anderson. "Hey, Anderson! Shoaib brought some snacks, let's all hang out!"

Anderson doesn’t reply right away. He’s been a bit distant lately, always keeping to himself, especially when it comes to the group. He’s the marketing manager, yet it feels like he’s always sidestepping any group dynamics.

"You guys need to take breaks more often, it’s important," Natalia says with a soft insistence, as she pulls a chair next to me and sits down.

She’s been trying to get us to relax more, talk more. "I see the way you two work all day without taking any breaks. Trust me, you’re not doing yourselves any favors."

Anderson leans back in his chair, stretching. "I don’t really need breaks," he says. "I eat a big breakfast. I’m good until dinner."

I smile awkwardly. "Same here, I don’t usually take lunch. Haven’t for a while, actually."

"You should," Natalia insists. "It’s not healthy to work non-stop. Plus, we’re all part of the same team, right?"

I chuckle a little, but there’s a strange discomfort in the air. We’re all different, but this group, this dynamic, doesn’t quite feel like a team. Not yet, anyway. Not until we get to know each other better.

“So, Shoaib,” Natalia turns toward me, “What’s your degree in? I never asked.”

"Computational Physics," I answer, unsure if it's something that would make sense to her.

Natalia nods thoughtfully. "I didn't go the traditional route," she admits. "I focused on skills more than degrees, and I've had to rely on family support along the way." She shrugs a little. "I’ve never even stepped foot in a university."

Anderson looks at us and then speaks up. “I’ve got a degree in Computer Science. Been working in marketing for about four years now.”

The conversation shifts easily now, and we’re starting to feel more like colleagues. But the awkwardness lingers. We all know there's something beneath the surface that’s yet to be fully understood, something that could make or break this new group we’ve been thrown into.

The next day, we’re texting in a WhatsApp group. Natalia starts sharing funny memes and asking about our Instagram Reels. It feels like a small but genuine attempt to create camaraderie. A few messages in, it’s clear: something is shifting.

Soon enough, we decide to go out for dinner. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go, but Natalia and Anderson convinced me. "It’ll be fun," they said. So we book a ride and head to Arcadian Cafe, a spot I hadn’t heard of before.

Once we’re there, the atmosphere is so calming. The food is delicious, and it’s not long before the conversation turns personal. I didn’t expect this to happen, but Natalia says something unexpected: "Anderson, I want to ask your parents to come over... we should get married."

The words catch me off guard. Anderson looks both surprised and happy, but I feel like a third wheel. I try to laugh it off, but deep down, it feels like something’s changing between them. Something I’m not a part of.

I excuse myself for a moment, telling them I need to go to the restroom. But when I return, they’re sitting so close together, hands touching.

A soft, almost romantic moment between them. I sit back down, unsure of what to say, and continue eating, trying to focus on the meal in front of me.

The night ends with a divided bill, which we share equally. It’s a gesture I didn't expect. We get into our ride, and I return home, not really sure what to think. The next day, they meet again, and it’s clear to me now—they’re more than just colleagues, they’re forming something else. Something I’m not sure I’m a part of.

Anderson’s words from earlier linger in my mind. "The decision about our marriage isn’t ours, it’s my grand brother’s," he had said. "If he approves, then we’ll move forward." It’s strange, but somehow, I feel like I’m caught between them, watching a bond grow that I didn’t even see coming.

The three of us continue to work together, but now things are different. During lunch breaks, they share bites of food like a couple, exchanging knowing glances. I can’t help but feel like an outsider.

And then, the company announces a small holiday. Natalia, Anderson, and I, all feeling a little disconnected from the rest of the team, email the director about our personal reasons for needing time off.

But when the email goes out, we make the mistake of writing almost identical reasons, and it raises suspicions.

Our director quickly labels us as a "political group" within the office. What started as an innocent request turns into a situation that gets us noticed—and not in a good way.

We’ve become the talk of the office. Rumors swirl, and the uncomfortable feeling in the air grows. We’re no longer just employees—we’re a group, but one that no one really understands.

The decision to try and bond, to break down the walls between us, has led us to this moment: a label that neither of us wanted but now must contend with.

We’ve become more than coworkers, but at what cost? Group politics has begun in the office, and it’s only just the beginning.