A lot of people spend most of their lives at work. Whether it be a cubicle, pounding away at the keys of their keyboard or code calling random people trying to sell them an item they didn’t know they needed. Either way, majority of their week is spent at work. When you spend so much time at work, naturally you don’t have much time to go out and meet people. So you sometimes happen to fall for Tom, Dick or Harry sitting in the cubicle across from yours. Everything starts off okay, a couple of dinners, a few drinks, and you know, maybe a little more. But what happens when you realize that you can’t stand anything about Tom anymore? What happens when you decide that you want Tom to get out of your life?
Unlike a regular romance, you aren’t able to run away from Tom so easily. Actually, the whole “not answering my phone” because I was “busy” excuse doesn’t fly. Tom has WAY too much access to you now. He knows that although you refuse to answer your phone when you are home, you’re still going to be sitting next to him come Monday morning. You now dread getting up and going to work because you don’t know how the hell you are going to get through this awkward day with this loser that you can’t get rid of. Office romances are very risqué. They are great if you’ve found the love of your life. But they are awful if you can’t stand this fool you fell for on some drunken night at a work Holiday party.
Let’s play the scenario of a budding romance at work. You get up from making your long boring phone calls to god knows who, and walk over to the employee lounge where you decide to buy a Snapple. You don’t have enough change but your coworker Larry says he can buy it for you. He’s clearly flirting with you but hey, you want that damn Snapple. Tom decides to come creeping around the corner and mistakes this whole scene for you throwing yourself at Larry. Tom starts to mention Larry every time the two of you are together. He swears up and down that you and Larry have this secret fling and you get it on in the janitor’s closet every time you step away from your desk. Tom also lives with you so he is able to talk to you about Larry all the DAMN time. Blahh. It is perfectly normal for two people to flirt, even if they’re in a relationship with other people. It is human nature. But something’s that are innocent can be perceived differently if your significant other is standing in the doorway staring, creeping and pretty much stalking.
Living together also makes life difficult as well. How can you possibly live with someone that you also work with side by side? Day by day? You two are always around each other. It is impossible to get away from that damn Tom. Once the relationship goes sour and you do end up breaking up, you have this awkward time at work. You lose focus on your job and worry about whether or not this creep is staring at the side of your head. You wonder if you actually see him looking at you from your peripherals. You wonder if he is listening to the conversation you’re having with Larry. Your job becomes an awkward place and you can’t get any work done. If you do decide to go ahead with an office romance, beware and be weary as it can all just come crashing down on you.
