Happy New Year's Eve: A Midnight Overtimer's Reflection

[🎧 The audio version is available at the bottom of the page.] ⬇

(Scene: An Office, somewhere in Hong Kong, late on New Year’s Eve. Only two people remain: YOU, a marketing officer in your 30s, and CINDY, an assistant in her 20s. The project on your desk needs to be finished before the last hours of 2024.)

You: I can’t believe we’re still working. It’s New Year’s Eve, and I’m stuck here.

Cindy: Yeah, but it’s peaceful. I don’t mind it much.

You: Peaceful? It’s all slavery, Cindy. We’re here, doing overtime like machines, pretending we’re not. This is the modern-day version of slavery.

Cindy: I’ve never really thought about it like that.

You: You know what? You really have to be a great actor to succeed in a company. Everyone acts like they care about their job, but none of us really do. Look at our manager. He’s just pushing us to meet deadlines so he can secure his pension and his position. He doesn’t give a damn if it even makes a profit.

Cindy: I guess that makes sense. But… doesn’t he have to care a little?

You: He pretends. We all do. As workers, we fake it too. We act like we’re giving everything, just to improve our CVs, get a promotion, or keep the job. But the one who should care about this company is the owner. And funny enough, he shows it the least. He barely even shows his face around here. Probably off in Greece or somewhere for the holidays, completely detached.

Cindy: I never thought about it like that. I mean, I just graduated two years ago. But I really like this company. People are nice, and I’m learning so much.

You: I thought the same when I was your age. But now I see it for what it is. An act. That’s it. It’s just about acting. The better you act, the better liar you are to yourself, the faster the ladder you can climb.

Cindy: But doesn’t it feel good to get the job done?

You: Maybe at first, when you don’t know the trick. But now… now I just want to get it over with. Look at our supervisor, Ms. A. Do you really think she cares about this project? What she cares about is spending tonight with her husband and sons, having a fancy dinner, watching fireworks at midnight. She drops lines like, “K, I have total confidence in you. I won’t let anyone else work on this project except for you.” Yeah, right.

Cindy: I never thought about it like that. You really don’t like her, do you?

You: I don’t like the game. It’s not just her. I hate anyone who acts and pretends, but I end up becoming one of them—Act. Act. Act. Faking my life away.

Cindy: I like working at night, though. It’s quiet. And I like chatting with you. I don’t get to talk to anyone else about stuff like this.

(The first crack of fireworks exploding in the night sky outside the window of the office.)

You: Oh, it’s 12 already… I suppose I’ve been a little too angry about it. Maybe I should just let it go for tonight.

(You and Cindy walk near the window and see the fireworks lighting up the city below.)

Cindy: Let’s not talk about something so dispiriting. It’s New Year, after all. Happy New Year, K.

You: Happy New Year, Cindy.

(The fireworks continue, the office bathed in their glow. The two of you sit in silence for a moment, lost in thought but sharing an unspoken understanding.)

(Posted on Threads on 31.12.2024)

#NewYearsEveOvertimeReflection