Training Day 1: Numb Legs

"You are welcome to the team." Leo said to me as we stepped into the elegant elevator.

 "Thank you." I replied gently. "We are heading to the fortieth floor now, the training will be held there. But our main office is on the forty-two floor." He explained and I nodded, trying to be as polite as I could.

We got to the fortieth floor and stepped out of the ride, then I saw some other people littering around. The ladies were in the same uniform as me and the guys too wore uniforms in the same colour shade. They all were in twos and it seemed like they were waiting for the training to start.

"Attention everyone!" I was surprised when Leo stepped forward to do that. We got their attention and then placed his hands against the other to his back, maintaining a stoic and professional stance. He acted quite differently from the person I had met earlier in the elevator.

"Good morning, ladies and gents. I am Leo, one of your instructors for today's training. The training starts in seven minutes, at the board room 001 and you all are required to be seated quietly there till other instructors arrive." He said and then they all complied, walking towards a certain direction.

I guessed I was to follow them so I did without been told. He no longer said anything to me as I followed the crowd to the supposed 'Board room 001'.

 I was more worried about how I would cope among these strange people. Friends? I did not know how to put them. I did not even have the willpower to hold a conversation with strangers for long.

The board room was a spacious one with neatly arranged corporate chairs and a moderate podium where the instructors would be seated I guess. 

I could see people fighting for the front spaces and the immediate ones after them but I just remained standing at the door and let them do their thing.

Then there was just one seat left, at the very last row. I had no choice but I did not mind it so I went there to sit.

We were about thirty people in the room, there were enough chairs but I still could not understand why they would struggle for certain seats.

Immediately after we were all seated, some people dressed corporately also walked in, with straight faces. They all slipped into the seats at the podium. I looked at their faces clearly for Leo but he was not among them. I thought he said he was one of the instructors.

One of them who was a lady started speaking into the table mic in front of her. "Good morning, everyone." She said and we responded. 

 "Just a reminder, you are here for training to be a lobby agent in this resort. There are stages to this training but mind you, not everyone seated here will make it past the final stage. Out of thirty people seated here, we only need ten, so your performance will determine if you get Greenville's badge as a worker here." She announced then I realized it. No wonder they were all fighting for front seats, they probably thought we would be picked randomly so they had to secure good spaces.

Silent murmurs arose amidst us the moment she finished speaking. I mean, it was crazy, was it not? Ten people out of thirty desperate people? Okay...

 I was not shaken, I kept my cool and had my back straightened up as my focus and attention were just on the instructors.

Soon the noise died and then she continued speaking. "You all will be given some items you will be needing throughout this training in a few minutes. Also, for today, all we will be doing is lecturing you on who a lobby agent is, what they do, what they don't do, the ethics, regulations and some other things you need to know. Some of us will be coming up to narrate our experience as lobby agents so you can learn from them also. On that note, please remain in your seats quietly as the items are being passed around." She instructed and turned off the mic.

In the meantime, some ladies and guys who wore different uniforms from us came into the room and started giving around a moderate box. 

As soon as they were done, they left and the female speaker from earlier continued. We were instructed to open the boxes which contained a black cover jotter, a  customizer pen and a number badge.

"You are to use those writing materials during this training, and then the number badge is for your recognition." She explained.

 I was number 2 even though I was at the very last row.

Soon, the full training started as we sat under different lectures for hours. It was funny how I maintained my stance and posture throughout while some other people yawned consciously and subconsciously, stretched their hands and the likes. Some even dozed off. If there was any bit of change in my posture, it was crossing of legs. I did nothing apart from that.

I kept reminded myself that I was on a mission and I could not back down now even though I was tired and was not prepared for this. 

 "Ladies and gentlemen, the training for day one has come to an end. You may all return to your apartments and rest ahead of tomorrow's training. Any additional information will be passed across to you." The female speaker rounded up finally and they walked out of the room, leaving a set of devastated, exhausted and hungry people in the room.

Noise rose as people stretched endlessly. My body has become numb so I had to remain on the chair for a while. People started leaving one after the other, chatting, laughing, grumbling so I just decided to remain in the room till they all left.

In the meantime, I did some meditation, trying to imagine what the next day would be like. 

 "Miss Mira." I heard someone call my name and turned to see Leo at the entrance of the room.

"What are you still doing, sitting there?" He inquired as he approached me. I could not find the right words to reply him as he came closer.

"Everyone's down already and I was worried after discovering you were not amongst them." He expressed his worry and without thinking, I attempted to stand up.

 "I am sorry, I was just--" my statement got cut off as I lost balance in my legs and fell. My legs were so numb.

He moved closer quickly to help me up. "Are you alright?"

"I am okay, it's just...I have been sitting for too long." I said to him and he smiled. It was not funny Duhh. The lectures lasted for about seven hours.

"I passed out on my first day." He replied and I could not help but laugh. Passed out? That cracked me up.

"Really?" 

He nodded as he pulled me up from the floor. I was getting balanced again so I could stand. 

"I thought..you were going to be one of the instructors." I pointed out, no feelings attached by the way.

"Yeah, my assignment got switched." He responded then I picked up my materials and we started walking out together.

"That aside. Karima says I should bring you."