I was finally about to ask out my work crush… then she started shading me to my face.
I (28M) have a huge crush on this new hire (24F) in our office. She’s genuinely gorgeous, the type I’d consider way out of my league. Our office is pretty chill with workplace romance. We already have multiple couples here, and people are supportive as long as it doesn’t affect work. I was actually building up the courage to ask her out.
We’ve always been on friendly terms. We smile at each other, but we never really talked beyond work stuff. I’m the silent type and don’t talk much in the office... I only converse when others initiate. I mostly just admired her from afar.
Today a local influencer (a guy) visited the office. I'm not gonna beat around the bush.... he’s not that good-looking. Think Flow-G (rapper) but 5’3 and thinner. A bunch of us took photos with him for fun. Later, some coworkers asked to see the picture, including her.
She stared at it for a while, laughed, and said “Ay, ang liit pala niya haha.” Then she walked back to her group of friends, lowered her voice, and said “Parang kamukha rin” while pointing at me with her thumb. (For context, I’m fairly tall at 5’11.) I clearly heard another coworker go “Uy gago, wag ganyan.” I just pretended I didn’t hear it and brushed it off as her weird sense of humor, even though we’re not even close like that.
Later in the afternoon, she and another coworker passed by my station. She initiated small talk and even complimented how neat and organized my desk was. Then she saw my two perfume bottles, picked them up without asking, and smelled them. After smelling the second one, she made a face and said in this shady tone, “Ay, ba’t amoy pang girl? Amoy pang girl no?” then passed it to her friend.
I’m usually dense with these things, but even I felt the shade. I just smiled awkwardly and continued working until they left.
I don’t know where all of this came from. I know I’m just average-looking.. I’ve had a few people show interest before, including a coworker who liked and courted me when I was the new guy (didn't really work but we're close friends now). But after what happened today, I’m completely turned off. Just when I was finally ready to shoot my shot, she pulls this.
Bummer. Really killed whatever excitement I had. :/