Chapter 6.1

"Would you like to be my first?"

When Tina said this, she only meant to tease Jeff. It had become a habit of hers to answer that way whenever she was asked about her dating life. She never expected him to actually choke on his food.

"Are you ok?" she said as she walked over to his seat and handed him a cup of water.

Patting him on his back, she looked at him apologetically. 'It seems that my joke got way out of hand this time around,' she thought to herself.

After Jeff had calmed down, Tina made her way back to her seat and apologized once again.

"I am really sorry. I didn't mean to catch you by surprise. Just force of habit."

As he gazed deeply at her, his eyes were still misty from the cough, making him look extra charming. Tina found herself lost in those eyes for a while… until a voice called out to her.

"I don't mind being your first. I'll take you up on your offer," he smiled ever so gently.

"Uh!"

Snapping out of her trance, she felt she heard him wrong.

"Sorry. I was distracted there for a minute. You said?"

Not knowing whether she was faking it, or she genuinely didn't hear him, Jeff calmed his heart and said it again, "I'll take up the offer to be your first boyfriend."

She was dumbfounded. What did he mean he'd take up the offer? Excuse me, excuse you! There was no offer to begin with.

She snickered awkwardly, "you are so funny Jeff. I just said that as a joke. There was no offer made."

Seeing as she was about to back out, Jeff frowned.

"You wouldn't want to go back on your word now, would you?" He questioned as he lifted his eyebrow in a silly manner.

Caught in an awkward situation, Tina picked up her cup to take a huge gulp of water.

"It's just something I say when asked whether I have a man in my life. You wouldn't take my words seriously now, would you?"

She lifted her brows the same way Jeff had done.

Silence shrouded their table…

1 minute …

2 minutes …

5 minutes …

"Well, I take every word you say seriously."

As soon as he said this, he resumed his meal quietly.

Now, it was Tina's time to freeze.

'What does he mean by this? Why does he keep confusing me? Does he like me? Is that why he takes my words seriously? Is that why he asked me out?'

Just as she was thinking in the right direction, her old habit kicked in again.

'What am I thinking about? He is my client. Business and pleasure can never be mixed. He probably just meant work. Tina! Get yourself together!!!"

One thing Tina failed to recognize was that they never once spoke about work since the beginning of the meal. She also did not have the heart to bring up work since Jeff mainly invited her out to get her opinion on some things. She never allowed herself to think of a lovely possibility outside of work. Why?

"I would say you should since both of our outputs matter during the decision-making process of the ID," she said innocently while also resuming her meal.

Then for the rest of the time, no one said anything.

"Has anyone ever told you how innocent you are?" Jeff said as he was placing an order for desert while the table was being cleared.

Not getting what he meant, she looked at him questionably.

"I like you. I've been interested in you since the moment I laid eyes on you. Trust me, it makes no sense to me either. I am one of the 0.1% who firmly believes that love at first sight is a myth, but here I am now."

Tina had a look of shock on her face.

She was internally torn between Jeff's confession being true for her or one of the things he needed her opinion about.

Thinking about the first possibility, her heart raced, and a blush crept up her face. Thinking about the second possibility, she felt a sour taste in her mouth and a heavy feeling in her heart.

Was Jeff being serious or was he playing a mean joke on her?

Jeff didn't continue. He just gazed lovingly at her.

After weighing both possibilities, classic Tina settled for the second one.

"That is a lovely confession. I am sure your woman would float in pink bubbles when she hears it," she said professionally, giving her honest review.

At this point, Jeff couldn't tell if she was really innocent or just playing dumb.

So, he decided to go all out.

"Tina Lawrence! I've known you for about a week now. When I first saw you, I felt like I've known you for a longtime…"

"I like you."

"I would like… no no… I would love… no no…"

"It would be my honor to have you as my first… and last… girlfriend."

For the nth time that day, Tina was left speechless.