Work-Room Confessionals

. . .

Zeirenne, who spent so many hours liking every comment about the newly coined couple "Handrei," eventually thought of something more fun. She had to have a clear conscience before her schemes, and so she went on the feed him with the soup Assistant Colton prepared.

"Ahh," she mouthed, as if feeding a baby. Fortunately, Jin followed her baby talks as he opened his mouth for every bite.

After spoon-feeding the cold-hearted genius, she needed some payment for her work. She cleaned the table, closed her laptop and opened her phone's camera. She pressed the record button, closing up the shot to the drunk Jin.

"Jin Yang, wake up," she nudged him a little to wake him up.

"Hmmm... "

"You're the biggest jerk in this entire world. Right?"

"Yes." Jin answered while flailing his hands. Zeirenne snickered while covering her mouth.

"You admit that you're ugly. Right?"

"Yes. I'm ugly."

This time, she was already flushed, with veins popping out of her forehead. She took some time to breathe before composing herself. Interviewer mode on.

"You were the one who stole Mr. Yu's strawberries, weren't you."

"Yes. I was the one who stole them. They were fuc*ing juicy."

Zeirenne almost rolled down the floor laughing. She found the foul-mouthed drunken Jin oddly entertaining.

"Who's the most beautiful girl you know in this entire world?" She cupped her face in front of him. Suggesting an answer.

"You are."

"And who am I? Say my name."

"Zeirenne Lynn... "

"Hmm? Zeirenne Lynn what? hmm?"

"Zeirenne Lynn, you're the most beautiful girl in this godd*mn universe."

Zeirenne paused the video before laughing her lungs out.

"AHAHAHAHHAHAH" her voice echoed around the whole office. Their assistants who were still stationed outside couldn't help but wonder why Miss Lin was laughing at 2 AM.

It took her five minutes to fix her composure for the comedic interview.

"Okay, Mr. Yang. Final question." she zoomed the video even closer, "What secret are you keeping from me?"

Jin opened his eyes and an instant bolt of intensity flashed though them. Suddenly, Zeirenne couldn't laugh anymore.

With bitterness in it, his laughter filled the room in replacement of hers.

"What secret am I keeping from you?" Jin grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her closer to him. Zeirenne found herself trapped in his arms. From the sudden pull, her phone got thrown off the floor and only her arms were keeping their upper bodies apart. He was hauling her with his arms around her waist, her whole weight leaning against him.

"I'm not even keeping it as a secret," Jin laughed again, "You're just too dense to not know anything."

Their faces were only inches apart. For the first time in her life, Zeirenne felt her face burning. She couldn't understand why, but her insides churned at that close contact. Their noses weren't even an inch apart. And she was staring right through his eyes. They were filled with sincerity, longing, pain, and so many incomprehensible emotions. Drowned in his eyes... she felt her heart racing.

It was a different kind of thump from when she used to run around being chased by different people. Never did her breath feel like a blazing iron inside her throat, not even with hundreds of goons going after her. This one felt more dangerous. Very very dangerous.

The whole world played fast drums in her ears, with both their heartbeats racing against each other. Their eyes, windowing their souls, were getting deeper into the stares.

"Do you really want to know my secret?" Jin breathed on her face. The smell of alcohol didn't register in her mind, but she found herself getting drunk in his eyes, "Should I spell it to you one by one?"

She found herself nodding subconsciously. And he obliged on enlightening her.

"I love you... Zeirenne Lynn," he whispered in her ears, "I f*cking love you."

As his breath caressed her neck, Zeirenne felt his words ringing in her ears, penetrating her bones, and seeping through her veins. The world turned completely silent, with her deafening heartbeat pounding her own senses. Her arms wobbled into a helpless blob, drawing her closer to him. And her heart bore too much pressure, pumping thrice its usual quota.

It took ten minutes before Zeirenne's arms fell asleep—or so she thought. Oblivious of the sparks. This jolted her back into reality and she finally pushed Jin off after ten minutes of meaningful stares.

She cleared her throat, "Well, that's just normal. Everyone who knows me loves me."

She let her eyes wander. Anything to distract her from his eyes would do, and her gaze landed on the clock hanging on the wall.

"Oh my god!"

A sudden realization hit her and she found herself sprinting towards the door. Outside her office, she found their subordinates still occupying their stations--with the two Misses having apparent droopy eyes, unlike Assistant Colton who was still oozing with composure.

"I'm so sorry. I forgot to resign you all, " she apologized with her hands clasp in front.

Dorothy shook her head. "It's okay Miss Lin."

"You can all go now. I'll take care of everything," she told them.

The two secretaries went on to clear their tables before bowing in front of Miss Lin. Assistant Colton on the other hand, was still contemplating.

He must oblige into sending the two CEOs home safely. But at the same time, he wanted to make some time for the two to be alone.

"You can go now, too, Assistant Colton. I'll take care of Mr. Yang."

He gripped the helms of his suit tightly. "I'd like to drive you both home, Miss Lin."

Zeirenne nodded.

When they both entered the office, Jin was already asleep. Zeirenne picked her phone from the floor to find it still recording. She pressed the red button and stuffed it inside her pockets.

"Let me help you carry him," she assisted Assistant Colton on carrying Jin on his back.

After a few minutes, all three of them were finally settled inside the car. Assistant Colton felt a different kind of aura from the two. Everything felt tense, but at the same time, warm.

The ride home was silent. But it was intense.

When they arrived at the Pontecelli Penthouse, Assitant Colton carried his CEO on his back again and Zeirenne assisted him up until Jin's doorstep.

"Here," she said, handing a small gummy candy to Assistant Colton, "Feed him this, it'll prevent a terrible hungover.

"Thank you, Miss Lin."

With that, Zeirenne closed the door before heading inside her room. She knew that Old MacDonald's farm animals couldn't help her this time.

. . .