Perception of Emotions

. . .

Whispers flooded the streets.

Pedestrians stopped to look up and listen on the news being broadcasted from big screens attached to the sides of buildings across the city.

"Heartless CEO ignores bomb threat, endangers hundreds."

Right after the news reporter read his article, a voice recording played. Everyone listened with distraught faces.

["Do I look like I care about all those people?]

["I don't give a DAMN on all those people!"

As the on-lookers ascertained the ruthless words a famous CEO uttered, they all shook their heads.

UNBELIEVABLE.

"How can she be so heartless?"

"Someone like her shouldn't be working in the business industry."

"What a devious person."

In the middle of this commotion, a jet-black executive car, bearing the person on topic, passed with its windows rolled down. Before they could recognize the passenger inside, her attentive assistant/driver rolled the windows up.

"Now they're releasing two clips," Zeirenne said.

Assistant Wang stepped on the gas and they zoomed away from that busy junction. After a few kilometers, he checked his rearview mirror.

Zeirenne... or Miss Lin was gazing far outside the window. He couldn't recognize the look on her face, but could perfectly identify what every fold expressed.

Prosopagnosia. Also known as face blindness.

As the name suggests, it's a cognitive disorder that flaws one's facial perception. To the point of not recognizing one's own face.

Dylan always had the inability to recognize faces. But he didn't have problems recognizing expressions.

In fact, his perception for emotions were greater than most people. His brain lost its ability to retain faces even before he could learn different facial expressions for himself. But he knew they were everything that's necessary for communication. Just a slight twitch could put someone in a grave misunderstanding.

To survive in the outside world, he had to cope. For years, he studied facial expressions to the point of mastery. Every millimeter of creases plastered on someone's face, he noticed. He developed this mastery for years, thinking it would be enough. Before someone told him wrong. Just reading someone's facial expression was never enough.

In fact, those who have more to tell leave nothing for the world to see. Just like the face he was seeing in the rearview mirror.

For sure, Zeirenne was keeping a blank expression, like how she always does whenever she's drowning in burdensome thoughts. But her eyes, her eyes looked so dull. They were unrecognizable—without their usual sparkle.

To divert her attention, he spoke, "So uhm, do you know where CEO Young is? Miss Lin?"

Zeirenne leaned herself back on the seat before looking in front.

"I don't know. We separated ways at the airport to avoid raising suspicions. I haven't seen him for two days."

"Ah..." was all he could muster.

During their ride, they passed by dozens and dozens of screens of different sizes bearing only one and the same news. Someone sure spent tons of money to make this possible.

Dylan stepped on the gas even more. He wanted them out of the streets, and drove fast enough to blur the letters on the screens. They were basically flying on their way to ZA International.

To his horror, the scene they arrive in was the last thing he wanted. In front of ZA International's hundred-story headquarter, crowds of reporters flocked right by the entrance. All in complete set-up.

Dylan, in the form of Assistant Wang, gripped the steering wheel, "Should I take you home, Miss Lin?"

"No, I bet there are more reporters camping outside Ponticelli Penthouse. We're already here. I still have lots of work left undone."

He sighed. As a friend, he'd drag Zeirenne out of that place. No questions asked. But he was Assistant Wang right this moment—not Dylan the favorite friend.

There was a boundary he shouldn't cross.

With heavy movements, he parked the car right in front of the mob. One reporter recognized their car in an instance. "Oh! There she is!" she marveled before running towards them. Every other news personality followed.

Soon, Zeirenne almost got squeezed into a pulp as she stepped out of the car.

"Was that really you speaking on the voice recording?!"

"Why did you say such cruel words? Explain yourself!"

"Bitch! Apologize to everyone you'd put in harm's way! You capitalist snake!"

With everyone shouting their questions and commentaries, the noise was enough to make her head ache. Having overly sensitive auditory senses was never advantageous at times like this.

All of a sudden, a whistling sound only she could hear became louder and louder, as it came closer and closer. Seconds later, everyone (even those in front of their screens watching live coverages) witnessed the heartless CEO Zhi Lin getting struck in the head by an empty can of soda. As silence ruled for a second, the clanging sound it made upon greeting the floor echoed.

Dylan froze upon seeing this. Frustration took over his wits. His mind became clouded.

Why would someone do that? Only if he was faster, that wouldn't have happened. He should've been more attentive. He could have deflected that attack.

Sure, it was just an empty soda can. Most personalities could have it worst. At Zeirenne's reputation right now, being egged didn't seem far-fetched. But to Dylan, none of these were acceptable.

How dare these people throw things at someone else's daughter? They didn't treasure her to be treated like this!

"Make way!" he shouted.

His loud voice caught everyone's attention. Zeirenne, who ignored the searing pain in her scalp looked at him with astonishment. Dylan Wang never gets mad. Never.

But who'd bear to see their friend getting attacked? Surely not him.

He looked at Zeirenne while clenching his fist. For the first time, he wished Jin was there to flick her on the forehead. He knew it well:

She could have dodged. But she didn't.

To make matters worse, a sparkle glistened in her eyes. She was obviously filled with amazement upon seeing him explode.

Dylan immediately called the security team to handle the situation. For the first time, Mr. Lucero, the head of Security Team, was terribly scolded by Assistant Wang—the last person he'd expect to lose his temper during these times.

Upon entering ZA International's lobby, Dylan faced Zeirenne. He was still red from anger.

"Why didn't you d--?"

"You're slipping out of character, Assistant Wang," she said, "Please calm down. We've already set foot inside this office."

Zeirenne brought his gaze with her, looking around to show him the employees were watching them.

"That not importa--"

He stopped mid-speech after meeting Zeirenne's rock hard expression.

Everyone in that floor held their breaths. No body moved a muscle. They were all terrified of the presence their CEO was exuding.

"It's okay," Zeirenne smiled at Dylan, "It's not your fault."

She ruffled his hair before boarding the elevator. She gave him a wink before the elevator doors closed.

. . .