Mixed Emotions

"Hiroaki, are you listening?"

Aki winced upon hearing his boss's irritated call. He glanced in his way and acted cool.

"Duh, don't you trust me, old man?"

"Frankly, I was hesitant on discussing the plan since you were spacing out but since you told me that you know what to do..." The man in attire started picking up his folders in the desk and stands up.

"But I'm telling you, Hiroaki, focus. YOU are working."

As soon as his boss left, Aki still had his normal face on. He knew that there were cameras across the room. To lighten his thoughts, Aki picks up his keys and drives away.

Upon maintaining his speed, his heart is uneasy. He feels that something is not right but he can't point fingers at what.

"What is happening? I feel nervous for literally no reason."

The vibration at his pockets softens his aggressive drive. He decided to pull over at the nearby bridge and checked the caller ID.

UNKNOWN

"Who's this?" Aki presses the loudspeaker while remaining silent.

["Hello? Hiroaki?"]

It's a female voice and familiar. He furrowed his brows in confusion.

"You are?"

["Tsk! I hate you, Hiroaki! Puwahahaha"]

Aki looks back at his phone, shocked at Keisha contacting him. He tried keeping his cool but somehow, the sarcasm in him is kicking in to annoy his old friend.

"Ahuh? Is this a stupid sudden girl who until now is weak? I see."

["Tsk! Look ahead, at the sidewalk."]

So he did and find a girl in a black outfit waving at him. He cackled before walking in her path before hanging up.

"Hiroa— T-the heck?! What was that for?" Keisha had her nape massaged upon attaining a whack from Aki. She glared at him while he laughed in amusement.

"Geez! So lame!"

The girl was offended. She was about to throw a punch but the latter grips her wrist before pulling her near his face. Aki is smirking.

"Told ya! Weak. Why did you call, stupid?"

Keisha remained annoyed. To have her revenge, she kicked his balls having it as her best move. Aki kneeled in pain while holding his jingle balls causing him to screech in pain.

"I came because I want to have some 'action' but it seems like my supposed to be opponent is weak." She acted like doing her warm-up stretches before crouching to Aki's level. She smiled slyly before helping the man to stand up.

"If you have nothing to do. Don't bother me, Selene! I have my errands too," said Aki.

With that said, Keisha's curiosity starts booting into her thoughts. She doesn't want to be obvious so she tried opening the topic slowly.

"Oh, errands..." Keisha playfully raises her brows which confused the recovered Aki.

"What's with the suspicion? I'm thirsty, let's go there.." Aki pointed to the convenience store which Keisha responded with a nod. They both walk while Keisha proceeded with her plans.

"Well, I guess you are working for your family. How many kids you have?"

Aki stopped and looked at her with disgusted eyes. He puts both of his hands in his waist and gazed at her, looking like a mother in distress.

"What?! Do I look like having a kid??"

With confused eyes and pouted lips, she acted to glance at him in an uproar. "H-huh? Y-you, don't have?" Keisha applauded her acting skills deep inside her head.

"I'm only twenty-two for Pete's sake! And with a gorgeous face of mine, do I look like a father?"

"Obviously, that's what I thought." Keisha rolled her eyes as they enter the store. Even tho she's focusing on looking for a face mask, she has impulses that Aki's nostrils were flaring.

"Tch. I don't have any kids nor a wife or a girlfriend."

Here's Keisha's acting again. She gazed at him with her eyes wide open and lips apart. She scratches her head in embarrassment while giggling.

"Oh my gosh! Sorry for confusing you as a father. Hahaahaha, but honestly, what errands were you doing? School? Work?" Keisha asked.

Aki sips in his soda can before glancing at Keisha. He's starting to feel his suspicion towards her real motive. With a silly grin, he answered her question.

"I cut classes."

"W-what?! Tss, you never learn don't ya?"

He laid back into his seat and continued teasing his friend. How he misses having a real friend, just a friend. Without hiding feelings for them.

"At least I saved Jelena and mine's friendship. That's all I need, even if she doesn't see my real intentions, I'm fine with it." A sad smile carved in Aki's face.

Keisha noticed his expression. She knew that he wasn't listening to her nonsense stories. He was spacing out while having his eyes deserted. She felt the urge to comfort him, however, she's torn between her duty and their friendship. If she became a friend of him, without her motive of spying, it'll soften her heart and will be a weakness to her job.

"Hiroaki? Lmao, you're not listening. I told ya, I passed college with that hidden technique of mine. You should try it too!" She is trying to hype the lonely friend.

"Selene, have you ever hide your real feelings?" He shifted the topic which froze Keisha in her place. She felt like the question was a lost bullet hitting her chest. It was somehow, for her.

"What? Why'd you asked? You okay, Hiroaki?" She attentively listens to his choice of words and gawks in his every body language.

Aki breathed a deep inhale before he flashed a sly smile. He was pulling back his choice of opening up.

To make him feel somehow comfortable, Keisha did go first. She can never get rid of the fact the Hiroaki is one of her treasured friends. And whatever boundary they have now, her love for her friend is something that can never be neglected.

"As being myself? Well, yes. I do." Keisha's words caught Aki's attention. She sincerely smiled at him.

"I cannot express myself since, I wasn't trained to do so. Until now, I feel like a robot having a manual. I'm a secretary at a large company, surrounded by some cheerful and kind co-workers, however, until now I still have no friends..." She reached for his hand and pinched it a little.

"Those training years were cold and dark, making me feel like a generated robot, trained to hide feelings and have my senses sharp together with combat skills. I only came to appreciate my training when you came as my rival. I found a friend in you, so until now, you're still the only friend I've got."

Aki was touched by her sincerity. The girl looked away, hiding her face in embarrassment which made Aki laugh.

"Ey, why are we being senti? It's too early for dramas." He joked earning him a punch in the arms.

"Tsk! If only you are abl—" Keisha was interrupted with the buzz of her phone. She glances at Aki before signaling him, excusing herself. She answered it at a distance since it's a confidential call from a person she's nervous with.

"What happened?"

["Voltaire is at the hospital..."] Keisha's eyes grew wide and her grip on her phone starts to tighten. She regulates her breathing pattern so that she won't get carried away by her simmering emotions.

"Continue..."

["Alright, did I made you nervous?! It's a pun! Buwahahaha..."] Zylant, on the other line, starts to cackle out loud which made Keisha's nostrils flare. She can feel her blood boiling with his stupid pranks.

"Do it once again, and I'll shoot your head," she threatened. "I'm hanging up, stupid rat."

["Waaaaiiiittt!!!"] Keisha distanced her ears from the phone. Zylant is just too noisy and energetic for jobs like hers. She shakes her head in disbelief.

"Stop shouting!!!"

With her feisty shout, Aki's attention got hooked making him disturbed by his friend's behavior.

"Selene, you okay?" he asked.

"Y-yeah. Sorry 'bout that, Hiroaki," then she gestures a 'peace' sign.

["Who are you talking to?"]

"It's none of your business! Now, what is this call about? This is off to nowhere, stop messing with me."

["W-well, about the name you yelled earlier. What is it again?"]

"Hiroaki?" she whispered.

["Y-you are with him?!"] He shrieked on the other line. Keisha told herself to breathe a little more and give more patience dealing with this young man.

"Duh, what about it?!"

["I have a classmate named Hiroaki also. Kyler Hiroaki Porter and he is a close friend to Voltaire's weakness. Dang Selene! Keep yourself wide awake!"]

...

While having a busy company, Aki decided to scroll his social media. He used some dummy accounts and visited his best friend's timeline. He finds himself laughing at Jelena's shared memes. Scroll a little to her photos and she saw how many of them were with him. He couldn't pretend to be happy about their situation. He badly wants to make a move.

Too much enjoyment then he suddenly recalled his bizarre sensation earlier. As if something wrong is going on. To check things, he dialed Jelena's number.

It took a lot of rings dialing her and it's very unusual. She's not the type to keep a call ringing. This made him nervous.

Finally, someone answered.

"Hey, Jel! What took you so lo—"

["Where is a so-called friend when you needed them?"] A familiar voice asked sarcastically.

"Why are answering her calls?"

["What else could the answer be?"]

"Damn it! Can't you answer a statement?"

["Where's your common sense? Of course, I'll answer this because I'm with Jelena inside the hospital."]

Upon hearing the word 'hospital', he froze in his position having cold sweats.

"What happened?"

["She's not okay. You're her friend, come here. She needs you."]

Aki hanged up and instantly went to his motorbike, leaving his company without notice.

But he doesn't care. His greatest treasure is not in a good condition. Unfortunately, he wasn't there to help her.

Keisha noticed how instant Aki left her. She gazed at him with mixed emotions. The feeling of worry, guilt, and satisfaction.

"Zy, let's meet and discuss our new strategy after your swimming elimination."

~~~~~~

Entering the large mansion of the Carter's was refreshing. It made her feel refreshed and classy upon taking steps inside the marble floor. She smiled, bringing good news to her boss.

"I'll head at the third floor, call Morra in an instant. My time is gold," she ordered the maid.

Criza did a full view of the house's interior and giggles. Luxurious and sparkling things tickles her.

After a while of waiting and her boss finally entered the floor. She's wearing the usual nervous and tensed face, ruining her classy complexion. Criza rolled her eyes in irritation.

"Kriks! I mean Criza! Updates?"

Criza let out a playful smile.

"Things were going according to the plan. The girl that Voltaire likes got hospitalized and I'm telling you this..." She laid back to her seat and sips her orange juice.

"W-what?!"

"He's already into her. I had an up-close encounter with the kid and based on my observations, facial muscles were tensed but he tried hiding it with his hot jaw!" Morra glared at her for simping at her nephew. Criza noticed her choice of words then laughed.

"Oho, sorry 'bout that. He's really a pretty boy no puns but anyway, for sure they'll be joining the camping that I organized. There where I'll play the game and trap that nephew of yours. Make sure to pay back once you have your goals, Carter."