Allen Lopez's Love of Andrew

"Allen, we're here!" Andrew's deafening voice rang throughout the whole house. It bounced on the walls and reached all nook and cranny. In the kitchen, Allen snapped out of his reverie.

"I know you're his secretary and all," asked Mike, his voice distant and muffled. "But why do you have a copy of his house keys?"

"Cause the man will die without me," replied Andrew, load and clear.

Allen heads to the foyer. He spotted his team by the door, removing their shoes. They brought party streamers, balloons, cutout letters that spelled Congratulations, cake, and alcohol. Which Andrew cradled in his arms.

"Hi, boss," Sonna greeted him, echoed by Mike. Claire's eyes wondered with awe, as well as Dennis'. Luiz, on the other hand, rushed to the bathroom. Disregarding any elegance, he had mustered during his stint in Lopez Co.

"Welcome everyone, for the decorations you're hiding behind your backs. You can use them in the dining room." Allen waves to its general direction. It was a small house, getting lost was almost impossible. Unless they were drunk like the last time Andrew was here.

"I'll serve dinner in a few moments. We're having a feast tonight, so enjoy to your hearts content. Andrew, could you help me bring out the dishes? I am confident that the others would be too nervous to handle the silvers."

Andrew clicked his tongue. "That was one time I got scared of breaking your freakin' expensive plates. No need to bring it up every five minutes, gosh. I'm going to smash those on your head one day. Anyhow, let's go."

Allen walked back to the kitchen with Andrew trailing behind him. Now that they were alone, even if just for a moment. Allen had Andrew all to himself.

"Wow, these look yummy." Andrew licked his lips as he eyed the dishes laid out in the kitchen counter. "Let me take a picture. You've become so passionate with cooking that it shows in your dishes."

Allen was content watching Andrew admire his cooking. He wore that handsome expression he always has when faced with delicious food. He wished it could be like this forever.

"Do you remember the first time you cooked?" Andrew asked, he chuckled. "You probably don't, but that night you didn't even know how to cook eggs. And I thought, my devil boss was adorable. He pretended to be indifferent towards his younger brother, but he was really motivated to cook the perfect meal."

I love you, Andrew. Allen wanted to announce it to the whole world but found that could not.

Allen turned his back towards Andrew as he felt the heat pooled in his cheeks. "Could you help me plate the food? I'll bring out the china, I know you cannot reach the cupboards."

When Allen turned back around, he found Andrew studying one of his notes.

"Hey, were you always ambidextrous?"

Allen places the china at the table. He shakes his head, and Andrew's eyes become conflicted. Allen did not like it. To change that, he gave Andrew a kiwi shake he had prepared beforehand.

"Your favorite, though you have not shared why."

Andrew's eyes lit up. He took a massive gulp, then offered the straw to Allen. When Allen hesitated, Andrew closed the space between them and shoved the straw to Allen's lips. Allen's pulse skyrocketed at the delightful lack of personal space.

"Research says that kiwi contains serotonin, the happy cells. Working under you meant needed a lot of those."

Allen did not hear a single word Andrew uttered just now. He was too distracted by the light that retracted in Andrew's brown eyes. The whole world went mute as if it had shrunk to the only fit Allen and Andrew.

"Don't you think it's too quiet? Hey, stop gulping my shake, rich bitch."

Allen released the straw from his lips, but he did not back off from Andrew.

Andrew had this adorable quirk where whenever he feels emotions of annoyance or disgust. He would curl his upper lip, judge the other person's soul, and bend his head just a little. And when he did bend his head, that is when Allen noticed the whole team watching them by the doorway. The packed themselves together with their hands behind their back.

Allen froze for a moment before years of training kicked in and he

"Andrew, what do you like in a man?"

"Someone rich and powerful."

Allen's ears perked up.

"Hot."

Allen worked out, sometimes.

"And someone who loves me."

Allen loves Andrew.

Dennis shoved himself to the front. "But as I recall, or we recall, because you downed a bottle of whiskey. You said you wanted someone who was motivated, passionate, and consistent with his efforts."

Claire chewed on her lower lip. "By that," she said. "Did you mean Sir Allen?"

They all look at Allen. A massive grin was blooming on Luiz's face.

Allen's head threatened to self-destruct.

"Didn't you have a massive crush on Sir Allen?" Mike asked, wonderful team leader Mike whom Allen could always rely on.

Andrew spit out the kiwi shake on Mike's face. "That was just a phase. I am so over it. Ugh, cringe. And he is not my type. Why are all of you talking this bullcrap.? Why are you bringing this up? Even you Dennis."

Dennis shrugged.

"I can't believe you went from punching a hole on his photos," Claire mumbled under her breath. "To having a candlelit dinner in The Rolling Scones."

"What the crap? That's false."

Everyone from the team finally revealed what they had been hiding. They flaunted the framed photos of Allen and Andrew on their fake dates. Which Allen still wished were true.

Oh, Allen thought. So, Andrew did have a crush on him or what? Was it all the assumption of his colleagues because of the fake photos?

Allen required answers.