SIX: THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED III [flashback)

[SHAIRA's POINT OF VIEW]

The day after my boss drove me home, my mother cooked pork steak and put it in a bento pack. Then, she stopped me from leaving just to hand me the bento box.

Two bentos for me?' Don't tell me the other is for my...

"Give the other one to your boss."

Seriously!?!??!

"Mom? Are you serious about this? You know I don't want him to think that I'm a leech in human form, and worse he might think that I'm interested in him."

"That's great if he thinks you have a thing on him."

"Mom!"

My mom laughed and replied, "Don't be silly. After all, I wrote notes here 'from Auntie' stop protesting, do your mom a favor."

I give in since I know my mom will never let me go, not until I'll do what she wants. I headed to my workplace and found him waiting for the elevator to open.

"Good morning, sir." The elevator girl greeted him once he entered the elevator. Jhotam simply nodded, but when I greeted him, his dimples revealed themselves.

Once we got inside the office, he started working on the papers, so I decided not to disturb him. I'll give the bento to him later, or I might put it on his table when he's not there. In that way, I can avoid having words from him about the bento. Luckily, he had gone to the restroom. I made sure that no paper would be in ruin as I hurriedly placed the bento on his desk.

When he came back, I saw in my peripheral view, a perplexed look on his face when he saw the bento entertained me. The folds in his forehead turned to a sweet smile when he took a piece of paper from the bento.

The N-O-T-E!!! (0_0)

Why is there a freaking note there?!

Who knows what my mother thought when she wrote it?

I had to wait for the break time to kick in. It's time to feed my monstrous tummy. I also got the same bento wrapper with my boss because my mom possibly did it on purpose.

In my peripheral view, I saw him all excited to have a taste of my mom's dish. Heck! The note bothers me the most, but I can't do something about it.

"Auntie is a great cook. I wish my mom could do the same thing.”

Is he talking to me or just murmuring to himself?

"By the way, can I drive you home again... tonight?"

Now, I'm sure he's talking to me, so I replied, "Would it sound too rude if I refuse?"

I don't want him to think I'm taking for granted his kindness.

"Not really. But, you know I don't accept no for an answer."

"Are you sure you don't have something in my mom?" I asked. Sounds too fishy! Why would he want to drive me home again? Could it be that he wanted to see my mom?... But tonight, my dad will be there.

"Are you still after that 'like' issue? Don't worry, it's not the mom. It's the dau---er"

What's with the last words? I miss the opportunity to hear it clearly.

"I just want to thank her in person," he replied.

Once we finished our piles of documents, he bought pastry for my mom.

They had a nice conversation, but I didn't mind joining them since I'm exhausted.

Later on, I heard my mom's footsteps, and shortly after, the creaking sound of my door followed. However, she left and closed the door, and thought I must've fallen asleep.

"I'm starting to have a suspicion," I muttered to myself.

**************

From that day onwards, he always escorts me on my way home, and sometimes he's in my house early in the morning, for one reason.

He wanted to see me first thing in the morning.

Sounds so lame, right?

I'm not a living rock nor dense. I know he's making a move on me.

He's trying to woo me, but one thing I'm not particular about is how my parents and he becomes collaborators.

That kind of setup lasted for two months before he finally asked to court me. But that is not the part I couldn't forget. It's the way he asked me, to be exact.

He asked me to go to Max's resto first because he has to run personal errands. That day I thought it was nothing but a meeting between our company. When I arrived at the restaurant, a guy appeared in front of me and ushered me to the second floor.

Though I had several questions in my mind, I remained silent. Why do the petals of roses are scattered everywhere? Did the staff usher me to the wrong place?

Here comes the man behind all sorts of things here. He waved his right hand while his left hand was holding freshly picked red roses.

My forehead formed lines as he lent me the flowers. "T-thank...you?" I responded.

What's with the interrogative appreciation? It should be 'thank you not 'thank you?'

I think this happened like a déjà vu. Then I asked, "Does the client can't come again, just like the first time we ate here?"

"To be honest, at that time, it was a lie. I just made those up. I only want to eat with you," Jhotam replied without blinking his eyes.

So, it's not a coincidence.

He planned all of this.

"I know it's too early to ask. We have barely known each other for months but, by chance, I had fallen for you, for no definite reason."

I'm surprised.

I didn't know he was this bold.

My boss is confessing to me as if he's proposing a business.

"Are you asking if I'll allow you or not to court me?" I asked while looking at the food being served at our table.

"Yeah...so? I'm not expecting you to give me a concrete answer now," he replied.

We are not teenagers anymore, therefore overreacting and getting all mushy all of a sudden is lame and bullshit. As much as possible, we are keeping this conversation as normal as how the word 'normal' is spelled.

I started with the chicken lollipop, and tried keeping a normal conversation with him as I asked, "Are you sure about this?"

It's too early to confess! Don’t tell me he thinks he fell in love with me at first sight. Impossible!

"Why'd you ask? Do you think it's some kind of prank?" He asked, forking out lettuce.

I don't think so.

I just can't believe it.

He sounded so insincere.

Maybe he thinks I'm easy to get?

I'm sure just like my ex-boyfriend, he's also a womanizer.

"Are you not afraid of us getting awkward with each other after your confession?" What if I rejected him? Do I need to resign?

"That thing crossed my mind already, but I think it has nothing to do with our profession. As professionals, we should set aside that thing concerning our work."

"Yeah, you're right..." Is it okay to have a boyfriend as perfect as him? Did I just say perfect?! No way! He must be a womanizer.

One thing hit my head. I remember the time when I made coffee for him.

He is sweet talking over the phone, and now he confessed to me... Something's not right! I can see the womanizer from this angle!

Speaking of womanizers...

Way back then, Ryan was such a pain in my ass. My former lover was a jackass who knew nothing but to flirt with other girls. I recall during our graduation, I dared to break the stupid chain called 'love' yet I still had high hope, hoping that one day he'll come back to me as a one-faced loving guy.

And with that, I didn't notice that I fell into remembering things about my ex-boyfriend.

"What's wrong?" he asked. I snapped back to planet earth.

I snapped back to reality and faintly smiled as I replied, "Nothing. May I have a moment to gather my thoughts in the restroom?"