Val's Persona

Diamond office building in sunny daytime.

Before lunch. In the archive room located outside the room near the elevator.

Val had just entered the archives room with the notes that Jason had requested, when he was very serious, someone put his arm around his waist from behind. He almost jumped in surprise and turned around to find Iyana already behind him.

"Il?"

The tightly closed archive room made Jason frown deeply. He had asked Val to go there and that had been more than half an hour ago even though they were about to have lunch.

"That kid, did he get lost among the piles of files again?"

Ilyana hugged Val tightly and tied Val's waist with both hands "Eh Il" Val tried as gently as possible to release her.

"Please Val, don't choose Fena, just me, we've known each other for more than three months now, I liked you from the moment you came in, you should consider me first instead of her."

Val was speechless, the girl might have something in her head to make her talk like this, She was always being too much, like Val knew her all this time.

"Il, what are you talking about? I don't know where have you heard that, Fena and I have been friends since we were kids, that's why we're close, apart from that, there's nothing."

Ilyana raised her head, and her eyeliner melted down with the tears down her cheek, she's been crying. The girl widened her eyes upon hearing Val's words. Look excited.

"Really Val? Y-you guys, aren't dating?" Il asked with happy eyes, Val nodded

"Yeah, we're just friends."

But that made the girl hug Val back. The girl wrapped her hands around Val's neck tightly.

"Val, I know, you definitely won't disappoint me."

But Val couldn't say if he would give hope to Ilyana because he didn't know if he was attracted to the girl more than a friend. The girl must have misunderstood their relationship all this time.

Val lowered Ilyana's two hands from his waist gently, staring at her eyes.

"But, I don't want to give you hope, if.."

Ilyana pulled Val's back to her arms.

"Why can't you, Val, I never have any problems, I have my job, and I'm quite successful. My family runs some fast food diners and has a good income.."

"Ilyana" This girl must have been out of her mind, thought Val, as her hands wrapped tighter like the glue sticking so hard on him. It was so tight even making it difficult for him to move and breathe

"Il, Ilyana, please.."

The girl even forced her kiss to Val's cheek. This has gone too far, what happens to the girl? thought Val pulling Ilyana's hands off him.

"Ilyana stopped it" the girl insisted to keep hugging him.

"No Val, please, I only want you, if there is no Val, then the others will be nothing"

"Don't be kidding Il, what's wrong with you? Just talk another time when you're calmed down okay, this is not you."

Val can force the girl to let him go but that will hurt her, mentally and physically, but this is not right. Until someone opens the door from the outside. Jason stuck his head into the room, stunned a moment to see Val and Ilyana hugging each other in the corner.

"Eh, what..are you two doing here? Val? Ilyana?

Jason stood with one hand still on the door handle.

Ilyana still looked at Val who avoided her eyes. She released her hand when she realized the boss was already staring at them. With still wet eyes she ran out past Jason.

"Excuse me"

Val leaned down and took a deep breath. His heart is beating so fast that causes his breath to hitch.

"Boss"

Jason approached, checking on Val who looked exhausted.

"Hey, are you alright? You look terrible." Jason's words seem to be mocking him. He stretches his hand to help Val stand up.

"I'm fine, Boss, this is because someone said that Fena and I are dating"

Jason pursed his mouth. Val's gaze as if he accuses him. He widened his eyes.

"Not me, why should I say that, maybe, she found it out by herself"

Val looked at his Boss sharply, then walked past him out. Jason could feel that Val was mad at him. Did he really think of him that way?

"Hey Val, you have to trust me, I got nothing to do with the girl. I'm busy, what should I do that? Just let's find something to eat, it's lunchtime already" Jason grabbed Val's hand and pulled him to the elevator.

"I'm not hungry, Boss, just eat by yourself"

Jason screeched.

"No way, I don't want to eat alone, come on, you have to eat with me"

Jason didn't care if Val was angry, he just pulled the kid as he wanted.

"Let's go"

"Boss!"

.....

One of the high-end restaurants next to the Diamond building.

Val was still stunned in deep thought lost in his mind, even though the steak had arrived right in front of him. The huge plate of mouthwatering steak with the smells flew into the air. No way he doesn't know that thought Jason. He looked at the young man, taking his plate and nudging his hand purposely.

"Boss" Val flinched slightly when Jason's hand passed in front of him. He was about to reach out his hand when Jason had put the lovely shiny plate and cut it into small pieces.

"What are you thinking? About Ilyana again?" he asked. The man was painstaking, doing multiple jobs at once at a fast pace.

Val was silent, again. The boss cuts the steak neatly and fast, then puts it back in front of him. Jason lowered his head seeing what Val's face looked like at the moment. The kid gets easily amazed by anything new, he's so cute.

"Waah that fast"

Jason secretly laughed. He flicked the kid's forehead to wake him up.

"Aww. Boss"

"Hey, don't just stare at it, eat it. Eat more, you're getting thinner. Come on"

Val looked at his boss with his sharp eyes, touching his forehead.

"Evil Boss"

"I won't assign you with the field team anymore if your condition gets worse"

"What do you mean by getting worse, boss?"

Jason saw Val's big eyes looking at him, beautiful round turquoise eyes with curly eyelashes like a girl's. Damn, Jason thought, he had to stop looking because it kept pulling him in so deep that sometimes he couldn't get out. Now, he is infected with the poison from the arrow he pulled at the kid just now. Have to avoid those eyes or he can't hold the consequence for his act later.

"Um, yeah, it's getting worse, you're getting thinner, look at your cheekbones," said Jason, who was holding Val's cheekbones. Jason's touch made Val speechless, even Jason himself didn't expect his hands to be so naughty and didn't obey him. What's wrong with this naughty hand? Damn it. Curse Jason.

"Eh, ahem, just eat"

Val puffed his mouth, he thought about what his boss would say. The man gets weirder, although that's not something new, he gets to know his boss closely to understand how sometimes the man suddenly stutters when talking. It must be because of his habit. He grabbed a spoon and fork and started enjoying his steak.

"Yes, boss"

Jason chews the steak in his mouth. Next, they are only silent, it's going to be awkward. Jason starts up another conversation.

"Don't think about it, all girls are like that, especially that Ilyana. I've known her for a long time, and know that she has a crush on almost every handsome guy in the office. There was once a supplier who came and she continued to be in contact with him even after the company was no longer signed any contract with them."

Val stuffed several pieces of steak until his mouth swelled, chewed them several times, and swallowed them. His eyes look at Jason innocently.

"Boss, you like to gossip, aren't you?" Val asked.

Jason chuckled. He waved his hand. Luckily he swallows his meat already or otherwise, he's going to choke over Val's question.

"I'm not! What I want to say is, that she will forget this, sooner or later, and look for someone else, it will all pass, so stay calm, okay? Let's just eat. Oh, and I have a meeting in an hour, we better hurry" said Jason, glancing at his watch.

Val pursed his mouth.

"What does that have to do with me, Boss? it's you who has the meeting"

Jason tugged at his lips.

"Well there is, we come here two of us, and will be back together, you want to escape from responsibility, that's too good for you"

"No, who said that?" Val exclaimed,

Jason laughed, Val's face when he pouted looked adorable. At least he could make the kid irritated instead of having to see his lackluster face earlier.

"I know what you're thinking"

"No, Boss"

 ...