Chapter 10

It was already almost noon, I didn't even realize. I'm still thinking about what Zach and I will talk about.

Aljeck, Aljean actually, called me. He said we'd eat together.

"Elle, let's eat together. There's a nearby eatery outside." He even pinched his voice to sound feminine. I also told him to just call me Elle, Zhanielle is too long to say.

I agreed. There's a canteen downstairs, but I'm getting tired of eating the food displayed there. I want something different for now.

"Let's go to the place that sells bulalo. The big karenderya there and they sell balot... I want to go there," I suggested, and he agreed.

We just walked. It wasn't that far.

As soon as we arrived, Aljean clung to my arm excitedly. He was holding on so tightly, and he was gently pulling my hair with one hand. It's behind me. There were a lot of people here. There were couples, barkadas, and most of all, a group of basketball players not far from our age. That's why he's excited, there are guys here, I'm only a year older than them.

I flinched when I felt a big hand on my waist. And he took Aljean's hand, which was holding onto me. I turned to see who did that.

My jaw dropped in shock.

What is he doing here?

How did he follow us? I thought he was in a meeting?

He glared at Aljean angrily. "Too, close..."

He turned back to me. And he looked back at Aljean, who was now trembling. "What are you doing? Why are you pulling her hair?!" His thick eyebrows were raised, you could also hear the anger and annoyance in his voice.

Before Aljean could answer, I spoke first, just in case.

"Nothing... He's just excited. We're going to eat here. But he saw couples, yes, couples, that's right. Couples, he's jealous because they're so sweet." I explained stammering, I was really nervous now.

Why is he here?

"By the way, why are you here? Don't you have a meeting?" I finally asked. I forgot that he was my boss and we were facing him.

He looked at me seriously. "Why? You don't want me here? Why? Will I interrupt your date?!" He said dangerously. I just shook my head and looked at Aljean who was avoiding my gaze.

Aljean and I locked eyes, so I widened my eyes. I was asking for help, but he shook his head. I let out a loud sigh.

"I'll go ahead of you two. I've been hungry for a while now," then I turned my back on the two of them. They can deal with it, they're both crazy.

"Hey!" he called. But I continued walking, I could hear him running because of the sound of his shoes.

While I was telling my order. A possessive hand grabbed my waist.

"Are you going to eat?" I turned to Zach. He nodded.

"What about you? I mean, what do you want to eat?" I could feel Aljean's gaze on us.

He can deal with himself for now. If this jerk wasn't here, there would be no obstacle to our chit-chat. He said he would tell me about his crush.

He stared at me for a moment. "I don't know," he shrugged.

I just slapped my forehead. He doesn't eat at karenderyas, huh?

He's a rich kid after all!

I just ordered for him. I also got him bulalo, for him. I have some, anyway. And I also want him to try it.

We waited for the gay guy first. Then we looked for a seat for four, there weren't any for three. They said they'd bring the food.

The gay guy was about to sit next to me when Zach took the chair and moved it away. The gay guy just sat down on the chair in front of me, he even rolled his eyes. Zach sat on the chair he moved, so we were sitting next to each other.

I just watched TV for a while. The K-drama 'Touch Your Heart' was playing, I just focused on that, I didn't pay attention to Zach's hand on my thigh, he was squeezing it.

While we were eating, the gay guy was talking non-stop about his crush. It's good that Zach was just quiet, he seemed to be listening too. But it seems like he has a lot of history in his life. The topic reached his talking about his séx life before.

Zach finished eating, only me and the gay guy were left eating.

"Delicious?" I asked him, he nodded. Good thing he liked it. He hugged me and buried his face in my neck.

"I was that age before... I had a lot of girls, I was a guy then. I just got infected by my friend from our place, that's why I became gay." He chewed. He pointed to someone behind us, a guy around 17. I only looked at him for a moment. Because Zach immediately grabbed my jaw.

"Don't look!" he said angrily.

He must have looked too. He moved away from burying his face in my neck. He turned me to face him. He immediately kissed me, but it was just a smack. He was still holding my jaw. Thankfully, I just finished eating.

I heard Aljean cough. I struggled when he loosened his grip a bit.

"Wa-water!" He was having trouble. I handed him his water.

"Oh, here's your water..."

He immediately drank it. When he finished, he kept looking back and forth between me and the person next to me. Who was now leaning back in his chair, while one hand was behind me.

It's like he's putting his arm around me...

I worriedly approached the gay guy. "Are you okay?"

He nodded and moved his chair back a bit.

"Stay there!" He pointed at me. I stopped. "What was that? Live kiss?"

He stood up with wide eyes. He pointed at us.

"I thought we were friends? There shouldn't be any secrets," he turned to Zach, but he just raised an eyebrow. "You too, boss! You kissed her! Even though you're my boss, even though you're so grumpy, I won't give up my friend! You're so PDA! What is this? Your date? And I'm your third wheel, I just need to be full?!"

He was like letting out all his grievances. I just slapped my forehead. This gay guy, he doesn't carry all the problems in the world, huh? So dramatic.

Zach pulled me closer to him. I could feel the heat of his body, even though he was wearing a long-sleeved polo. His two veiny hands wrapped around my small waist. His breath hit my neck.

"Beautiful, baby..." he whispered softly, only I could hear it.

Here goes my heart again. It gets restless whenever he's near me.

The gay guy became even more dramatic in front of us. "Let's go home! You two are hurting my eyes! Too much PDA, next time I'll pray for all couples and married people to be sent to another planet."

He was dramatic when we went out. Zach still didn't let go of me. It seems like his grip tightened even more. It's a good thing he didn't complain, it's still hot. I didn't bring an umbrella.

I didn't expect it to be this hot. It was a bit drizzling earlier...

Aljean became talkative again, talking about his past life.

He faced us while walking. "Dai, I remember what I did back then. I used to love having s*x. Then I got involved with someone who was even wilder than me."

He continued to tell stories about how he was a man back then.

My lips parted when he kissed me on the neck. Twice. I'm still not used to it. He kisses me suddenly.

He whispered. "Let's talk, later. Hmm?"

He pulled me, so the gay guy was in front of us. He was busy on his phone. It's a good thing he was quiet, he's probably chatting with someone...

"What are we going to talk about?" I asked curiously.

As far as I remember, I didn't do anything wrong or need to explain anything to him.

He avoided my gaze. I raised an eyebrow at his action.

Is there a problem?

"Nothing, it's on me..." He took my hand and kissed the back of it. "You two go ahead and go inside, I'll be late... I know you don't like to be talked about." He said sweetly.

It's good that he realized I don't like to be talked about or even get any attention.

I turned my back on him. I pulled Aljean, he almost bumped into the lamp post. He was surprised by my sudden pull. He must be so engrossed in what he was doing that he didn't even look where he was going.

He's such a klutz!

"Oops, almost..." he feigned surprise. I hit him on the shoulder, I really hit him hard. So he could feel it and it would reach his bones.

"It wasn't almost! You were just one step away from getting a bump!" I said irritably. I really hate klutzes, those who don't look where they're going. I want to smack him, from behind.

I rolled my eyes when he started laughing. His messenger was also making noise. Tsk! He's just on Facebook. I grabbed his phone and looked at what he was watching. A video of two guys popped up. They were kissing, bl is what they call it.

Oh, what a waste, they're both handsome. Then their target is also a guy. I shook my head and hit him. It's a good thing it wasn't a vulgar video. Before, when I invited him to eat at the canteen, I caught him watching an inappropriate video.

"Your bitchiness is starting again," I heard him say from behind us. I know it's Zach again.

"Hay!" I sat up straight and stretched. My back and butt hurt, from sitting all day.

I was surprised when the CEO's secretary suddenly appeared in front of me. "Miss Zhanielle, Mr. Montenar wants to see you." She said smiling.

Do they have mushroom genes? Why do they keep popping up?

"Okay. I'll go now,"

He left my presence. I checked the time on my phone.

It's already 4:55. I'm about to go home. We get off at 5:30.

I immediately entered the elevator and pressed the 50th floor. While I'm still here, I'm thinking about what we're going to talk about.

I didn't do anything wrong...

"He's inside. Waiting for you." I forced a smile at Zenneth. I bit my lower lip, I'm nervous.

I really didn't do anything wrong!

It's like I'm a kid being called to guidance.

My heart was pounding because of nervousness. I bravely knocked on the glass door.

"Good afternoon-"

"Come in," he cut me off.

He didn't sound cold today. Maybe he's in a good mood...

I went inside his office. I saw him looking outside, his back to me.

"You called me, sir?" I said softly. I need to be polite. Even though he acts differently towards me, he's still my boss.

"I just want to know something..."

He turned towards me. "Hmm..." He didn't have black coffee on his table. At this time, he usually makes me coffee for him.

A miracle!

He turned back again. I heard a loud sigh from him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Which one?

"Huh?"

"You didn't tell me that you're not allowed to have coffee!" You could hear the irritation in his voice.

"Po?" What?

I'm the one who's confused about his actions since earlier.

Our eyes met. He was staring at me, so I did the same. I immediately looked away. His gaze was so deep! It's like he's looking at your soul.

"Don't call me 'po' Elle!" I was surprised by his raised voice. "You think I don't know the reason for your two and a half day absence? What do you think I am, stupid that I won't know? You're wrong!"

"You didn't tell me that you're allergic to coffee! I made you coffee several times a week, and then what?! What am I supposed to know? You're allergic?" You could hear the anger in his voice. "What's your reason for not telling me right away?! What?" he shouted at me.

So, it's my fault? "You didn't ask me!" I shouted back. Call me immature, but I don't like being shouted at. My mom and dad, the ones who raised me, never shouted at me.

"And you're so bold to say that I didn't tell you. Yes, I didn't tell you that I'm allergic to it. But when I refused to follow your orders to make you coffee. Isn't it obvious that I don't want to?!" I said angrily. Okay, it's my fault, I didn't tell you, but...

"I'm not a fortune teller, Elle! Why didn't you just say that I'm allergic to coffee... It's so simple to say that, right? Is it hard for you?" I felt a pang in my heart. His words hurt me.

"You're not a fortune teller. But when you called for me to make you coffee! I refused twice! I was about to tell you the reason, that I'm not allowed to have coffee. But you didn't let me finish what I was saying. Because you threatened to come to me!"

I don't know what to feel anymore. Anger, annoyance, or pain. All my emotions are mixed up now. I feel like I'm about to cry.

"I-"

I cut him off. I want to get out of here. "Okay! It's my fault!" I said lastly and went out.

He's so hurtful, so much! It's my fault. It's really my fault that I didn't tell him. I ran towards the restroom, I cried and cried there.