MARITA

Through The Looking Glass (Part 3)

(Note to Readers: Sorry for the delay in posting this next part. As usual... life happens. Enjoy the story)

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"... after you, Mari" he motioned Marita to walk ahead. Then he followed a step behind her. Mama Vina and Diah was already half way up the stairs. Marita put one hand on her chest. She can feel her heart pounding hard.

"MARI!" Arnold called.

Marita recognizing Arnold's voice, she spined herself around in a flash, but she didn't calculate Frank walking directly behind her that she bumped straight to him. Her face planted full to Frank's chest. The top of her head didn't even touch his chin. Marita made mental note of how tall he is. Next, her sense of smell made another mental note of his perfume... aromatic woody scent in a touch of fresh citrus.

Seconds later she snapped back to reality. She stepped back. Frank stood still usually he would have caught her to avoid her falling. But she made it clear before that she didn't want to be touched so Frank stood still, harbouring her to his chest, opening his arms slightly ready to catch her should she fall. He didn't feel any pain from the force of her bumping to him, but the impact created an indescribable flutter in his heart. For the first time, he noticed that she is not tall. She's average height even with her 5 cm heels. Marita almost always wore flat, Sneakers or 5 cm heels. Hardly ever High Heels except for certain dress code requirement. Now the top of Marita's head didn't even touched his chin. 

His nose caught the scent from her shampoo... was it melon? Strange... Usually grown-up woman will choose a more sophisticated smell, but she smelled of sweet fruity melon? But that's beside the point.... He felt all his sense tingling. His heart jumped with joy at their touch. He had this urge to embrace her for some strange reason. He breathed in air to control himself knowing full well to conduct himself in a proper manner.

"HEY! You OK, Mari?" Arnold is now standing behind Frank.

Frank put down his open arms and stepped aside so he was not standing between them.

"Sorry." He nodded to Arnold. "I'll leave you two be. See you at the office, Mari" Frank walked up the stairs to the lobby. Arnold's eyes followed him. A pang of jealousy slipped into his heart. However, he focused his attention to Marita still standing there but also glancing to the direction of Frank's going.

"You OK?" Arnold held Marita's shoulder to stop her from watching Frank walked away.

"Fine, I guess." Marita looked down and brushed her hair aside.

"Your face is red. Are you sure you're, OK?" asked Arnold concerned.

Marita touched her cheek in reflex. "Ah... Uhm... Perhaps I caught the flu."

"Poor Baby! Why don't you take a day off and let me take care of you" said Arnold earnestly.

"It's OK. Today is my last day. I am sure the staffs will be waiting,"

"Oh yes," He suddenly smiled. "Last day at work. Means it's getting close to OUR day."

Marita smiled and nodded. "Anyway... Why did you come back?"

Arnold suddenly remembered. He handed the lunch bag to Marita. "Your breakfast, M'Lady"

Marita laugh. "Ahh.. This is nice. I like this". She took the lunch bag from Arnold's hand. "Promise you'll packed me breakfast every day".

"Every day, my dear. Every single day!" Arnold said. He gave her a hug.

"Would you want me to get you another Caramel Macchiato? You didn't get to drink yours this morning" He asked her.