Until Then

CHAPTER 3

I woke up with a throbbing headache, the next day. I'm lying in an unfamiliar bed and room.

Where am I?

I look around the room. I had no recollection of how I end up in this place last night. The interior of the room screams manliness, so I doubt that I spend a night with a woman from the bar. I went outside the room and there I saw Waren.

"Goodness, bro!"

I exclaimed in relief. Waren, on the other hand, was surprised. I was nervous a while ago, thinking I had slept with a woman when I'm already engaged.

"Can't you even say a 'good morning' or something more normal than that? I swear I felt my soul leaving my body for a while."

I laughingly apologized. He offered me breakfast and I accepted graciously. I asked for a cup of coffee to ease the throbbing headache I feel as well. Since it's been a while, I think that my alcohol tolerance lowered compared to before.

"Here. How's your head?", Waren asked as he handed me a cup of coffee.

"Not so good. I feel like being hammered in the head as I talk as well."

Waren just nodded to my response. He went back to the sink and continued washing the dishes. I, however, started eating the breakfast he offered.

Waren left earlier than me because he also needs to attend to his work and he'll be late if he waits for me. He asked me to lock the door properly when I leave as well as to check the plugs. I did just what I was told. I also washed the plates and mug I used for breakfast a while ago.

It's exactly eight o'clock in the morning when I arrived at my place. I immediately took a bath and change my clothes as I am running late for work. The throbbing pain in my head lessened when I finished my coffee; I was thankful. The cold bath also helped a lot.

The worried face of my secretary greeted me when I arrived at work. It took me an hour to prepare and drive myself to the office, no wonder.

"Sir."

She followed me inside my office as I drop my things on the office table.

"I was calling you for about 5 times since earlier and your phone was off. You didn't tell me you'd be late today, I was worried. The meeting together with the Chairman starts at 9:30 today. I was panicking about coming up as to what I'll be saying if you didn't make it. And gosh, I need to prepare the documents you'll be needing. It's already nine."

She nagged me. As soon as she remembered she needed to do something, she excused herself out.

I scheme over some documents that are related to the meeting today. Few minutes later, my secretary knocked on my door and told me, "Sir. We need to go to the conference room now if we want to arrived on time.". I nodded and put on my coat.

"It took longer than scheduled. The old man won't just shut up."

I was grumbling about how the meeting took a while. When I came back to my office it's already past 11 o'clock. I need to work overtime again later to finish my schedule for the day.

A figure of a person I'm familiar with was sitting on the couch across my coffee table. She looked at me when the door clicked open. She stood up and smiled.

"Shin."

She gave me a brief hug. I smiled and asked her what she was doing here.

"Hmm.. It's about time for lunch. Why won't we go on our way and eat lunch a little early?"

She gave my secretary a meaningful smile.

"Then, enjoy your lunch Sir."

My secretary left as she excused herself out. A silence followed briefly. I looked at the woman who is alone with me now. She was picking up her bag and after doing so, she looked at me.

"Let's go."

She clamped her arms with mine as we went out of my office.

We choose to eat lunch at a nearby restaurant. We chat as we waited for our orders to arrive. Samantha went abroad two years ago and visits back for work or reunions. She settled back last year and goes to US every once in a while for work. We talked about our life way back Uni and laughed at the funny memories we had shared before. Sam was a bit of a nerdy-boyish type when we were still studying. I, on the other hand, likes to goof around. It was a shock to the gang and me when she told us that she'd pursue a modeling career instead of business. Well, she's pretty and all, but she doesn't know how to dress up. So, we all thought it was impossible. And considering that her family is a business tycoon, we really assumed she'd be the next heiress or something – but never a model.

"Do you remember the time that you had a crush on Josh?"

I laughed at her disgusted face.

"You crazy or something? I told you for about a hundred times before that I had no such feelings for that bastard. He just went and told every one a lie that it spreads like wildfire. Urgh. Just remembering that time, maddens me."

I watched her grumbling about how she hated Josh' guts – amused. She still didn't change. She's as honest as she was before with me.

"Now that I remember it, you. You! You were the reason why the only girl I've befriended with, ended up not talking to me at all!"

Sam looked at me sternly – accusing me. I raised my brow at her, "What?".

"It's the truth though! After you talked with her, she didn't spare me a glance at all anymore."

"It's for your own good. Besides, she befriended you just so she could be close to me."

It was her turn to raise a brow at me.

"What?!", she asked in disbelief. I smirked at her.

"Well, your good ol' friend has a crush on me. I heard her talking behind your back, saying that she only befriended you so she could be close to me. You know, planning to be close so that she can snatched my attention away from you.", I told her as I wiggled my brow.