ix

22 2 0
                                    

I'm dreading today.

It's his first day in our division and tradition is, when someone new joins, there's the introduction and then a team dinner. I don't think I can handle another Jin encounter. I can't risk the thoughts that linger after seeing him especially while I'm at work.

Cause in case it's not clear, It's official, I'm fantasizing about him. It didn't stop after that stint in the shower. I created a lot of other scenarios in my head that all happened in that small apartment of mine, with me ending legs apart, toes curling and me heaving, catching my breath as I come down from climax.

I can't be risking that here at work.

The day actually went smoothly contrary to what I thought it will be. He pretty much ignored me all day, as he has done ever since I met him. It's as if we're back to how we were before and weirdly that made me grumpy. I liked arguing with him, leaving him speechless and kicking him out of my apartment. I suppose this is for the better and hopefully my unwholesome thoughts will go away.

I didn't stay long for the team dinner as I have the early shift the next day.

I headed straight home and showered, changed to my usual in this hot summer nights, tank top and shorts. I was just about to turn in when I hear knocking. I peered through the peephole and despite the mask it's clear it's Jin. I thought about not opening it but if yesterday was any indication of what he'll do next, making a scene calling out Jagiya in the hallway it made me open the door for fear of a repeat performance.

"What?"

"Woah.. is that how you greet your boyfriend slash boss?" He sneered, squeezing past me and quickly took his shoes off, helped himself to a house slipper and settled himself on my couch.

I followed him, bewildered on what just happened.

"Excuse you? Didn't I make it clear that I didn't agree with your 'plan' of acting out as if we," pointing at myself then to him, "are dating?"

"Yeah you did, but you also said I'm free to do so, that's why I'm here. So you can just ignore me."

He is driving me crazy, seriously. How can I ignore him in this tiny space, while he occupy my couch in the middle of my apartment looking like that?! I shot him a look asking to care to explain what he just said.

"I'm acting out being your boyfriend by being here. I'm visiting my girlfriend's house. But instead of.. you know doing what couples do when they're alone.. I'm just sitting here minding my own business."

I went closer to him and sat next to him, hopefully this time it will get through to him, "when I said you can go ahead and live out this lie, that YOU blurted out, I mean to do it yourself, on your own, in your own space, without me.. Do whatever to convince your assistant or whoever else should be believing this lie."

He smirked, "oh, you mean pretend that you're my girlfriend just in front of other people, but don't actually do...?"

"Yes!" That's it, my message got through.

"Ah so like when I'm with others pretend I'm talking on the phone with you as if we're dating?"

"Exactly."

He pulled out his phone "Saab-ah, I think I'll be late but don't worry I'll be home to make sure I'm worth your wait, I'll eat you up.."

I put my hand over his mouth to stop him from talking and he just laughed at me!

"What are you thinking? You've lost the plot."

"Yah, that's what you said I should do." His windscreen laugh reverberating.

I grabbed his phone and took a selfie. "Here," thrusted it to him, "I think that's enough. Use that as a wall paper or something. Don't pretend to call me ever."

"He looked at the photo and smiled, "As pretty as this photo is, it's not girlfriend material. Nudes?" Handing his phone back to me.

Did he just call me pretty, never mind the nudes remark?

I rolled my eyes, "Can you just tell me please why you have to lie?"

"I thought you'll never ask." He grinned. "You see, I have to protect my reputation and your reputation. What do you think my assistant will think what we did after staying overnight here, needing a change of clothes?" He paused but before I can answer, "One night stand. Now that's not an issue if say I'm not me and you don't work for the same company and, just a few hours ago, same division. So factoring the boss-employee relationship, doesn't look too good don't you think? But if you're my girlfriend from way before that's ok. Not suspicious at all."

I was dumbfounded. "You thought all this, while lying here, on my couch, drunk."

He nodded, eyes closed with that tiny smile on his face. How can he look so darn cute one second and menacing the next.

"I'm a very thoughtful person. So, what do you think? Ready to play along?"

"No.." I protested. "I don't see the need for you to come over here, when no one is even here to see us together."

"Saab-ah, I thought you're smart." He shook his head as if very disappointed in me.

I'm not. To be honest I'm pretty dumb. Except when it comes to cooking, I remember the science behind every cooking technique, chemical reactions to create distinct flavours, that's my strength but in real life I'm still grasping how to.. life. That's why I really miss my sister, how she is my guiding light, my mentor but all of that is gone now, with her memories.

"We don't have to convince everyone, we just need to convince one person - my assistant, and she knows where I go every time, all the time. So me being here every now and then supports that we're dating — secretly."

"How do you explain why it's just now that you spent the night here if we've been dating for a while?" I'm invested in this now.

"She just started a few days ago. Before that, I just have my manager but since I'm going to take a more active role in this project I need an actual assistant. And I just don't have that relationship with her yet to trust that she won't be gossiping about this or reporting this 'misdemeanour'."

I nodded. I see where he is coming from now, as convuluted as it sounds.

"So are you with me?" His eyes begging.

"Ok fine. But no one else should find out about this. Not my team. I won't even tell my sister. Not even your members."

He shut his eyes and nodded in earnest agreement.

And that my friends is how it all started.

What Are We?Where stories live. Discover now