Exes' Baggage And More

CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE

Andrew never got used to all the popularity he got. With a crowd of people who always follow him. The screams of all the fans and dozens of cameras – both professional reporter cameras and smartphone cameras – were thrust at him.

But of course, he can't show his dislike. He has to be professional. Especially with David who is always by his side.

Today's discussion and book review went quite smoothly. Even though he didn't expect that the number of book club members who came would exceed his expectations. And the security team of St. Haven really tightened the security in the university area. From his arrival to the end of the discussion not a single person was caught as an obsessive fan. Or maybe they were trying to restrain themselves from showing themselves in front of him.

Who knows? Andrew just wanted to finish today's event and go home. Maybe Macy had picked up Marcus. It's already past lunch time, but he can still make healthy snacks for the two of them.

He glanced at his agent who was coordinating with Jino – Gil's replacement for today. They are still in the waiting room provided by the university. The event had finished almost an hour ago, but they couldn't leave the venue yet. The situation outside is already too crowded, so the security team of St. Haven is coordinating with university security so that he can get out safely.

But that takes a long time.

He took out his phone and tried to distract him. Until about ten minutes later, David approached him.

"We should wait a little bit longer," David muttered as he sat on the chair next to Andrew. "The conditions outside are really chaotic. I think the obsessive fan who was hiding started acting up. The security team is trying to fix it. Maybe half an hour."

Andrew sighed. "We've been here for over an hour."

"I know. Just like you, team St. Haven didn't like this situation either. But they can't take the risk,"

David said in a professional tone. Well, if David has said that, he can't protest anymore. And now they can only wait.

After nearly twenty minutes had passed, the door to the room opened. Jino approached a man who was about to enter with a tray containing several cups of coffee – probably from the campus coffee shop. Andrew watched Jino and the man who brought the coffee closely. Just a glance, then he focused on his phone again.

"Writer Coangco..."

Andrew raised his head and saw Jino handing one glass to him and another to David. He took one.

"Sorry for making you have to wait a long time," said Jino.

He just shook his head slightly. He looked down at the coffee cup in his hand. Hell, he is not used to drinking coffee that other people buy. But if he refuses, it's rude. David, who also received the coffee from Jino, glanced at the writer.

"Has the security team been able to control the situation?" asked David.

Jino nodded. "Almost. They just have to make sure the path to the main building's lobby door is safe enough. So, please wait a little longer."

David just smiled and let Jino go to check the situation outside. Well, maybe for an event like this it's not good if it's done at a university that has such a large area. However, lucky enough the PR team only scheduled for one day.

David then took a sip of his coffee and glanced at Andrew. "You don't want to drink it?"

"Is this safe enough?" Andrew muttered as he leaned back in the chair. If the previous week he would not mind drinking coffee that was not prepared by his agent, because they did the interview in a closed coffee shop. So, the possibility of foreigners - people who are not interested in the interview will not be able to enter. But this time it was different.

David glanced at the coffee cup. "You want me to drink some? Just to be sure. Or want to exchange with mine? I've been drinking just now," he said as he handed the cup of coffee to Andrew.

Without thinking, Andrew exchanged his coffee cup with David's. Let's just say he's paranoid, but he doesn't want to risk it. He watched his agent sipping his coffee. For a few seconds there was no reaction.

"I think it's fine," said David.

He breathed a sigh of relief. If not, then that's good news.

Just a few minutes later, Jino entered the room and said that the security team was ready. All the staff of St. Haven in the room were preparing to leave the university. Jino approached Andrew and David again.

"Although this is a little uncomfortable, the security team will set up barricades around you with a minimum distance of one meter. Just to make sure all the fans don't come straight to you, Writer Coangco."

Andrew stood up; in his hand he was still holding the coffee cup. "I do not mind."

Jino smiled. David then stood up and the three of them headed for the door. Until the agent who was behind Andrew suddenly fell with a groan in pain holding his stomach. The writer's eyes widen and go straight to David. The coffee cup just fell.

"David... hey, what are you doing?! David...!!"

It made all the staff of St. Haven panic. One of them immediately closed the door so that people outside could not see what was happening. Jino came over to David. His face turned pale. Hell, Jino has never experienced anything like this before. Especially when he was accompanying the writer doing a promotional event. Jino yells at one of the staff to call an ambulance.

"David, can you hear me? What is happening?!" asked Andrew, very worried.

But his cousin still groaned in pain. He didn't understand. A few minutes ago, David was still fine.

They didn't even eat anything fishy. And the last they drank was...

Andrew looked at the puddle of coffee on the floor. His coffee that David drank.

"Editor Jino, take a sample of this coffee," said Andrew.

Jino turned to him with a frown. "Coffee??"

*****