𝘾𝙀𝙊. - 𝘾𝙀𝙊 𝙓 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍

11.

━━━

"You sound mad,"

"No, No, I'm just so shocked-!"

Leila swishes a glass of wine within her grasp, her sweatpants and black hoodie clutching against her relaxed body. She sprawls across my couch with my TV remote held within her other hand, my body sat beside her with my back pressed against the armrest of the couch.

"I mean, what can I say? My best friend on billboards? Magazines!? why didn't you tell me about the photoshoot-!?" She cackles with heightened enthusiasm, my cheeks arising painfully against my lifted smile, her humour seeping into me and leaving me laughing also. 

"So does this make it official?"

"...W-what?" I question, her head perking in the slightest to meet my gaze, as if her question was more obvious than she initially made it out to be. Without a verbal answer, I witness as she raises the wine glass to her lips, sips gently, and furrows her brows in a 'really?' tone.

I shake my head, chuckling against her attitude-laced expression. "C-C'mon Lei', that's completely unprofessional...!" I cannot stop giggling, the feeling of my blood gradually pulsing up the veins of my wrists, coursing up my arms, slithering across my neck, and slowly seeping colour into my cheeks with embarrassment ooze's nervous giggles from my throat. 

"Look - you're laughing-! so it is official, you two are a thing-!"

"Absolutely not...!" 

She continues to tease, sitting up with instantaneous, dramatic action, shoving her index finger through the air between us as she points to me. 

"No, No, you should see the look on your face, Y/N! you're getting all flustered; oh, don't tell me, you like the boss, don't you," She only pecks and pecks as I feel myself envelope under her determined, direct advances, doubling down as I physically sink into myself, glancing down to my lap as I feel the ends of my lips lift into an uncontrollable, high smile. 

"...I knew it..! you like your boss! god, that's scandalous, Y/N!"

Her words instantly slam my palms over my face in pure social humiliation, with actions speaking louder than words, my vulnerable yet giggly state speaks to her in the rawest, most obvious form. And Leila knows me. She knows me deeply, truly, and how to ooze the truth out without even trying. 

Though, as much as this would worry one; it doesn't worry me. 

I trust Leila. And she trusts me. Secrets such as these are inevitable to learn from, yet against a bond so tightly woven, they will never see the light of day by any other soul. 

Nevertheless, I am still embarrassed, as one would be to such a 'taboo' secret. Forbidden crushes are much more common than people like to make them out to be. From age gaps, professional relationships and such, all to be denied yet devoured within secrecy. 

Unfortunately, I have been brought to my knees within such an unbearably burning secret. Because at least to others there is always some sort of convenient loophole to make such forbidden situations work without repercussions, but within my situation, I know it is impossible for any such blessing. 

━━━

The skyscrapers that peek and surround Slava Corporations fill the gentle view through the towering, floor-to-roof windows bordering the room. 

Carpeted floors; a deep, yet flat navy. It's a large room, wide, with a rich, oak oval-styled table sitting dead centre of the room, high in levels of the building.