WHAT IF???

Chapter 20: Forbidden Love

The next morning, Sam woke up to find Mon already dressed and fixing her makeup in front of the mirror.

"Why are you all dolled up so early?" Sam asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

"I thought I told you I need to go home this morning, so I'll be heading out too," Mon replied, still focused on her lipstick.

Sam hugged Mon tightly, feeling sorry that their weekend together was being cut short.

Mon gently broke the hug and suggested, "Go on, Sam. Get ready, so we can still have breakfast together before we leave. I'll go downstairs and start preparing something for you."

Sam nodded, feeling remorseful, and headed to the shower as Mon left the room.

The weekend concluded with Mon and Sam maintaining silence between them, allowing Sam to revert to her usual routine to avoid arousing suspicion from Kirk.

At the start of a new workweek, Noi displayed evident anxiety while making her morning coffee in the pantry. Observing Noi's behavior, Mhee attempted to address her concerns.

"Noi!" Mhee called out, but Noi remained unresponsive.

"Noi, what's wrong?" Mhee repeated, tapping Noi's back for attention.

"Mhee, I can't shake off this thought since last night..." Noi expressed anxiously.

Curiously, Mhee inquired, "What's bothering you, Noi?"

"What if Mon is the ex Sam mentioned before?" Noi replied.

Mhee hurriedly interrupted Noi, urging her to be cautious. "Noi, don't let that slip from your lips."

While Mhee comforted Noi, Nuch, Yha, and Chin entered the pantry for their morning coffee and overheard their conversation.

Yha interjected, "Noi, that's not a good joke."

Chin chimed in, "I've always felt something was off."

Yha defended Sam, saying, "But we have no proof."

Intrigued, Mhee asked Noi, "How did you come up with that idea?"

Noi replied, "Kirk called me last night, asking if we have an employee named Mon. I confirmed it, and then he asked if Sam and Mon frequently see each other."

Anxiously, Noi added, "I couldn't lie to Kirk. I mean, it's Kirk, our boss's husband."

"Exactly! This is our boss's personal life we're discussing," Yha defended Sam.

"But Yha, you mentioned seeing Sam talking with a fair-skinned lady last time," Chin said curiously.

"Yes," Yha confirmed. "But I didn't get a clear view of who it was," she added.

"No way!" Nuch exclaimed, startling everyone.

"I remember their intense gaze that day I needed Sam's signature," Nuch recalled, with a thoughtful expression.

"They exchanged glances, their eyes communicating silently." Nuch added, reaffirming the significance of the moment.

"Whose eyes are communicating?" Kirk's familiar voice echoed in the pantry, drawing everyone's attention.

Mhee quickly responded, "Oh, that's nothing. It was just a scene in our favorite TV drama."

Kirk chuckled at the explanation. "Ah, I see. Well, morning chat is better with a good breakfast, right? Come on, dig in." He distributed the breakfast to everyone. "I'll just go see Sam."

As Kirk left, everyone focused on their food, avoiding further discussion of the previous topic.

Meanwhile, at Sam's office, Sam called Mon to check on her whereabouts and if she was running late.

"Mon, where are you? Are you running late?" Sam inquired.

"Why the rush, my love? Let me guess, you missed me?" Mon teased in response.

"You know I miss you every time you're not with me," Sam replied affectionately.

"I'll swing by in a few, darling. I'll grab us breakfast. So, pancakes with coffee, or just coffee with me?" Mon teased with a flirtatious tone.

"Oh, Mon, you know the answer to that. I want you for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, and even for dessert," Sam responded, giggling along with Mon's banter.

As their playful exchange continued, Kirk knocked on the door and slowly entered.

To Sam's surprise, her tone on the phone shifted to seriousness as she replied to Mon, "Maybe check your options first before reporting to me. I'll call you back; just need to talk to my husband for a while."

After ending the call, Kirk entered and handed Sam a takeout bag for breakfast.

"Just dropped by to give this to you. You left so early; I thought you hadn't had breakfast yet," Kirk replied.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the call, Mon understood the signal from Sam about what she wanted to convey. So, she decided to comply, stopping by the nearest cafe to grab some breakfast for the love of her life.

Leaving the cafe, Mon smiled as she collected the food she had ordered for Sam. Tee and Jim entered and spotted Mon.

"Mon!!" Jim cheerfully greeted her, giving her cheeks a playful smack. Mon greeted them back, and they guided her to a table for a quick chat.

"How are you?" Tee gave Mon a warm hug, while Jim noticed the two sets of breakfast.

"I noticed two sets of breakfast. Are those only for you, Mon?" Jim teased.

"Oh, um... it's..." Mon stuttered, unsure whether to confirm whose breakfast the other set was for.

"Jim, don't be like that. We know exactly who that's for," Tee joined in the banter. "The question is, why the need to buy breakfast for her?" Tee added with a grin.

"Um..." Mon attempted to divert the topic.

"Mon, is there something you're not telling us?" Jim pressed.

"Um, Sam and I..." Mon stuttered, feeling the weight of Jim and Tee's anticipation.

Unable to evade the question, Mon finally replied, "Sam and I officially got back together."

"That's my girl!" Tee exclaimed, clapping her hands in victory, while Jim frowned in disappointment.

"Mon! You do realize Sam is married, right?"

"Sam isn't in love with Kirk, Jim. You know that. She should be with the person she truly loves," Tee replied, siding with Mon.

"But Tee!! Their relationship is wrong," Jim exclaimed.

Mon interrupted the exchange between Tee and Jim. "Guys, guys... Stop. I know it's wrong. But I love her, but I can't deny that her marriage still bothers me," Mon confessed.

"Mon, I know it's your life, but I'm just concerned for both of you," Jim replied.

"In the eyes of the law and the people around you, Kirk is Sam's legal partner," Jim added. "What if Kirk finds out, or her grandmother... Mon, it will be chaos," Jim warned.

"Jim, can you please stop overreacting," Tee interjected, trying to calm Jim down.

"But Jim is right, Mon. I trust you both, but have you found out why Sam married Kirk?" Tee asked.

Mon sighed. "Actually, we haven't talked about it yet. But who cares anymore? What else could I not accept for Sam, after I accepted to be with her again despite of her marriage."

"I understand that you're in love, Mon. I'm happy for you," Tee said gently. "But please, if the time comes when this has to stop, please stop. You know this kind of relationship won't last forever."

Mon leaned back in her chair, letting out a sigh as she nodded in agreement with Tee's words. They continued their conversation while Mon waited for Sam's text indicating she could come to the office now, after Kirk had left.