Secret Admirer

15. Teasing

Ciro paced back and forth in the hallway, the low hum of his family's chatter resonating from the dining room. His hands trembled, not from nervousness, but from the weight of the situation.

He had asked his mother to invite Kayu for a casual dinner, thinking it would be a quiet evening with just the three of them. All he wanted was to prevent Kayu from spending more time with June. 

But the evening had taken an unexpected turn. It wasn't supposed to be like this—an entire family reunion with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all present.

Kayu, sitting quietly at the far end of the table, looked out of place, visibly uncomfortable. 

Ciro had noticed his discomfort earlier and had tried to pull him aside for a breather, but now, his cousin—a woman Kayu didn't even know—had come to drag them back to the crowd.

As they sat down again, Ciro's aunt shot them a playful grin. "Ah, the couple who can't get enough of each other!" she teased, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Don't you two spend all day together at work? I thought you would need some space by now!"

Kayu blinked, visibly confused by her words. He had no idea what she was implying. 

To him, they were just colleagues who had worked together for a long time. Naturally, they had grown accustomed to taking care of each other in stressful situations. But to the rest of the family, it looked like something else entirely.

Ciro understood immediately and felt a knot tighten in his chest. His family—his entire family—thought he and Kayu were dating. 

It must have been the way they interacted, the unspoken camaraderie between them that seemed like the easy intimacy of a couple. They didn't know that it wasn't like that. There was no romantic spark, only years of working closely together.

Niam, Ciro's mother, joined in with a laugh. "I always knew it. You two were bound to get together eventually. You are perfect for each other!" Her voice brimmed with confidence, and the other family members nodded, smiling in agreement.

Kayu's face flushed red. He was far too polite to object, and instead, offered a soft, polite smile as the teasing continued. 

But Ciro noticed the subtle way Kayu's hand curled inward, hiding the engagement ring that adorned his finger. The ring that Ciro knew was from someone else. Kayu was engaged to someone else, and here they were, teasing him about dating his boss.

Ciro's stomach twisted as he stood up, gesturing for his mother to follow him out of the room. "Mom, I need to talk to you. Now."

Niam raised an eyebrow but followed her son out to the hallway. "What is it, Ciro? Why are you being so serious?"

Ciro ran a hand through his hair, struggling to find the right words. "Mom, you need to stop this. Kayu and I aren't dating. We are not together—never have been. We are just colleagues, that's all."

Niam's eyes widened, and for the first time, she looked genuinely surprised. "What? What do you mean you are not dating? Ciro, that doesn't make sense. You two are always together. And Kayu—well, I have seen the way he looks at you. I know thereis something there."

Ciro sighed, exasperated. "There is nothing there. We work together. We are friends, sure, but that's it. And besides, Kayu is engaged to someone else."

His mother's face softened into a knowing smile. "Engagements don't mean anything, sweetheart. You know that. People break engagements all the time. If you really like him, you could—"

Ciro cut her off, incredulous. "Are you seriously telling me to seduce my engaged colleague? Mom, I can't believe you're saying this. This is real life, not some romantic drama."

Niam crossed her arms, unfazed by her son's reaction. "Ciro, a mother knows these things. I have been watching Kayu for years, and trust me, he is in love with you. Why do you think he looks out for you the way he does? And those notes—you remember the gifts you used to get from your secret admirer?"

Ciro frowned. He remembered them well. For years, he had received small gifts and notes from an anonymous admirer—thoughtful, encouraging letters that had often lifted his spirits during tough times. "What about them?"

"I have seen the handwriting," Niam said, her voice soft but firm. "It is Kayu's."

Ciro felt his breath catch. The notion hit him hard. His secret admirer—someone who had been a constant source of inspiration and quiet support—was Kayu? He had never once considered it.

 Kayu, with his calm, professional demeanor, had never given any indication that he might be behind those thoughtful gestures. But now, hearing it from his mother, Ciro couldn't help but wonder if he had been blind to it all along.

"That doesn't make sense," Ciro muttered, shaking his head. "He has never shown any signs. Not to me."

"You just didn't notice because you weren't looking," Niam replied softly. "But I have seen the way he looks at you when you are not paying attention. It's not the way a secretary looks at his boss. It's the way someone looks at the person they love."

Ciro was silent for a long moment, trying to process everything. His emotions were a tangled mess of confusion and disbelief. 

Kayu had always been there—steady, reliable, a constant in his life—but he had never imagined that there might be something more. And even if there had been, it was all in the past now. Kayu was engaged, and Ciro had no right to interfere in that.

Though he didn't approve of June, he wouldn't hit on a committed man. He had his principles.

"I think you are wrong, Mom," Ciro finally said, though his voice lacked conviction. "Kayu is with someone else now. Whatever might have been, it's too late."

Niam's laughter was soft and kind, but her words carried an edge of stubbornness. "It's never too late, Ciro. Not when it comes to love. Engagements break, people change their minds. You just have to show him that you are worth it."

Ciro stared at her, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "You are really giving me this advice? To go after someone who is already engaged?"

"I want what is best for you," Niam replied, her expression softening. "And I know that Kayu is the best you'll ever find. Don't let him slip away."

Ciro didn't respond immediately. His mind was a whirlpool of thoughts—memories of Kayu, the years they had worked together, the laughter they had shared, and now, the possibility that he had been blind to something deeper. 

But even if what his mother said was true, it wasn't as simple as pursuing Kayu. He couldn't—he wouldn't—be the reason Kayu's engagement fell apart.

"I will think about it," Ciro finally said, his voice low. "But I can't promise anything."

Niam smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. "That is all I ask, sweetheart. Just think about it."

As Ciro walked back into the dining room, his gaze flickered to Kayu, who was still sitting quietly, politely smiling at Ciro's cousins as they continued their playful teasing. Ciro's heart ached with the weight of everything he had just learned, but he forced himself to smile and rejoin the group.

Whatever happened next, he would deal with it in time.