Just Us

(4) My English Babe

A knock on the door broke the silence in Lexi's office. Without exchanging any words, he got up from his chair and opened the door slightly. I could hear his secretary's usual sultry voice whenever she talked to him. A pang of jealousy ran through my veins and I wanted to rip her hair off. Kidding.

Honestly, at that moment, I could not care less if she decided to strip and jump on him. The laptop was still facing my way and the light emitting from the screen was a bitter reminder of my already falling career on writing.

The words, "...Good news is we will continue publishing Ruiz's works, however, the bad news is, she needs to come up with a mystery/thriller this time", were repeating in my head as I slumped forward the desk. The sudden force made me wince but I ignored the pain. It actually felt good so I ended up bumping my head against the desk repeatedly. The sound might have caught Lexi's attention since he was behind me within seconds and roughly pulled me by my collar.

Choking, I slapped his hand away as I turned around. "What the fuck is that for?" I whined like a baby.

He rubbed his palm against his face and sent me a glare. "Why the hell are you crying?"

My hands shot up to my cheeks and I felt the tears freely flowing down. I blinked repeatedly and looked up at the man with black tousled hair. Lexi fixed his glasses and wiped the tears from my eyes.

"I don't even know why I'm crying."

"I know. Just calm down, okay?" he said as he brought my hair back away from my face. "You've always been a crybaby."

Huffing indignantly, I stuck my tongue at him. A throaty giggle burst from the door and I saw Lindy, Lexi's whore of a secretary, shooting daggers at me while keeping a sweet smile to Lexis. How she does that, I have no idea.

"Aw, Vivi is a baby! She looks like one, too!" she cooed and even trudged towards me to pinch a cheek. "I think that's why no one takes you seriously."

A growl came from the bottom of my throat and I lunged at her. I would have caused some serious damaged on her cakey-face if it was not for my editor's strong arms around my waist. Grinning like a maniac, I latched myself to him.

With a scowl, I turned towards Lexi. "Seriously, love. Why don't you get a new secretary?"

With a pout, he looked back at Lindy. Smiling, he said, "I told you to look for new applicants." He paused and acknowledged the scorching woman. "Do you need anything else, Lindy? I need to talk to my girlfriend. Privately."

She blushed so hard I could not pinpoint the difference between her face and her tiny dress. She walked out briskly and shut the door with a loud bang. I winced and Lexi patted my head. I watched him go to his little kitchen and made some tea. The smell of chamomile and lavender mixing in the air were enough to calm my racing heart.

He went back and placed both teacups on the desk and seriously studied my face. We stared at each other for how many minutes before he took a sip of his tea and talked.

"We can't do anything about what the management wants so you have to veer your new novel to the genre that will satiate their empty pockets," he said seriously while typing away on his laptop.

I took a mouthful of the hot tea, letting the warm beverage do the thinking for me. He summarized my so-far-ten-pages novel and we discussed the necessary changes that would take place. He helped me create new character outlines and I started writing on his desk. We were working together, like how it had always been: Lexi was doing the editing, while I do all the drafting.

My mind was still stuck on the fact that I have to change the genre. Re-writing my novel felt like putting my own child for adoption. The thought itself made my hands tremble. Lexi must have noticed since he put his own on top of mine. I gazed at his dark brown eyes and I heard him sighed.

"For what it's worth, I love your new story," he said quietly.

The compliment brought a smile to my face. He rarely compliments me like this so it always fills my heart whenever he did so.

"Thank you." I paused, suddenly remembering his secretary. "By the way, when will you tell Lindy that you're gay?"

A snarl came from his lips as he sunk deeper into his seat. Annoyance coated his face and I smacked myself mentally for being stupid.

"I already told her. For like a million times," he replied. His eyes screamed exhaustion and I squeezed his hand.

"Well, just so you know, I don't mind being your fake girlfriend."




-

I stretched my arms as I got out of my car. Pink Bell Elementary stood prettily in front of me. The pink and blue buildings have colourful graffiti made by the students. I could clearly see the garden that was much alive with all the plants and flowers growing inside. Kids were running around playing tag, some were talking by the grassy fields.

I made my way to my usual classroom, greeting the children that ran towards me. Most of them almost tackled me down with a hug and I thank the heavens for the reliable flats that I have for four years.

I work as a teacher for English, and a tutor in Mathematics, making use of my college degree that costed more than enough to drown me in student loans. Though all of these debts have been paid when my novel shook the industry, and man, am I glad about it.

"Miss Ruiz!" a tiny voice called out my name and I looked inside my classroom and saw Kian waving his arms wildly while Dawn was riding on his back.

Kian and Dawn are both my first-grade students. Both are eight years old, and very much competing for the top of the class. Kian is a little Asian boy sporting the darkest of raven hair that I have ever seen. He has small brown eyes that always smiles at you. On the other hand, Dawn has blue doe eyes that always seemed so curious. Her long blonde hair is always braided and I wonder who does it.

"Hey, kiddos," I said and they bounded towards me. They jumped at me and I almost fell down on my back if it was not for Max Wright, the English department head, who supported my back with his arms.

Max, in all his plaided-glory, had his hair perfectly waxed to perfection that my knees buckled. He was smiling at us and I blushed in embarrassment at our position and I heard my students giggling. "If it isn't the infamous writer," he greeted as usual.

"Sup," I replied awkwardly. 

He chuckled as he pushed me straight up. The kids hugged his legs and he walked limply inside. I followed him and set my stuff on my desk and started getting ready for my classes before the other children arrived.

I let Max play with the two kids, a few conversations flying between us and I laughed at his corny jokes. I could feel my whole body warming up the whole time, and yes, I know I'm totally in love with him.

These pesky feelings started during my first interview almost two years ago. I was a nervous wreck back then when I bumped into Max, not knowing that he was the one who was going to interview me. He asked me what was wrong and he unknotted the bundle of nerves in my stomach with just his smile. The guy even offered me a fucking chocolate bar. If that ain't sweet, I don't what else is.

So, just imagine how much of a surprise it was when I saw him smiling at me when I got into my interviewer's room.

Going back, I ushered Max to get the hell out of my classroom since all of my students were already inside. Some of the little boys were snickering at their teacher's playful reluctance that I have to shushed them up.

"Vi," Max said.

"Yeah?" I asked curiously. I was looking up at him since his 6-feet frame was towering on me, a mere 5'2 human being.

"Let's have dinner later?"

I clenched my fists to avoid screaming and tried my best to compose myself. I nodded and he disappeared. When I turned to my students, all of them have smiles on their faces and I could not help but let out a squeal.

We started the class five minutes later my outburst, but let me tell you this, I was thinking about my date with Max.