A Job With Him

Teases And Tickles

"I don't care if it's been 10 years. I've loved you in the past, I love you right now, and I will keep loving you until the day I die."

Joshua's words kept replaying in my mind. I was seated on a high-chair and in front of me was the counter table top as well as a handsome man cooking. After what happened earlier, he told me to just sit and wait while he finished preparing and cooking the food. The entire time while he was busying himself, I was staring and stalking his every movement. What he said clearly meant that we have become a couple again. I grinned at that thought as he took his seat opposite me.

"What are you smiling so much about?" Joshua raised an eyebrow and asked as he arranged the delicacies on the table. His voice snapped me out of my daze and I shook my head. I just remained quiet as I tried helping to place the food properly. However, my hand accidentally touched his and I felt electricity pass through my skin. This wasn't the first time our skins touched, but definitely the first when my mind wasn't in the right place. I quickly pulled my hand away and chuckled nervously. Joshua saw my reaction and teased, "Why? Scared I'll do something when touching me?" My face almost instantly flushed and I looked away. He must've seen how embarrassed I was since he let out a little giggle. He then sat down and told me to dig in. I thanked him for the food and was about to stuff my mouth with the pasta when my ringtone started playing.

"Girl I'm your candy
Special chemistry (Candy, candy)
Mature cinnamon (Sweet)
Dorky mint (Sweet)
What more do you want?
..."

I accidentally dropped the fork I was holding when I realised that Joshua now knows that I love his music so much, I've even set his song as my ringtone. Hurriedly, I grabbed my phone, apologized to him and said that I'll take the call. I didn't look at him the whole way until I made my way out of the kitchen. But I saw at the corner of my eye, a sly smile on his lips. Damn it! Now he was going to tease me about this when I'm back.

The call was from an unknown number. I picked it up and heard a male voice.

"Hello. Is this Ms Amber Lee?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"Ahh I'm your career counselor, Mr Wayne Ng. Remember the website 'Our Future Helper'? I am calling to ask when you would like us to meet to discuss about your career path."

"Oh, of course! Can we meet next Wednesday afternoon?"

"Sure. I'll set your appointment and we shall meet at the 'Baked Hearts' cafe at 3pm."

"Alright, thank you!"

I hung up the phone and grinned. Yes, I signed up for a career counselor since I really needed advice on what jobs to apply for. I hope, this could be my breakthrough on what I want to do. But wait, Wayne Ng? What was the Wayne in my junior college's last name?

I went back to my seat with a slightly worried expression on my face and Joshua noticed it. "Are you alright? You don't look so good. Who was that on the call earlier?"

If I ask Joshua what was Wayne's last name, he would definitely ask me why I needed to know. However, I didn't want to bring something up from the past and just shrugged the thought off. I mean, there can be more than one person named Wayne. It doesn't have to necessarily be THAT Wayne from my past. I replied Joshua with a small smile and told him that it was just a career counselor that I signed up for. He raised an eyebrow and gave me a questioning look at first but didn't ask any further.

An uncomfortable silence soon dawned upon us. I was about to break it when Joshua looked up at me and asked, "Why do you always call me Joshua now? I've rarely heard you call me Josh anymore." I thought about it for a while and understood what he meant. I guess I got used to calling him like that ever since he debuted. After all, his name was everywhere so I had gotten used to calling him that.

"Why? Would you feel on cloud 9 if I called you that?" I said with a teasing tone. Joshua looked at me, puzzled. His ears started turning red. I let out a giggle and got up from my seat. I took my empty plate and placed it into the sink. I was about to grab the sponge to wash the dishes when 2 large hands covered mine and pulled them onto my stomach. I was pulled and got into someone's embrace. I could hear his breaths as his face was near my ear. I wanted to turn around but he resisted me and instead, "Seems like you had fun teasing me huh? Now how about I repay the favor?" I felt his lips grow into a smirk and he hugged me tighter. I tried turning around again and this time, he let me. However, he started tickling me out of the blue and I started laughing uncontrollably as he touched my weak spots.

"J-Joshua, st-stop it please HAHA! Sto-op HAHAHAHA," I yelled out as I tried to escape from his grip.

"Nope, you aren't gonna anywhere until you call me Josh."

"F-Fine! Jo-Josh, okay? Now p-please sto-op!"

Joshua took a step back and stopped tickling me. He then pushed aside a strand of hair that fell on my face. "That's right, I only allow you to call me that. Because only one person can and that's Amber Lee, my first fan and the love of my life."