Chapter Ten

When Macy returned from the printing press, she saw Andrew sleeping on the sofa.

Oh, of course, the man will fall asleep. She just arrived at the apartment around twenty minutes past two in the morning. But the question is, why doesn't Andrew just return to his unit? After all, if Marcus is asleep, can't the man go home without having to wait for her?

Macy took a deep breath. She looked at the television that was still on and saw a list of movies. Looks like the man fell asleep while watching a movie.

She then approached Andrew's sleeping figure with wanting to wake him up in mind. However, she refused to do so because of how peaceful the man looked while sleeping. Moreover, the man was willing to take care of her son. It would be very rude of her to wake the man up just to tell him to go home and continue his sleep there. Macy just took off her jacket and put it on the coffee table and went straight to her room.

Soon, she came out with a blanket. And slowly, Macy covered the man’s body so that the man wouldn't wake up feeling so cold. Then she turned off the television. When she was about to go back to her room to take a rest and sleep, she suddenly remembered some of the scripts she brought home today.

The Editor sighed in frustration. Maybe she shouldn't have brought her work home.

She forced herself to take a pile of manuscripts on the nightstand beside the sofa where Andrew was sleeping and put it on the coffee table. She then took her jacket and went back to the room to get her pen and glasses.

Although she knows that she could have done her work in her own room, Macy chose to do it in the living room.

When she returned to the living room though, she saw that the man had changed his sleeping position. The blanket almost fell off. So quickly, she draped the blanket over to him again.

Then she sat on the floor with her back to Andrew who was fast asleep.

After putting her glasses on, Macy took out one script and started checking it.

*****

Macy slightly stretched her sore back.

Oh, she had just finished four scripts in a span of two hours. However, there are two other manuscripts left. With a long sigh, she leaned back on the sofa and glanced at the clock on the wall. It is now four in the morning. And Macy had finished two cups of coffee.

She closed her eyes for a moment as she massaged her neck and her shoulder.

Maybe I should just do this in my room. She muttered as she yawned.

Macy opened her eyes again and grabbed her phone. She checked some new messages from the printing department. The problem was resolved although she is one hundred percent sure that before the novels were published, the marketing department would again complain about the number of prints. But that can be resolved later.

Then she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her body was so tired and obviously asking for a rest. But looking at the clock, it's going to be difficult. It's almost morning. Maybe she can just prepare breakfast for Marcus and Andrew before she goes to bed.

And speaking of the man…

Macy turned and saw the man sleeping on her sofa. Honestly, she felt so strange seeing another man sleeping in her house even if it's just a friend. Especially with their awkward situation, she has enough reason to wake the man up and tell him to go home. But the problem is, she couldn't do it.

"Who are you really, Andrew Coangco?" the Editor muttered softly.

The question she just made, made her realize that she only knows the man as a writer, that’s all. But where can she find out about the great Andrew Coangco? All the information she got was limited to Writer Andrew Coangco and not about the man as himself; outside of his job of being a known Writer.

On the other hand, isn't that a violation of the work code of ethics? Looking for information about the author's personal life.

Haven't you violated it since you married Ken Reyes?

Macy snorted with her own thoughts. Ah, and the more reason not to do it the second time around.

*****

Andrew woke up at exactly six o'clock.

His system will be all awake whenever the clock turns its shorter hand at six and its longer hand at twelve in the morning and his body will respond automatically. He doesn’t really know the main reason why but, that's probably because since he was a student, he got used to getting up early. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked slowly. Oh, his whole body felt so sore.

Well, who wouldn’t when you slept on the couch crouching a little because the couch is too short for him?

Uh? Sleeping on the couch?

Andrew suddenly sat up and opened his eyes fully. He started to look around and realized that he was asleep on the sofa in Macy's apartment. "Shit!"

He took off the blanket, which he remembers that he didn't have last night before he fell asleep, and stood up. But there was something else that felt so different. The Writer looked at the coffee table which was filled with piles of manuscripts that he saw earlier on the nightstand. In addition, there were two opened manuscripts and several pens on the table. He also saw that there were two empty glasses. Moreover, Andrew also noticed that there was another blanket on the sofa.

"Good morning…"

Andrew suddenly turned and found Macy who approached him with another glass. He took a look at the Editor in her casual clothes – the woman looked so young wearing only a t-shirt and sweatpants. Oh, he also noticed the glasses.

"Coffee?" Macy asked as she handed over the mug of coffee to the man.

Andrew received the coffee cup and looked at its contents. Black coffee.

“I haven't added sugar or a creamer because I don't know how you like to drink your coffee. You

can add those according to your wishes," the woman explained as she caught him eyeing the content of the mug.

Andrew smiled briefly before he spoke. "No need. I like coffee without sugar or creamer in it. Thank you. Err… and I'm also sorry that while waiting for you to come home, I fell asleep here instead.”

"It does not matter. I actually should have called you last night so you wouldn't have to wait for me to come back. Oh, by the way, breakfast is ready. Have some before you go back to your unit. At least, this is my way of thanking you,"

The Writer blinked a few times. The Editor prepared breakfast for him? He will eat twice with the woman consecutively? At first it was dinner, and then now breakfast? What is next? Lunch?

Oh, stop dreaming, Andrew Coangco!

"You can now go to the table. I will wake Marcus up first.”

Without hearing his response, Macy then rushed to her son’s room. Andrew himself can only sigh. Well, if the woman has prepared breakfast, he must dig in because it will be rude of him not to. While sipping his black coffee, he walked towards the dining table and his eyes feast on what Macy had prepared for breakfast: toast, sunny-side egg, bacon, sausage, and some variety of jams in a bottle.

“American breakfast. I really didn't expect it,” he mumbled as he sat down in the chair where he had sat exactly last night.

Andrew put down his cup of coffee and took a toast and took a bite. Hah… he thought that the Editor is the type of a woman who likes traditional Filipino breakfast which includes either cooked rice or the fried one. But it looks like he was wrong. Furthermore, the dinner they had last night was pasta. He is really now curious what will be on the menu if ever he gets a chance to have lunch with the woman.

Macy then returned after a while and sat in front of him. But he didn't see Marcus tailing behind.

"Your son is still sleeping?"

The Editor glanced at him and smiled while her hands were busy spreading the jam on her toast.

"It's Saturday, Marcus will be hard to wake up during weekends and even on holidays. May I know…"

Andrew suddenly raised his hand which made the woman stop what she was saying mid-sentence. "I didn't realize this before,"

"W-what?"

He looked at Macy seriously. “Why are you speaking so formally to me?”

"Eh?"

“You always speak formally to me, even though I speak so casually to you. I, you. That sounds so stiff, Macy. We're only two years apart in age, right? You can call me my name and talk casually. That would sound more comfortable.”

After all, I once helped you to… Shit! Shut up, Andrew! Keep your mind out of the gutter!

The Editor blinked. “B-but you-”

"What did I just say?"

"I cannot do it. You are a client of St. Haven. It would be very rude of me if-”

Andrew cut Macy's words again. “Then talk formally when we meet for work. But beyond that, please just talk casually with me. Okay?"

Macy didn't answer right away. She just looked at him confusedly. She doesn’t know what happened. It felt like their previous conversation wasn't like this.

"Okay?"

She then just nodded. Well, even if she refuses, Andrew will try to force him.

Oh, he was actually a little surprised because the woman easily agreed to his proposal. Well, maybe he should keep his mouth shut. Anyway, Macy has agreed.

Andrew smiled faintly and took another bite of his toast.

He finished his first toast and then he took some bacon and a sunny-side egg. Well, it was such an easy and simple breakfast menu, but for some reason the man felt happy. It has been a long time since he had eaten breakfast prepared by someone else. Of course, not including the breakfast that was brought to him by his Agent.

As he is continuously digging in his breakfast, Macy just stared at him amusedly. The man surely knows how to eat.

"What time did you get home last night?" asked Andrew suddenly.

"Between two or three in the morning, I think."

His brows furrowed. “That late? Is the problem so complicated?”

Macy sighed softly. "There's been a bit of debate. Because the printer cannot cancel the amount that has been printed and the marketing insists on sticking to the amount that was previously agreed upon. Totally messed up.”

Oh, Macy is not used to sharing her work problems with other people. Even when she was still married to Ken, she just kept talking about work to a minimum level. That would be very unethical. Moreover, her ex-husband is also a writer at St. Haven – apart from being Macy's spouse. Well, at that time. But why did she even tell Andrew now?

Oh, maybe I should sleep now. It’s just that I am drained.

The woman sighed once again. She put half the unfinished toast onto the plate, then took off her glasses.

Andrew looked at her face closely. It was clear that the Editor was exhausted. Especially with the manuscript on the coffee table, there is a possibility that after returning from the printing press, she forced herself to finish several manuscripts.

"You're not sleeping," Andrew said, and no, that's not a question.

Macy looked at him and muttered softly. It seemed impossible to dodge what the man had stated if her face looked so tired. She rested her head on her palms and closed her eyes for a moment.

Andrew continues on looking at her. He honestly can’t imagine how the woman could keep up with her job. Macy clearly can’t even separate herself from her job hence neglecting what her body and mind needed the most: rest and sleep. "You should sleep. Don’t worry about the dirty dishes because I can take care of them, and when I’m done, I promise to go back to my unit right away.”

The woman mumbled again. But she didn't move from her chair at all. Andrew sighed. Looks like Macy has started to fall asleep which he can't really let it to happen.

“Macy, move to your room so that you can sleep properly.”

This time there was no response or even a murmur. The Writer exhaled slowly. He stood up and walked over to Macy. He then slightly waved his hand in front of her face to check if the woman was still awake or really asleep. Then he touched her shoulder.

"Macy..."

But who would have thought that the woman’s body would suddenly fall towards him? Out of reflex, Andrew supports Macy's body so that the woman doesn't fall since she was already asleep when Andrew told her to move to her room.

The man took a deep breath. It seems like he needs to bring the woman into her room.

He hesitated for a second whether it is alright to just barge in inside the woman’s room but he couldn't think of any other way. Macy will surely feel sore once she wakes up if he will let her sleep in a sitting position.

Oh my God…

Slowly, Andrew lowered his body slightly and wrapped the woman’s hands around his neck, then carefully began to lift Macy from the chair. Well, beyond his expectations, the Editor’s body weight is not as light as he thought even though he can still lift the editor's body with ease.

He glanced at Macy’s face which was now leaning on his shoulder. She fell asleep so soundly. Maybe because she was too tired, hence she didn't notice someone else carrying her.

"For a woman's size, her weight doesn't reflect her body size," Andrew muttered quietly and then started walking towards the woman's room.

*****