10 10

After he said that, I immediately went out of the office, called Andz to meet me at my condo and went home. I forgot everything about my work. But I didn’t really mind it because I know that he’s there for it.

I prepared snacks and some drinks when Andz went in.

“Why, Niks? What happened?”

So, I told her everything while she’s just munching on the snacks.

“What did happen to you last night?” I asked Andz while I reached for some snacks.

“I don’t remember. I just woke up because someone is waking me up. I think it was Jason who was waking me because I remember we shared a cab together going to the hotel. The next time I woke up, I was in the correct hotel room and my phone was ringing. Then, I’m here.”

The events are really suspicious. I suddenly got dizzy. Then the shouting at the bar, waking up at his hotel, and the things he said a while ago.

“Oh before I forget. Why was there screaming last night? Did a famous celebrity come?”

Andz avoided my gaze. She hid her face so I wouldn’t be able to see it. I got the glass that she was holding and faced her to me.

“Andz, tell me. What happened?”

“I saw Jason text your boss last night. Then he suddenly appeared at our table last night. It was good timing actually because the other guy was forcing you to come with him last night. I wasn’t able to help you because I was a little dizzy back then.”

I let her go and reclined against the sofa. Jerk? He saved me from the creepy guy last night? Why? Also, is he the one I heard whisper something in my ear?

I went to the office earlier than usual. While in the elevator, I brought out my Samsung Note 10 from the office to check my emails and calendar. I was focused on it until I reached my office. But I was surprised when I saw Jerk still inside my office sleeping on the sofabed.

I quietly walked towards my table so I could bring my things down. Then, I brought out my blanket from the cabinet and slowly covered Jerk with it. I looked at his face. His high-bridged nose, thick eyebrows and eyelashes, and large yet thin lips. He also snored. I adjusted the temperature of the aircon and put it on swing so he wouldn’t catch a cold. Poor him, he balled himself up because of the cold temperature.

Wait a minute. Poor him? Jerk? I woke up from the things I was saying and just returned to my desk to start work. It was 9 in the morning when I felt hungry. I was about to stand up when my office door suddenly opened.

“Hi, Niks! I brought coffee and muffins!” Jason declared as soon as he went inside my office.

This, in turn, woke Jerk and immediately stood up. Both men looked at each other and both of them wondered why the other was here. It actually looked like there was a staring contest. I cleared my throat so I can get their attention.

“Good morning, Jason. Since the other night you’ve been MIA. Good you decided to show up in my office.” I went and sat on a chair near the coffee table.

“Ah, yes. Andz told me everything. I went here to apologize and to invite you also for lunch.” He placed the things he brought on the coffee table and sat on the sofabed that wasn't cleared up.

Jerk sat down on the sofabed and got a muffin and a coffee cup.

“Hey! Dude, that’s not for you! It’s for both Niks and I!” Jason tried to pry the muffin and coffee cup from my boss but he didn’t succeed.

Jerk then faced the other way so Jason won’t be able to get the food from him. He decided to just avoid Jason and continued eating. Jason, on the other hand, looked like a child who had his candy stolen by bullies. They honestly looked cute because they looked like siblings.

Jason and I ate and shared stories while Jerk stayed beside Jason and just busied himself with his phone. Not long, Rose entered the office to inform me that the candidates for my position are ready for an interview inside the boardroom. Suddenly, Jerk stood up so Jason and I looked at him with curious eyes.

“Stay here, Nicole. I’ll take the interview.” He said as he left the office.

Jason and I looked at each other. “What happened to him?”

I took a deep breath before I went on and told him what happened last night. It took me more or less 30 minutes to tell him all of it. Jason just stared at space after.

“Wow. I didn’t know that Leig would have a side like that. Usually he’s just stoic and unemotional.”

Suddenly there was a loud cry we heard from outside. We saw a woman crying while being consoled by Rose, going to the elevator. The boardroom door opened widely and a very angry Jerk came out. He isn’t frowning or anything but anyone can see in his eyes his anger. Good thing that my office was majorly made of glass that’s why Jason and I can watch the tantrums of the Jerk. Hahaha

Jason shook his head. “Oh, Leig. You’re still the same after all these years.”

I looked at Jason with a curious face. “Why? Before I left the main branch, he’s like that right? Did something happen when I left?”

“I don’t know if I can share this with you, but I’ll still say it. When you left, at first, everything was okay. Then, one day I got a call from him, he’s saying that he misses her. I thought at first it was Jane but when he said “When she left the office,” I got confused. I didn’t know the ‘she’ he was talking about.”

“But, Jason, who is ‘she’?”

Jason suddenly looked at me seriously. “What? Is there something on my face?”

“No, Nicole. I’m looking at the answer to your question.”

“Me?!”

I was confused the whole day after talking with Jason. Why me? Also, who’s Jane? What’s wrong with Jerk? These are the questions that are running over and over in my mind until I’ve noticed that night came and the Jerk and I are the ones left on the floor. I avoid him at all costs but in the end, we’ll be left in the office.

I was woken up a bit when Jerk placed a tupperware of food on my table. I saw that it’s tapsilog - my favorite go-to food! I looked at him and watched him sit and place a tupperware filled with the same food.

“Thanks. How did you know?” I asked him while examining my tupperware.

“I asked Rose. Also, I’ve found a replacement for you here. Next week, I need you to go to Manila.” He said to me while not even looking at me.

Did he find a replacement for me so easily because he wanted me in the main branch again? Oh, no. I better stop thinking like this. What Jason shared to me is really bugging me out.

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