The Self-Debate

In her room

Lisa just got out of her bathroom after her night bath. She was blow drying her hair in front of the vanity mirror while thoughts of the conversation the three of them had in the dinner filled her mind. She then started her self-talk.

"My God Lisa Samantha Lee! What happened to your brain cells? Speaking and agreeing on this and that without thinking things through? Have you really forgotten everything? As in every little thing?"

"But I just want him to know that he's not my world anymore!"

"And now, you'll have to see each other almost 24/7! Why not sleep together then? So you'll be literally together 24/7!"

"Working in the same place and living in the same house do not mean we have to stick with each other every second of the day. I'm just doing this for my dad. That's all. I can set aside everything, including all the things he did in the past. I'll just be professional inside the office and civil outside."

"Yeah right. As if that would really work!"

"Of course it will. And-"

Knock-knock.

Lisa almost jumped out of surprise from the loud knock on her room's door.

'Did anyone hear me from the outside?'

She immediately finished blow-drying her hair, cleared her throat to compose herself and headed to the door to open it.

As she opened the door, she was awed by the six-foot tall man by the door wearing a simple pair of night clothes but still looked pretty attractive. He also smells nice which made Lisa assume that he was also fresh from his night bath.

How can a man be so sexy with wearing such clothes not even hugging his body? Maybe it's because of that slightly curved lips showing his dimples and those deep eyes.

She looked at her room, closed her eyes for a second to divert her attention and looked back again to the man who distracted her from her self-talk.

"Yes? Do you need anything?"

"Ahmmm... I heard something. I just went to check if you're...okay?" Lance curiously asked her.

'Am I speaking that loud?' she thought. "Ah-ehmm... I was just watching something on my phone. That might be the one you heard."

"Oh... okay."

That short question and answer was followed by a long silence. Both of them had things on their mind that they wanted to say but one was afraid of the other's reaction and the other was hesitating if those words were better left unsaid. In the end, they had a staring game. Look of longing both in their eyes but Lisa's eyes were mixed with hidden anger.

However, it was interrupted by a fake coughing behind Lance and both came to their senses and looked away from each other.

"Why are you still awake?"

"I just checked on Lisa to say goodnight" Lance answered first and she nodded in agreement.

"Goodnight dad!" She went to her father to kiss him on the cheeks then suddenly, her father hugged her very tight as if not wanting her to leave in his embrace. She heard him whisper, "I love you. You always take care" and he kissed her on the forehead. She saw sadness in his teary eyes.

She raised an eyebrow because she felt weird about that gesture of her father. But Philip immediately gave a wide smile and she gave the same. "I love you too dad... So much!" She hugged him again for a shorter period of time. She tapped his shoulder and said "Now you go to your room and have a good night sleep."

"Yeah, okay. I'll go ahead. You two should also go to your rooms. We need to be early tomorrow. Goodnight dear, goodnight Lance." Lance nodded as a response and Philip started to walk to his room. The two silently watched him.

As Philip entered his room and closed the door, Lisa turned towards her room and looked at the man who was blocking the door.

"Ahmm.. goodnight then." Lance said then moved to make way for Lisa.

Lisa entered her room and turned to face Lance.

"Goodnight."

Then she shut the door. Lance went to the room beside Lisa's. Before he entered his room, he glanced at the door of Lisa's room. He knew it would take a long time for her to fully forgive him, be open to him, and treat him genuinely just like the old times. But again, it would take a looooooong time. He sighed before he opened the door and entered his room.

The next morning...

The three got up very early to catch a 7 AM flight. Lance and Lisa need to bring Mr. Philip Lee to the airport by 5 AM.

This was one of the things discussed during their dinner last night. Mr. Philip needed to go to the USA to handle their newly opened hotel branch for a few months and hold meetings with the executives and head officers.

While waiting Mr. Philip noticed that Lisa was quiet ever since they went out of their house earlier.

"You'll be okay. I know this is the first time that I'll be gone for a long time but I know you. You'll do great. I'll call you from time to time. If you want, I'll call you every minute."

Lisa laughed at his corny joke. "Dad! Haha. You don't have to worry about me. But I hope you can come back soon."

She was not actually worried of the huge amount of responsibilities that she will be facing. She had already studied secretly all about the company especially it's operations because she knew handling the family's legacy is inevitable.

What really worried her was the fact that she and the man sitting on Mr. Philip's other side are alone in their house. She glanced at him and quickly looked away.

Sigh.