The starry gaze

"It's been three days since we met"

Tilting head with a hopeless expression, L whispered to herself. Her eyes stared down at paper. She did not even catch his shadow. "Maybe he is avoiding me?" L's eyes glinted. "He must be denying his interest in me" As delusional as always, she convinced herself proudly.

The whole day, L worked hard by motivating herself with the amount of money she would be obtaining in the end. She even skipped the lunch. Now, night approached. "Ugh!" Stretching, L grinned. The work had been accomplished at last. She could return now! "How great..."

There was no one around her since they had left an hour ago. "I wonder who is still working..." With a smile, L strolled around to check the counter in front of the man's office. Luke was nowhere to be found although the gap under the office's door had the light piercing outside.

"Adelio is such a hardworking man" Frowning, L sighed to herself. She had not seen him step out of his office except the time for meeting. He could concentrate for a long time. Still, it was not good news for her. She must meet him frequently to grasp his attention firmly.

"I better do something tonight"

The clicking sound of the door startled the woman who was murmuring to herself. "Oh, shit" She ran, heading towards her desk. She then sat down, pretending to collect the files and prepare to leave. To leave the building, Adelio had to pass by her desk for the lift.

"Ah, Boss!" Over the appearance of the man, L jumped up. Surprise echoing in her tone as the man scowled to meet her. Adelio held his phone, and the car key. He believed the employees had left already. Yet, he encountered this woman alone at her desk. 

Just as when he thought he would not bump into her, she appeared before his eyes. It seemed he could not avoid her always due to the circumstances. "It is almost eight. Why are you still here?" He threw a query. The distance between them embraced the awkwardness.

L panicked over the question; pretending. "There were a few papers to finish, Boss! I am sorry if I disturbed you" Bowing her head, she apologized. Causing the man to blink. Bizarre. This woman kept apologizing. Not to mention how frightened she appeared to face him.

"I don't recall saying you disturbed me"

Adelio retorted. A scowl displayed across. It was when L raised her head. She, then, gasped. "Oh my! I am sorry for accusing you, Boss! But I swear, I did not mean to accuse you intentionally! Please forgive me!" Again, she bowed.  This time, the man let out a sigh of annoyance.

She was getting on his nerves by apologizing repeatedly. "Return home" Stating two words, Adelio walked away. He decided to leave the situation. He could not continue it calmly anymore. "Is he showing his concern?" Muttering, L straightened her back with a frown.

"Whatever" She rolled her eyes, grabbing purse and files. "Wait! Please wait for me! Boss!" Chasing after, she shouted to catch the elevator. Thankfully, the luck stayed on her side. Adelio let her step inside the lift though it was a bit stunning to see her leaving right away.

"Thank you." She beamed. Standing a bit far from the man as silence conquered. He did not reply. Maintaining his tranquility. "Can I make a request, Boss?" Eyeing down, L voiced. Attracting the attention. Adelio's dark brown eyes shifted upon the woman.

Without a word, he stared.

L frowned. Why the heck was he being silent?! The silence continued. Causing the woman to look up in curiosity at last. And their eyes locked. To L's surprise, Adelio did not break the eye contact. He stared in silence while patiently waiting for her to state. L gulped.

The right reaction to this situation as Larissa would be simple. "I am sorry!" Quickly, she peered down.  Annoying the man, a bit. "Speak" Adelio voiced. "It is just, the aircon... is not working properly, Boss.  I fear the heat might disturb our concentration" Fidgeting, L notified.

Her statement made the man furrow brows. This was unanticipated demand. He expected her to ask for salary. "I will tell Luke to take care of it" Turning his head to focus to the front, he assured. "Really?!" L's head lifted in bliss along with the stars in the gaze.

For a moment, Adelio peered down through her eyes. Stars. They were gleaming with delight. This kind of starry gaze sure held a certain charm. The man, unknowingly, drowned himself in the starry gaze. "Boss, is there anything on my face?" Batting her eyelashes, L asked.

It was when Adelio inhaled deeply.

No, he did not find her gaze charming. He was just thinking. Right. His mind was filled with puzzlement. How could someone be this happy over such a mere matter? Also, she did not seem terrified of him now.  Right. That's what he was thinking. Adelio convinced himself.

"No" He turned. Gulping. "Luke will get it done tomorrow" To change the topic, he continued. "It is such a relief, Boss! I thought you wouldn't accept my request! But I must have misjudged you! You are so kind! How did I end up thinking the opposite?! I am sorry!"

L flashed her white teeth. The way she disclosed her impression on the man perplexed Adelio more. So, she was scared of him indeed. She did not hesitate to reveal how she thought about him either. Such an honest woman. What were these people thinking of him anyway?

Driven by the starvation for success, Adelio became unaware of the surrounding being terrified of him more. He believed he had nothing to do with the wall between him and the employees. Now, he had to reconsider.  Reflecting on his actions because of this woman.

L's lips' corner curved up.

"Oh! We have arrived finally! Have a good night, Boss! I will work harder tomorrow! Thank you also!" Waving with a smile, L rushed out of the elevator first. Leaving the man behind like that. Once frightened, now brightened. She sure was a puzzling woman to understand.

He was sure the woman was scared to face him even, but she changed in a blink because he allowed something she asked for. "Weird" Adelio scowled. Pressing the ground floor button. Just as Luke affirmed, Adelio drove to the K café to enjoy his night coffee alone.

Not seeing the fate the woman had pulled strings for. "Welcome, Sir!" the girl greeted Adelio who had become the regular visitor. He was still in his work suit, considering what to have tonight. "One espresso" He ordered. "One espresso. Anything else?" "No"

Adelio enjoyed the espresso in the café alone when he got his order. Some people were working with their laptops in the café, meanwhile, Adelio stared at the painting on the wall across his seat. In the painting, the woman in dress was smiling on the swing under a bright sunlight.

Her smile outshone the sun.

She looked genuinely delighted so that he felt a wave of bliss on the inside. He even bought the exact painting like that to observe at his apartment. Whenever he felt down or lost, he would admire the painting in silence to clear his mind. It was that captivating much.

All of the sudden, Adelio's mind thought of the woman's starry gaze. To be precise, Larissa's starry gaze. He blinked; shaking his head to kick the thoughts out. "I must be tired" He mumbled and squeezed his eyes. This could not be happening. He must be exhausted to imagine things.

After a few minutes, Adelio checked the watch on wrist; realizing it was time for him to return as the cup was empty. He should rest up to wash these strange thoughts away as well. "Thank you, Sir! Please pay visit again!" The girl flashed a smile when he was about to leave.

Howbeit, as he reached near the door, a woman in a dress rushed inside. Causing him to furrow brows and stand still to avoid bumping. And his eyes slowly widened once he set his gaze on her. The perplexing woman from the company! She was right in front of him again!

"I am sorry! I was trying to get works done!"

Without sparing a glance, L beamed towards the waitress who was also the part-timer. She had been waiting for this encounter! "Ah, Risa! It is fine! Get ready! Customers are going to rise!  Manager is in kitchen!" The girl waggled her head beneath a grin. "Thankfully"

L sighed with a relieved smile. "Oh! Sorry, Sir! I did not mean to get in the way!" She promptly stepped aside when she noticed the man. And L's eyes fell upon the man standing still. She gasped. Eyes widening. They both stared in shock as Adelio drowned in his own world.

How come she was here? Was it because she crossed his mind so that he ended up imagining things like this now? Was this occurring for real? Was this only a dream? Adelio questioned everything around him as L knew she had won this round successfully.

"Boss?" A voice trembled in shock.