Leave Before I Start?

"Please be here by 9 o'clock. I'll be waiting"

Haoran furrows his eyebrows in confusion. Does Zhi Ruo's voice changes within seconds or... Did something happened at work?

"Yeah, sure do" Haoran answers and hangs up after some seconds of silence.

Or, was it not Zhi Ruo he spoke to just now? Something's off about that woman's voice. Maybe that's how her voice sounds on the phone? Maybe he is the one mistaken.

*Knock|Knock*

"Can I come in?" The voice of Cheng echoes from behind the door and Haoran smiles a little before walking to the door to usher him in.

"It's already 8:12 Haoran, we're gonna be late!" Haoran rolls his eyes as he walks to his wardrobe again and searched for the perfect clothes with his eyes.

Until he finally got one.

He pulls out a yellow suit with a long face and a yellow tie also. Beside the wardrobe is the shoe rank, where he keeps his most expensive shoes on.

Well, both expensive and cheap shoes sits there.

"Woah! You're more prepared than I expected. What about me?"

"Will you just stand there and ask about yourself? Or will go get an outfit from your wardrobe?"

Cheng didn't reply, nor did he move an inch. He stood there, staring at his buddy like a lost puppy.

Haoran walks to the window with his hands in his pockets. He starts to remember the good old days, that led to the days he's in.

When he and Mei play together. When the both of them played with their parents, especially their mum.

The tragedy of his dad leaving his mum because of some unknown reasons.

Haoran thought deeply about his family for the few seconds he stood in front of the window and sighed. His life seems to not go the way he planned it. The way he dreamed for it to become? It isn't.

*BEEP|BEEP*

He takes his phone out and saw a message from Zhi Ruo.

Oh sh*t!

It's already 8:30am!

Haoran quickly grabs the white shirt he plans on wearing before the suit and quickly puts it on. He wears the pair of trousers he also brought out.

He rushes to the desk drawer beside the window and pulled out one of the drawers and carried a black suitcase. The suitcase contains all his necessary documents.

He quickly takes a spray on top of his desk and sprayed it all over his body. He packs a gel-like cream with his index and middle finger from his hair cream container, and spreads it softly on the surface of his palms, and then rubs it on his hair.

By the time he was through with all this and got his suit, headed for the door, he then noticed that Cheng, who has been standing there, staring at him with a pair of mischievous, levitating eyes.

"What?" Haoran asks annoyed

"What?" Cheng returns his question as if he don't know why he's asking him that.

"You've been standing there this whole time?"

"You didn't notice me, so-"

"Shut up!" Cheng immediately shuts his trap.

Haoran's temper is no good. His temper is bad. Too bad.

"Get something to wear. It's already 8:43am, the interview will soon start and look at you!"

Cheng did not move an inch. The anger he's trying to let out is because of Mei. He knows it.

"The appearance of an employee may make the employer to hire you..." Cheng starts.

He's targeting the hard end of Haoran. Even Haoran knows it.

"But if your attitude is not on the good side, you will have to leave before you even start"

"What does that mean? Leave before I start?"

Haoran stares into the eyes of Cheng, and that was when he started calming down.

Cheng has his own problems too. He shouldn't vent his anger on him 'cause he can't take the both of their problems on one head.

"Do you think I haven't rejected this offer before?"

Cheng's eyes showed a glint of pity. Gosh, this is so weird.

"Get dressed. We don't have time for this"

Haoran bypasses Cheng with the sensation of fury all around him. Cheng felt a sting of guilt hit him.

It's been awhile since they fought. But today, when the both of them has an interview to attend... It's just weird that today, out of all days, is the day that a fight wants to raise its ugly head.

Cheng sighs with closed eyes and shakes his head in disdain.

If this is how today has started, then he doesn't have much idea on how it will end.

And Haoran's anger issues is another case. That can be the key that will make him lose this job even though he hasn't got it yet.

Cheng went to his room with all these thoughts floating in his head.

He got prepared in a jiffy and went down to meet Haoran outside the house waiting for him with his bright yellow suit in his left hand.

As the door creaks open and Cheng walks out, his eyes couldn't behold the handsomeness of Haoran. He even blushed unknowingly just looking at the side view of this masculine creature.

The fragrance of his cologne oozes out and enters the nostrils of Cheng, making him feel different and think Haoran is a hundred percent better than him.

Haoran's hair is relaxed now. His once unkept hair now looks so... Perfect.

His broad shoulders and stern but handsome face can make anyone around, be it a girl of boy, fall for him immediately.

He looks... So prepared.

"You ready?"

Cheng snaps out of his imaginary state and takes a look at his watch.

It's 8:50am. Ten Minutes To Go.

"Always"

Haoran stretches out his hand abruptly and the cab driving in their direction stopped and they got in.

"GJP company. Please be fast Sir, we got only ten minutes"

The driver nods and put on the air conditioner that releases a cold pang of air.

Although the car is cold, Haoran still winds the car window down and poked his head a little to breath in the fast breeze of nature passing by the car they are in as the driver drives.

Haoran looks at his watch after sometime on the road just in times to see the minute hand strike 58.

Two minutes to go.

*****

Everywhere is bustling with activities. Zhi Ruo running here and there, making sure things are doing well.

Ai Mi is seen in her office. Her fingers are entwined together, and her elbows are on the desk, her mind spinning. Thinking about Haoran like never before.

She can't believe she's finally meeting him again. Haoran, her friend.

Well, they have to start over for Haoran to fully remember her, but, still... She's so happy.

She spent so much time thinking last night about the dress she would put on and her makeup and everything, but still ended up with a clever, yet unpleasant to the hearing, decision.

Be yourself.

She can't be who she's not, therefore, she has to be herself.

She closes her eyes and the look Zhi Ruo sent to her when she asked her to wait flashed her mind.

Does she have a thing for Haoran? Now that she's the one that was sent to him first? Is it love at first sight?

One thing's for sure though, and that is she, Ai Mi, does not have anything to do with Haoran.

If Zhi Ruo wants him, she can have him, Ai Mi Bao doesn't care.

He should just deliver the company, and that's all. End of discussion.

But, what if she ends up falling for him? How will that be?

"Ma'am?"

Ai Mi snaps back to reality and open her eyes to see Zhi Ruo standing in front of her.

"What is it?"

"He's here"

Ai Mi's eyes went straight to the digital clock hanging on the wall.

It's 9am. Sharp.