23- Appreciation

CHINKY's POV

CHRYS is really a weird one! Tsk.. I'll just forget about it, he's crazy. I don't wanna stress my bangs anymore.

I am at work and my morning sickness is overpowering me again. I am not feeling good.

Also, today is the voting day for the Kid's Christmas collections and couple outfit designs, which I had been selected as the team representative. Seriously, I'm nervous!

"Chinky, aren't you done yet?" said Sarah. We're at the comfort room because i felt nauseated.

We already have to go to the Conference Room to attend the Committees' polls. I was forced to move out of the cubicle where I was. Fortunately I'm not feeling dizzy anymore. If ever, she might pulled me to the hospital, because of my condition and find out later that I'm pregnant. Oh no!

We got out of the CR, then started walking into the Conference room, until we finally got inside. I swallowed tremendously when I saw people slowly coming inside.

"Hi Chinky!"

From behind, i felt a lightweight pat on my shoulder, so I quickly turned my back.

"Elixir?" He smiled at me.

"How's it going?" I was surprised when I suddenly heard the screaming and whispering of the women behind Elix, who seemed very "kilig" at seeing him.

"He's super handsome! But why is he talking to that girl with a think bangs and eyeglasses?"

"She might be his PA, and I heard that he was the cousin of our Boss from the States."

"He's really good-looking like the President!"

"Yeah, I think I already saw the man of my dreams."

I overheard the women behind us talking about Elix. And Me? PA? These monkey-looking girls... grrr... But unfortunately Elix was so focused on talking to me, so he didn't hear their praises on him.

"Hey, Chinky, are you listening?" Elix hooked me up. No! I'm not listening.

"Uhm, what is it again?" I asked.

He chuckled. "You're really cute!" he squeezed my cheek.

I laughed. "Don't always praise me, I might believe you." I joke.

But his laughter grew louder. "Then believe me because it's true!" he said, then he suddenly became serious and put his mouth to my ear. "You've captured my cousin's heart, remember?" he teased.

I was tickled by the warmth and fragrance of his breath. I heard the loud breathing of the women behind us, who seemed to be surprised by Elix's whispering to me or more correctly they were jealous.

I hit his shoulder lightly. "No! If you only knew."

Chrys didn't really marry me because he was captivated or he loved me, he married me because — because... Argh!

"What?" he asked unknowlingly. I swallowed hard. I almost lost my mind. Oh my! My tongue is really slippery!

"Huh? Don't mind me. " I said smilingly.

"Okay," he smiled. Really cute! If only Chrys is as smiling soul as Elix, the world might revolve at the right axis.

"Where are your team's designs?" Elix later asked.

All of the designs were then displayed on the projector. Every designs are beautiful. Next to the Kid's Christmas collection designs, are the individual designs.

"Sorry, I can't tell you." So, it is fair for everyone. A little while, a girl approached us.

"Excuse me Mr. Elixir Cruise, you can sit at the table for the Committees. "

"Okay." Elix replied to the woman.

"Are you one of the committees?" I asked.

He nodded and smiled. "Grandma is busy, so I'm going to replace her."

"Goodluck in your team's designs." Then he squeezed my cheek again. He said good-bye and followed the woman.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen! Now, we're all here for the polls, where our committees will be choosing the new designs to be included in our Kid's Christmas and Couple outfit Company collections. Our committee is now complete, so let's move on. " said by the emcee.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. Oh God! I am really so nervous. It is as if we are fighting for our lives! I heaved a sighed. This is it, pancit!

"Team X got twelve votes tied with Team Y." the emcee informed.

Wow! Close fight. We are the team Y. And what was even more frustrating was when I saw Chrys looking not so satisfied in any of the designs!

I noticed Elix was looking at me, so I smiled at him. Maybe he felt like I was on this team, so he voted for team Y!

"Mr. President," the emcee called Chrys, who seemed to be flying to the outerspace. "You haven't voted for our Kid's Christmas design collections yet." told by the emcee.

He's the only one left to vote! The winning team depends on him. Hope he votes for us--the team Y!

"The colors and designs were so-so, it isn't that attractive nor catchy to get the attention of the shoppers." He replied. Did he mean our designs aren't that good enough? "But I will give team X a chance to improve with their works, so I would go for team X." he said, and my shoulder dropped.

Suddenly I felt sad. It seems that everything that our team worked for; sharing of ideas, the collaborations and the sacrifices of Ms. Lucila at night to enhance the presentation of our designs were all wasted.

Tissue!!! I didn't notice that I was crying already. Suddenly I felt Sarah held my arm because she was crying too. Sadness were written on their faces. and it pained me.

But we didn't feel super bad because we lose, instead we need to work harder next time. I forced myself to smile at my teammates to cheer them on, life must go on.

"Hope you win the individual design." Sarah later whispered to me, referring to the designs for the Couple outfit. Oh my! I don't like to be double killed.

"I hope so." I simply replied, then I reduced the feeling of having to rely on it. Too much hope will kill you.

"Okay, team X got the highest votes for the Kid's Christmas collections category, so their designs will be included in our collection. Congratulations! And now, let's move on to the individual design category for the Couple outfit. "

Team X was thrilled with the excitement of winning. Even though it hurts a little bit, we're happy for them. Maybe that the project was really for them.

It's the dividual category! My heart is beating like crazy. Oh my! I was overwhelmed with a lot of emotions! I need oxygen! I'm suffocating!

"This is design of the participant number one," Emcee said, then the projector flashed the design. "Votes are now open. "

I'm participant number three in the individual category. Only four participants joined this project.

"What about participant number two? .. This is the design of participant number three? .. Number four? .." All of the total votes were counted. "Okay, designers number three and four got the same number of votes, seven each." The emcee informed.

Both participant number one and two got five votes. The committee is made up of twenty five people. And it was tie again? And guess who else on the committee didn't vote? Right! DB!

Then what? He will vote for other participant? Then it will gonna hurt my feelings again? Yes! I'd like to win, to lift our team's flag, but it's really difficult because everyone is competitive.

"Mr. President, you alone have not yet voted. " Emcee informed Chrys. I sighed. So, should he always be reminded of his vote? He's getting on my nerves!

"The colors and designs were okay, but they still need to work on the details. You need to put more passion on what you are doing, on the other hand, I would choose participant number—"

I did not hear what he said next, as I ran out of the conference room. I don't wanna feel the losing streaks. Times two is a pain for our team.

But before I could walk away, a soft hand was holding my arm. So I got startled.

"E-Elixir? What are you doing here?" Why did he follow me?

"I saw you run out and I got worried because you looked terribly sad." He replied. How did he know?

"I-I'm okay-" But then he suddenly hugged me tightly.

"All the designs were great, promise! I don't know why you're sad, but I don't want to see you sad. " He said.

"I—"

"Sshh .. I swear, they were fabulous!" he replied.

Then he gently tapped my back. I cried really hard.

I cried because someone comforted me like this. It's very warm and it feels so good—

"What do you think you're doing?"

An angry voice suddenly spoke. I quickly unravel Elix's arms around me and wiped my tears away. Fortunately, there were no people in the hallway because everyone was in the conference room. My eyes widened when I saw — Chrysler Cruise!

Chrys quickly came to us and suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Elix.

"Wait, Chrys, I mean Mr. President, I have something else to say to— "

"I don't care! Stay away from him! " he said harshly.

I just stared at Elix as we were walking away from him. He just nodded at me.

Wait! Why is this guy pulling me right now? What is his problem? It seems that he blames me for all the problems that he has.

I stopped walking and quickly took my arm away from him, which he turned to me.

"Why?!" my angry question.

I was so embarrassed with Elix because I had just left him at the hallway. He knew the sadness I am feeling right nlw, how about this devil? Instead of consoling me, what did he do? Argh!

"Why are you hugging him? What if someone sees you? " he said angrily.

My forehead wrinkled in an instant. "I didn't hug him! And what now if someone saw us?! "

His gazes becomes sharper and his forehead wrinkled even more, his eyebrows almost joining together out of anger.

"I am your husband, for pete's sake, Chinky!" he replied.

"I know, but no one knows about it, so, don't be so exaggerated. And Elix did nothing wrong. "

He did not answer immediately. "What if Grandma saw you?" he replied. I hit my forehead. I'm really annoyed!

"Are you jealous of Elix?"

I don't know why he was acting like this and that is all I can think of a reason why he was so mad at us. But he can't be jealous, right? No, he doesn't even like me.

I heard him laugh out loud. "Do you think you're beautiful enough for me to get jealous because you are always with Elix?" he said sarcastically.

See?! He wasn't jealous! "Fine! I'm not beautiful but I don't get why you get so annoyed every time I'm with Elix! Are you already having your andropausal period? " Can i punch him hard on the face?

"Dammit!" he answered annoyingly.

Aish! I turned and walked away from him, but he grabbed my arm again.

"What again?" I am so mad at him.

I stared at him intently because I was annoyed. I saw him swallowed hard and quickly avoided my gazes! This guy is really insane! My bangs are stressed.

I reclaimed my arm then turned to walk away from him, when he suddenly blocked my path. A few moments later he held out my hand and I was quickly pulled into the long hallway of CR.

"You know what, you're so bipolar, you're an andropause devil, you're so unreasonable, you're so hot-tempered, you're so annoying! I really don't want to be your wife anymore— "

I suddenly stopped talking when he quickly covered my lips with his lips!

My eyes widened when I realized what was going on. HE IS KISSING ME!

My heart starts banging inside my ribcage. I feel like all my senses are weakening and my body is trembing especially my knees.

I couldn't push him away because I was losing my strength. I tried to wake myself up but I failed!

Oh my! I could feel his soft lips on my lips and my mind is blowing! He is really kissing me and this is not a dream. But why is he doing this?

After a moment he ended the kiss. I still can't grasp where my spirit and my senses are. They seemed to be running away.

CHRYSLER's POV

I KISSED her so I could shut her mouth up! But did I really kiss her to shut her up? Damn! I don't know.

I quickly finished the kiss and she was still not moving, And before I left, I tried to wake her up because she looked dreamy!

Dammit! What's happening to me? I acted so childish and crazy! I sighed.

After that kiss, I thought she was going to knock me out, but she just kept staring at me as if she had suddenly lost her sanity. She must have been shocked for what I did. I was also surprised when I felt my lips sticked to hers.

WTH I did that for? Argh! I'm pissed! I almost exploded because mixed emotions. All I know is, it started earlier when I saw her and Elix together so long as I entered the conference room.

Like the usual thing, I saw Elix squeezing Chinky's cheek again. Right there and then, my blood started to boil!

Later when we were voting, I saw Elix smiled at her. And I don't know why I felt like — I wanna punch someone at that very moment.

I don't know why Chinky has walked out, but when Elix followed her, I didn't know I quickly followed them — until I see Elix hugged her. I got mad again, so I pulled her away from my cousin!

Yeah! I'm a big nuts! I kissed her — and the fact that I wasn't drunk was completely insane!

CHINKY's POV

WHAT happened again? With so much going on lately, it seems like I've forgotten everything. I felt like I was just dreaming. It was as though a bird had bitten my lips. I quickly wiped my lips. Did he really kiss me?

"Congrats, Chinky! You made it! "

From nowhere Sarah, Tanya and others suddenly appeared in front of me, smiling. I'm in the FD room. I didn't even realize that I was walking towards them. Suddenly, they congratulated me. For what?

My mouth was shut. Oh my God! Did they find out that I was pregnant? Wait, how did they know? Who gossiped it? OMG! I'm not ready to admit tit yet.

"How did you know that I was preg--"

"Congrats Chinky, I know you could win this category." Said Ms. Lucila, who just arrived.

"You have never heard the result of the winner in the individual category because you left that minute. But the good news was, you won, so congrats! " Sarah said happily.

I took a deep breath of relief. So, they were congratulating me because I won the individual category? Phew! I had an invisible sweat on my forehead. I thought they'd found out that I was pregnant. I almost revealed the truth!

But wait, did I really win the individual design category?

"Me? Really?" I just can't believe it.

They chuckled. "After looking at your design, our Boss said he felt something weird. " Says Ms. Lucila. Something weird?

"Your couple outfit design gave us a happy thought and a good feeling. He felt the 'Love' in you work. " Ms. Lucila continued. LOVE? In my design?

"Some committee members also said that you are in love." They laughed and teased me.

Me? In love? No way! And with whom?! "To Chrysler Cruise, your Devil Boss who kissed you earlier." Answered by my thought. So, I shook my head several times.

"Are you okay, Chinky?" they noticed that something was going on with me.

Why did that Devil Boss suddenly appeared in my thought and also that kiss. I am now having a hard time forgetting about it!

That man is crazy. He kissed and left me alone with a puzzled thought. Argh, really wanna kick his face!

But I should be happy because Chrys has voted for my design and he did appreciate my work, right? Oye! Rock en roll!

But I won't forget what happened, I'll let him pay for the kiss! He snatched away my first kiss! Nope, I won't kiss him back but just watch out!