It takes the both of us

Where we started.

We arrive at max's restaurant in the middle of 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock in the afternoon. He held one chair for me so I replied thanks to him.

For a boss he's quite gentlemen and generous to his employee and I found it lovely side on his personality.

"My client is not coming today"

Seriously?! What a waste of time!

By this time maybe I had already finished reviewing the expenditure of company.

"Since we went this far let's eat as well" says Jhotam.

No thanks! I'm saving money so I'm not goin' to order in this expensive restaurant.

"Feel free to order don't worry I won't charge it to your salary...My treat"

What on earth? The Boss treating his employee? Take note it is max's restaurant one of an expensive place to eat.

"Think of this as token of my appreciation for your very delicate service"

Do I have a choice? It's not always thanks giving day I better grab this chance. After a couple of minutes our order is being served.

As a professional I know how to act in this situation.

Control yourself from being a food monster. It is really hard to hide the excitement of attacking the mouthwatering food when the truth is you really want to eat it with bald hand.

"So do you have boyfriend?" he suddenly asked.

what's with that out of the blue question!?

I almost swallow the whole legs of chicken. I'm in the state of shock and shame, why ask me such personal question all of a sudden?

Don't you know the ethics in working place? but come to think of it we are not in working area but still it's too personal were not even friends.

"I have one before, but we broke up right after college graduation" I replied.

We don't have much to talk since we are not really close to each other. It's like a business meeting without agenda...

"May I excuse myself for a while I'm going to washroom sir" He just nod.

Before heading back to our seats I checked my reflection first in front of the mirror. On my way to him I found myself unconsciously staring at him from distance.

I didn't expect him to turn his gaze in my direction. Luckily, I was saved by the waiter who appeared before me, it was a perfect interruption it gives me some lame excuse to deny the fact that I'm actually staring at him.

"I see you are already done sir---" supposedly I will ask him if we are heading back to office because I'm not yet done eating my food; if he really wish to go back to office I cannot argue with that

"Take your sit we're not heading back to office not until you are done too" he may look strict but deep inside he is really a caring and considerate boss, I'm glad that I applied in his company.

I feel shy towards him but I cannot just ignore the food, so I followed what my stomach says.

I notice that there's a pair of eyes watching me, it was my boss and he is smiling at me.

I wonder if there's dirt in my face as far as I remember I eat neatly and orderly.

"Don't worry there's no dirt in your face" Is he a mind reader? How'd he know that I was asking myself if there's dirt in my face.

"I'm just amused you know it is actually my first time eating together with my employee"

There his dimples are greeting me again "I'm glad I experienced it"

I feel like he is looking through my inner core...on the other hand maybe it is just my troublesome imagination.

"I'm really thankful sir for treating me today"

I forgot I haven't thanked him yet.

"Can't you drop the formality?"

How can I? He's my boss after all I cannot treat him with informal manner.

"You know, you can treat me as friend outside our working place. Since you're done already shall we?"

I nod, I walked next to him. We manage to reach the parking area without making any sound.

Right now he is driving at the front seat while I'm seating in passenger seat.

It's almost 7 in the evening when we finally arrived, We encounter few of logging out employee in the lobby.

"Goodbye sir" each of them bids goodbye to Jhotam, He replied using his famous nod.

Since I'm working over time I'll stay here for about 1- 2 hours maybe? Depending on my load.

I start working with the planner, recommendation and proposals while my boss is working with his computer and a mountain of papers beside him.

Today is really a working and tiring day can someone call flash? My back hurt so as my ass.

I've been working with my ass for freaking straight 2 hours and a half.

"It's getting really late and you really look tired you can go home now besides we still have tomorrow"

Finally! Right now I really wish to throw my exhausted body on my bed.

"Thank you sir"

"Did I already mention that 'sir' will not be used whenever we're alone"

"but-" then how would he like me to address him?

"call me Jhotam are we clear?"

"y-yes"

"Good... pack your things I will turn off the computer first then were going downstairs"

Only the night insect's is the visible sound we can hear. He is not talking to me but he kept on checking his back, wondering if I'm still there.

"Can you keep me accompany till we reach the parking area?"

"Sir...I mean Jhotam are you afraid of ghost?"

I have a thought that he might be afraid of ghost that's why he want to keep accompanied.

"Not really, anyway why'd you ask? Are you afraid?"

"Nothing sir... in fact I don't believe in ghost"

Why do I feel like we are acting like a normal friends? Despite that in reality he is my boss and I'm just his employee.

"Here we go again" he raises his right eyebrow. Crap! I forgot I called him sir once again

"but, it can't be helped it's been my habit for almost 5 months if I were to address you with just your name who knows I may be confused it with outside and inside protocol of office"

What if I'll get used by calling him with his name even inside our working place.

"It's not a big deal after all so I don't mind but I advise professionalism" He's cool what a reasonable guy.

"Since you make an effort all through here will dropping you in your house would be enough?"

"I think it's too much, I'll better grab a taxi outside"

"Grabbing a taxi wouldn't it dangerous for a woman specially at this hour?" he's right again and I'm being absurd again, there is nothing wrong in my boss offer right? But, can I really trust him? r**e case is increasing nowadays I don't want to be on headline of newspaper.

"As your boss I'm after your safety, so now will you still refuse?"

I took a deep breath then later on I gave him my sweet and thankful smile. I'm about to seat in the back of the passenger seat "are you not going to sit next to me?" He's already on the driving wheel.

"wouldn't it looks like I'm the driver?"

"If that's the case then you'll make the most handsome driver I have ever seen" too late for me to realize what I just mentioned "just kidding" now I throw another obvious lame excuse, I have to go with the flow... he wants me to sit beside him then be it.

"Is it okay if I turn on the radio?" he broke the silence.

"Didn't you find me attractive even just a little?"

Just a little? Nah! You are effin' one hella hot boss I've worked with. Don't get me wrong, I don't have something on him neither admiring him I 'm just stating what is obvious.

"silence means yes.... by the way which one is your house?" I pointed the house in the middle of blue and violet houses. Did he memorize my address in resume? How'd the hell he know where I'm residing?

"so it's not actually Over time in office more precisely overtime in date" it's my mom, I didn't expect her to wait outside the house.

"Good evening madam" Jhotam greeted my mother with his polite manner.

"Come let's get inside"

"Mom! He's my boss in case you don't know"

Why do I have a noisy mom?

"Oops! Sorry for my informality a while ago....have a sit, sir"

"I really feel old madam whenever you are calling me sir, madam just call me Jhotam"

"Then Jhotam call me auntie, coffee or juice?"

Geez! aren't they getting along very well?

"I'll have coffee, Auntie"

"Shaira make coffee for your boss"

I brewed two cup of coffee, I feel like I want to drink coffee too.

"Here's your coffee" he smiled with his dimples again "thanks" he says.

"You don't look like an old pal? How old are you ijo?" Mom!? Seriously what the heck is wrong with your mouth.

"I'm 24 years old" the heck he's just 2 years older than me? I thought he's almost hitting the calendars age.

"Pardon me for spoiling our wonderful conversation auntie but, tonight is getting really late"

"Shaira will open our small garage for you have a nice trip ijo"

"Thank you for the coffee auntie"

"Small thing ijo compare to your effort in driving my daughter to home" Jhotam and I remained standing in garage.

"Thank you again Sir I mean Jhotam"

"Your coffee taste great, also I wish to visit you more often I really like auntie" are you telling me that you have fallen to my mom? Is it because of the coffee, did she put a potion on it?

"Do you have hidden desire on my mother?" He looked at me with priceless shock reaction written all over his face

"It's not the 'like' I'm referring" He stopped playing with his car's key and started burst into laughter "I'm not the type of guy who will choose married woman, I mean...I really like her hospitality"

I'm not stupid or what I'm just making things clear. Nowadays men like women which is way older than them.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to judge you"

"It's not your fault you are just being practical besides you made me laugh anyway so I don't mind if you judge me more" After those words he finally hop in his car but before closing his tinted window he gave me a salute and pair of soothing dimples.

The day after that incident my mother cooked pork steak and put it in bento pack. I'm about to leave but she called me just to give me the bento box.

"2 bento for me?' Don't tell me the other is for my...

"Give the other one to your boss" Seriously!?!??!

"Mom? Are you serious about this? You know I don't want him to think that I'm a leech in human form and worst he might think that I'm interested in him"

"Don't be silly after all I wrote notes here 'from Auntie' stop protesting do your mom a favor" I give in since I know my mom will not let me go not until I'll do what she wants.

"Good morning, sir" the elevator girl greeted him once he enter in the elevator, he just nod but when I greeted him his dimple reveal their selves.

Once we get inside the office he started working with the papers so I decided not to disturb him.

I will give the bento to him later or I might put it in his table when he's not there in that way I can avoid having words from him about the bento.

Luckily, he's gone to restroom I hurriedly place the bento in his desk where there's no paper might be ruin. When he came back I saw in my peripheral view that he smiled the moment he saw the bento specially when his reading the note...

The N-O-T-E!!! I haven't seen what's written over there...who knows what my mother thinking when she's writing on it.

Finally its break time, time to feed my monstrous tummy, I also got same bento wrapper with my boss cause' my mom possibly did it on purpose.

Again in my peripheral view, I saw him all excited to have a taste in my mom's dish.

"Auntie is a great cook I wish my mom can do the same thing" is he talking to me or just murmuring to himself?

"By the way can I drive you home again... tonight?"

"Wouldn't it sound too rude if I refuse?" I don't want him to think that I'm taking for granted his kindness

"Not really but, you know I don't accept No for an answer"

"Are you sure you really don't have something in my mom?" Sounds too fishy! Why does he want to drive for me again? could it be that he really wants to see my mom? But tonight my dad will be there...

"Are you still after that 'like' issue? Don't worry it's not the mom it's the dau-er" what's with the last words didn't hear it clear.

"I just want to thank her in person" when we finished working he brought pastry for my mom.

They had a nice conversation but I didn't mind to join them I'm really tired, later on I heard my mom's footstep.

She believed that I'm already asleep. She closed the door, I tried to sleep but I can't. I'm starting to have suspicion.

From that day onwards he always escorting me on my way to home and sometimes he's in my house early in the morning, for one reason.

He wanted to see me first thing in the morning. Sounds so lame right? I'm not a living rock, I'm not dense. I know he's making a move on me.

He's trying to woo me but, one thing I'm not particular with, how'd did my parents and him became collaborators? That kind of set up lasted for 2 months he finally ask to court me.

But that is not the part that I couldn't forget, the way he asked me to be exact.

"Can you go to max's resto first? I have to run some errands" That day I thought it was nothing but a meeting between our company.

When I arrived at the restaurant a guy appeared in front of me and usher me to the second floor.

Though, I have a lot of question on my mind I remained silent. Why the petals of roses are scattered everywhere? Did the staff usher me to a wrong place? Here comes the man behind all sort of things in here... He waves his right hand while his left hand is holding freshly picked red wonderful roses.

I knew it! Confirm! The boss has fallen to his secretary s***h market analyst. I may be excited but it doesn't mean I like him to be my boyfriend besides I still love my jerk ex-boyfriend.

"T-thank...you?" I respond, My fore head formed lines as he lends me the flowers. What's with the interrogative appreciation? It should be 'thank you' not 'thank you?'

"Did the client can't come again just like the first time we ate here?" I think this happened like a déjà vu.

"To be honest that time it's a lie I just made those up...I just wanna' eat with you"

So, it's not a déjà vu, he planned all of this.

"I know it's too early to ask, we barely known each other for months...but, by chance I really had fallen for you for no definite reason"

I'm surprise, didn't know he was this bold. He's confessing to me as if he's proposing a business.

"Are you asking if I'll allow you or not to court me?" after the food is being served I started eating up while keeping a normal conversation with him.

"yeah...so? though I'm not expecting you to give me a concrete answer now" he said, we are not teen agers anymore, therefore over reacting and getting all mushy all of a sudden is lame and bullshit.

As much as possible we are keeping this conversation as normal as how the word normal spells.

"Are you sure about this?" It's too early to confess, Don't tell me he thinks he fall in love with me at first sight? Impossible!

"Why'd you ask? Do you think it's some kind of prank?" I don't think so, I just can't believe it.

He sounded so insincere maybe he thinks I'm easy to get and I'm sure just like my ex-boyfriend he's definitely a womanizer.

"Are you not afraid of us getting awkward with each other after your confession?" What if I reject him? Do I need to resign?

"That thing crossed in my mind already but, I think it has nothing to do in our profession as a professional we should set aside that thing with respect to our works"

"Yeah you're right..." Is it really okay to have a boyfriend as perfect as him? Did I just say prefect?! No way he's a womanizer.

One thing hit my head I remember the time when I made coffee for him.

He is talking sweet things over the phone and now he is confessing to me...something's not right! Way back then Ryan is such a pain in my ass.

A jackass who knows nothing but to flirt with girls.

I'm really grateful finally on our graduation I already have the courage to break the stupid chain called 'love' yet I still have high hopes that one day he'll come back to me with one faced loving guy.

And with that, I didn't notice that I fell into remembering things over my ex-boyfriend.

"what's wrong?" he asked. I snapped back to planet earth

"Nothing"

Months pass he is still secretly courting me after work. I get to know him more; he's such a nice guy, very caring, sincere, romantic and thoughtful.

He is doing his best to show how interested he is in pursuing me while I'm still in the stage of deciding whether to reject or accept him. We kept it as secret to his employee since it's a part of our personal life.

I watched him welcoming the new investor, for me he is really incredible man.

A good looking guy with the sense of responsibility on his shoulder. He looked at my direction, our eyes met and nobody knows that we are having a silent conversation. I didn't bother to go near him nor talk to him we are both busy entertaining visitors.

I'm seating with my few close co-workers we are having fun in our table. When the party ends some workers stayed others gone home.

For those who stayed we decided to have some drinking session the bottoms-up started to rule in our table Lisa took the first wine glass, followed by Henry.

It's my 5th turn I took the wine glass and lifted it in the air, I'm about to drink it when someone grab it.

I didn't see him coming, he took the glass and drink straight, I just notice he looked damn good while drinking. The way his Adams apple moves, damn sexy! He pulled the empty chair and sit beside me, I move my sit inch away from him.

"are you okay Shaira? Your face is red" Henry asked.

I touched my face, it's unfair why am I the only one blushing? Why am I the only one feeling so uncomfortable right now?

"I think I'm a bit tipsy" I made an excuse

"Do you want me to grab you a taxi?" Henry asked,

"there's no need to do that but I'm really grateful" I just utter those words, it was nothing but a pure grateful response yet Jhotam acted so strange.

He cleared his throat for more than 3 times while looking at Henry with warring eyes.

"Why don't we play some games?" Cilyn broke the silence, we agreed on her suggestion which I regret afterwards.

"You lose again... truth or consequence" Cilyn asked

"I'm tired with the consequence this time I'll try the truth" I replied this is the 3rd time.

my first lose I have to do the aegyo, on the second time I have to eat the red chili but I was saved by Jhotam, and now I wonder what comes next...

"Are you seeing someone?" Henry asked.

I'm running out of saliva "yes?" I bit my lower lips.

I heard smug sound beside me. Did I hurt his pride?

"Yes. I'm seeing someone" I simply gaze at him surprisingly I saw him simply smiling.

"woah! I lost the chance. I thought I could invite you to a dinner" the room was filled with Henry's power laugh

"Can we proceed to the game?" our boss is giving them an irritated look. I have no choice but to stamp on his feet.

"Sure, sir" I can feel heavy air right now, he's back to his old self, an old authoritative boss.

What's gotten into him? He was laughing with us a while ago but now he's on serious mode again.

"truth" the bottle stopped, pointing him. Every one cleared their throat and they took a deep breath.

"Sir? Do you have girlfriend" I foolishly turn my eyes into owl's eye. I didn't see this coming! I almost eat my heart out.

"I'm single but I already have someone in my heart"

The girls are obviously disappointed, Is he referring to me? Why does his answer sounds lovely in my ears?

"I think I better go home I'm really sleepy, You guys have fun" I stood up and wear my sling bag.

"I think it's enough we still have work tomorrow... I need to have some rest" he also stood up, he walked out of the room.

He's really going home? I thought he will drive for me.

Can't believe I'm already depending on him.

Every one stood up and start cleaning the mess I feel bad leaving them with trash.

I helped cleaning the room, We never leave the room until were done. Later on my phone rang. He's calling me right now before I press the answer button I see to it that no one's around.

He's calling telling me to come as fast as a I can.

"What took you so long?" He asked as he open the passengers door.

"I thought you went home already. I helped them in cleaning" I replied

"Is that even possible? How can I leave my girl behind especially with Henry" He started the engine.

"Are you jealous?"

"Yes" Why do you have to say it without hesitation?

"come on he's just kidding when he said that" Don't tell me he actually take Henry's words seriously.

"I don't think so the way he look at you-"

I yawn to stop him from talking non sense.

I closed my eyes and rest my head.

After a year I decided to give him a chance as I give myself a break from my failure past relationship.

I am glad for falling for him too...After a 4 long year's relationship without quarrels and misunderstandings we end up saying our vows in manila cathedral.

[End of flash back]

"Daddy!" Hera and I turned our heads to where Hyunra is "hello, Uncle" Tamra says.

"hi there young man" he poke tamra's nose

"Why did you come back? Aren't you in the middle of surgery?" Hera kissed her husband's lips.

"I just missed my wife and my twins"

"i***t! You shouldn't have come back if you're not finish with your work... you know I might not let you go out again"

"Dad your phone is vibrating" Hyunhe says.

Taehyung answered the phone call...

"It's urgent I'll see yah later bye babies" he kissed his son and daughter "later" he wink before kissing Hera's forehead.

"See I told you...Now I miss you even more"

"I'll be there for dinner" they kissed again, they are not afraid to show their affection.

"Sorry about that mushy moment" she giggled.

"no worries Jhotam and I are exactly like the two of you" We both giggled. I'm glad that my best friend and I end up marrying the man we really loved.

"Btw, what time are you going home?"

"It depends on Jhotam" She nod.

As the time passes by I didn't notice its actually almost night, we are really having all out good bonding time since we barely seen each other mainly because we are busy with our own family but at least we find time to stay connected.

"I'm home" Taehyung says, his kids run towards him leaving their mother on the coffee table.

"Shall we?" I smiled as I recognized the man beside my bestfriend's husband.

"bro! Hera we're going first thanks for keeping my family accompanied"

"Aren't you going to have dinner with us?"

"I really wish too, but, I love to eat my wife's specialty"

"How sweet...anyway take care"

"Bye Tamra!" Hyunra says, she gave my son a sweet goodbye hug.

"I think I can see we're going to be a real family in the near future" I think so...We both giggled