Love at the Nth Time

Masked and Misconception

Chapter 26

"What?" Seth frowned. My brows rose.

"I wanna be pursuit again. I'm open. Better find me a blind date. The gentleman, ha," I replied.

"Why don't you flirt alone?"

Flirt?

"Whew. What flirt? I'm not like you."

"How could you even enter into a serious relationship if you don't flirt? You won't know the person well if you enter a commitment first."

Ah, that's why.

"Seth."

"What?" She groaned a little and continued eating. I shook my head. It was why she did not commit to only one, believing all girls would search for a lot of guys at the same time to entertain themselves till they found the man they were searching for. Not giving enough time and effort to know one and hoping the right person will meet them in the end.

Seth didn't insist. Subsequently, my responsibility in the business spent the rest of my time until late at night. The topic of dating someone and committing to knowing them enough before the conclusion of the latter had not been discussed around the meal as a particular person who couldn't understand the good side of it. I no longer brought it up.

Videocall

I watched Seth on the phone screen as she faced her sketchpad and drew something that was out of reach, and I could only guess it was clothes.

"Seth."

"Yeah? Say it. You're like that up till now." No guts to mention, as who was I to judge? It looked like she had a more serious relationship than me.

"Seth." She put down her pen and faced me.

"What? Goddamn it, just tell me what you wanna say!" I laughed a little.

"How did you say I needed to flirt with someone first so I could know them more?"

Our conversation caused a lot of misunderstanding on both sides, and it solely created a huge misbelief of what was right and wrong. Seth kept emphasizing that it depended on how she'd handle the relationship if other parties wanted to flirt with them. Considering they're merely flirting, the rules bound between them would break in time if they both wanted to commit.

Seth had a point but given that reasoning. Was that the basis for starting a relationship? What about those people who were friends at first then became lovers? The people who began as enemies or strangers who accidentally met at work? Not all people think of flirting with them, right?

"Good morning," I greeted her, putting down my sling bag on the couch as I watched Seth leaning on her desk whilst talking to someone on the phone.

She's undeniably good-looking and attractive. I wouldn't get tired of watching her, but, of course, I wasn't in the wrong mind to do it, or else she'd bug me over it. She was wearing a plain short-sleeve shirt tucked-in with trousers and her feet covered with leather loafers, her trademark clothing.

"I need the samples this afternoon. I don't have time to get to know people first." She brushed the strands of her hair behind her head and walked towards me on the couch. I sat quietly, and my eyes turned to the laptop on the table in front of me. I was taken aback at my seat as Seth suddenly closed the laptop, slid it to the other side, and sat down on the table, facing me.

"What?" I lip-talked.

She put her feet on both sides of the couch, caging me. I glared at her as she stared at me. She's crazy. I did not have any clue what was running through her mind. She's twisted nonetheless.

She dropped the phone call.

"Aren't you going to leave?" I threatened.

"Say, am I not attractive?" I laughed aloud and leaned on the couch. My goodness, my heart. I managed not to react to her actions in front of me, and it failed due to her asking it.

"What's so funny?"

"You're so funny, Setherlyn Vinscon. Why did you ask that?" I leaned my elbow on her leg. Her eyes lowered.

"Well, I have a long-time interest in this certain girl, but I don't know how to flirt with her since she's kinda reserved and the conservative type. So, every time I'm trying to flirt with her, she has this defensive aura, or how should I say this," she mumbled. She behaved differently than her usual arrogant and distant character.

"What are you, a kid? Admit it to the person. For sure, they'll say yes." My eyes stared at Seth. Having her too close to me like this, I noticed the tiny brownish freckles sprinkled around her cheek and nose. Our eyes met.

"She has already rejected me twice." She leaned closer as she rested her elbows on her thighs. I moved away and looked down.

Hold on, was that me she talked about? No way, she carried the belief of not being committed to one. What was I thinking about?

"I don't know," I murmured.

"You know it since you're like the conservative type."

Ah, was that so?

"Well, hm, what did you like about the girl?"

"Hmm." She leaned her palms on the table behind her and eyes still locked with mine.

"Her, her personality, I guess."

"That's new."

"Don't read me stupid!" I chuckled and looked the other way.

"For me, if someone tries to court me, I let them, but since I'm already aware they have hidden intentions, their sweetness feels bland, or I don't find it exciting anymore."

"Ah, then?"

"Then? What, then?" My phone rang. I picked it up in my bag.

*Calling… Johann.

"Yes?" I answered.

"Are you at work?" Johann asked.

"Yes."

"Okay, I'll drive you home later. What time are you out?" I gazed at Seth and covered the earpiece of the phone.

"Do we have any agendas after my duty?"

"Why?" Seth replied.

"I'm meeting someone."

"With whom?"

"Johann, cousin of Chinnie-" Seth snatched my phone and spoke to Johann.

"Hey you, yeah, this is Seth. No. She's not available. She won't be," Seth said.

"Seth, what, give my phone back!" I tried reaching it, yet she was lifting her arm away. I shouted her name again and stood up.

"Celine? Why are you with Seth?" the voice of Johann heard in the air. Seth leaned the phone closer to her mouth.

"So? I won't allow you. Over my dead body, man," Seth reacted and hung up the call. She dropped the phone in my hands and strode to her desk. "I need my schedule for today." I glared at her.

"Why did you do that?!" She lifted her eyebrows.

"What?"

"The things you said to Johann. Are you crazy?? I'm not intruding on your personal affairs!" I then rushed outside the room.

What's wrong with her? She was acting protective, even though she didn't need to. I could take care of myself, and that was my problem. She did not have any right to meddle.

I handed Seth's schedule today to Sir Jeremy. He was Seth's partner for their week's project. I left the company, headed to the corporation where my business was located and drowned myself with work.

*Calling... Seth.

She's been calling me nonstop, and I was rejecting it.

Message

Seth: I'm sorry. You don't have the right to flirt around while you're at work, is all.

Celine: Whatever

Seth: What now? Are you mad? Go suit yourself. You even let Chinnie's cousin court you? Wow, so easy.

What the.

"Ugh! What's your problem?! You think I'm not gonna get mad at you cause you treat me as your employee now??" I screamed a little inside the cubicle of the restroom.

Message

Celine: Don't you care

Seth: Don't run into me crying.

Celine: I will never!

Seth: You! You're so childish! Think about it before you let someone court you!

Celine: What about you? Am I intruding on any of the women you courted?

There was no reply from Seth till late at night.

Message

Seth: Who told you I courted those flings I have.

My heart skipped a beat.

Three days had passed since Seth and I messaged each other last time. Win thanked me for substituting him at work, and now he's back, I did not have any reasons to visit Seth.

Sometimes, I checked my phone and expected Seth to message me. It's out of habit.

The indistinct chatter of the cast in the movie I watched whilst communicating with other business partners seemed ordinary to me, and I began to anticipate that Seth would call me and bother the dull atmosphere which surrounded me.

My phone rang, and it was Mr Tim who was calling. Was this the first time he called me? I knew his contact number, and I only saved it in my contacts. Gosh, it made me nervous.

"Hello, Sir?"

"Celine, dear, how are you?"

"Ah, I'm fine, sir." He invited me over to Seth's birthday on Saturday.

"One thing," Mr Tim added.

"Yes, sir?"

"I'll give you the dress you'll wear, okay?"

"Ha? What, sir?" He ended the call as he had to leave.

Message

Johann: Why? I'm not sure if she's gonna be happy to see me on her birthday. Remember, I'm Chinnie's cousin.