Love at the Nth Time

Considerable Choices

Chapter 19

"You're such a loser. It is your chance, hello?? Hey, I bet she has a lot of suitors, for your information. Though she hasn't come out as being bi yet, that's why no lesbians want to know about her. Regardless, you're acting like a coward, serves you right." Win laughed, which stopped me from sketching the layout designs of a garment.

"Win, you're too happy hitting me. I'll fire you. Wait for it." He cracked up.

I looked outside the glass wall of my office. Celine was too dangerous. Damn it. Yes, I ignored the meeting last night, yet I couldn't stop texting back her nonsense messages. It was full of activities she had come in contact with for the previous few days. She was hanging out with her old friends, staying overnight with them, and going on a vacation with her family. The nonstop messaging turned to a phone call—the adrenaline rush of excitement of not getting to sleep if she fought not to fall asleep.

I stood up, and stated, smiling, "I wanna have fresh air. It is all bad because of your gayness."

"Whoa, I love your reactions, boss!" He cackled in delight.

I wanted to smoke. I took out the used case of cigarettes from my suit pocket. I scanned outside the balcony across the cafeteria and saw two male staff where only specific spot smoking was allowed. I stared at the case of the cigarette as I played with it with my hand. Rose had a big part of her sister to get a move on. Celine kept on mentioning how Rose insisted she leave the house often. It's the house where their parents and other siblings lived. I think their sibling relationship was strong.

"Hey, hey, hey!" My eyes widened as I heard Rose's familiar, cheerful, talkative voice. My heart hammered. Speaking of — it's them!

"Why are you two here??" I asked in mere shock. Celine's just smiling.

"Ah, we have a meeting every Saturday, boss Sethlyn haha, surprised?" sniggered Rose.

"And who allowed you? It isn't your place to play." Rose pulled my arm to walk away a bit. I glanced at Celine, who greeted two female employees who passed by. She's wearing a fitted blouse, a cropped top and high-waist squared pants with a pair of an-inch block heels. She was well-dressed, and the red ribbon bow on her head appeared her cuter.

"Shut up. I'm giving you chances and ways to be with Ceng. Aren't you thanking me?"

"Who told you- why did you even think that way??"

"Hello, Celine!" I diverted my eyes from the two male staff who greeted her. She waved at them.

"See you later. You are the speaker, right?"

"Hah, no, I'm not," Celine replied.

"What a waste. Be the speaker sometimes." They're teasing her. However, Celine's responses could hardly tell the meaning. It did not give them any signs of approval of how they behaved towards her.

"Who were they, Ceng?" probed Rose as we came near her.

"Hah, new members, don't you know?"

"Are they new? Ah, yeah! Who's among them who had a crush on you? The man who has dimples?" Celine laughed.

"Crazy. Let's go?" She didn't speak to me. Did she leave without saying a single hi? Of course, she wouldn't perceive the pressure of my existence as being my dad's daughter. Yet, did she have any idea who'd be the heir of this company and the staff they recruited for their business? However, I found opposition to it. What the hell, Seth? I said I wanted to avoid her and kept my distance because of seeing her as dangerous, but why was I here, stupid me.

"Hihi, avoid ha," Win teased as he passed by my seat and sat down on the chair beside mine.

"Shut up." The members were on the front seats, and Celine handed out papers to them. She's like an assistant. I noticed she had the same types of outfits all the time, which became her trademark in clothing. It's simple yet classy.

"I have two of the attendees who'll join the business. Assist them since you know my situation here," Celine stated as we walked behind Win and Rose. We headed to a Filipino restaurant Rose recommended. It's nearby the company, so I did not mind as I still had to attend a conference call soon.

"How are you going to become a leader? You need to know everything to leverage yourself," answered Rose.

"Ay, ay," Celine reacted. What were they talking about? I glanced at Celine. She was busy with her phone.

"Did you get in contact with them? They're urging me to have an appointment with you this week," Win asked Rose.

"Ay, Ceng!"

"Oh?"

"I forgot the plastic envelope! The forms we'll be encoding later are in there!" Rose faced us.

"Hah, then get it," Celine replied, stopped walking with her face on the phone. I took a deep breath and gazed at the night sky. What the hell was I idling around here?

"Celine?" Rose sounded disappointed.

"Yeah, fine. I'll get it." I eyed Celine as she said those pushover words.

"Yes, thank you, sis."

"Seth, come with her." I looked at Win with his eyes back at me. What.

"Why? Is the envelope too heavy?" I asked him. He would never order me around, unlike the girl beside me. He glared at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Let's get this over with," I mumbled and ambled away first. I owe Win a lot these past few days. I couldn't say no to him all this time. Damn it. Why did Rose order her sister around and this pushover girl who always behaved like an employee of hers? It was less of my concern, although it annoyed me over Celine's decision.

A hand gripped the door handle and pushed it. My eyes caught Celine busy typing on her phone.

"Could you please not use your phone while walking? It would be bad if you fell down. I won't carry you to the hospital, FYI."

"Whew." She put down her phone. I smiled a little. At least, she did not listen only to Rose after all that happened to us. Here we were again, walking together casually.

"I'm starving," she muttered. I turned my attention to the woman at the front desk. She saw me, and she bowed. Seth, remember, don't get too close- I took out my phone from my pocket.

"Where do you wanna eat?"

I had thought about the exact reasons for keeping a wall, and they had already crossed the path of the past. I didn't know. I dove in again because I was not into giving up the new sensation.

I searched for an excellent place to eat on a social app to see many good places to hang out. We went to a Korean restaurant as she liked to eat 'Samgyeopsal'. Although I picked up the premium beef with no pork, I was conscious of the food I intake.

"What?" I shook my head and smiled a little as she enjoyed eating.

"You looked happy," I reasoned whilst eating the meal.

"Thank you. I'm just hungry." I stared at her without any expressions on my face. She looked at me.

"Not obvious."

"Yes. What's up with that face?" I looked away. She seemed not used to it when I stared at her expressionless. I usually smile using my lips or eyes when I speak to her. A slight smirk could still be a reaction.

"Right. Nothing."

"Hey, did you come here with me because you think I still haven't moved on?" I ate the lettuce with meat in it as I glanced at her.

"Nope."

"You're so quiet. Did I insist you on coming here with-"

"Hey, you lady, I came here because I wanted to see you eating again." She stared at me with furrowed eyebrows. I picked up the meat on the plate and put it on the griller. The amount of smell was tremendous. I should call the management of the restaurant to add more vents. It was already their VIP room, but how come they couldn't rectify this sort of concern?

"What?" I heaved a sigh.

"Never mind."

"You wanna see me eating again? Why?"

"Nothing. Forget what I said."

"Why are you like that today? Do you have your day?" For real? She spoke too familiar with me. We did not have any label in the first place, and I had no intention of telling her the things she had no right to blurt out.

"f**k off."

"Oh, I see." She nodded.

"No, stupid! Ugh, this isn't going anywhere. Just eat your food, will you?" She pouted and ate her ramen.

I leaned on the back of my chair. Not fun anymore, aware Celine was already single, and I could feel so far that she had moved on from her previous relationship, but why was I restless? It wasn't the right time to court her or even show my true feelings for her, which remained.