My Boss Got Me Fallin' In Love

Chapter 4: Trip to Memory Lane

[THE NEXT DAY: Countdown: 18 days before Christmas and 12 days before the event]

I wondered if I could make it through the day.

I continued to tap my finger on the desk, looking blankly at the teacher. "And so, the color isn't that great with dull blue. That is why..." Blah, blah, blah...

My headache was killing me, that it felt like my brain was being stabbed every second. Oh, the pain. How I wished I didn't drink last night.

I guessed I was starting to revert back to my old self. I hoped not. That would just be really bad. There were events in my past which were, um, in need of forgetting. Not to mention, changing.

I was in the middle of arguing with myself when I felt someone tug on my blouse. I looked to my right and saw my best friend, Courtney. "Hey," she hissed.

"What?" I whispered back.

I looked at her, puzzled. She was looking at someone else who seemed to be in front of me, so I followed her gaze and it landed on Mr. Dalton, his arms crossed over his chest, and his eyebrows meeting while looking down at me as if saying 'Detention!' but then again, this isn't high school anymore.

"Is something wrong Ms. Adams?" he asked.

"Um, nothing, sir."

"Well, you seemed to be distracted, looking at the board when I've told all of you to answer the questions in your book."

I could feel almost everyone's eyes on me.

"I'm sorry sir, but I'm sick so I can't really concentrate that much." I said as an excuse. It was half a lie since I really did feel like I was going to be sick.

"Then, by all means, go to the clinic. I don't need you spreading virus inside my class." He narrowed his eyes at Courtney then said, "And you, escort her there." With that, he went back to his desk.

"Come on," Courtney said, glaring at Mr. Dalton before turning back to me. I gathered my things then left the room with her, all eyes on us.

I spent my time in the clinic eating chocolate, drinking more coffee, and just laying on the soft bed. Since the nurse and I were close, it was alright even if I watched TV. Ah, the benefits of having an authorized friend.

Chapter 4: Trip to Memory Lane

"What's up with you today?" Courtney asked. We were sitting on the bench somewhere at the grounds of Jensen University of New York or JUNY. We were just hanging, and since the professor of our last class wasn't around, we sneaked out.

"Not much." I replied, playing with my wristwatch, opening and closing the lock. I hoped she'd just drop the topic. But she's a persistent one.

"Seriously, Katee, tell me." She poked at my shoulder.

She's really starting to sound like a mom. "If I tell you, you wouldn't react or judge me? Promise me, Court." I stopped fidgeting with the watch and looked her in the eye.

She raised an eyebrow on me then sighed "Fine, best friend's honor." She rolled her eyes.

"I got drunk last night." I simply said.

The reaction she gave was expected. "WHAT?!" she asked, almost standing up from her seat before I pulled her down and gave her a look, saying 'you promised.' She calmed and raised her eyebrows higher.

"Fine, then, explain." She said.

"Well, do you remember my co-workers?" she nodded. "They, um, invited me to some kind of club and there was a celebration. They weren't drunk yet. I promised I wouldn't drink, but somehow, I got pulled in and so I drank, just a bit..."

"Then that bit became bottles?" she assumed. I hung my head in shame and nodded.

"The funny thing is, I can't remember until now, whatever happened afterwards. How I got home, I don't know. And now I'm suffering from a great hangover." I sighed.

"You knew better, Katee. I may not know your entire past, but I do know enough." She was serious and she looked worried.

"Look, I promise that last night would be the last time. It's not like I don't know what drinking causes me." I said, fidgeting with my watch again.

"You better, or else your parents will need to send you to an All Girls College. AGAIN." She warned. She was right. The truth was, in High School, I had a life of a party. Every night was party night for me, but I still kept my grades up. I was the queen of Adral High School back then. I was very different from the person I am right now. It's been a while before my parents knew about this since they were always away for business trips.

How did they know? Well, they were home that night and didn't find me there. I returned home in the morning, with a hangover, and, let's just say, my virginity taken away from me.

I know: disappointing. I shouldn't have done that. But what could I do? I was drunk and whenever I'm drunk, it's either I do stuff I'll never do when I'm sober or I won't remember what happened the next moment I wake up.

And so, my parents, after finding out about that, got very angry that they sent me to an All Girls High School for my sophomore year until my senior year. I used all of that time to reflect. Look at me now, changed and wanting to forget my past. This was one slip up. Never again.

Suddenly, I heard Courtney squeal. I looked at her, bewildered.

"What. The. Hell?" I almost had a mini heart attack.

"Hot guy on 12 o'clock!" She whispered to me excitedly.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Puh-lease, don't tell me it's Daniel Johnson all over a-," I didn't finish whatever it was I was saying, for I found myself looking at a silver Nissan GT-R parked just meters away from us. That wasn't the point. I was tongue tied when I saw the driver step out of it.

I guessed this was the part where the wind blows his hair, time slows down and spotlights are on him, to make it dramatic. In fact, what happened was almost like that. Students were staring, more like gawking, at him and started whispering like crazy. As if no one has seen a good-looking guy before.

Courtney squealed and asked, "Whoa...whose prince charming is this guy?"

I started thinking that maybe, just maybe, he was here for someone or something else. You know? Like maybe just visiting his sister, if he ever has one, or maybe a brother? Or a girlfriend? Or whatever... I drifted my attention from him and started to play with my watch again. It seemed as if his handsome features and his great car attracted all the people in the campus. I felt my face turn red.

I heard footsteps coming over to our direction and Courtney whispered, "I think he's coming here," excitedly.

Oh, joy.

"Katee?" he said. I looked up slowly: from his clean sneakers, jeans, to his blue v-neck sweater and his green shirt then to his grayish-green eyes. Hot damn.

"Hey there, Sir Ivan," I said slowly, giving him a mini hand wave that probably looked as awkward as it felt. "What...what are you doing here?" I asked, standing up. "I wasn't expecting you..." totally wasn't expecting him "I...I thought you wouldn't be back until next month?" I finished a coherent sentence, yay.

He looked perplexed, as if not believing what I just said "Well, some stuff happened." He shrugged. "Your classes are done right?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah. Although, Courtney and I are supposed to do something." I lied. I looked at Courtney for help, but was dumbfounded when she said "Nah, those things can wait. You are totally free to go with her."

I gave her a look saying 'what the-?' but she just smiled at me then at Ivan. Oh, she's totally gonna pay for this. I narrowed my eyes at her then turned back to Ivan.

"Alright then," he said, smiling in content then grabbing my wrist with his left hand. His touch was warm and I couldn't help but look at where he was holding me.

"Anyway, I'm Ivan Travis." He said to Courtney, whose face turned red in delight as she shook his right hand. "Courtney. Nice to meet you, finally! Oh God, Katee's been telling me a lot about you."

Um, Court? You'd have to shut up now.

"A lot of stuff...about you." She stuttered as I glared at her.

"Okay then, we'll be on our way." Ivan said awkwardly, forcing his hand out of Courtney's very firm handshake. He turned to me, and c****d his head towards the driveway. "Ready?" He asked. Without waiting for my response, he led me to his car. He opened the door and got me in. I was too confused to say anything. He got into the driver's seat and fastened his seatbelt.

I waited until we were out of the school. "What the hell, Ivan?" I asked. "You don't know what gossips that'll cost me." College students were just as nosy as high schoolers.

"Why did you even have to come to Jensen University, anyway? And why are you here when you weren't even supposed to come back? At least," I added "not yet."

I'd consider myself a pretty hot-tempered person, depending on the situation. I don't easily freak out on stuff, but when it comes to this, boy, do I freak out.

"What, you don't remember what I told you?" he asked, glancing at me and keeping a small smile on his face.

"What?" I was even more confused "We haven't spoken for weeks, Ivan. Last moment I saw you was during...was it dinner? Yeah, I think so."I said.

A flash of understanding passed his eyes. He seemed amused. "I see," he muttered to himself.

"You haven't answered my questions yet." I said.

"Business finished faster than what I had expected. Thought I might check up on you." He shrugged.

I looked at him in disbelief. "What, don't tell me I got a new set of parents," I joked. First, Courtney, and now, him.

"And why were you even checking up on me? You could've at least called..."

"Oh, so you really don't remember..."

"Is there something I need to remember?" I asked. I was confused. What was he not telling me? Is there something I'm not getting?

"Last night...you were in um, a bad state and I took you home. I found you wandering in the streets, drunk." He explained, glancing at me. "I just wanted to know how you're doing and..." he stopped talking.

Just then, hazy memories of last night flashed: the part when I was sitting in his car and looking at him, being carried up to my room. Those were just seconds of memories, but they were enough to make me want to slap myself in embarrassment.

I tried to play it cool. "And you had to make a scene in front of the whole school?" I asked sternly. "Why didn't you just call me or something?"

He stopped the car in front of some restaurant, then looked at me "Sorry if I caused a scene, but I didn't exactly foresee that your schoolmates and your friend would be gawking at me and think it's a big deal." He smirked. He's liking the attention, I could tell.

"And as for your last question, well, I simply don't have your number." He said, then stepped out of the car and opened my side of the door.

"You really are a different person when we're not talking business." I rolled my eyes as he chuckled slightly at my remark. "Nice outfit anyway, this is like, the first time I've seen you without a suit." I admired. "And you look better with your hair up," I felt myself blush for saying that.

Seriously, why can't I just keep my mouth shut?

"Thanks," he simply said, his back turned towards me so I couldn't see his reaction.

"Where are we, anyway?" I asked.

He only smiled and offered his arm. I held on to it with a slight hesitation as he led us inside. "Welcome to Al's Ma'am, Sir." A guy in uniform said, leading us to a table for two. He gave us the menu.

I scanned it and saw that it was full of sweets: ice cream, Oreos, cookies, pancakes, chocolates, drinks and other desserts. "Why are we here again?" I asked, looking at him over the menu.

"I'm treating you." He smiled at me and looked back again to the menu. A waiter came by and asked for our order.

"I'll have a large strawberry ice cream deluxe and please put more chocolate syrup on top." Ivan ordered with a smile, like an excited little kid. He looked at me, waiting for my order. "Um, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sticks." I said, handing over the menu. The waiter left.

"So," I started "How were things during your business trip?" I interlaced my fingers then sat back. Starting a conversation would prevent awkwardness, I thought. However, I still found it difficult to maintain eye contact so I look around every once in a while.

"It was alright. Basically, my uncle and I were in a bunch of meetings with different people...also your parents. It wasn't all business, though. There were times when we talked about, um..." he briefly looked unsure and awkward, "different stuff like, um, you and about the event."

I gulped. Why in the world would they talk about me?

"Anyway, what was it your friend said? Y'know, hearing stuff about me?" he suddenly changed the topic, and his unsure expression turned into a teasing smile.

"Courtney? Oh, right...riiiggghhhttt...." I nodded my head as if I just understood what he said. Well, honestly, Courtney and I talk about lots of things. Those 'things' including him and my job. I would rather bite my tongue than tell him what I've been telling Courtney.

"Your orders," Ah, saved by the bell! I smiled gratefully to the waiter who put our order on the table. He mistakenly switched our orders then he left. I looked at the strawberry ice cream in front of me, a bit disgusted. When its smell reached my nose, I winced. It really smelled like some kind of medicine given to children.

I pushed the ice cream towards Ivan as he did the same with mine. I didn't even realize that he was staring at me. "What's up with this ice cream?" Ivan asked, inspecting his food.

"Nothing," I said. Well, at least the topic's been changed already. He looked at me curiously but dropped it and smiled.

[hours later]

"SO, what happened next?" Courtney asked. I was just telling her what happened when Ivan treated me ice cream, which was just this afternoon.

I spoke back to the phone's receiver "Well, we talked about lots of stuff." I was laying back on my soft and comfy bed, staring at the ceiling while talking on the phone with Courtney.

"Come on! Don't keep me hanging!" she said. I could totally imagine her face, yelling excitedly to her phone.

"What's there to talk about? We only discussed about random things, like favorite colors, food...you know? Just like getting to know each other."

"What happened after that?" she asked excitedly.

"Um, well, he just drove me back home. Then he left."

"THAT'S IT?"

"What did you expect?" I chuckled.

"You mean, he just left after you got into your apartment? No more stuff I'm missing out?" she pressed.

"I promise. And I do know what you are thinking, Courtney. I'm pretty sure that I'm right about what you were expecting, but no, we didn't. He's been a goofy gentleman, after all."

"Booo! What kind of date was that?"

"That wasn't a date. He just treated me to some ice cream. Our families are friends, after all." I picked on my fingers. "Might as well be friendly, too, y'know."

"Why do you sound disappointed, then?" She teased.

"Oh, yeah, right." I said sarcastically. "Anyways, I need to go now." I checked my clock. "I still need to wake up early tomorrow. I'm a very busy working student, if you've already forgotten."

"Yeah, yeah. G'night."

I hung up and relaxed on the bed, remembering what happened before I slept:

[just two hours before: outside Katee's apartment]

"So, I guess this is your stop." Ivan said, looking at me as he started taking his seatbelt off. I lightly put my hand on his sleeve. "Oh, really, you don't have to go out." I said.

He stopped and gave me a smile "So," he said, unsure. "We're like...friends now?"

I chuckled lightly. "We've never been enemies, Ivan."

He thought for a while, "Well, because as I remember last night, when you were drunk, you tried to get away from me when I got you in the car."

"Yeah, about that." I scratched my head and looked away. "Sorry for being such a b***h. But in my defense, I think that I would have tried to get away from anyone as soon as possible, given the situation. I'd really hate it when someone I know sees me in that state. In fact, I'd even try to run away even if it were Jesse McCartney driving." I chuckled.

No, wait. Scratch that. I'd never try to escape if it's Jesse McCartney driving. Drunk or not: never.

He nodded, smiling.

"So, heck yeah, friends." I said, awkwardly offering my hand. He reached for it and shook my hand lightly.

He smiled again "Friends," he said.

I took my hand back then took my seatbelt off. "Bye then," I smiled. "Good night," I said as I opened the door and stepped out. I leaned down and poked my head in the car, "And thanks for the treat."

"Good night, see you tomorrow." He leaned closer and patted my left cheek as if I were a child. I stood up and closed the door. I turned around as I felt myself blush. I went inside the building then looked back, watching him drive away. I got into the elevator and went up to my apartment. I closed the door and leaned my back against it. I touched my cheek and smiled, remembering how warm his touch was.