Office Diaries

"I'm dying," Yanee g.r.o.a.n.e.d as she semi- collapsed on the sidewalk.

They had been walking and eating for some time now, and her legs were killing her and her stomach was complaining as it had stretched too much. However, contrary to her agonized situation, the potato continued to look fresh and good looking – so good looking that she felt aggrieved.

He didn't even look tired after all the walking they did!

"Boss, aren't you tired?" she asked as she squinted up at him.

Because he wore a plain white shirt, he looked so neat. By now the sun was up. Nonetheless, the heat didn't seem to bother him as he looked like he's not even sweating.

"Nope. I can still go around," he answered cheerfully making Yanee look depressed. He raised a brow at her. "Why do you look like that?"

"I don't know where you get your energy, boss. I'm jealous," she dead-panned, eliciting musical laughter that assailed her ears.

"I'm just energetic because I feel inspire today," he announced with a grin.

Inspired? Yanee wondered why and how, then again, it must be connected with the party last night. After all, she was aware that they went there to meet sponsors, so he might have had other successful business dealings last night as well.

In any case, she really didn't feel like touring today since she didn't sleep well. Her nightmare about her absolute humiliation kept her awake in the middle of the night. She had just gotten back to sleep when the potato woke her up. If her boss was inspired, then she's definitely about to expire from fatigue.

"Are you okay?"

Yanee snapped out of her thoughts and saw her boss scrutinizing her with those bright, brown eyes.

"Yeah, just a bit sleepy," she said honestly. There's no use denying that she's totally fine when her eye bags were saying hello.

Tohru stared at her for a while, lost in thought, before glancing at his watch. "It's already three in the afternoon. Let's go back to the hotel."

Yanee looked at him in surprise.

"Really?" She couldn't believe that her boss was finally done playing for the day.

"Yeah – or do you still want to eat?" he asked suddenly with a mischievous look and Yanee, of course, shook her head.

If she still ate with her super stretched stomach, she'd totally die.

She and Tohru then headed back to where they came from. As soon as they reached the main road, Yanee was surprised to see the hotel car parked there. She didn't know when he called the hotel to come to pick them up so she was impressed at how efficient the potato was.

"You can take a nap when we get back," Tohru James told her as soon as they were seated in the car and started driving back. "But be sure to be at the hotel restaurant at seven in the evening."

Huh?

Yanee thought she would be able to sleep the whole time until morning. But no. She turned to the potato with a questioning gaze.

"We'll be having a meeting about the project. It's the best time to discuss things you want to clarify and notes you've organized so far before you go to Hong Kong tomorrow."

Oh…

Yanee finally understood. Her boss had already played enough so they would have to go back to business as usual. She was not unhappy. In fact, she was thinking of having a meeting with her boss about the project as well since there were some areas she encountered that might be a bit confusing, and she couldn't figure out the answer on her own.

Thus, she told her boss she'd be on time and left for her room to rest.

======

Tohru James watched Yanee disappear from his sight as she entered her suite. As soon as her door closed, a heavy sigh escaped his lips as he turned around and trudged down the hall to his own room.

As soon as he was in his suite, he directly dove face down on the bed as he contemplated his day so far. He and Yanee toured the whole ancient market today and tried out many of the street food. She had also guided him to a stall selling bottled kimchi. Because he had told her to pretend to be together with him, nobody really bothered them a lot and were able to shop in peace.

Actually, because most people thought that they were in a relationship most of the elderly street sellers gave them discounts and freebies. The aunties were so delighted with their store being visited by a gorgeous couple that made Tohru smile and played his role better as a boyfriend.

Yanee looked like she wanted to murder him many times for being audacious, but she played along with him as well in the end. He reckoned it was because she also got fed up by the jealous glances the women gave her as they passed.

Originally, Tohru wanted to spend the whole day with her. But seeing her so tired with the bags under her eyes turning purple, he reluctantly agreed to let her go. In any case, he was well prepared and managed to come up with a reason to be with her again for dinner anyway.

He shifted on the bed to look at his watch. It's almost four in the afternoon. He still had a lot of time to kill before they had to meet.  He was wondering what to do when his phone vibrated several times indicating a barrage of incoming messages, and he took it out to check and smiled as soon as the screen came alive and a picture of Yanee welcomed him.

[ Nixie: How was the date?]

[Anjee: Did you guys have fun?]

[Jena: Don't bother them yet. They're still probably out.]

Well, normally his big sister would think that they're still on a 'date'. Since it was not the case, he'd go and chat with his sisters first.

[TJ: We ate a lot and toured the whole market. Yanee fed me her favorite deep fried honeyed vegetables.]

[Jisoo: WHOA! What is this development? She fed you?]

[ Marian: Is that by chopstick or by hand? That's important!]

Tohru laughed out loud. His big sisters could really go crazy most times at the littlest things.

[TJ: Sorry. I mean she made me try. I sadly had to put the food in my own mouth.]

[Nix: Heartbreak.]

[ Yunjae: Better luck next time. But why are you replying already little bro? Are you back at the hotel?]

[ Jisoo: What? The date didn't even last long?]

Tohru sighed. He was sure they would complain.

[TJ: Yanee looked very tired. I told her to take a nap. But we'll have dinner together later.]

At the mention of dinner, the girls became wild and crazy again that Tohru had to remind them that he's just starting to go around  Yanee's defenses, and didn't want to startle her. He was also not ashamed to tell them that for now, he had to use 'work' as an excuse to see her.

[Jae: But why? Didn't she like you? I mean you're handsome. Most girls like you.]

Reading Jae's message, Tohru felt a bit depressed. It was true that due to his face, he was very popular to the opposite s.e.x as was proven earlier in the market when the girls approached him. However, it was an undeniable fact that he didn't seem to have any effect on the girl he wanted to attract.

[TJ: I don't know. Maybe I need to put more effort into my appearance?]

[Alex: My condolences, little bro. If the problem is your face then we can't do anything about it. Unless you have plastic surgery.]

Tohru frowned at Alex's message.

[ TJ: Why are you butting in Big Bro? Are you in Hong Kong already?]

Alex and Ash took the flight back home at midmorning today. Normally, they could've stayed a bit longer in South Korea and have an interview with Yanee. But Ash already promised a friend she'd attend her daughter's birthday tonight with her son. Also, their son was still too small to be left alone with the nannies for long.

[Alex: Obviously. Ash and Ira left for the party already. I'm bored to death.]

[Ria: Why didn't you go with them?"]

[Alex: Because I was supposed to be out of town today I didn't inform the host in advance that I'll be coming. But since my business finished early I was able to go to Seoul and now I'm here.]

Tohru nodded. Normally Alex could still go with his mother and child, but it would not be polite to the host. As the girls would be busy with something else, he busied himself chatting with Alex.

Yanee would be going to Hong Kong tomorrow, and Alex already arranged for her to stay at a hotel near their place. Technically, Yanee could stay in their house, but the couple thought Yanee would feel more relaxed if she didn't have to deal with them round the clock.

Soon, it was already almost time for dinner. At a quarter past six, Tohru took a shower and dressed for dinner. At ten minutes before seven, he stepped out of the room just in time to see Yanee waiting in front of the elevator. His eyes appreciated her slim and beautiful profile with her simple pink shirt and white pants before she felt his eyes and turned to him with a smile.

"Hey…"