Office Diaries

"I live in Kyoto. I have clothes in my house."

Oh? Yanee was at first surprised, and then she realized she'd been so forgetful. The potato hailed from Kyoto – at least his mother was from there.

"Have you forgotten?" Tohru James asked as he pouted, making her give him a sheepish smile.

"Sorry," she apologized.

How could she have forgotten? She did the interview with him – ah but it's because Tohru James grew up with his father's side of the family in California. He only mentioned about his mother living in Kyoto in passing. It's why she didn't remember. But it was unprofessional of her and rude to have forgotten since she did the interview not long ago.

"Ah, that's so sad. I didn't know someone like myself was easily forgotten," Tohru continued and Yanee's guilty feeling turned to annoyance.

I already apologized you pouty potato…

"Oh well, I guess it means I need to leave more of an impression on you," he suddenly added, making her brain go haywire again.

"Excuse me?"

For the past few days, this potato had been making her undergo mood swings as if she were riding a roller coaster. She's honestly clueless as to how to deal with him. He seemed to like messing up with her with his flirting, but then again he did it with Chummy too. It's why she didn't know whether she should put her barrier up or not. If she acted distantly, she would appear to be ahead of herself, killjoy, and paranoid. But if she didn't she was scared that her little crush on him would blow up into something else and it would be too late for her to back out when she realized it.

"I said I'll work hard to make a deeper impression," he repeated as he leaned against his seat and closed his eyes.  

Why would he need to do that? Yanee was at a loss. She wanted to ask him about it but when she looked at his face, she stopped. He looked as handsome as always, with those long lashes fanning his cheeks that made her jealous because his lashes were thicker and prettier than girls'. But today, there were visible dark circles under his eyes. It was as if he hadn't slept the night before.

"Ms. Lee, wake me up in an hour and a half. I just need to rest a bit. The runaway authors kept me up the whole night," he said before drifting off to sleep.

Oh.

Yanee decided to drop the conversation and leaned back on her own seat and looked ahead to think.

For the second time since sitting on the train, Yanee felt guilty. At first, it's because she forgot about his information and now because she seemed to have robbed him of his rest. Remembering how her boss made her sleep in his room so she could prepare for the interview that was canceled in the end, a small ache rang in her heart. If it weren't for her, Tohru James would have taken a nap earlier. But because she was there, he was not able to sleep.

Earlier, when she had late lunch at the cafeteria, her colleagues at the editing department wished her well. It seemed they were worrying about how she was coping with work being so close to a perfectionist boss. She realized then that Tohru James acted aloof towards the rest of the people and was only warm and flirty towards her and Chummy. Actually, even her BFF said that the boss treated Yanee better. After all, she had the best project, was treated like a VIP wherever she went, and was taken care of health-wise.

Yanee, aren't you so spoiled?

She didn't know why. Her first impression of her boss was not good. She even thought of him as a snob. But since working for him, somehow, she felt as if she discovered a lot of things Tohru James normally wouldn't show other people and it confused her.

Earlier… Earlier he said he liked her too. But she was thinking that the damn potato was really just messing with her. Well, who would confess then switch to business mode at the second breath – not that she really wanted him to confess, of course. It would make working for him more complicated if that was real.

But Yanee knew she was a hypocrite. Even if she feared and plied herself with logical reasoning, deep inside, there was that little seed of longing. Her lips twisted into a cynical slant. Well, she thought it was normal to be attracted. Tohru James was a very attractive and amazing man, after all. Just his accomplishments alone were enough to make the women swoon all over him – not to mention that illegally good-looking face.  What's important was how to deal with the attraction.

"I don't want to like you," she murmured and was shocked when the man sleeping next to her suddenly replied.

"Why not? I'm low maintenance and loyal," Tohru James suddenly said.

"You're awake?" Yanee looked up and was startled to see him looking at her.

The intensity of those pair of light brown eyes made her shrink back on her seat. He looked so imposing when he's not smiling.

"I thought you're going to sleep?"

He raised a brow at her, his lips puckering into a pout. "I was not. I was just giving you a chance to take advantage of me. But no, instead of looking at me, you rather spout nonsense," he told her directly, making her cheeks hot.

What nonsense? You're nonsense – your whole family is nonsense!

Of course, Yanee didn't say that to his face. She didn't dare. "Rest assured, your chastity is safe with me, boss," she deadpanned.

"Why?" he demanded, looking totally unsatisfied.

"Are you a kid?" Why did this potato sound like he wanted her to take advantage of him like a v.i.r.g.i.n maiden?

"Am I not your type?" he countered making her choke.

Yanee felt too much heat on her face. She wondered why she's the one who felt so embarrassed when her boss was the one being so shameless.

"Why are you even asking me this?" she asked blandly.

"Ms. Lee, I told you already I like you. Are you really a goldfish that you forget things so fast?"

Yanee stopped. She blinked several times as if absorbing his words. "That was real?"

At her question, Tohru was taken aback. It was now his turn to stay quiet as he studied her face.

"Ms. Lee, I assure you, I'm not someone who jokes about things like that," he informed her. "I even confessed to you in front of other people."

Other people meant Chummy, of course. But that was not the point.

"That was seriously a confession?"Yanee didn't know whether she'd be amazed, exasperated, or both.

"Yeah, isn't it?"

"Why are you asking me? You're the one who did it. You should know what it is." Yanee didn't know the potato could be an idiot.

"How should I know? I've never done it before."

Eh?

EH?

EEEEEEH?

"W-What?" Dumbfounded. Yanee was dumbfounded. "You've never…"

Tohru James continued to look at her shocked expression. "You're the one with experience. Tell me if I did it wrong so I can do it again," he told her sincerely.

But the problem was he had leaned over to whisper that in her ear and Yanee's brain said goodbye and refused to function. She remained quiet for several seconds before turning her head away.

"Boss, give me space. I can't think anymore for today. I don't even know what to say," she begged, obviously choosing to run away.

"Why? Shouldn't we talk about this?" he pressed on but Yanee shook her head.

"Boss, you have a special talent to reduce people into idiots. I space out because I forget things I want to say with you around – I don't mean that as an insult." She hoped he wouldn't think badly about this.

Tohru chuckled. "I'm not insulted. I feel good, actually," he admitted, making her frown.

"Really? Why?" she asked. Was it a good thing that she didn't want to talk about this today?

"Because it means I'm too awesome I render you speechless," he countered smugly and Yanee thought of murder once again.

Urgh… This shameless potato…

Silence hung between them for a while before Tohru sighed and settled back on his seat.

"Fine. I won't pressure you with this for now," he said.

"Er… thank you?"

"But Ms. Lee, I'll have to give you an assignment," he said and Yanee frowned.

Work again? She was amazed at how easily he could shift topics – but she was wrong!

"Tomorrow, tell me how to make you believe that I honestly like you," he said.

Ha?

"Why are you surprised again? Didn't you believe that I wasn't serious when I confessed earlier? So I want to know how. I want to know about your conditions. Tell me, and I will do them all."

Yanee's heart skipped in her c.h.e.s.t. The potato was really serious?