Office Diaries

"Oh, you flirty prince," Marian's mother giggled at Tohru's antics and Yanee wondered if her boss really had dual personality he could easily switch in between.

Yanee had to admit though that the atmosphere in the dining area was warm and cozy as they ate. Because of their hosts' welcoming attitude, she felt as if they were all a part of one family dining together. By now, she already understood that her clients – the people she's interviewing were all Tohru James' close friends. His relationship must be too good with them that he's close even with their other family members.

Like Marian Kang's parents, for example…

"Mama, you're friends with some owners of the kimono shops here, right?"Tohru asked the lady, and Yanee's lips twitched.

See? Her boss was so close to them that he even called Marian's parents Mama and Dad.

"Yes. Why are you asking?" the lady asked, and Tohru pointed at Yanee, much to the latter's surprise.

Huh?

"It's for Yanee's sister. She's an events planner and her company will be participating in the Bridal Expo next week."

EH?

Yanee looked at Tohru in surprise. How did he know about that? Ami just sent her a text message about it. Did he read her phone? But that's impossible. Aside from knowing that her phone stayed with her the whole time, it also had a complicated password.

As if reading her thoughts, Tohru turned to Yanee and smiled. "Your sister told Chummy when she got your luggage from your apartment."

Oh.

Yanee nodded and smiled. "She asked me to buy different types of bridal kimonos," she offered the information as the lady seemed to wait for her to explain.

"Oh!" the lady sounded delighted at the news. "Then I will take you there tomorrow!"

"Er…"Yanee wanted to tell her she had to work first, but didn't have the heart to. The lady really looked like she wanted to go. She turned to her boss for help, and Tohru nodded.

"Mama, Yanee needs to interview big sis first for her project. You can take her the day after," he said.

"Oh, yes, yes – of course. I will take you shopping after your interview," the lady agreed with a smile.

"But I don't want to bother madam," Yanee said. She really didn't want to take advantage of the elderly's kindness.   

"Nonsense. I'll be happy to go shopping with you. It's not a bother at all," the lady insisted and Yanee finally didn't have the heart to say no. "Also, don't call me madam. Call me Mama like little Tohru and Marian do," she added, catching her unawares.

Eh?

"I… I don't think that's appropriate. I –" Yanee declined but her boss cut her off.  

"Sure. That's a good idea,"Tohru agreed for her and Yanee arched her brow at him. "What? You already call Marian big sis," he reminded her, and she realized that to say no was useless.

It was not a big deal anyway, and the old lady looked at her with expectant eyes. She smiled.

"Mama," she told the lady who blushed and giggled.

"And him?" Tohru pointed at the old man who surprisingly looked at Yanee with expectant eyes as well.

"Er… dad," she said, and the old man looked pleased, though he was more reserved than his wife.

Tohru's eyes warmed over as he looked at her as well and a very charming smile appeared in his face, causing a huge blow on Yanee's HP. When he winked at her, Yanee felt she was doomed as her heart did a summersault. With her pulse racing, she attacked her rice bowl and ate as fast.

"Would you like some dessert?" the lady asked Yanee after their meal.

Yanee had been too nervous and ate a lot already. She would die if she ate another bite. She smiled and shook her head as she declined.

"Then I'll take you to your room so you can change and relax," Marian offered and nobody stopped them when she took Yanee out.

The two ladies walked arm in arm towards the eastern part of the house. "This house is big so you and Tohru have the east wing to yourselves. It has everything you need. The only room we share is the big dining hall where we had dinner earlier."

Yanee nodded at Marian's explanation. She was not surprised that she and Tohru were made to stay far from where the family lived. They were guests after all so she didn't find anything unusual about it. But the thought that she would be there alone with Tohru made her nervous. She was thinking this when the two of them heard the sound of a car engine and they both turned to look.

"Isn't that boss?" Yanee asked as she saw him drive away.

She had no idea that the potato would be leaving and felt a bit sad.

"Yeah, that's Tohru. He'll probably go to the city. But don't worry, he'll be back," Marian told her, and Yanee remembered that the potato didn't have clothes.

He probably went to his apartment to take his things and would return to the Cypress Gardens later. But later meant it could be late into the night, and so she hoped that she would be already asleep by then.

"This is your room," Marian announced as the servant opened the screen door, and a very cozy traditional room with delicate decorations came before them. The screen doors themselves were work of arts, while the rest of the room was in elegant cherry blossom hues. "How is it?"

"Exquisite,"Yanee answered readily. There was no other word she could muster to describe the room.  

"Well, I'm glad you obviously like it. Our mom would be very happy," Marian said happily.

Yanee of course clearly heard the word "our" referring to the madam. But since she had already agreed to call the lady mama, she found nothing wrong with it.

"Thank you," she murmured in appreciation before she was dragged into the room.

"Your clothes have been placed there," Marian added as she pointed at the black antique Japanese armoire with delicate sakura design, before hurrying towards the screen door on the opposite side of the room.

"Are you sure you should be running around?"Yanee felt exasperated and nervous about the way Marian moved.

She was like a little girl going around the room excitedly. What if she tripped? Yanee hurried to her side, but not fast enough before Marian pushed the screen door open, and a very beautiful scenery appeared before their eyes.

Yanee was familiar with traditional houses and their Zen gardens, but this seeing one for real was a different experience. The back garden was filled with summer flowers and the most notable thing she saw was the huge hot spring pool there surrounded by rocks.

"Is this natural?" she asked in awe as she looked at the steaming water.

"It is," Marian answered. "You can take a dip now if you want."

"Eh? I will do that maybe later," Yanee said but Marian shook her head.

She pulled Yanee towards the changing screen and handed her a robe. Yanee had no choice but to comply. She'd been living in Japan for a long time and was used to this kind of thing. Women bathed together in hot springs n.a.k.e.d so she had no inhibition to remove her clothes, wrap a towel around her only to remove them again when she dipped into the hot pool.

Oh! That felt good.

Yanee wanted to groan at the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e the hot water was giving her screaming muscles. She glanced up at Marian who had settled on the lounging chair the servant placed next to the pool. Since she's pregnant, Marian's not allowed to take very hot baths as it could result to deformity of the fetus and other pregnancy complications.

"It's very nice, isn't it?" Marian asked with a knowing smile.  

"It is. I'm glad I listened to you,"Yanee stated as she raised her hand and gave Marian a heart sign, making the older woman laugh.

"Well, it's the only thing I can do to make you relax. You seem so troubled when you arrived. I guess my little brother already made a move on you."

Huh?

Yanee slipped into the pool in shock making the water splash and she sputtered as she shifted to sit right back up.

WHAT?

"Y-You… know?" Yanee couldn't believe it. Did Tohru tell Marian?

Marian laughed. "No, he didn't tell me he confessed to you. But he's my little brother and you're acting so weird so I guessed he did."

"I…see," Yanee murmured as her cheeks reddened. She was so absorbed in her own thoughts and went quiet so Marian quickly apologized.

"Sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable?"

Yanee shook her head. "No. I'm so sorry. I was just thinking. I mean, I was not expecting. I mean he's…"her voice trailed off as she sank into the water with only her nose up exposed.

Marian laughed. "Well, I guess you're still shocked. But I do hope you'll give him a chance after you think it over. He's a good boy and I'm sure he'll be a good partner for you."

Yanee sighed as she sat back up again. "But I'm not really into office romance. I feel they don't work."

"Why do you think so? Aren't you working on a project like that?" Marian countered and Yanee panicked, thinking she said something rude. Marian was one of her interviewees after all.

But words had already been said. There was no taking them back.

"I mean pure office romance. Even Yunjae and Jinho, Ash and Alex met somewhere else, right?" They were not really office affairs and it's why Yanee also had trouble how to write them.

Marian then brightened. "Oh! Don't worry. My story with Liam's purely an office romance thing," she said.

"Really?" Yanee was surprised. This would be the first time she'd hear one in that case.

"Yes. We're here anyway so I might as well tell you the story now…"