Office Diaries

"Oh my lord…"

Yanee Lee stared flabbergasted at the grinning Marian. Then, she tried to recall the sweet and quiet young man who she met at the party back in South Korea. Liam Kang, Jinho Kang's younger brother was an epitome of a very calm albeit sweet man. Who would have thought that… 

Both Marian and her husband were… dorks. 

"What do you think?" Marian asked eagerly. "How's my story, huh?" 

"That was a rollercoaster of misunderstandings, frustrations, and craziness. But I don't know it's also cute in a way but it's the kind of feeling that makes one cry or laugh or both."

Actually, while listening to Marian earlier, Yanee did just that. 

Immaculate conception…

Accusing her friend as the father of her baby… 

Marian's brain surely worked amazingly different. 

"You must be thinking that I'm such an airhead," Marian said, and Yanee slipped in the hot spring and sank. "Yanee!" 

Yanee resurfaced and sputtered as she sat back properly within the hot water. "I'm alright." She was just surprised that even if Marian was a little bit blunt sometimes, she had a very sharp sense on what she was thinking. 

"It's alright. I'm good at my work. But when I'm pregnant my brain cells retire and go out of order until I give birth," Marian assured her laughingly. "Blame all that to my younger twin who took all the brainpower in the w.o.m.b."

Oh?

Yanee looked at Marian in surprise. "You have a twin?"

This time, it was Marian's turn to be surprised. "You mean you haven't…" she said but paused and sighed. "Nevermind, I'll present him to you one of these days. But when you do finally know him, please forgive him. He may be very smart in most areas but he has a very low EQ. I mean his EQ is okay but he's never really had any relationsh.i.p.s before since he's never interested."

Er…

"It's fine. You don't have to apologize for that. I don't really mind."

Yanee really had no idea why Marian had to say that. She didn't really mind about people's personalities since it really didn't have anything to do with her. But since Marian and her family seemed to be very warm towards her, Yanee just chalked it up that she didn't want her to have a bad impression on the mentioned twin in case she met him. Nonetheless, she was a bit confused earlier since she thought that she already met everyone in Marian's family. Yanee reckoned Marian already said so earlier, but she didn't linger on it. Marian might have forgotten that she missed one member. 

"Anyway, about my story…" Marian prompted, her huge doe eyes looking expectantly at Yanee. 

Yanee smiled. "It's actually a very good story all in all. It's like a gift," she answered honestly. 

Actually, this was the very first story that ticked all the boxes in Yanee's checklist. Marian's and Liam's story began and developed in an actual office setting. It was a perfect example for her project. She really didn't have to revise anything from it. 

Also, the story was pretty nice in spite of the crazy ups and downs and all the misunderstanding. In fact, those only added to the cuteness and uniqueness of their love affair. Remembering the story put a soft smile on her face. 

"Ah…you really should smile more often. You're so pretty," Marian commented and Yanee suddenly felt self-conscious that the smile of her face became weird. "Nevermind!"

Marian laughed out loud and Yanee massaged her face as she too let out a peal of laughter. 

 "So, do you think you can remember everything? I mean you're taking a bath and wasn't able to take down notes. But don't worry. We were supposed to talk about my story tomorrow so we have enough time. If you have questions I can always go over with you with the details you forgot." Marian looked at her worriedly and Yanee smiled. 

It seemed Marian just realized and felt guilty that she talked about her story when Yanee couldn't take notes. 

"Don't worry. I have a very good memory," she assured her, then remembered something. "By the way, I'm wondering how's your friend now?"

"Which one?" Marian asked. 

"The one who got accused of fathering your child,"Yanee answered with a giggle, and Marian giggled back. 

"Well, he's still alive and well. He'll be arriving tomorrow with Liam. They were supposed to be here today but got held back by last-minute work." Marian shrugged and then smiled. "Ah! My kids will be here tomorrow too. My in-laws took them on vacation so Liam will be bringing them with him."

"Oh! You have two babies right?" Yanee's eyes sparkled as she liked kids and kids liked her back. 

Marian chuckled. "Yes. My eldest is four, and my second's two years old. They're so cute but really little devils inside."

Yanee shook her head but laugh nonetheless. To her, all kids were all little mischievous angels. It was only natural. 

"Ah, but I think you won't have any problems dealing with them. I heard you used to volunteer as a kindergarten assistant," Marian suddenly said that surprised Yanee. 

Seeing as she might have said something that's supposed to be not known, Marian looked at her worriedly. "Sorry. I just… Well, I heard from Tohru… I mean…"

Ah…

Yanee realized where the information came from. It was probably from Chummy. Since finding out that her boss liked her in a romantic way, all the teasing Chummy did, started to make sense. She must have known that their boss liked her and of course, knowing Chummy, she would have fed Tohru everything she knew about her. 

She was a bit depressed about that since Yanee was sure that Tohru knew about her past too— about Shimizu Kyo. But this was something she didn't have to think about tonight. In any case, there's still a lot of time. Tohru wouldn't push her.

"I'm sorry," Marian sounded depressed too and Yanee realized she'd been quiet too long. 

"Oh no! I'm so sorry. I don't really mind. I have nothing to hide anyway. I was just spacing out."Yanee felt bad for making Marian worry. 

"Oh no! Maybe you already had enough of the hot water." Marian quickly stood up to take the towel and handed it to her. 

It was rare, but there were people who had accidents in hot springs from dozing off in the middle of the bath. The warm temperature made people feel relaxed and some people just slipped and drowned.

Yanee was used to dipping in the hot springs and she could endure soaking in it for long. But she didn't argue when Marian handed her the towel and dried herself. She and Marian went to her room where the other continued to chatter about her life with her children and things they did there at the Cypress Gardens while she dressed. The servants placed a delicate yukata the color of gold on the bedroll for her earlier and she decided to put it on. 

"Oh my!" Marian looked at her in delight as she stepped out from behind the screen. "You really look so gorgeous."

"Thanks," Yanee answered good-naturedly and she humored Marian when the latter asked her to turn around so she can see.

 "Do you like it?" Marian asked. 

Yanee nodded. "I'm actually surprised. It fits nicely."

Not just that. The color itself was unusual. 

Marian grinned. "Tohru has a good eye," she said meaningfully making Yanee pause as she looked at the other quizzically. "Yes, he's the one who chose that for you. Too bad it's one for sleeping. Else, he'd love to see you in it."

Upon hearing that, Yanee's heart skipped and her face turned so red that even if the lights were dimmed Marian was still able to see it. 

"Well, I won't tease you anymore. I will let you take a rest and just see you tomorrow, okay?" 

Marian walked towards the screen door. But before she pushed it open, she turned back to face Yanee with an enigmatic smile. "Yanee…"

Her soft but firm voice made Yanee look at her with full attention. "Yes?"

Marian studied her face for a while before a mischievous glint sparkled in her pair of knowing eyes. "My story may sound all fun and frustrating," she began and Yanee inclined her head to listen attentively since it was about the story. "But the crux of all that rollercoaster set of emotions and events, one thing is clear. Misunderstandings, they're so easy to fix. You just have to be truthful to yourself. Regardless of what other thoughts you might have— either good or bad, as long as you are honest to yourself, you can solve any problem."

"Uhmm… Yes?" Yanee was not sure what Marian meant exactly since she felt that what she said was something related not only to her story but to her and Tohru as well. 

She's correct. 

Marian chuckled this time. "Also, no matter what people do or say to you, no one can also push you to do something you're not ready to. I love Tohru, but I love you too even if we just met. As long as you are not sure about yourself, just relax. Love is something people don't plan. It just happens. There's no rush. But do give the little brother a chance that he's worthy of your love."