Office Diaries

"Ah, lotus roots tempura!" the authors crowed in delight as their food was served. 

They were at a kaiseki restaurant and the food was all elegant and colorful. The subtle aroma of the dishes also wafted into the air that seduced their appetite. In no time, they were all digging in on their food and finished their trays. 

"Sorry, we seem like piglets to you right now. But we haven't enjoyed Japanese food in a while," Bajj apologized. 

Yanee and Tohru exchanged looks. "Er… Don't you live in Tokyo?"

Why haven't they eaten Japanese food when they lived in Japan? 

The other author laughed at their expressions. 

"Bajj, what are you talking about? We eat Japanese food all the time," Rui said as her eyes danced in mischief. "Cup noodles in the morning, afternoon, and evening. That's Nissin and it's Japanese."

Ah…

Yanee now suddenly understood what they meant. An author's job took too much time that most of them either skipped meals or just eat whatever's easy and handy. Instant noodles, energy bars, microwavable food from the convenience store— these were mostly the sources of sustenance for them and they were not healthy at all. 

"I'm sorry to hear that," Yanee apologized but the two shook their heads. 

"Why are you apologizing? Isn't it our choice? If we manage our time well we won't be eating that nasty stuff all the time." 

The authors tried to make light of the situation but both Yanee and Tohru knew it wasn't that easy. They already discussed the pressures coming from the publishing house, readers, and themselves— those added with poor diet and most certainly poor sleeping habits, it's no wonder why authors either got sick or had breakdowns. 

"Then I will tell your editors to take more good care of you," Tohru promised, making the authors giggle and blush. 

"It's alright Chief. You already helped us out enough by giving us time to rest," Bajj said. "And aren't you here today to help us out with our plots?"

"Well…"Tohru inclined his head as he glanced at Yanee. 

"Ah did you see what I see sis?" Rui whispered and Bajj nodded. 

"Yes, it's the 'darling do you have any suggestions' look," the latter answered as she took out a notebook and wrote something down. 

"No. I think it's the 'honey, help me, I don't know what to say' look, no?"Rui countered and more sounds of scribbling on paper ensued. 

Yanee and Tohru watched the two authors get lost in their own little world and she leaned sideward to her boss. 

"What are they doing?" she asked curiously. 

"I think they're brainstorming," he answered with an amused twist to his lips. 

Brainstorming… seriously? But as Yanee watched the authors jot things on their notebooks, she started to believe. Although she had experienced developmental editing before, she'd never really handled authors on a regular basis to learn so much about their working process. 

"You're going to be doing something like that too. Most times when you hit a wall, you have to go out with your notebook and jot everything that's interesting. It can help you develop a scene or two. That's already a huge help," Tohru told her softly so that it would only be audible to her. 

It was obvious that he didn't want to disturb the authors so he didn't make as much noise as possible. Yanee now understood why Tohru rented the private booth. It was for the authors to not be disturbed. 

"Hmmmnnn…" Yanee nodded. 

The two were known romance authors in the circle. It would pay to observe how they worked even if they just suddenly started working out of the blue and in the middle of a conversation as well. But inspiration came at random. Artists were weird creatures and writing was a form of art, ergo writers were weird. 

"Do you want dessert? Their matcha ice cream and coffee jelly are very nice here," Tohru asked and Yanee's eyes glittered as she looked at him as if he were a deity. 

But Yanee caught herself in time before a creepy smile crossed her face. Urgh… Sweet indulgence, sinful delight, she realized this man had already discovered her guilty p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. 

Desserts! 

"So which one do you want? Matcha ice cream or coffee jelly with vanilla ice cream?" he asked with a knowing smile as he leaned closer and whispered. "My honey is so understanding. I will reward you with any dessert you like," he added teasingly and she glared at him. 

Yanee could very well see the future where this potato would take her desserts hostage when they had trouble. 

"Ah, Chief, you asked the question wrongly!" someone complained and both Yanee and Tohru snapped out of their silent bantering. 

"Huh?"Yanee asked as she turned to the two authors who were huddled together looking at them with bright eyes. 

"Chief, the question should have been 'matcha ice cream, coffee jelly, or me," they said with a pout. 

Yanee was dumbfounded while Tohru seemed more amused. "Well, it's still early in the day and we're outside. What if she picked me?" he asked with a low, s.e.xy drawl that made the authors squeal right before they furiously wrote in their notebooks. 

Yanee, on the other hand, was a little bit miffed. She pulled Tohru's arm as she glared at him. "What are you doing?"

Why was this potato still so shameless even with other people? Didn't he say he wouldn't mix personal concerns with work?

"Developmental editing," he answered plainly with a shrug. 

EH? 

"What do you mean developmental editing?" As far as Yanee knew, they hadn't even started talking about the authors' projects. How come this was developmental editing? 

Tohru totally looked innocent as pointed at the authors who were busy scribbling on their book. "They hit a wall. Now they're writing notes, aren't they?"

Well… If he put it like that then, yes. 

For new projects, the editor's job was to check the outline and the flow of the story before the author began writing. However, for ongoing projects, their job was to push the authors in the correct direction by giving them cues or suggestions most especially when they hit a wall. 

And these authors ran away since they not only hit a big wall, but the wall collapsed and crumbled on their heads resulting in panic attacks— at least they were supposed to be like that. 

But they both seemed fine and working normally… If they indeed had trouble before but we're okay now, the question that popped in her mind was HOW? 

She turned to Tohru who was watching the authors write on their notebook. He had on a look of approval on his face and Yanee caught up on what's happening.

Damn. The potato flirted with her out in the open for the authors. She should have known. They wrote romance after all. 

Yanee raised a brow at the potato who felt her gaze on him and he smiled apologetically as he placed a finger against his lips, and she decided to stay quiet. Yanee felt a headache was coming. Right at this moment, she had no idea which one of them was the silliest. 

Soon, the screen opened quietly and the servers placed four cups of desserts on their table, one for each person. Tohru quietly placed the cute bowls in front of the authors, then placed the remaining cups of matcha ice cream and coffee jelly in front of her. 

Huh? She could have two? Yanee felt happy but then she looked at the potato who was not eating but just staring at her. 

"You're not eating?" she asked. 

She felt guilty all of a sudden. But he had on an indulgent smile on his face as he shook his head. 

"I'm okay. You can have my share," he said softly. 

"Are you sure?" she asked as she tasted the matcha ice cream that stained the corner of her mouth without her realizing it. 

He reached out a hand and wiped the ice cream off with his thumb before l.i.c.k.i.n.g it with a teasing smile. "You're the only sweet I like," he suddenly said making her totally red. 

WHAAAAAAAAAAT?

Yanee scrambled far away from Tohru with her heart beating so fast in her c.h.e.s.t. "Y-Y-You…"

The flirty potato was lethal. Too lethal. 

In front of them, the two authors who had stopped writing to eat their own desserts continued to look at them with a dreamy smile of their faces. 

"Sis, this developmental editing thing that Chief told us yesterday is really amazing, no?" Rui commented. 

"Yeah, it's so great. I feel inspiration flowing nonstop. Do you think they'd help us out with the smut scenes too?" Bajj asked and the two of them giggled. 

"I don't think so. Chief said it's too early," Rui answered with a naughty twist on her lips. "But maybe we can win another meeting at night time?"

Imagining it, the two of them smiled dreamily again as they stared at the lovebirds in front.

"Sister, are we really eating ice cream?"Bajj asked and Rui shook her head. 

"What ice cream? We're eating dog food."