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The plan for the smooth transition of the executive secretary's duties had fallen through in the last few weeks. Yesterday, the ND Corporation had received the news that Marian had to move her maternity leave earlier than scheduled after she'd shown signs of pregnancy complications during the weekend. Her family had informed the office that she was given the heads-up for preterm labor, and the doctor had advised her to file her leave as soon as possible.

Following the unexpected event, Laurence and Odessa had to work double to cover the secretary's position. The woman had temporarily moved to Marian's station, so it would be easier for them to do the tasks together.

Laurence's initial worry regarding adjustment issues lessened as his female companion proved her reliability despite being scatterbrained on occasions. He'd also learned that she was techier than Marian. Within the two days of the executive assistant's absence, Odessa had taught Laurence things about the computer, including the office applications and shortcuts that could help increase one's efficiency in inputting and encoding.

At lunch break, Laurence brought up the subject and thanked Odessa for sharing her knowledge about the internet and application software. He asked if she'd always been that versed in technology, and she told him she'd picked the skills from the business computer program that she'd completed in college. She admitted that when she'd first joined the old company, she had wanted to get a job in the IT Department, but there had not been any vacant position in that division then, so they instead placed her in Research and Development. It was supposed to be temporary, but Odessa had gotten so used to working in her current division that she had not pushed through with a transfer request, even when a new IT position had opened. She said she was content with the present arrangement and she was just glad she could still help with the technological problems from time to time.

The pair became busier in the afternoon. It was as if there was no end to the tasks, and the situation made Laurence respect Marian more for always being quick and accurate in her duties. More admirable still, he didn't think he'd ever heard the older woman complain about hating her job.

Two hours of dealing with papers and the computer later, Laurence rose from his seat and walked around to have a quick stretch.

He returned to his post after a coffee and a washroom break. Curiosity came over him when he noticed the sling bag he'd left on his table was no longer in the same location.

Odessa pried her eyes off her desktop and looked up at the man. "Oh, sorry, Rence. It fell to the floor when I accidentally knocked it while searching for a pen earlier. I put it on the chair since I thought it would be safer there."

"Nah, don't sweat it. No need to apologize." Laurence settled back on his spot and resumed his usual tasks.

The remaining hours glided like a breeze. There were only a couple of minutes before five p.m., and yet, Laurence felt like he'd not made any significant progress even after working for a long time. Since he had nothing better else to do in the Villena Residence anyway, he decided to stay for an extra hour. He'd rather hang around longer here in the office than face Ralph Villena back home.

Most employees had bid their coworkers goodbye, including Odessa. As the woman left early with an excuse of meeting her mother, Laurence wondered if there had been trouble with her family these recent days.

Last week, after hearing from Jino that he'd seen Odessa around their district and looking like she'd been in a hurry, Laurence had tried to get some information from the woman the following day. He'd lied, claiming he'd spotted her in their boss's neighborhood, to see if she would deny it.

Odessa had appeared reluctant at first before yielding and saying she'd visited a sick family member. While Laurence had gotten the hint that it wasn't a subject she had wanted to talk about further, he still could not help worrying about her. He wasn't even sure if his colleague had been telling him the truth or just covering up a problem she'd wished to forget, but Laurence knew there was nothing much he could do about it if Odessa didn't consider him worthy of confiding in.

His phone beside the desktop keyboard lit up, whisking him away from his thoughts and from his concentration on typing. A glimpse at the device showed him the pop-up notification for a new text message from the contact 'smartass punk boss.'

Laurence glanced at the closed door behind the secretary's station. Now that he thought of it, he had not noticed Isaac get out of his office today. The only time he'd seen him was this morning when he'd brought him his iced tea and a few accounts to sign, but there had not been a chance even for a brief chat since both of them had been busy.

Checking the time, he learned it was almost six p.m.

Ain't that punk going home yet?

Isaac seemed to have dived back to his habit of working past the limit, even though he'd just come back yesterday from his sick leave. Laurence hoped he was monitoring his well-being better and had gotten a proper lunch this afternoon at least.

Should I check on him and remind him to ease off a bit?

He picked up his phone from the desk and opened Isaac's message.

smartass punk boss:

Have you gone home? If you're still there, would you like to have dinner tonight?

Laurence stared blankly at the screen, feeling conflicted as his mind drifted back to everything that had happened at Isaac's house last week. The young CEO's confession had been straightforward, but Laurence still harbored doubts about whether it was safe to trust his words.

How confident was Isaac that he wasn't confusing his feelings for him anyway? The young boss had never kept it a secret that what had drawn him to his former senior in the first place were their encounters in high school, that he'd always believed he was alive today because Laurence had inspired him to go on living.

In that case, wasn't it a sense of dependency he'd mistaken for romantic love? Weren't his feelings more similar to someone's affection toward their brother?

But brothers don't kiss each other mouth to mouth, no less that passionately, the voice of reason rang in his head. And the goose bumps on his skin agreed that his speculation was stupid.

His shudders intensified as he imagined the dark glare that would shadow Isaac's face if that punk ever found out about his bleak thoughts again.

Still, what would that make them now? Isaac had declared his attraction to him, but that didn't mean the start of their dating. Laurence had not even given the younger man a proper reply yet.

Then what do you want to do about it? Do you want to date him?

Laurence shook his head, not to challenge the questions, but because he was stumped by them.

Had romance always been this complicated? He'd never considered himself as inexperienced in relationships—at least not in the physical field—even when he'd never been into a committed one. Did it have to be this tricky when emotions were involved?

He wanted to believe he was not without self-assurance. But with Isaac, he couldn't shake the lingering insecurity that he didn't deserve someone from the city's upper crust.

Were they even compatible?

With a sigh, Laurence fell back to the solution that had often worked for him. Ignore for now. And focus on what was in his sight.

You:

not sure. i'm busy.

smartass punk boss:

It's no longer office hours.

You:

i'm doing overtime. u know the situation since yesterday. i still hve work to catch up to. bout u? are you out? i havent seen u since this morning

smartass punk boss:

Do you miss me?

Laurence glowered at the screen, too long that he missed the chance to retort before Isaac's next message arrived.

smartass punk boss:

I'm still here in the office too. I have indeed noticed how busy you have been today, so I tried not to ask much of your assistance. While, as your boss, I appreciate you working so hard, please don't push beyond what's necessary. You're the one who told me that overworking is not always a good idea after all, so try to practice what you preach.

smartass punk boss:

Inform me when you're done, so we can go out together. I'll wait for you, and I might do a couple of paperwork to pass the time.

You:

u trying to guilt trip me?

smartass punk boss:

Probably. Will you not check on me to make sure I'm not overexerting myself again?

Laurence scoffed in disbelief. Isaac sure had this tendency to act like a spoiled child sometimes, and it was sort of amusing to think that most of his employees were fooled by the image of a mature, strict boss whose words and actions were always profound.

smartass punk boss:

So about the dinner, won't you indulge me? I'm thinking of a certain place on Aster Street.

Only with the text message, Laurence could almost hear the pleading in Isaac's words. He also pictured the same expression the young CEO had used on him when he'd requested a kiss.

smartass punk boss:

Don't worry. It's a Japanese restaurant, so it's likely they will have rice and noodles on their menu.

"Seriously, this punk," Laurence muttered, composing a short reply.

Despite his displeasure with how Isaac was pulling a fast one on him again, Laurence had to acknowledge that cheeky boss's cunning; Isaac Ruiz certainly knew how to sway him.

You:

k fine. ur treat, yeah?

smartass punk boss:

Of course.

Laurence made an expression that was equal parts a wince and a smile as Isaac sent him a message sticker of a puppy with tiny floating hearts around it.

❦ . ❦ . ❦

True to his words, Isaac brought Laurence to a Japanese restaurant, which appeared finer compared to the all-you-can-eat place they'd stopped by during the homecoming. Even so, it gave off a homey atmosphere and didn't feel like it was exclusive to a certain social class.

It pleased Laurence more when he surveyed the menu and found dishes he might not be familiar with, but could tell based on the names and photos that they would satisfy his stomach. The variety of donburi or rice bowls, especially.

Isaac ordered gyudon or the one topped with beef and onions first. Just when Laurence was about to get the same thing, the younger man suggested he chose a different variety, saying since they were going to order the large size, they could share each other's food. That way, Laurence would have the chance to try them both.

"Or you can order two different sets or more if you're not comfortable sharing. I don't mind. Your call, Rence."

"Nah." Laurence waved his hand in dismissal. "That would be too much, even for me. I ain't a glutton like that, and you're the one who's gonna pay, so who am I to fuss about those little things. No worries, I agree sharing's a good idea." He turned back to the menu display on the counter and squinted to make out the images better. "Then, maybe I'll go for... What's that, oyakodon?"

"That's the parent-and-child rice bowl, sir," the counter attendant said with a friendly but playful smile.

"Huh?"

"The main toppings are chicken and egg." It was Isaac who provided him with the answer.

Laurence gazed at his companion as if the younger man had thrown him a random age word problem to solve. It took him two puzzled blinks before he understood the meaning of the food's name.

"Oh? Yeah, I'll have that one."

He let Isaac decide on the side dishes since the latter had more knowledge about them.

The pair fixed on the spot hidden by the hedge wall made of faux vine leaves. Not long after they claimed the table, the server brought them the donburis of their choices, followed by the miso soup, kinpira gobo, pickled cucumbers, crab salad, and nori tamagoyaki.

Laurence held the chopsticks reluctantly and examined them like they were an exotic species of wood.

"Excuse me. May we have spoons and forks instead?"

Laurence's eyes darted to Isaac, then to the server agreeing to the young CEO's request. He set the chopsticks back on the tray, relieved to have an alternative as he was sure he would not be able to enjoy the food with the eating utensils he wasn't accustomed to using.

While they had their meal and Isaac transferred some of the thin slices of beef to Laurence's rice bowl, he noted that his young boss didn't even need the pair of cutleries he'd asked because he was managing the chopsticks well.

Laurence raised the piece of meat to his mouth, hiding his appreciative smile. He figured this was not the first time Isaac had exhibited his consideration for others in his own little ways.

In the middle of enjoying their food, Isaac's phone, on the side of the table, lit up and released a melodic single note. The young CEO ignored it and continued eating. He recommended the kinpira gobo to Laurence and told his former senior it had burdock roots, which were not very common in their city.

Isaac's phone chimed again. There was almost no interval when the next ping occurred. And then, again. It was on the fifth or sixth time Laurence pointed it out.

"Not going to check those? Must be something important if they're that persistent."

"It's not necessary. They are more likely insincere birthday greetings from the people who have been trying to ingratiate themselves with me."

"Heh, that so? Must have really sucked to be popular with the ass-kissers. Can't even say that's a good problem to have. They just sound trouble..." Laurence paused, gaped at Isaac, his hand that was holding the spoon full of oyakodon pausing mid-air. "Wait, February 20... Did you say it's your birthday today?"

Isaac shrugged. He took a piece of rolled omelet with seaweed and put it in Laurence's dish. "The attendant said they were out of the salty ones, but these sweet tamagoyakis are not bad, too."

Laurence frowned at the younger man's attempt to brush off the subject. Though, he also understood Isaac for not making a big deal out of it because he too had stopped caring so much about his birthday since he'd lost his family.

What was the point? There was no one to celebrate it with anymore, no one to cook his favorite food on that supposed special occasion. He'd never bothered spending it with anyone again, not even with Grey and Kian. And the more he'd aged, the more the day had become ordinary for him.

That must have been what it was like for the young CEO too. But Laurence wanted to believe it was different now. Isaac had someone to give a genuine damn about his special day again.

"Hey, you should have told me earlier. I could have prepared a simple gift for you, ya know."

"Having spent some time alone with you today is enough for me, Laurence."

At another time, such adorable words would have been enough to reassure Laurence and warm his heart. And it did. To some extent. Yet, his discontent with himself didn't ease off, especially when he recalled his failed promise in the past to give Isaac a calathea plant. This was another present he'd missed to deliver.

It didn't help that the questions, which had been bugging him since earlier, had wormed their way back to his head. His former high school junior didn't seem to mind giving him anything, but Laurence wondered if it was alright for him to take it all.

And what about him? What could he do to match Isaac? Did he even have anything to offer in return?

The rest of the dinner went on with Laurence reflecting on what he could have done to make at least this day more special for Isaac, but the younger man kept distracting him by pushing more food toward him, causing him to forget his concerns at some point.

When it was time to go, Isaac offered to bring him home. Laurence would have disagreed with the idea, if not for the thought of the young boss ending his birthday disappointed, which nudged at his conscience. He came up with a compromise, suggesting that Isaac drop him off a few blocks away from the Villena residence to avoid being spotted by Florence's father.

Isaac followed his wish and pulled up at the street corner near the Villena family's house. As Laurence removed his seatbelt and held the interior door handle, signaling Isaac to unlock it, he perceived that the younger man had something else to say but hesitated.

Isaac pressed a button on his key fob to release the lock before glancing at his companion with an expression comparable to a Labrador about to be left home by his owner.

Laurence let go of the handle and tousled his hair with a sigh. "Okay, one more thing before I go home."

He didn't waste a single second to wait for a response as he stole up on the younger man's face and gave him a peck on the cheek. It was quick, chaste, but enough for Isaac's smooth skin and delightful scent to tickle Laurence's senses.

He leaned away, a triumphant smirk springing on his lips when the young CEO's regal façade fell apart in surprise. "Take that as my birthday gift to you."

Isaac's daze faded soon, creating a way for the dignified air to come back. The young boss touched his cheek. "Somehow," he began in a tone of serious contemplation, the elegant quirk of his eyebrow crushing Laurence's short moment of victory, "that's a cheap present, isn't it? A peck on the cheek? Are we still in high school, senior?"

Laurence groaned and palmed his eyes. "Shut up. I just realized I did something damn embarrassing and spouted some cheesy crap."

And to think they were also behaving like teenagers hiding their night rendezvous from a parent.

"Still..."

Lowering his hand, Laurence chanced a peek to his side.

"Thank you, Laurence."

Time got suspended in the air. Laurence stared in awe at the gentle smile that ignited a youthful glow around Isaac.

You don't need to look so happy about it, punk.

After a flustered, "Yeah, sure," he hightailed it out of the car, running and walking until he arrived at his present residence. He entered the house, grateful at the absence of anyone in the living area, and took the stairs, his steps light.

Once he arrived at his room, his phone notified him of a new message. Laurence fished out the device, grumbling about a troublesome punk, as he expected Isaac to have sent him a text with cringey, cute stickers again.

But when he opened his inbox to an unknown number, his face, his insides, and his emotions dropped altogether.

Do you want to know Isaac Ruiz's dark secret? You shouldn't be associating yourself with the man. Be careful. I have information that can make your blood run cold and may drive you away from him.

Are you interested to know?