Chapter 7: I Thought I Told You

12:00 P.M

LUNCH BREAK

I went out to my car only to find Nathan standing outside, which startled me a bit.

Nathan: Hey.

Me: Phew! It's you Nathan... hey.

Nathan: Woah, I startled Liana? Am I not on a roll today?

Me: You sure are alright. Anyway, what brings you outside, I thought you would be with your friends?

Nathan: Friends? They are just my colleagues whom I am friendly with. 

Nathan looked at me.

Nathan: Are we not colleagues?

Me: We are.

Nathan: Liana, you know...

He came and whispered in my ear.

Nathan: I miss you.

My heart skipped a beat.

Me: Nathan, are you flirting with me?

Nathan: Am I good?

Me: No. But I must say, you pretty shocked me.

Nathan: Really?

Me: Yeah - I thought I told you---

Nathan: That you are not interested in having a romantic relationship? I get it.

Me: Then why are you continuing?

Nathan: To do what?

Me: You know what I mean - to flatter me. Why are you hurting yourself?

Nathan: I don't know... love is blind?

Was Nathan this much of a flirter? Does he do this with all women?

I pushed Nathan away. 

Me: Nathan, listen. I have said this once and I will do it again. I don't have any interest in romance and relationships. I know you may feel hurt for me not returning your feelings but I hope you understand. Okay?

Nathan looked at me intently before smirking.

Me: What's with the smirk?

Nathan: My feelings for you are indeed at this moment, one-sided. But I don't mind waiting centuries for your love.

Is he kidding?

Me: Nathan, you wouldn't want to waste your time on me, there will be someone you will love and cherish that---

Nathan: I will wait for your love, centuries after centuries.

Me: Nathan, you are not listening---

Nathan: Goodbye Liana.

Me: Nathan! Forget about---

Soon he went back into the office.

Me: ARGH! How did my life get so ruined?!

Riana: Relationship problems?

I turned around to see Riana with Kayla and two other women.

Me: No - it's life's anxieties.

Riana: Spare me the lies. I saw you and Nathan were talking. He likes you but you didn't reciprocate his feelings. Poor Nathan.

Me: What? Was I supposed to force myself to like him?

Riana: No sweetie. I didn't say force. You could have tried him out, who knows, maybe your feelings towards romance would have changed.

Woman 1: But too bad she's allergic to guys.

I am tired of fighting. All I just want is a quiet peaceful work environment.

Me: You done, ma'am?

Riana rolled her eyes at me while she told the others to walk away.

Riana: Don't waste your time on her girl, she's no fun.

Woman 1: Yeah, you're right. Let's leave her.

Kayla however mimicked a silent sorry.

I too mimicked back with an, "It's okay," before Riana called out to Kayla.

Riana: What are you waiting for? Come!

Kayla: Yeah, coming!

I then looked at the time on my watch:

12:45 P.M

Me: Time isn't on my side today.

I went into my car and decided to give Ziana a call.

---ON A CALL---

Ziana: Hey sis!

Me: Hey Zi.

Ziana: Things are rough huh?

Me: More than rough...awful.

Ziana: Geez girl, tell me EVERYTHING. But wait! Tell me, did you find out?

Me: About the live stream?

Ziana: Yeah? The Great Mr. Lee Romano has a fiancee!

Me: And what makes him special? Just because he's from a rich family that supports the country's economy makes him no better than the rest of the citizens who pay taxes.

Ziana: Stop being serious for a sec and listen.

I kept quiet to hear this "serious thing" I had to listen to.

Ziana: HE IS HANDSOME!

Me: Yeah, as if you are his fiancee. Get over him Ziana.

Ziana: Comfort your little sister! She's hurt.

Me: Haha, very funny Zi! 

I laughed out loud. Luckily no one could hear me.

Ziana: Is that you laughing?

Me: I am so sorry, I can't keep a serious face... I never thought that you liked Lee Romano! No wonder you never talked about the boys in your school huh?

Ziana: You going to pay when you get back home?

Me: As if.

Ziana: Anyways... enough about me and my broken heart. Let's talk about you. 

Me: Problems are what is all about me.

Ziana: Tell me one of the problems, at least.

I took a deep breath before I carried on speaking.

Me: You were right... the things you told me yesterday... they all happened the same way. At this rate, I just want the ground to swallow me.

Ziana: Don't be negative... Wait! You mean I was right about Jonathan and Nathan liking you?!

Me: Yep.

Ziana: How did it go? When did you tell them that you're not interested?

Me: With Jonathan, he just held my hand as we walked into his office, I hope that's the last time that ever happens. With Nathan, he said he's going to wait for me... how... shocking?

Ziana: You got a keeper right there!

Me: Zi!

Ziana: Okay, okay. On a serious note though, Nathan is VERY patient... I wouldn't wait that long for someone.

Me: Listen to who is talking, Mrs Romano! 

Ziana: Hey! Don't tease me.

Before I knew it, there were 5 minutes left before I had to go back to work.

Me: Okay Zi, thanks for listening, I owe you!

Ziana: You sure do! Speaking of which.

Me: Yeah?

Ziana: I will tell you when you get home.

Me: It's okay, you can give me an overview of what---

Ziana: It's a surprise! See ya!

Me: Okay Ziana. Bye!

Ziana: Ciao!

--- END OF CALL---

Me: Surprises after surprises... today couldn't get any better with surprises.

I walked back to my desk until I realized there was a note left on my desktop:

"See me after work

- Jonathan"

With no words to say, I carefully removed the note from the screen and placed it next to me.

Me: Wonder why.

As I was working, I heard a familiar voice that was coming towards me.

Me: Riana.

Riana stood next to me and looked at the screen before looking at me.

Riana: I am not invisible right?

I looked at Riana.

Me: Hello to you too Riana. Is there anything I can help you with?

Riana then spoke to me in a low voice so that everyone couldn't hear our conversation.

Riana: I heard the little convo you and Nathan had during lunch break. And I must say, I was pretty stunned at the straightforward response you gave. You claim you're introverted, you are not into romance and you don't like crowded parties. I bet you asked to be an exception to the party and the boss gave it to you. 

Me: So?

Riana: If you are not hiding anything, I expect you at the party tomorrow night.

Me: And if I don't?

Riana: I am going to spread the rumors of you and Nathan.

Me: And tell me, what did I do to offend you?

Riana: Everything. You are always being praised and trust me, I am going to find out your secret.

Me: Good luck Riana.

Riana: Argh! I will be watching you!

And she left. 

Riana, Riana...