CHAPTER 5

I was nervous as I stepped into the building. I gathered my courage before fully entering, but I went to the restroom outside first. There's a restroom at the guardhouse.

Two days... Two days I was gone. Two days I didn't know what to say to Tasya. When I reached the lobby, I suddenly saw her. Tasya. She was standing near the elevator, her face a mix of worry and... surprise? It was as if she couldn't believe she was seeing me.

“Anaya?” she said softly, her voice full of questions.

I stopped walking. My heart felt like it was going to explode with nervousness. I smiled at her because I didn't know where to begin. There were so many things I wanted to say, but it felt like I couldn't say anything at all. I saw the worry in her eyes, the worry that I knew I deserved. I had worried her. I had worried her so much.

“Tasya…” That was all I could say. My voice was barely a whisper.

She came closer and immediately gave me a very hard slap.

She did come closer, but with it came a hard slap. This witch! I noticed in her eyes that she was staring at me with a mix of confusion and worry. "Where have you been? What happened? I've been looking for you for two days!" she asked rapidly. Her tone was irritated, but I knew there was also concern.

That's why I love her, because even though I'm like this, she understands me, unlike my family who wants to throw me up.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I knew I needed to explain. I needed to tell her everything. But how? Where do I start? All the words felt like they were crowding my throat, refusing to come out. But I knew one thing, I need to tell her. I had to explain.

I put aside my thoughts and smiled at her to imply that I was okay and that she shouldn't worry.

"Tasya, I'm okay. Don't worry. I got sick, that's why I was absent. Sorry I didn't call you, my phone got stolen the other day."

I held my head and looked at her. "Wow, that's a nice welcome back, Tasya—a slap!"

"You deserve it! You didn't tell me anything, I was so worried when I couldn't reach you." She said, hugging me. We remained in the lobby.

"I miss you," she said, so I chuckled slightly.

"I miss you too," I said and hugged her back.

"Come on, let's go up so we can start our work. I heard that the company owner is coming to visit today." She said and broke the hug, so I nodded. The elevator opened, so we got in. I'm not late yet because my time in is 8:30 am, and it's 7:56 am.

"Really, Tasya, do you know the owner?" I asked her.

She shrugged.

"No. This is his first time visiting here. Sir Kiven is usually in charge, but Sir Kiven has something to take care of in the U.S., so his son is replacing him. I also heard that he's married. Of course, the gossip won't stop. They say he's handsome but too serious in life, so sometimes many people are afraid of him," she said at length. I nodded.

"So Sir Kiven's son is mysterious, huh?" I commented.

"Really! Let's go," she said as the elevator door opened.

The faces of our office mates appeared before us; some were smiling, some were not happy.

"Look who's here! We thought you were dead," and here we go again, facing an officemate who acts like she's an heiress.

"You shut up, Chiska! Your face is already ugly, and now your attitude is too," Tasya said sharply. I secretly smiled because she also has a bitchy attitude. Chiska is one of my enemies. She wants all the attention on her, so she creates scenes, and I'm her target because I'm the newbie. I've only been here for a year, while they've been here for more than 5 years.

I don't bother with Chiska's nonsense; whatever, it's her life. She lacks attention.

"I'm alive, Chiska. If I'm the one who might disappear, you'll be the first because you came before me," I said, raising an eyebrow and bumping her shoulder. I walked to my seat while Tasya followed me, laughing.

"You'll get yours!" she shouted at me. I faced her, raising my eyebrow.

"Why not now?" I retorted. I saw how she got even more annoyed. I just smiled at her as if I didn't say anything.

"That's right, baby girl, fight back." I just laughed at Tasya; it seems like she really wants me to fight Chiska.

Aki shook her head because of her attitude.

"Go back to your work, manager," I said and smiled at her. She just pouted at me, so I laughed again.

She didn't take long to return to her work, and I continued my work that I didn't finish because of my two-day absence.