Chapter 16 – Someone’s Jealous, Huh!

Jeslyn stared blankly at her laptop screen. Her right hand gripped the mouse while her other fingers tapped on the desk in a random rhythm. She was supposed to be finishing the final report for the project she was handling—a crucial presentation that needed to be submitted later that afternoon. But no matter how hard she tried to concentrate, her mind kept drifting back to the same moment that had haunted her since morning.

That kiss.

That sudden, unsolicited kiss Leonel had planted on her so carelessly.

“I’m going to go insane! How long am I going to be like this, unable to focus?” she muttered with a sigh.

Jeslyn clenched her fist, trying to contain the turmoil in her chest. She had tried everything to shake the memory—throwing herself into work, splashing cold water on her face in the office bathroom—but nothing worked.

The image of Leonel’s face, the intensity of his gaze, the heat of his touch—they were all seared into her mind. What irritated her most was how her own heartbeat had raced wildly in that moment, as if her body had betrayed her.

“Focus, Jeslyn. Stop thinking about him. Come on, focus...” she mumbled, shaking her head in frustration.

The laptop screen in front of her still showed the same page it had an hour ago. The deadline was drawing near, but she had accomplished nothing.

Jeslyn took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She stared at her reflection on the laptop screen. The usually sharp eyes now looked uncertain.

“Focus, Jeslyn. Don’t let that man ruin everything you’ve worked so hard for,” she whispered to herself, more like a prayer than a command.

“Okay, Jeslyn, focus!” she repeated again and again.

***

Not far away, Leonel wasn’t doing any better. Seated at the sleek glass table in the tenth-floor conference room, he leaned back in his chair with a blank expression. One of his business partners was speaking loudly, presenting an overseas expansion strategy while pointing at the screen. Two others listened, nodded, and occasionally took notes as if it all made perfect sense.

But not to Leonel.

His eyes were distant, unfocused—not on the presentation, but on Jeslyn. This morning’s incident still lingered in his mind. Jeslyn’s angry outbursts were nothing new to him, but this time, it had been different. In her eyes, he had seen something else—disappointment, and an unexpected pain.

“Idiot, Leonel! What the hell did I do? Why did I lose control?” he cursed internally.

That thought kept looping in his head. Normally, Leonel remained calm under pressure. He was known for being professional, cold, and always composed. But today, for the first time, his concentration had crumbled—all because of a woman named Jeslyn.

Worse, the man who usually showed no remorse felt guilty. He, who always believed in the righteousness of his actions, now regretted how reckless he had been.

“Is she going to hate me?”

Jeslyn’s forced smile, the tremble in her voice as she yelled, and the hurt in her eyes haunted him like a shadow that wouldn’t leave.

He clenched his jaw tightly, hiding the chaos inside him. His hand, resting on the table, curled into a tight fist.

“Mr. Leonel? Do you agree with the second phase of the proposal?” his partner’s voice snapped him out of his trance.

Leonel blinked, as if suddenly realizing where he was. He glanced at the screen and tried to refocus, but everything now seemed meaningless. Nothing mattered more than Jeslyn’s tear-streaked face that morning.

He gave a quick nod, picking up the pen beside him just to appear occupied. “Go ahead for now. I’m considering something.”

Of course. That “something” was Jeslyn.

“In that case, we’ll start preparing the follow-up contract,” one of them said.

“Alright,” Leonel replied. “Let’s end the meeting here.”

He rose from his chair and exited the room, pressing a finger to the bridge of his nose. Maybe he needed to talk to Jeslyn—apologize, even.

As the meeting room door shut behind him, Leonel took a deep breath, trying to calm the pounding in his head. His steps quickened as he walked down the hallway toward Jeslyn’s office. He wanted to see her face again, to apologize if needed, or at least make sure she hadn’t changed toward him.

But the moment he reached the corridor near the elevator, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Through the large glass window, Leonel spotted Jeslyn standing in the lobby, dressed in a crisp white blouse and beige slacks. Her hair flowed freely as usual. What made Leonel’s expression turn tense and cold was the man beside her.

Jefran.

Jeslyn had her hand resting on his arm.

Jefran was smiling while speaking to her, and Jeslyn nodded slightly, responding with a small, shy smile. It was subtle, yet enough to ignite a fiery heat in Leonel’s chest. Something inside him hardened, like being hit with a sledgehammer.

The two exited the building together. Jefran even opened the car door for Jeslyn before getting in from the driver’s side. Moments later, the car sped away from the office lot.

Leonel could only stand frozen in front of the unopened elevator, watching the car vanish into the distance.

The hand that had been pressed to his nose now dropped and clenched tightly at his side.

“I’m only this upset because I was worried she’d be hurt or sad...” he thought bitterly, fists tightening with frustration.

***

A small café tucked in a quiet corner of the city became their midday escape. Located on the second floor of a vintage-style building, the café offered a cozy atmosphere, filled with the aroma of coffee and toasted bread wafting from the open kitchen.

Jeslyn sat across from Jefran, a glass of lemon tea in her hand. As usual, Jefran looked relaxed, his blue shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a soft smile playing on his lips.

“Be honest,” he said while sipping his coffee. “You look like you just had a fight… either with a deadline or a person?”

Jeslyn raised an eyebrow and let out a small laugh. “You still haven’t lost your ability to read people.”

“It’s not about reading. It’s just that obvious,” Jefran replied. “I told you before—you should’ve just focused on your café. No need to return to the company. You need proper rest. I don’t want you to get sick, Jes.”

“Do I really look like someone who gets sick easily?” Jeslyn smiled.

“I know you’re tough, but that doesn’t mean you should push yourself too hard. Okay?” Jefran’s tone was always gentle, his words thoughtful. “How about this—if the project’s getting too much for you, just tell me. I’ll talk to Leon and have your responsibilities reassigned.”

“No, Jef. That’s not necessary. I don’t want people to think I’m a quitter or that I’m using my status as the CEO’s fiancée to take the easy way out,” Jeslyn said firmly.

Jefran nodded slowly. His eyes fell on Jeslyn, who was now stirring her tea absentmindedly, not even intending to drink it.

“I get what you mean,” he said softly. “But sometimes... being strong also means knowing when to stop and breathe.”

Jeslyn looked at him, this time without a smile. There was a trace of emptiness in her eyes. “I just want to finish what I started. I’ve run away from problems too many times in my life.”

“You’re not running now,” Jefran said, setting down his cup. “You’re fighting.”

They fell silent for a moment. Only the faint clinking of cutlery from the next table and the soft hum of classic jazz playing in the background filled the air.

“Thank you, Jef,” Jeslyn finally said, her voice low but sincere. “I’m glad I can talk to you.”

“Always,” Jefran replied with a warm smile. “I’m not here just because of our status. I care about you, Jes.”

Jeslyn nodded, this time with a genuine smile. A warmth spread through her chest, though part of her still felt uneasy about what had happened with Leonel earlier that morning.

Their orders arrived, filling the table with inviting aromas.

“Mm… this smells amazing,” Jeslyn said.

“You’ll love it. Go ahead, try it,” Jefran encouraged, and Jeslyn nodded.

She picked up a spoon and tasted the dish in front of her. The warm mushroom cream soup melted on her tongue, comforting her in a way that almost made her forget the chaos of the day.

“Delicious, right?” Jefran grinned, pleased to see the relief on Jeslyn’s face.

“Yeah… it’s like a hug in food form,” Jeslyn smiled slightly. “I like this place. It’s peaceful.”

“That’s exactly why I brought you here—so you could breathe for a moment away from all the pressure,” Jefran said. “Too much pressure doesn’t make you stronger, Jes. Sometimes, you need to pause—not because you’re weak, but to find your next step.”

“You always have the perfect motivational lines,” Jeslyn chuckled, making Jefran laugh along.

“Well, at least I know how to calm my fiancée,” he teased, making Jeslyn smile again.

As they were enjoying their lunch, Jefran’s phone suddenly rang. Jeslyn glanced at the screen and saw a name flash across it.

Luna...

“Excuse me for a bit, Jes.” Jefran stood and walked away to take the call.

“Luna? Who’s Luna? And why did he have to step away to take the call?” Jeslyn wondered, watching him head to the back of the café.

She tried to go back to her meal, but her eyes inadvertently caught sight of a man she had seen before—one who had been secretly following her.

“Why is he here?” Jeslyn’s anxiety spiked.

Her grip on the spoon tightened. The last bite she had taken now felt stuck in her throat. The man stood not far from the entrance, pretending to look at the menu by the cashier, but his gaze—though occasionally shifting—was clearly fixed on her.

Her chest tightened with unease.

She quickly averted her gaze, pretending to busy herself by sipping her now flavorless lemon tea. Her eyes darted toward the back of the café, hoping Jefran would return soon. But he was still on the phone—with Luna.

That name nagged at her. It wasn’t just who Luna was, but why that name felt so unfamiliar… and disturbing. And now, with the mysterious man’s sudden appearance, everything felt wrong—like everything was going wrong at once.

Jeslyn steadied her breathing. She knew she couldn’t afford to panic. Not here. Not alone.

***