V

"Wanna chill later by the rooftop, Mr. Alfonso?" Emma smiles while drinking macha tea poured from the hot teapot.

Zen almost spat out his coffee thinking of a different meaning from the word 'chill.' After binge-watching his favorite anime series in Netflex, he had recently learned from social media the definition of the widely used phrase, 'Netflex and chill' so he initially thought that Ms. Claire is enunciating something else.

He fixes his broken posture and wipes his coffee stained lips with his handkerchief. "Sure, why not?"

Hours later.

They went up to the rooftop with their coats/jackets on because it was a chilly day. The cold breeze tightly hugs their skin making goosebumps appear all over their arms.

Emma's long wavy hair is getting swept by wind current but she still looks as lovely as ever. It's as if watching a shampoo commercial wherein the actress' soft hair never gets tangled no matter how strong the wind is.

Zen stares at her amazed. Her black hair dances flawlessly in sync with the wind. It's like the wind is a paid actor— its job is to make Emma Claire the most beautiful woman ever in order to attract the lovestruck dude.

"Mr. Alfonso?"

Zen came back to his senses and then wipes his nonexistent drool which made Emma giggle at his silliness.

Emma continues, "So I was thinking... since we are already close enough, wait are we?" She then looked up to him with pleading eyes and a pouty lip.

He looks at her gorgeous lips for a second before promptly replying, "Of course, we are!" He holds both of her hands and lift them up to their chest level.

Emma then takes her left hand away to tuck behind her ear a few strands of her hair. "Then should we call each other by our first names, right Zen?"

Zen...

Zen..

Zen!

The manliness inside of Mr. Alfonso awoken and he had the sudden desire to protect his woman at all costs. Not that she is actually his to begin with.

When Emma looked away, for a second her expression promptly changes to something different. Different than her usual kind smile. As if it's something evil.

But it was only for a short second so Zen wasn't sure if his eyes were lying to him. "Sorry, I gotta go now." Emma bids goodbye so Zen was left in the rooftop all alone, admiring the view.

A few moments later, someone knocked by the door, though it was already open when Emma left. He glanced to the knocking sound and saw the CEO.

Zen, surprised by the fact that the CEO is here, remembered to show respect by quickly bowing his head to him. "Good day, Mr. Claude!" His voice sounded a bit loud because he was taken aback by his sudden appearance.

The CEO who was leaning by the door frame, smiled a little and nodded back. That short moment reminded him of the stories his little cousin liked to tell him whenever she reads romance novels. The CEO then walks slowly towards where Zen was standing still.

"Do you mind (me staying by your side)?" He says looking at the beautiful sky.

"Hm? Ah! Not at all sir!" Zen says hurriedly as he was nervous whenever he's with him.

Emma's warning about Mr. Claude made him think of how nasty the boss could really be. Maybe he's just that good at hiding his bad attitude?

When the wind blew strongly for a mere second, Zen suddenly inhaled the boss' sweet intoxicating scent. Without much thought he leaned closer and inhaled more of that fragrant smell.

The scene was uncalled for and completely unexpected for the CEO. He knew that his employee grew cautious of him for whatever reasons Zen has. He was a bit disheartened when the young man who always looked up to him with eyes showing a hint of adoration, became anxious stares and nervous replies.

Mr. Claude's eyes grew a bit bigger due to the unexpected moment, but grabbed the chance to crack a joke.

"Like me much, Mr. Alfonso?"

Zen's cheek color turns to a lovely shade of pink. He should blush more or so Mr. Claude thought to himself, looking amused by Zen's cute reaction. He thinks that if Zen had reacted like this more rather than being cautious about him, it would become a sight to behold.

The brown-haired beta then fanned himself using his left hand, though he was already feeling cold due to the breezy air that surrounds them. He just did it in order to hide his flushed cheeks.

"It suits you..."

Mr. Alfonso paused and shot him a confused look.

"I mean... when you're more relaxed around me." His statement made Zen realize that he has been walking on eggshells around Mr. Claude ever since Emma warned him about the boss.

"S-Sorry, sir." Zen bowed his head a little, feeling shameful that his boss has noticed his recent attitude towards him. He really thought that he was being discreet about it but it seems that the CEO is more attentive to him than he thought.

"It's fine, Mr. Alfonso. I understand. But just to inform you, I don't promote power harassment so please don't view me as some kind of abusive boss and just treat me like how you intially did." He flashes a small smile.

He then fixes his necktie which made him look like a top model posing for a popular magazine shoot. It was a simple action, but dang, he looked good in everything he did.

'Now that I think about it, it's not like there ever has been a chance where I witness myself the boss get angry.' He always seem cool and sometimes playful with Zen.

"I really want to get close to you." Mr. Claude honestly stated which took Zen by surprise.

"Me... why?" Zen tilts his head a little to the side.

Then the CEO faced the beautiful buildings view. "Nothing much... it's just that you remind me of someone precious to me."

The CEO smiles. But his smile seems to contain a deeper story. One that is too tragic for him to know.

Zen didn't press any further because he knew he wasn't in the position to. They conversed more about one another and I'd say they have become one step closer to each other.