11H U G O "Come on Hugo.""I told you, nothing."Ned remains silent from the other line while I was busy with my laptop."Tell me exactly why you're helping this woman, Hugo?" Ned asks me while he's on the other line.I fixed my Bluetooth earphone in my ear, "Because she needs help." I answered seriously as I kept my eyes glued on my laptop.I need to finish my presentation for next week's meeting and I still have tons of other stuff to prepare at the studio while Ned here keeps on bugging the hell out of me.I hear Ned chuckling. "Is that all?""Yes." I answered firmly, still keeping my gaze at my laptop."Really?" Ned teases."Yes Ned.""You don't need to lie to me Hue." He persuades me.I stopped from typing and just stared at my laptop while I release a deep sigh, "I'm not lying."My eyes hurt. My head hurts. My ear hurts. I think I need to take some good rest and it’s getting more annoying because Ned keeps irritating me from the other line. I thought to myself."Come on." He w

12M I R A N D A “It’s just Ned. Relax.” I tell myself as I stare at my own reflection on the rear view mirror.“Who am I kidding? It’s Ned Hall!” I exhale heavily as I tried to gather my thoughts. “But remain calm Miranda. Don’t act like a thirteen year old. You’re turning twenty-five for Christ’s sake. Grow up.”I exhale heavily through my parted lips.Vivian is picking Ben up from school since I had to sign some papers from the hospital for my clearance. The entire drive to Alfonso's, my mind was boggled about meeting the Irish-Canadian business mogul Ned Hall. I had these situations in my head how the meeting will turn out and I try to tell myself to avoid ruining it.I push my hair behind my ear as I stare at myself from my rearview mirror. You can do this, I encourage myself. You know you can talk professionally with Ned without screaming and hyperventilating like a teenage girl. You have grown. You have conquered that stage in your life.You’ll be fine. You will be fine. You w

13M I R A N D A"Take care of Miranda for me." Ned tells Hugo while we head out of the front door.Ned had always been known as the sweetest one in the band and he’s always been the most thoughtful among the five of them.Hugo smiles at Ned and I was just completely quiet the entire time the two of them were together because it was a little overwhelming seeing two of my favorite rock band conversing so casually in front of me. I don't know why I get insanely quiet when Hugo arrived because it felt like my tongue curled to the back of my throat. Worst, it seemed like I swallowed it and my mind doesn't work as if it was back being an empty dome.So many questions were running inside my head and I was then reminded that he is engaged. Wait, why is he even in New York? What did he come here for? Who did he come here for?I was hoping that it was because of me but them he could probably mean business.Oh don't be silly Miranda, you really think you're that special to Hugo just because he

14M I R A N D AIt begins to rain.But my eyes were still on Hugo and his eyes were still on me.What in hell is he thinking about? Those eyes tells me that he wants to say something.Shit, did he figure me out?Talk Miranda. Say anything."W-Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask him.Hugo recovers from staring and shakes his head. "Let me help you put the groceries inside. It's raining.""I can manage Hugo." I lied. “You have already helped me too much tonight.”He looks at me doubtfully."Plus my house is a mess right now because of Ben's toys and it would be embarrassing to let you in." I added.He chuckles. "I don't really mind. My house is a mess too. I just want to help you and Ben. Please, come on let me help."He hops out of the car without hesitation and I quickly followed him out. It's raining harder now and both of us started getting wet."Carry Ben." He instructs while I watch him getting soaked by the rain. "I'll bring these inside." He says while popping the trunk

15M I R A N D A My heart is pounding inside my chest as my eyes glued on his lips. I had a feeling that we were about to kiss but then he pulled himself away and shakes his head.“I’m sorry.” He apologizes right away pushing his hair off his face. “I shouldn’t have done that. I apologize, Miranda.”Hugo begins to leave the room so I started following him as well. He was completely silent and I realized that he pulled himself away because he realized that it was completely wrong. Well, it seemed like he wanted to kiss me and wanted to initiate doing something to me, damn and I didn’t even push him away orWhen we reached downstairs, he was still quiet so I had to do something to make this feel a little less troublesome. "Thank you for putting Ben to sleep.” I croaked.He smiles at me, "It was nothing. It’s something I really want to do.""It meant a lot to me. It's hard to put Ben back to sleep especially at a time like this.” I responded with a smile. “So thank you."I glare outside