Office Diaries - Chapter 120

Ami…

Yanee should have known her sister would do something as contact Tohru as soon as she found out she had a boyfriend. It seemed Ami was still worried about her. After all, coming out of that slump was such a horrible, unbearable period she’d rather not much visit even in thoughts.

“Honey?”Tohru called out and Yanee looked at his worried face and she sighed.

“Since you already know I have panic attacks why did you overwhelm me?”

Overwhelmed her with what exactly?

Illegally handsome potato that spouted cheese… delicious— er…dangerous, dangerous.

“Well…”Tohru looked sheepish again. “I was told that you’re also super pessimistic and loved to run away. If I give you enough space to overthink things I was worried you’d choose to run away from me.”

Ah…

“Who told you that?” she frowned. But then again, she already had an idea even without asking.

Cynthia Tan A.K.A. Chummy A.K.A. Ex-BFF!

“Er… don’t be angry, okay? I really wanted to know everything about you so I grilled Chummy for information,” he confessed and Yanee was somewhat appeased.

Somewhat. Okay? Not totally.

She smiled but it was the kind of smile that was usually accompanied by a pair of black devil horns, bat wings, and tail.

“We will have an annual general medical checkup for employees when we return to Tokyo,” she announced, making Tohru confused.

“But didn’t you just have it this April?” he asked but Yanee glared at him.

“We’ll have it again— the first patient will be Cynthia Tan,” she announced.

At first, Tohru was stunned as he looked at her before he threw his head backwards and laughed.

“You’re evil, honey. I like that,” he said as he continued to laugh.

This made Yanee understand that Tohru knew about Cynthia’s phobia. Whether they’d really have the medical check or not, Yanee didn’t really care as long as he agreed right now. She sighed heavily as if exhausted.

“Tohru…” she called out and his mirth vanished.

He quietly looked at her but she could see apprehension in his eyes. She’d always known him as a confident man, and seeing him anxious right at that moment made him seem more mortal and her expression softened.

He was probably thinking he did something bad and she’d dump him. It was why he tried to overwhelm her most of the time so she didn’t have time to think and just agree. Well, that already worked, but it triggered her panic attacks. In all honesty, she could use this fact as leverage to escape, and he knew this that’s why he’s anxious.

He looked like he didn’t want to lose her, and Yanee felt humbled by that.

“Who am I to you?” she asked.

“My honey,” Tohru answered readily and so seriously that it was her who felt embarrassed with the answer. But, as if his initial answer was still not enough, those light brown eyes became more intense as he spoke softly. “My wife and mother of my kids…”

K.O.

That was an illegal punch, Yanee thought. If she had any thoughts of escaping earlier, then they would have been wiped out by those words by now. Who’d ever want to run away from this type of person?

“I’m not your wife or mother of your kids,” she told him, and she watched as his body stiffened. He obviously misunderstood and thought she’s breaking off with him. “At least, not yet,” she added and Tohru was startled.

He looked at her in surprise, but happiness glowed in his eyes as he searched her face for any clues about her thoughts.

“You are…” his voice, sounding so hopeful trailed off as he looked at her expectantly.

“I’m not your wife or mother of your kids. I’m just your honey for now,”Yanee stated blandly, and when he seemed to want to protest, she raised her hand to stop him from talking. “We just started dating yesterday, you know,” she reminded him which made him pause.

The expression he had on his face told Yanee that he seemed to have just realized that— as if he’d forgotten about that fact and he smiled at her sheepishly.

Ah, the potato looked cute too even when he’s embarrassed.

Yanee knew she had a wishy-washy type of personality— she’s someone who had difficulty expressing herself with words. It’s because although she was aware of her own shortcomings— being insecure for instance, she was ashamed to admit to it since she thought that being insecure was ugly.

Then again, she remembered Ashley’s and Alex’s story and realized that if she didn’t push herself to be eloquent enough to say what’s on her mind, then she’s killing her relationships. Even if she’s still scared silly and still couldn’t believe romance was happening in her life, Yanee still had that presence of mind to know that she liked Tohru enough to not to lose him.

In spite of everything, she really wanted to try falling in love with him. It’s just that everything’s happening too fast too soon that she couldn’t keep up and she’s overwhelmed.

“Uhm… I know. Sorry if I push too hard. I’m just so happy,”Tohru confessed as he looked at her with puppy eyes.

If Yanee hadn’t already bene K.O.ed earlier, she would have been right now.

“I know that too,” she said with sigh and a soft smile.

She was not that dumb or insensitive not to see that since she said yes to him yesterday, he’d been so bouncy— happy. She could see and understand that, and she’s happy too that he’s genuinely happy.

“But, could you give me time?” she asked and his face lost its color.

“Are you… leaving me?” he asked and Yanee was alarmed as she realized what she just said and she shook her head.

“Not like that— dummy,” she told him and Tohru got his color back.

“Then…?” he prompted.

This time he didn’t say anything else to make sure that everything’s clear from her.

“I’m just asking you to help me adjust, okay?”Yanee said. “I’m already your… your…girl… friend,” she squeezed the words out regardless that she felt so shy uttering them.

But she couldn’t stop now. It’s a “speak now or be silent forever” kind of moment.

“That’s right, you’re my girlfriend,” the potato agreed as he inched closer to her again.

But this time, instead of sticking totally close to her, he stopped just near enough for him to take her hand in his and kissed it. He no longer looked worried.

“That’s why, you have to trust me enough to let me think for myself okay?”Yanee said. She had to emphasize that since he already knew that she couldn’t think when he’s clinging onto her. “You don’t have to come onto me like a whirlwind. I’m not going anywhere so give me a chance to get used to you.”

“Alright,” he quickly agreed.

Yanee was doubtful he understood what she meant.

“I’m saying we’ll take things one step at a time— whatever we do.”

They actually already skipped a lot— like A LOT.

Who ever heard of meeting the family before becoming someone’s girlfriend? It was a good thing she didn’t have a heart attack and that she truly like his family and they were fine with her. If not, it was an awkward situation for her.

As if reading her thoughts, he looked apologetic again.

“Sorry about my parents…”he told her, but she shook her head too.

“It’s fine! I mean we came here for work,” she said.

It was true, but Tohru shook his head as well.

“No. If it’s only to interview Marian we could have stayed at a hotel,” he said which was also true.

But then again, the Cypress Gardens was a huge estate and they even had this wing all by themselves. Since Tohru lived there, it’s normal for them to stay in the place. Even normal company bosses would utilize their own house to reduce company expenses, right?

“But it’s practical to stay here since the place is big and Marian’s pregnant as well,”Yanee said. “I was just surprised since I never thought I’d meet your parents immediately, but I don’t mind, really.”

To be honest, Yanee was even touched that he was willing to introduce her to his family. She was even more appreciative because they treated her warmly like their own daughter as well.

“Your parents are nice people, and your family is warm. I don’t really mind. I was just surprised,” she ȧssured him. “The matter I’m talking about is between you and me. I’m not really used to being really close to someone so please give me time to adjust to being with you. Sometimes, we need to slow down so we can appreciate the view more no?”

Instead of being whisked off her feet by a tornado of emotions, Yanee preferred to slowly fall in love.