Office Diaries - Chapter 171

Long, slender fingers ċȧrėssed the smooth surface of the keyboard as the clock ticked in the wee hours of the morning. Peter’s face was set in concentration as he bent over his ŀȧptop, typing nonstop words that would complete his next masterpiece.

It was getting good. Since the day Anjee cooked ramen for him some three months ago, he found his inspiration flowing smoothly and he wasn’t stupid to let the chance slip from his fingers. He would complete the novel ahead of schedule. He was sure of it.

Seconds passed, then minutes, and eventually hours, he continued to write with a determination. Finally, as the clock hit seven in the morning, Peter pressed the last keys and sighed as he stared at the bright screen of the monitor. His hands on the mouse, he scanned the piece he had written and pursed his lips.

This book he had written was far off from his usual genre. He was a renowned writer of suspense-thriller novels and yet, the piece he had written had a new theme inserted with the usual mystery.

Romance.

Thinking about what he’d done, he felt apprehension rising from his gut to his ċhėst. He worried now if this sudden change would be a good or a bad thing. No, he wasn’t worried that the readers wouldn’t like his new work. It was just that it was totally not his style and he was uncomfortable.

Loving Anjee, his feelings unrequited for a long time, his frustrations and all other tender feelings bottled up inside of him for so long suddenly burst and Peter found it necessary to write them down else he would go crazy. Again, no, he wasn’t worried that his work was bad. He had too much talent to write a piece of garbage but…

But I wrote too much, Peter thought.

For the first time in his career, he had let his own emotions reflect on his work and he feared that he had put too much of him in it. He was anxious that people who’d read this would find out about his secret. In other words, the book made Peter feel nȧkėd and vulnerable.

Biting his lip, he thought about writing another piece and keeping his newly finished work to himself. Glancing at the calendar however told him that it was already too late to write another one and his jaw set on a grim line.

Damn!

Peter was in the middle of berating himself for his thoughtlessness when the phone suddenly rang and his scowl deepened as he picked it up. “What do you want?”

There was a momentary silence on the other end before the caller cleared his throat and spoke.

“Ehrm… Mr. Peter Choi, this is Editor Kim,” the caller said, and Peter sighed.

The caller was the woman who was managing him from the country’s top publishing house. He shouldn’t make her the brunt of his frustrations. It wasn’t her fault and so he took a deep breath to calm himself before he spoke again.

“Ms. Jun,” he greeted using the editor’s given name. “Is there something wrong?” he asked although he already had an idea why the editor called.

The publishing house was looking forward to his new project and he knew they couldn’t wait for an update on his progress.

“Nothing’s wrong Mr. Choi,” editor answered, her tone calm. “I just called to say hello and to—”

“It’s finished,” Peter interrupted his editor and then gave himself a mental kick.

Damn!

There was no way he could change the story now. Then again, he wasn’t the type to take back what he said, and he definitely didn’t have the mood to start a new one. So, yes, he would give the manuscript while he still could.

“It is?” There was no mistaking the delight in the editor’s voice. “Thanks a lot, Peter!”

The formality fading from Jun’s usually polite voice, Peter couldn’t help but smile at his editor’s slip. Jun Kim was after all his classmate in university. The girl was just too professional when it came to work so even though they were friends, she addressed him formally.

“Ah no, I lied. I’m not yet done. In fact, I have a bad case of writer’s block,” he teased and the other laughed.

“Ha! Nah, you’re done! You’re not fooling me, Peter Choi!” The editor knew the author was just joking and so Peter laughed with her.

“I’ll trade the manuscript for lunch today!” the writer joked and Jun Kim agreed easily.

“Sure! Just tell me where you want to eat. I’m sure the company would love to treat you out,” she said. “We don’t want to offend our favorite writer after all. My boss will kill me.”

“If you know that then come get the manuscript before I change my mind. OK, it’s a date then!” Peter said which the editor replied to with

“Sure, sure!” excitedly before she ended the call.

Shaking his head, with a smile still plastered on his face, Peter placed the receiver back on its cradle.

“You seem to be happy.”

The soft voice made Peter jerk and looked up. Just a few paces from him stood Anjee with a tray of what smelled to be pancakes, and his mouth watered as he inhaled its delectable scent.

“I made you breakfast,” she said as she walked towards his table and placed the tray there. “Come, eat,” she added as she placed one pancake on the plate, applied buŧŧer on it and poured syrup over it the way she knew Peter wanted his pancake.

“Yuuuuuummmmmy!” he crowed as he picked up his fork but stopped upon seeing the look on Anjee’s face.

The hesitant and forced smile of the other prevented him from attacking his food outright. “Is there a problem?” he asked as he placed his fork back down on the table and reached out to pull his best friend to make her sit on his ŀȧp, but she pulled her hand back.

“I’ll get another plate!” she said over cheerfully as she stood up and Peter watched her go with a frown.

Something wasn’t right. At least, Anjee planned on eating with him. Maybe he could coerce the other to tell him what’s wrong while they’re eating.