Office Diaries - Chapter 176

Slender hands, pale in her nervousness clung desperately onto the headset as she sang to the microphone covered by a screen to filter her voice. Today was the day she was to record her song, the debut song she herself had written.

I don’t know how I could carry on

And it’s so hard ’cause it’s something I can’t control…

Don’t ask me—

“Stop!”

Startled, Anjee looked up to meet Ken Han in the eye. The president was standing on the other side of the glass and was frowning at her.

“Anjee, you are too tensed. I want you to sing the same way you did when you recorded the demo tape.”

“Sorry,” she apologized as she bit her lower lip. “I’ll try.”

“Don’t try. Do it,” Ken demanded firmly. “Anjee, I know you’re nervous, but I know you can do this. Forget the people— forget that you are recording now. Don’t look at us. Look at the face of that someone you wrote that song to. Imagine yourself singing to that person and only him. Okay?”

Anjee nodded and breathed deeply. She didn’t understand why but she had told Ken Han about Peter when they talked about the additional songs she had that they could include in an album. The president was an understanding man and she was glad that she confided in him. He was such a good friend and mentor to her.

“I can do this,” she muttered to herself as she closed her eyes. She imagined Peter standing in front of her with his gentle smile and she heard her heart breaking once more.

Anj I love you. Do you love me?

With trembling lips, the improved accompaniment started playing and she opened her mouth to start singing. This time, she sang with all the emotions raging deep inside of her.

Don’t ask me if I love you, Don’t ask me if I care

If you’re playing with my feelings, it’s more than I can bear

And if this one-sided romance won’t even be given a chance

Don’t ask me if I love you if this dream of love won’t come true…

Ken stared at Anjee as she sang. His body was covered with gooseflesh as he listened to his new talent’s voice. It has been a month since he discovered her and asked her to sign up with his company and he was glad. Then and there he knew that not only the song would be a hit, Anjee would be too.

“President Han.”

Ken Han looked up to see his lover standing on the side and he smiled. “Editor Kim,” he greeted the newcomer and his lover came to stand by his side.

“Is that the new singer you were bragging about? The brokenhearted one?” Jun Kim asked as she stared and listened to the young woman singing on the other side of the glass. “She’s goooooooood,” she praised in awe as she stared at the pretty young miss and then frowned. “Wait a minute… She looks familiar. What did you say her name was?”

“Anjee Perez,” Ken Han answered as he watched the many different emotions on his lover’s face. “What?”

“Anjee Perez? As in Peter’s Anjee Perez?”

“Ehrm…yeah?” Ken Han answered awkwardly, obviously puzzled until he realized one thing. “Wait. How did you know about Peter?”

“Ha? President Han, have you become senile? Peter’s the author I’m taking care of. He’s Anter Kim.”

Jun stared at Anjee once more. “Kenny, help me get those two together. Knowing Peter, he won’t be able to work properly without his Anjee.”

“But I thought Peter doesn’t love Anjee? Anjee told me that Peter’s dating his editor…” Ken’s eyes widened. “Wait, isn’t that you?”

“Yes, and you know very well who I’m dating right?”

“Oh…then this is a bad case of misunderstanding.”

“Or a bad case of idiots playing unrequited love,” Jun Kim stated as she touched the side of her temple which was beginning to throb. “Why did we end up taking care of idiots?”

“So what are we going to do?” Ken asked and Jun sighed.

“What do you think?”

“Honey, you’re not thinking we will be playing cupid for the two, right?” Ken asked uneasily but his lover just smiled sweetly at him.

“Honey, I’m not thinking. I’ve already decided we will definitely do it,” Jun countered.

“But—”

Jun placed a finger between his lips to keep him from protesting.

“If not, it’s a hundred percent sure my author will have a major writer’s block and the company will pressure me since I’m supposed to take care of him. If he can’t work, it means I’ll be stuck with him trying to make him write to beat his deadline. It means no time for dates.”

Ken Han blinked. “Honey, we will definitely ring those two together,” he promised and Jun grinned and patted his cheek.

“Good. The sooner, the better.”

“Good gracious, why didn’t she come out before? She’s so good,” Jun commented.

“She’s singing for Peter,” Ken said thoughtfully as Jun leaned back against him.

“Of course— and Peter’s writing for her too. Have you seen the copy of his new book I sent you?” Jun asked and Ken cleared his throat and shook his head.

“No. I had been busy putting together Anjee’s album. I didn’t have time,” he answered and Jun shifted on her feet to fumble in her bag for something.

“Here.” She handed him a copy of Peter’s new book and opened it on the author’s note page and Ken whistled.

“Heavens… Isn’t this a love confession?” he asked and Jun nodded and smiled.

“This is a romance-themed book as well,” she told him which surprised Ken.

Anter Kim was not a romance writer. He was a popular suspense thriller author. Because of this, Ken looked thoughtful.

“Hey, Honey, do you think you could get Peter to attend a talk show?” he asked thoughtfully.

“Of course, he can, even if I have to gag and bound him to get there…”