It was Monday morning, I was back to work. I came back into town yesterday, and immediately started missing home.
Mia was first to greet me as I entered the office. "Hey Lily, how was the break? Look at how you're glowing differently" she said checking me out.
"Stop with the compliment Mia and tell me what has been going on since I left"
"I think your boyfriend has missed you so much" Mia whispered in my ears. And I blushed. Of course, Mia knew about my relationship with Ziko. She said she noticed we were getting all close all of a sudden and she said something about how Ziko looks at me. Well, I had to tell her about it at some point. Since then, she would never stop at any opportunity to tease us.
"Shut up Mia"
Just then, I saw Ziko walking towards me.
"I take this as my cue to leave. Save the lovey dovey stuff for later. We have a meeting with the boss in ten minutes" she teased and walked off.
There is a meeting with the Boss? We usually have staff meeting amongst ourselves but it's rare for the Boss to be in attendance. So the meeting must be very important.
"Look who finally decided to show up for work" Ziko said taking my hands in his. I'd hug him but we were in the office premises and I wasn't even comfortable with him holding my hands. So I looked around us to check if anyone was nearby, anyone that could see us holding hands. They were all rushing to go to the meeting hall and didn't have time to spare looking at our little lovers reunion.
I didn't know why I was so cautious about this relationship. I've only kissed him twice, and we've been dating for 5months! I don't understand what was going on with me. It wasn't Ziko's fault in any way. I knew it was all on me.
"Hey Ziko, I've missed you" I confessed looking into his eyes, trying to find that connection. But failed. I have sincerely missed him. As a friend? Yes. But as a lover? I wasn't so sure about that.
This was why I stayed away from relationships. It gets tiring after a short period of time. My relationship with Ziko has been the longest relationship I've ever had so far. He was so understanding, kind and sweet. But there were no sparks, at least from my own end of the relationship.
"We better hurry up and get to the meeting hall before we are late" I advised and instinctively removed my hand from his.
I saw the look of hurt on his face when I did that but he immediately masked it up with a smile and agreed with me.
Sorry Ziko, I promise I will try to be a better girlfriend. The thing is, if I loved him, I wasn't even supposed to try in the first place right? I thought it came naturally when you loved someone. Or am I wrong?
We walked into the meeting hall and took our sit at the back since the front seats were already occupied.
Mia was sitting at the back even though she came early. This girl! I sat in the empty seat next to her. And Ziko sat next to me.
Shortly after, the boss entered. But he wasn't alone. Another man followed him in. He was tall and muscular from what I can see from here. I couldn't see his face from the angle I was sitting. He wasn't facing us yet. He was mumbling words to the Boss in a quiet voice that we couldn't hear.
I turned to Mia and asked, "Who is this man?"
"Oh that's right! You haven't met him before. He's the son of the Boss. He's been out of the country and only just got back. And stop calling him a man like he's one fat oldie, I heard he's only twenty-six"
It's not a surprise that Mia knows all these things, apart from the fact that she was nosy, she has also been working here for two years now.
"So now that he's back, does it mean he's going to take over his father's company?" I asked still curious.
"Nobody knows the reason why he came back, he has been coming to the office since last week so it might be possible that's what is going to happen" she explained
Wow, this company was really successful. And just for him to take over everything? He was going to be a billionaire at the age of twenty-six? After six months of working here, my savings was now huge. In fact I was planning on buying myself a car soon. I already have an expensive apartment, thanks to my parents.
Just then, he turned to face us. And I was staring right at him.
I was pretty sure I wasn't dreaming. I tried the pinching yourself theory. I pinched myself and felt a sharp sting. This isn't happening right now. I couldn't look away. I couldn't blink. I was just staring at him with my mouth wide open.
"Mia, is this real?" I whispered to Mia absentmindedly while still staring at him.
"Yes it is Lily, quit drooling. I know he's hot but you have a boyfriend who's staring daggers at you right now for checking out another guy without any effort of hiding it" she breathed out in a whisper.
She didn't understand what was going on with me right now. And I didn't care about what Ziko might think of me now. He was standing right before my eyes in flesh and blood. Looking so real. Was I imagining things? He still hasn't looked at me yet.
I wasn't looking at how hot he was like Mia had thought. If only she knew. If only anybody knew. Even Daisy won't believe me if I told her about any of this.
The Boss cleared his throat and started talking, "Good morning everyone"
How was this morning good? I was literally staring at my nightmare.
I think the right thing to say to me now was 'weird morning Lily'. Those forms of greetings should be used too. Not every morning, afternoon, evening or night was good. I understand it was kind of wishing your morning goodness. But I think it was too late in my case.
"Lily, what's up with you, you look like you've just seen a ghost" Mia asked in a whisper. We weren't supposed to be talking in the meeting hall if it wasn't relevant to the topic of discussion.
Close enough Mia, close enough. I'd like to think of him as a supernatural being too. Just not a ghost.
Before I could reply Mia, his eyes caught mine. And I knew instantly that this was real. This was no dream.