It was lunch break, I sat at my favorite spot in the cafeteria. Yes, I had a favorite spot everywhere. When I was in school, I had a favorite reading spot, a favorite spot in class, a favorite gist spot, and now I even have a favorite spot in my nightmares. Oh Lily!
Ziko walked towards where I was sitting having my lunch, a sandwich and a glass of orange juice.
"Hey" he said taking a sit beside me instead of in front of me.
"Hey" I replied turning to face him.
"Have you eaten? Won't you get yourself something to eat?" I asked Ziko
He just shook his head and said, "I'm not really hungry"
Goodness, he looked handsome in a different kind of way today. I looked away before he caught me staring.
For the love of chocolates, he's your boyfriend Lily. You can stare all you want!
With a new boost of confidence, I looked up again and started staring at him shamelessly. He was staring back at me with the same intensity, so hey, I wasn't alone in this.
"Look Lily, I'm sorry I've been kind of avoiding you. I just needed some time alone. It just doesn't sit well with me that you choose to keep our relationship a secret"
I took a sip from my juice, totally ignoring the sandwich now.
"You don't have to apologize Ziko, I...." I was saying before he cut me off.
"No Lily, let me finish."
I nodded and dropped the glass of juice on the table, all my attention directed towards Ziko now. It was hard looking at him directly in this position, so I turned to face him completely with my legs on each side of the bench we were sitting on.
He copied my actions, so we were now sitting facing each other.
"After taking a break from you, seeing you in the office without talking to you, observing all your actions from a distance. I guess you could call me a stalker." he continued and I chuckled a bit. "I've come to the realization that not only do I like you Lily, I am in love with you."
I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but love. He was staring into my eyes, waiting for me to say something. He's the sweetest man I've ever met.
I was speechless. He just told me he loved me for the first time.
Was he waiting for me to say it back?
I couldn't break his heart by not saying it back, not while he was looking at me in this kind of way.
Without thinking, I closed the gap between us, placed my hands on either side of his cheeks and kissed him.
I kissed him?!?
This is the first time I was initiating a kiss between us. And I did it in the office premises. I was bold enough to do it when I knew we had audience. Our co-workers were all around us. And I had the guts to kiss him?
He was surprised at first, I'm sure he didn't expect me to do this. This made me happy. I felt naughty, but I loved it and smiled into the kiss and that was all it took for him to kiss me back. He caught my waist and pulled me into his lap.
Our lips were moving in sync. The kiss was different from every other kiss we've shared. I was finally tired of hiding my relationship with him. I could care less about what people think at this point.
Coming up for a breathe, I placed my forehead on his. And behind Ziko, was Milo.
He was staring daggers at me. If looks could kill, I'd be dead by now.
He looked so pissed. I could almost see fumes coming out of his ears. That's how angry he looked.
And then, he stormed out of the cafeteria.
Why do I feel so guilty all of a sudden?
I thought I didn't care about what other people think anymore?
************************************
"Oh my goodness Lily, I heard you just had a full make out session with Ziko" Mia said snidely as she sat on my desk wiggling her brows in a mischievous manner.
Okay, I don't think I'm ready for this. I stopped the work I was doing before, giving her my full attention.
"How could I have missed such a great show? Laila told me you were devouring each other in the cafeteria like two lovers that just reunited after millions of years of being apart". She continued.
Laila was in the cafeteria? I'll be sure to remind her about the time I caught her making out with Tariq during our trip. But it's still isn't the same. They had an open relationship but mine and Ziko's relationship just became public today. I smiled remembering the kiss.
"Woah, we have a lovesick girl here in the office, look at the smile on your face Lily" Mia won't just keep quiet.
"Stop it Mia" I said smiling shyly.
"You are even blushing, so tell me, when are you and Ziko finally doing it?" she asked still wiggling those eyebrows.
Yes, she knows I haven't slept with Ziko yet. It was part of the girl's gist Mia, Daisy and I had on Sunday.
"Mia we are not doing anything. It was just a kiss for goodness sake."
"That's not what I heard" she said in a singsong voice.
"Hey Mia" a very familiar voice called.
I looked up to find Milo striding into our office.
I suddenly felt uncomfortable, I wasn't supposed to feel this way. It's not like I did anything wrong. Even the boss allows relationship between coworkers, so why do I feel guilty?
"Yes sir" Mia answered
"I need you to help me with some files if you're not too busy please" he said to Mia, totally ignoring me.
"It's no problem Sir"
He nodded and walked out of the office.
"Why didn't he ask you to help him out. I thought you were his personal assistant?" Mia whispered to me before following him out.
When did I become his personal assistant?
Why did he ignore me like I wasn't even here at all?
I heard my personal phone beep. Picking it up, I saw a message from Ziko.
Hey babe, dinner tonight?
I smiled as I read the text and replied,
"Of course, will call you later"
I like the relationship between us now. I needed to allow myself to love, so I was going to try everything possible to make sure things works out well between Ziko and I.
Does love require so much efforts or was I making the wrong decision?
I went back to work trying to forget all that just happened.