Juni. Juni, are you okay?" the 55 year old man called out in concern
The young editor quickly snapped out of his daze hoping he doesn't seem too suspicious to his role model and ex opponent, he thought since the competition was over anyway and he was back in his position.
"Sorry sir, you were saying? "Juni inquired
"OH. Nothing at all, was just telling you about the new branch, hope nothing is wrong? "The old editor asked again obviously concerned that Juni had never seem so UN composed to him
"No, nothing at all, was just thinking about that in the political sense though it is a good move and progress for the company" Juni answered aloud
The old man seeing Juni was back to his usual self shrugged off his earlier concern and worry to continue the conversation
"Well, you are right, it's good to experience this in our life time, and you know "he said
"Yeah...right" Juni trailed along thinking of just how life could be so unfair
"Well, yeah...life is always unfair" Charles said chuckling
"Did I say that out loud?" Juni inquired obviously embarrassed
"Yeah" the fifty five year old man affirmed with a chuckle while Juni face palmed him
"But why do you say that?" he added
"Oh, that was just a thought" Juni answered obviously still embarrassed
"You sound just like my son" Charles said smiling slightly while Juni chuckled and replied
"Well, I'm definitely not a rebel" he replied and the two grown men's chuckle rang through the cafeteria walls
Finally, when it died down, the old editor finally brought up the topic that's utmost in their minds
"So how's the review going for you or they haven't started yours yet?" Charles asked, his voice at a minimum
"Well..." Juni paused smiling sadly "I failed"
"The old editor could not hide the shock on his face neither could he utter a single word
Juni didn't expect the man to be so shocked after all, he was the genius. Juni thought
"How did that happen? Wasn't she around or unavailable to sign?" Charles finally found his voice to ask
"Well, she was around and available...just," Juni paused again thinking of the right words to describe the situation without making it sound terrible "Just things didn't go the way I wish it could" he finally concluded, shrugged and took another sip of his juice like he had just said the most least important thing in the world when it was quite the opposite
Charles asked, his voice barely audible but Juni heard him anyway "How did that come to be? "
"I don't know but I guess it should be pretty normal that I failed after going up against someone as talented as you are, I was just testing my limits and now, I know it" Juni said with a sad smile that Charles knew too well with his old age experience.
"Well if this makes you feel better, know this, I was so scared of you for reals" Charles said with an equally sad smile
"What?" Juni almost yelled, he definitely couldn't believe that the editor was intimidated by him
Charles let out a low chuckle "Believe it or not, it's true" he affirmed
"The first day I came to meet you in your office was to actually size up my competitor and know who this best young editor of Clements was that he could compete against me and our appearance definitely didn't refute the rumors I had heard, Clara who had convinced me to come so my deflated ego can rise back regretted it because it only deflated even more, Your appearance that day scared me the more that I was going to lose without even trying, I mean normally, all these recent editors trembled at the mention of my name but you seemed so calm and collected and you seemed to look through me like you knew all my secrets and tricks. .I called you to talk back then and share job methods but I was so amazed when you noted down every of my points which caused me to start seeing you as more of a friendly rival than just an opponent and that really helped me, I'm telling you this because I had said I would" He paused with a slight chuckle while Juni just smiled
"I didn't know I came off that way honestly" Juni said smiling slightly at the image the old man had painted of him, he was still so amazed at the confession that he was even starting to think it was v joke, because being amazed was probably an understatement
"They say people opinions differ because that being my image of you didn't mean that was Clara's image of you, she said you were just v really hardworking editor with a goal and that I had no cause for alarm ,hell she even made fun of me for it " Charles said chuckling obviously relieving the memories
Although, Juni wanted to chuckle along with him, he was still curious about the man's relationship with his branch manager so like the forward man that he was ,he just went ahead and asked
"Who's Ms. Clara to you?" He asked half expecting the man to be annoyed at his prying but the 55ear old man just smiled and shrugged, replying
"Well, she's my best friend who loves the fact she has a gay best friend"
"You are gay?" Juni asked in disbelief
"You are more surprised at that fact than the act that I'm best friends with your ice boss? Got a problem with it though?' The older man asked smiling
"Of course not, not at all, I was just amazed that you are gay, I never knew about that though I try to know your everyday life before the competition started"Juni said and upon seeing the confusion on Charles's face quickly rushed to explain
"oh no, I wasn't stalking, well huh, technically, you were my role model, still is and always will be honestly, I admire you a lot, you are a great inspiration and motivation to me ,that's why I was amazed at your confession, you are probably the only one that thinks of me that way, plus huh.." Juni was almost out of breath by now from his voice speed while the fifty five year old man was chuckling with his eyes gleaming of amazement
"No, I'm not saying this because of your confession, I said this because its true and I wanted to" Juni finally concluded with a smile as he sipped from his almost drained juice cup
"Wow. That's a lot but know this, I believe you are not just amazing to only me but you are also a role model to several others" Charles said
"I doubt that "Juni said smiling sadly at the thought
"I was the same as you until a few minutes ago so I understand why you think that way" Charles remarked
"Well, you are different, you were a born genius who signed three best-selling authors in three weeks of becoming an editor" Juni pointed out
"A genius huh?" Charles said aloud with a smile taking a sip of juice from his glass
"Yeah" Juni replied, his face mirroring the older man's expression
"Who would have believed the opinion we had of each other?" Charles asked rhetorically chuckling and Juni joined him without question
A few stares came from the almost empty cafeteria as they saw two of Clements finest chuckling like no man's business
From a few distance from the men, someone smiled sadly at the scene before proceeding to the elevator
An hour later, juni Cartel found himself smiling sincerely for the first time as he headed to the elevator after seeing the old editor to the parking lot where he parked his car and exchanged contacts hoping to have the best friendship ever, Juni couldn't believe it. He was friends with his role model that must be the silver lining of the week, he thought to himself then chuckled relieving the joke the man had made before driving off
"Juni?' Charles had called out as Juni turned his back ready to go back into the company building
"Yeah?" the young editor replied turning back
"You do know I am not crushing on you right?" He asked with v chuckle while Juni burst into laughter before replying amidst it
"No, ofcourse not"
"Glad "The older man had replied before chuckling to himself and driving away
"That was a joke right?" Juni asked himself as he turned in the direction of the company building, the wind whistled past him mockingly.
"So, how was it?" Mark asked trailing after his boss into his office
"Well, better than I hoped" Juni replied smiling as he flopped into his swirling chair
Mark arched his eyebrows in confusion
"God , Beyoncé ,I told you not to arrange them anymore" Juni yelled seeing the neatly packed documents in a box"
"Well , you were taking so long and I just wanted to do something" Mar pointed out whining
"God, you are just so unbelievable sometimes, no.. most times" Juni corrected himself with a sigh