Chapter 23 - I LIKE YOU

Song Recommendation: Say Something by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera / Cardigan by Taylor Swift (acoustic version)

Quite surprised by this that Emy is not used to when it comes to Saff, she just stayed shocked while standing there for a minute realizing how pissed off she had made him to be acting like this, and somehow it got her worried, in fact it hurts seeing how he just ignored her right now.

'Is this what I really want? Should I ignore it and just go with the production staffs and help them instead?' Emy questioned herself, thinking on how she would approach Saff after what happened at the elevator a while ago with his current mood, talking to him might not be a good idea.

She deeply sighed, 'This is definitely not a healthy relationship for a manager and the artist' Emy mentally scolding herself with her behavior right now, she then decided to enter the music room and approach Saff to check on his music writing, this time only his music writing!

Upon entering the room, Emy saw Saff seated at the piano bench with his side view facing her "it seemed great...the lyrics I mean..." she said making an introduction but Saff didn't even take a glance of her as he seem to be focusing on the piano keys while trying to play the notes on the music sheet.

"I can't wait to fully hear it…" Emy added keeping her voice a little lower than before to almost fading away.

"Can I help you with something...Saff?" carefully calling his attention as she now stands beside the piano, leaning on it while her elbow is on top of the lid as her gaze fixed on him.

Although she can clearly see the obvious anger in his facial expression as his brows are slightly furrowed with lips pressed tightly together, she also noticed how manly he looked right now with his broad shoulders while he sits straight with elegance as he hold a serious stunning face that every woman could stare all day.

Saff stopped playing the piano as he turned his head to his side looking up at Emy that brought her back to reality, and he finally speak "Oh! You're talking to me now?! Seems like you're done ignoring me?!" his tone is full of sarcasm as he smirked.

"Saff...let's just focus on your song...shall we?" Emy is trying to sway the situation by changing the topic.

Just then, Saff suddenly stood up from his seat, he took steps forward to where Emy is standing until he is completely facing her with just a very small gap between them, and as Emy realized it, she quickly step back for Saff to step towards her until there is no space left and her back bumped onto the cold wall.

Both of Emy's hands are on her sides, she can't feel them anymore as the blood rushed up to her face, feeling her ears getting hot and the only sound she was aware right now is her pounding heartbeat that almost wanted to jump out of her chest.

Looking up at Saff as he was taller than her height whose face is just an inch away from her, Emy could almost hear his breath going in and out of his slightly pointed nose as his gaze fixed at her with brown eyes slightly narrowing at her hazel ones.

"Saff...someone might step in and see us" Emy whispered as Saff's both arms raised up and landed on the wall on both sides of her head as If pinning her onto the wall.

"So you'll just talk to me when no one is around? Is that what it means?" Saff said in a low voice only for Emy to hear but not kind of whispering as his face slightly frowned, both gazes are still fixed to one another.

"Let's keep the distance and focus on your song...Saff" Emy trying to avoid a confrontation as she is completely aware that her face is really burning red right now!

Saff then leans closer to her side for her to skip a beat as her body became stiffed with their closeness, she can now smell his perfume as he whisper to her ears "How can I focus on my song? When it is all about you"

Emy can now feel the warm breath coming from Saff's nose and slightly parted lips as he whispered to her ears touching her delicate skin right there, before her eyes widen in surprise when Saff's forehead gently landed to her shoulder as if he is admitting a defeat.

'Please don't faint!' praying in her mind over and over again, Emy stood there unmoving and totally stunned as this was by far the closest they had ever done.

Although, Emy somehow assume that the song is quite about her as Saff already said some words from it, still it is completely different when he admitted it directly at her, personally in front of her with this little distance, rather no distance between them at all that they are so close like almost hugging each other...once again, only this time it feels more intimate as Saff's emotion is more intense.

This is the exact reason that Emy didn't asked Saff that day on 'Why her?' it's because she wanted to prevent situation like this to happen.

Saff is a talented-handsome young man who is adored by both men and women of their generation and even like her who is ahead of them. He is very popular and having this kind of successful career in this lifetime is not usually easy to have that any romantic relationship could make or break his career anytime, and with Emy's status right now, she is very aware of the fact that with her it could ruin his career.

"Saff...I can't breathe" Emy carefully whispered not moving even a bit.

Hearing this, Saff pulled back his head to look back at Emy as he slowly move his arms down, placing both on his side, stepping back to give Emy some space, but not too far from her. Having the space she had asked from him, Emy somehow felt dejected at their distance.

"I said I would give you time and let it hang for now...but that doesn't mean I am willing to endure seeing you with another man" Saff spoke with solemn words.

In Emy's heart, part of it felt fluttered by his words, that if ever she could, she would have run towards him to kiss his lips with his heart melting words, adding up is his seductively stunning appearance when he is being seriously jealous, and it messes up her mind every time. However, In Emy's mind it's not appropriate if she would let her heart take over the situation.

Feeling annoyed with her inner battle, Emy pretended to act as if not affected by it and says "We have talked about this before and I told you that I can handle it! You don't need to endure anything for me, and I don't want you left there hanging...don't say you'll give me time because it's not necessary"

Hearing Emy's harsh words, Saff took steps forward to move closer to where she stood, sliding both his hands inside his pants' side pockets, he then says "what do you mean? I want to hear it from you directly…what do you want me to do?" his voice melancholy that holds a certain firmness as he spoke every word he had said while looking straight at Emy's hazel eyes who is also staring back at his brown ones.

Saff knew that confronting Emy might be his last chance as this might trigger her to really avoid him, but getting direct answers from her would be a much better way to handle their situation than just left the words unspoken.

Saff is aware that Emy's words are completely opposite with how her body reacts from him, even right now he came to noticed this and because of that, testing the water would be a better way to find out what she really feel for him, he wanted to find out by himself and prove something knowing that Emy will never be the first to admit it.

Emy clenched both of her hands into fists as she gathered all the courage she needed this time before giving him answers "You should stop here Saff..."her voice low but audible enough for Saff to hear.

"Why do I have to stop? Give me at least one valid reason, Emy" Saff asked with a grave face and tone, dropping the honorifics between them now.

Emy's brows furrowed as she tries to justify her actions in front of him by laying down the obvious reasons as she says "Can't you see? I'm your manager here, Saff who is seven years older than you!"

"And so what is the problem there?!" Saff retorted with furrowed brows as well and narrowed eyes gazing at her.

"You have a great career, talent, charm, and fame that any girl could fall head over heels for you! You are living a life that every man of your age had dreamed of and you have a better life ahead of you, Saff"

"I already know that, Emy but...so what?!"

"So what? You have a life! While I am just a widow and a single mom who is unsure if I already coped up with the grief from my past while still suffering with episodes of anxiety, Saff please…" Emy's voice trailed off and she felt a pinch of pain in her chest, tears shimmered in her eyes but she tried fighting back to not let it fall.

"Are we talking about insecurities here? Why does it sound like your looking down on yourself? Is comparing us necessary here? I'm sorry Emy but I wasn't looking at that direction, don't you think it's too shallow?" Saff's eyes narrowing at Emy as his head slightly shook disagreeing with what she has said.

"Alright then, if you think my reasons are too shallow but you're asking for it right?! And pushing this through will only lead to complications in the future because these are the shallow reasons that we need to consid-"

"Say that you don't like me…then I'll stop" Saff retorted sternly, one of his brows raised not letting Emy finish her words.

Emy was taken aback after being cut from her words and as hearing Saff spoke, her heart beats even faster than before, and her palms started to sweat as she is still clenching them into fists, digging her nails into her palms to keep the last strand of courage hanging in there pretending to be brave all along as she open her mouth as if to say the words but nothing came out.

"Say it now, Emy" Saff continues on provoking her with his grave voice and slightly narrowed eyes fixed at her.

Emy having only the last thin strand of courage that is now slipping out of her control as she couldn't hold it any longer, her hands slowly unclenching from a tight fists as tears starts to ran down her pink cheeks, she felt vulnerable and weak as she couldn't say the words he is urging her to speak.

Saff felt his heart slowly being crumpled as he saw Emy silently crying, and without thinking twice he immediately walk towards her, one hand pulled her waist while the other hand directly touched the back of her neck as he pulled her towards him for a kiss.

Emy's eyes widen in utter surprise before everything that surrounds them became blurred and Saff who is now kissing her is the only one left that is vividly clear in her sight. Emy closed her eyes as she seemed to be slowly engulfed by the moment while Saff suck her lower lip, sucking and biting it slowly to pull it apart her upper lip.

It's as if every feeling that Saff has for her had been poured into his kiss, and when her lips slightly parted Saff didn't let the moment slipped as he slid his tongue to fully explore her mouth, tasting every bit of her sweetness.

Feeling his warm touch on her skin that made her heart warm as well that her body loosened from being stiffed a while ago, Emy's both hands raised up to touch his chest, his top cotton shirt is quite thin that Emy could feel his slightly bulk and firm muscles underneath it, she hold on tight to his shirt as their kiss deepened.

Saff slowly and gently pulled his lips from Emy's after their deep kiss, both of them slightly breathless as Saff leans his forehead to touched Emy's forehead with his eyes still closed and arms still holding her waist and side neck as they are still high from the moment.

"Still none of the words you have said qualified as a valid reason to make me stop...so please don't make me stop because I like you...I really like you, Emy" Saff whispered with solemn words.