"Hey, Alex! It's almost lunch," said Sabina as she came over to her station. "Will you stop that for a while so we can go grab a bite?"
She said as she placed her arms on the divider of Alex' station looking at her best friend whose eyes was focused on the LCD monitor as she moved her mouse.
"Just a little bit more, Sab," she said without looking at her. "Give me just a sec. I need to finish this so I don't redo it."
Her focus and attention fixed on the monitor.
"Whatever you say, Alex," said Sabina leaning on the divider with her arms on top. "You know what? Whenever you are in front of the PC you clearly forget everything around you, especially your stomach. Then, you say, Daniel is always in front of his laptop. As if you aren't like him."
Alex flicked a brief glance at her best friend before returning her eyes back on the monitor.
"The difference between me and that geek is I don't bring my work home," she said as she clicked on Save. She went to select Shut Down on her PC and grabbed her purse. "Unlike him who still brings his work wherever he is. I don't think that guy could ever live without his laptop with him."
She rose from her seat and they crossed the floor to the elevator.
"Says the woman who only leaves her place unless she's forced by her bestfriend."
Sabina said as they entered the elevator.
"Have you ever shared a lunch with him while we work here?"
Alex turned her head at Sabina and shook her head.
"Not once, Sab. You see, Dan, is married to his chair and his laptop that I sometimes wonder when he ever leaves."
"Yeah, me, too," said Sabina thoughtfully. "You know I once entered his office when I had to show him something and his focus and attention was ever glued to the screen. If I didn't cough that time to show him I'm inside his office, he wouldn't have noticed."
The elevator opened with a ding and they stepped out into the ground floor.
"Forget about the guy. Let's enjoy our lunch."
Alex said without a care.
They walked to the exit and headed to their favorite pizza restaurant, Zabini Italia. The smell of pizza and every other meat and pasta wafted through the room as they entered the place. Sabina and Alex walked to a corner and took their seat.
"What should we order, Alex?" asked Sabina as she picked the black menu book on the table. She scanned the items on the list.
"I'd like a mango juice and ravioli. A platter of special pizza and Greek Salad."
Alex said looking through the list of items on the book before putting the book back on the table.
After a minute, a waiter came in and listed their orders. Sabina ordered an avocado smoothie and fried chicken. The order came in after ten minutes and they were about to start eating when a familiar face came in and strode towards them. His wavy golden locks flowing freely and a pair of dark shades hiding his eyes.
"Sabina!" the guy brightly greeted Sabina who happened to be seated facing the doorway of the restaurant so she could easily see who entered and left the place. He walked towards her with a big smile on his face. "It's been a while cousin, I haven't seen you in a long while."
He was looking at her as he talked before he saw Alex who was seated opposite from across her.
"Alex! Fancy seeing you here, love," he said a little more brightly as he saw her.
"Julian."
Alex said as she looked at the golden guy who was wearing a casual blue shirt, white pair of pants and a pair of comfy loafers. He slid his tainted eyeglasses on his head and sat beside her.
"Can I join you two for lunch?" he asked.
Alex pasted her fakest smile and flashed them before Julian.
"Sure, do." She said looking at Sabina who gave her a questioning look. "Sharing lunch with Julian is a harmless thing."
"I'm always harmless, Alex," said Julian.
She moved a little to her side so she didn't have to sit too close to him. A waiter came over and Julian ordered a tall glass of ice-cold coffee.
"Ever the coffee addict still, I see," Alex said faintly looking at Julian as she started on her ravioli.
Julian picked a slice of pizza and made a bite.
"I'm glad I came here so I get to see you, Alex," said Julian as he chomped on the pizza.
She turned to face him.
"How's your girlfriend Anna?" she inquired casually as she forked a meat into her mouth.
"We've broken up."
Julian replied as he munched the pizza.
"I thought things were going well with you two." Alex said as she continued to eat. "Sabina told me you and Anna was going steady."
"I got tired of her," said Julian. "So, I dispose of her."
Alex almost glowered at Julian upon hearing it. Talk about a guy never changing scales. Julian was a far way to becoming a settled guy anytime soon.
"You just broke up with her because you got tired of her?" she asked in an almost incredulous tone. "I thought you've grown up of that bad habit, Julian."
The waiter returned with Julian's ice-cold coffee and immediately left the table after. Julian took a long sip of the coffee.
"Girls can be tiring, Alex," he said in a nonchalant voice. Then, his eyes lingered on Alex. "But I've never gotten tired of you."
Alex turned her eyes away from him getting uncomfortable under his deep stare when she noticed with more discomfort that Daniel happened to be standing on the aisle before their table. He was carrying a wrapped paper bag with him.
"Unfortunately, Alex is already is already taken," he said in a quiet voice looming over before Julian who turned to his side to see another guy wearing a casual black shirt and pair of black pants.
"And you are…?" asked Julian.
"Her boyfriend," he said as he took the seat beside Sabina. He looked at Julian with bland passive eyes. "I'm Daniel St. Claire."
"Glad to meet you," said Julian trying to hide surprise in his voice. "I'm Julian West. Sabina's first cousin."
Julian almost stared at Alex before continuing with his lunch.
"I didn't know you already have a boyfriend, Alex," he said casually as he took another slice of pizza.
"I don't need to report to you that I have a boyfriend, Julian."
Alex said as she continued to eat her lunch. Daniel was giving her a quiet scrutinizing look as he quietly observed them. She averted her eyes from him.
"Would you like pizza, Daniel?" asked Sabina as she tried ease up the tense atmosphere in the air.
"Sure, thanks, Sabina," he said as he took a slice and munched it.
Alex looked briefly at him.
"I thought you never go out for lunch," she said in a casual tone.
"I was hungry and so I decided to buy food here," he said as he finished his pizza. "I didn't know I'd find you two here."
Sabina turned to him.
"Alex and I usually dropped by here," she informed him. "This is one of our favorite pizza and pasta place to have lunch in."
"I'm glad I came here. I never really usually leave my office but I just needed to grab a quick bite and this is the nearest place."
"Yes, you're right," Alex agreed. "Which is one of the reasons Sabina and I usually come to this place. It's very convenient and they make great pizza and pasta."
Julian finished his ice-cold coffee and rose from the chair.
"I'll go ahead of you, guys. Gotta get back to work."
He said and left.
Alex, Sabina, and Daniel continued with their lunch. Sabina went to the restroom for a while. Daniel didn't move to change his seat to sit beside her.
"So, he was your ex, huh?"
"Uh-hum," said Alex looking at him. "You've got anything more to ask, St. Claire?"
"Were you two particularly close to each other?" he asked. "He appeared to be completely familiar with you, Alex."
"Sure, he is," Alex replied. "He is Sabina's cousin. I've known him since primary school."
"If you knew him since primary school like I knew Sarah back when we were kids, how come you two broke up?"
"Because he's not a saint, St. Claire."
Alex said as she finished her mango smoothie.
"Were you ever in love with him?"
Alex gave him an annoyed look.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm being thoroughly inquired?"
"Because I'm your boyfriend, Alex."
He said in a casual tone.
"Didn't you ask that question before?" she asked looking at him.
Sabina emerged from the toilet.
"Alex, Daniel, we can leave now."
Alex slurped the last bit of the smoothie and left her seat. Before she could leave her seat though, Daniel stopped her wrist.
"Coward," he murmured before letting her wrist go. "Our conversation isn't done yet."
Daniel rose from his seat. He followed Alex and Sabina heading to the door. They left the place and returned to the company.
By 5 pm, Alex walked out of the door and headed to her car. As she started her engine, Daniel came to her car by the passenger seat. She stopped the car and opened the window of the passenger side.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
He bent his body and opened the side of her car and slid into the seat.
"Drive on."
She looked at him with irritation, stepped on the pedal but did not start the car.
"I'm going home, Dan," Alex said. "What are you doing in my car?"
"Joining my girlfriend in her drive home."
"You have your own car," she said looking at him. "Will you please get out of my car and just drive home?"
"I don't want to drive my car tonight. Plus, it's Friday. We can go on a date, if you like, Alex," he said casually looking at her and settling comfortably against the seat. He crossed his arms. He turned to look once more at her emotionless face. "Just drive. Let me worry about my car."
Alex started the car without a word. She drove out of the parking lot and into the main road.
"So, how did you and Julian end up together and not?" he asked turning his head to her.
"I know that is the reason why you suddenly wanted to join me in driving home."
Alex replied looking at the road.
"Come on, Alex. Just answer the question," he asked in a persistent tone.
"Really interested to know about my previous relationship, St. Claire?" she asked mocking him.
"I've always been open to you about Sarah."
He said.
"That was your choice," she answered back.
"Geez, I just want to know more about you."
"Is it really me or Julian you want to know?" she asked raising a brow.
"A little of both if you indulge me."
"Sounds like a jealous boyfriend…hmm…" replied Alex.
"You can keep mum if you want to then, Alex," he said almost pouting and kept his silence.
Alex turned to him briefly. A smile playing on her lips.
"You can be pretty cute when you're sulking like a child," Alex said ruffling his hair.
"Don't touch my hair, clumped mouth," he said in ann indifferent tone.
Alex almost squealed at his reaction.
"You know what, you can be really cute. Maybe I should tease you more often."
"You just found a new toy to play with that's why you left Julian for me."
Alex laughed at his statement.
"St. Claire, you know the difference between you and him?" she asked teasing him. "You're just a saint, okay? Julian's on the other side of the spectrum."
"So you broke up with him because he was a player?"
She nodded.
"I'm glad I'm a saint, then."
"But Julian was a nice boyfriend anyway. He was fun to be with, funny at times and my best coffee addict buddy."
"You didn't have say the good things about him. I was already happy when you compared me calling me a saint to your player ex."
"You just want to hear more good things about you, hypocrite."
Alex said as she continued the drive.
"Can you stop by a Chinese restaurant?" he asked looking past the window and changing the subject. "Let's just buy a takeout for dinner."
Alex stopped her car along a street after they curved a corner. Daniel went out of the car and walked to a nearby Chinese restaurant and bought food. She didn't join him and waited by the car. Ten minutes later, he returned with two plastics bags on his hands.
"Will you go home in Avery Hill tonight, Alex?" he asked.
"No. I'm going home in Chervil. I don't have plans in going to Avery Hill tonight," she replied as she continued to drive. "But I'll drop you there tomorrow."
"Then, I'll sleep in your house tonight."
"I can't kick you out, can I?" she asked back barely twisting her head to briefly look at him. "What's the sudden drama, St. Claire?"
"Maybe I just want to spend more time with my girlfriend."
He replied as he looked past the buildings, houses, trees and hedges they passed by.
"I haven't been to your house," he said casually. "How long have you been living there?"
"Five years. I saved money the first two years living with Sabina during our first two years in the company but when I got gran's inheritance plus the house, I decided to buy one for me."
They drove in silence until they reached Alex' house which was more than half hour drive from Juggle House. Daniel had dozed off while they were on the way.