"You will still go dine with me?" Jerrod asked with anticipation, to which Larissa responded with a nod, but again she's back to her habit of looking at Jerrod from head to toe.
She resumed dusting off Jerrod's coat. "Yes. But can we do it tonight? You didn't eat your dinner yet, right?" Larissa awkwardly asked. She actually doesn't have time to spare for Jerrod because of her other job. Today is the only time she got unexpectedly free because of her boss's dismissing her early.
"But I am not prepared!" Jerrod exclaimed. He panicked again because the restaurant that he was talking about didn't exist yet. He still needs time to search for any restaurant that will fit with all the lies he said or build one to match his lies.
"What are you going to prepare? Oh? Right. Is it because of your clothes? Hmm. Want me to wait for you to get dressed?"
"No! The restaurant needs reservations, so please tell me your day off so I can reserve us a spot."
"I don't have a day off, and I doubt that the restaurant you're talking about would be open when I go off to work."
"You don't have a day off?" Jerrod asked. He automatically glared at Larissa's boss. He didn't expect that the convenience store was breaking labor laws and abusing its employees.
"Please don't misunderstand. I have a day off here, but I have another job, which is why my schedule is entirely full. I am really sorry." Larissa felt bad for raising Jerrod's mood, then letting him down right away.
"Is that so? Then should we just choose another place to eat?" Jerrod suggested. Although they are missing the first reason, they have to dine together. Everything works well in Jerrod's opinion, after he sweetly suggested eating at a different place instead.
"If it's alright with you, sir, then I would prefer to eat at a different place."
"Alright."
The two of them awkwardly stared at one another. Before Jerrod spoke again, "Let me change clothes first while you fix your things."
"Where would you be changing, sir?"
"I have extra clothes at my office. I'll change there. Just wait for me here, or would you like me to drop you along the way?"
"Where is your office, sir?"
"At globa—I mean at GYC corporation."
Jerrod was about to lie that his office was nearby, but then told Larissa honestly, as he didn't want to be caught with another problem.
The green-striped convenience store was actually quite far from Jerrod's house and office. He only got here by chance when he was randomly driving his car around the city, looking for a good place to dine. He wasn't considering the distance at all because he much preferred to stay in his car than go to any place with cabinets around.
"That's quite far. How about your house?"
"Well, it's the same. Don't worry, I will work hard to come back as fast as I can."
"That's impossible, sir. Please consider the traffic. It's rush hour."
Larissa doesn't want to oppose Jerrod as much as possible, but she doesn't wish to waste time.
"T-then let's go without changing!" Jerrod exclaimed, but he was also the one who rejected his idea. "That's not a good idea, right? Maybe we really can't do it now. But I hope you can still dine with me. I really want us to eat out!"
"So it's not about the restaurant?"
Jerrod bit his lower lip as he realized the first reason why he was asking for Larissa to dine.
'Did I appear to be making a move on her? Will I be rejected?'
Jerrod tries to think of an excuse again and sweats a lot while he stutters as he speaks. "I-I really wanted to go to that restaurant, but I can't force you if you don't have the time, but I still wanted to have dinner together."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Then, sir…" Larissa maintained her stoic expression while she paused in between her statements. "… You're Jerrod Guillermo. Right? Uh.. so.. I also attended the same private school…"
Jerrod flinched and hid his surprise. He didn't expect Larissa to bring up their connection.
'This is earlier than I thought. Is it time to apologize? Will she accept it now if I say it? But I don't want my apology to be rejected. What should I say? I'm sorry for calling you a man before? She even remembered my full name. Is this something I should hide?'
Jerrod's head was filled with thoughts. He wondered what to do and felt like revealing it now would not do any good to him. He still needs to figure out how he had a good night's sleep yesterday and how he will use Larissa to get rid of the ghost in his cabinet.
"So.. ah.. my name is Larissa Mutya. Do you not remember?"