Chapter 3: The Writers
"HI." He greeted her
She blinked and absentmindedly accepted his hand.
"H-Hi?"
"So you are the famous Lu, eh?" He beamed and she almost snorted.
"Jinx." the manager started behind her which made her stilled and look at the man again in front.
He smirks. "That's me."
"Oh." That's all she can say in awed.
Jinx means someone who brings bad luck but he's the opposite. Aside from being one of the top best selling authors, he also carries good luck to his readers which makes him the total opposite of his pen name.
And he's fond of writing fantasy.
"Glad that you're here already so we can now arrange your collaboration." What the manager said made her raise a brow. She let go of his hand and faced the Head Manager.
"Collaboration? I didn't sign up for this, Mr. Gu." She said in a firm voice.
"I know but for a change? And this is what mostly your readers want. Can you consider it this time?"
She sighs. "And do I have a choice?" Jinx grinned. "Nope."
She rolled her eyes and decided to take off her visor hat which made her black but with brown highlights wavy hair came up to the view. She stood straight in front of Jinx and met his nut brown before giving him a smile.
"My name is Lu Xia. Nice meeting you at last," She introduced herself formally and the latter stared at her in awe.
"W-What?" she said when the second had passed but his gaze was still on her. Again, a grin formed on his lips as he put both his hands on his black cargo pants' pocket before speaking.
"He Tian."
Suddenly, he stepped forward, making their bodies go closer than usual and making her lips part.
He wink. "He Tian at your service."
...
.
"Last night this hashtag #LuWithJinxwent number one of the most used hashtag and we won't let this opportunity to pass, right? So we've decided to make their wishes be granted. Isn't that great?" the manager said and she just silently nod while listening. They're back on track now and sitting on the visitor's chair. In front of her is He Tian who's sitting- leg's crossed arms while still both his hands are inside his pockets.
He's wearing a black cargo pants, boat black shoes and white long sleeve polo that is folded to three-fourth on top which has only three buttons. Brown newsboy hat above and paired with black aviator square sunglasses that's now hanging on his neckline.
He's cool with his get up but it's not that made her stilled earlier. It's just his looks. That pale white skin, messy black hair with bangs, squared-like jaw shaped, thick black eyebrows, nut brown pair of orbs, pointed nose, and a bow-shaped thick lips. Tall, had broad shoulders, lean and had tone right muscles that's enough to make him look more manly.
Why does he actually look like my newly fictional character's trait? She thought and felt a bit annoyed but at the same time amused. She didn't expect that what she imagined last night was actually a real one even though she hadn't seen him even for the first time— except for today.
Annoyed? That's probably because of that grin on his face. And a little bit of disappointment. In her imagination, he really looks like an angel that falls down. Freaking innocent so damn this man infront for ruining the image of her fictional man.
"—so what do you think, Ms. Lu? Are you willing to work up with this collaboration?" She was pulled out of reverie when she heard the Head Manager's voice.
She sighs. She's not fond of collaboration and it's stressing her. She actually believes that each one person has different kinds of styles when it comes to writing. And even though they can share or agree on the same opinion— it will never ever be actually the same.
And so is this collaboration. They're both different. So can they work this out? Can they do it? Can they actually write a book? She sighs.
"You're always sighing. Why not answer him frankly?" She blinked.
"What?"
"You don't want to do it, right? I can see it, Lu. So why hesitate to say that?" He smirks, "You shy?"
She scoffed. Getting annoyed by the presence of the man in front of her.
Why does her belief of his penname's meaning— Jinx is actually true? Now she's having a bad day— bad luck came from the man who's name is actually the same.
"I'm not. I was thinking about my readers' viewpoint." she said.
He shrugged. "K."
And dang that potassium symbol of element! she clucked her tongue inside and calmed herself down.
"Well that's my point so can you maybe consider this one?" and his voice looks hopeful.
She heaved a sigh. "Can I think about it?"
He nodded eagerly. "Sure. I'll just call you tomorrow?"
"Hmm.." she hummed as a response and took a peek on the small wall clock above.
10:00 A.M.
She stands up and smiles. "I think I'll go ahead now." She looked at He Tian.
"Bye." She bid goodbye and the latter just raised his right hand a bit and waved.
Not minding her patience getting slowed down, she faced the Head Manager again— smiled and bowed down her head a bit before storming out of the office while wearing her black mask back to cover her face.
"So annoying," She said to herself remembering the man who she just met earlier.
"And I can't believe they even looked alike." She mumbled again and let a frustrating sigh escape before going into the elevator and wearing her visor hat again.
The elevator was about to close but it opened again and to her shock, He Tian entered inside wearing a sly grin on his face.
"Going home?" She was slightly taken aback by his sudden voice but she composed herself and just nodded at him.
"You'll ride in a taxi?" He asks and she nods as a response.
"I have a car—"
"No thanks. I can manage."
He smiled cheekily. "Come on. Just this once." but she only shook her head until the elevator stopped and she immediately went outside.
Pulling her visor hat even more to cover her face, she heard him talk again,
"You know what. If I were you I wouldn't do that." that made her stop from her track and look back at him, confused by what he just said.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you covering your face when even though people around here don't know you as Lu? If I were them, I'd just suspect that you're someone important." She glares at him.
"And why do you have to care?" He shrugged his shoulders.
"Just sharing some thoughts."
She clucked her tongue inside her mouth and looked at him again. "And I don't care."
"Woah!" He looks amused as he raises both of his hands as if surrendering. "Chill,"
"I can't believe that the woman behind those tragic books is actually a fiery one." She rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"I also can't believe that I used to believe that you're not like your pen name." Then she left him afterwards.
While waiting for a taxi to come, a car suddenly showed up in front of her, then the windows went down and she saw a man grinning at her.
"Hop in." He demanded but she looked away and acted as if he's not exist. She heard him chuckle.
"Come on in. The weather's too hot," He commented but again, she didn't respond as she waited for the taxi.
"You're unbelievable!" She heard his complaint but discarded it. His face is quietly pissing her off.
Yes, she admits that he's handsome but there's no way that she'll tell that no him.
Like ugh, it feels like everytime I'll write the story, it's him that I'll remember. Just why do their faces look alike?! How can I continue writing it?! Shit!
Good thing that after a couple of minute, she saw a vacant taxi. She raises her hand to give a signal and sighs in relief when it stops in front of her. She open the car's door and was about to go inside but she felt a warm hand wrap its fingers on her wrist and pulled her back.
She gasps. "Sorry! She won't hop in."
"Wait—"
"She's my girlfriend!"
"What?! No—"
"Nope!" He cut her sentence and to her surprise, his arm snake on her waist and slightly raised her up to gather her inside his car.
She gasped again in horror but the jerk just got her inside the seatbelt and before she could complain, he closed the door and heard it lock using the remote control of the car.
Her cold glare glued on him as she saw him go inside the driver's seat.
"What?" The smile on his face annoyed her even more. This jerk!
"What the hell was that?!"
He sighs, "Sorry. I just want to bring you home."
"Whatever." He laughed.
"Well, let's just say that I'm really the one bringing sinister in your day for now."
She sneered, "Unfortunately, yes."
Silence engulfed them afterwards until his phone on the dashboard rings.
"Hello?" He picked up the phone and even put it on a loudspeaker.
"B-Bother He!" Her brows creased when she heard a young boy's voice. His voice trembled as he called He Tian's name.
"Why?"
"I-It's about A'Nian..."
"A'Nian? What about her?"
"T-The doctor said her condition is getting worse again."
****