Strangers in Love

CHAPTER 11: HIS SMILE

Yohan's POVThe team finishes the editing of our next airing episode around 7:30 p.m., so I decided to make an online booking at the nearby bistro where we can have dinner and booze at once.

I headed to my office to see Dale and check if Ada is still there. As I walked out of the elevator, I looked side to side while opening my office door. There came Dale's snort and said, "Looking for someone?"

I haven't been to the office because I am supervising the editors the whole day. "Have you seen Ada? The team's having dinner tonight." I asked when I entered the room.

"Yes. And she gave me this." waving a small envelope in front of me and he added, "She's resigning and planning to go back to the Live department."

My shoulders dropped and my excitement was gone when I heard what he said. So, I asked in a panic, "When did she give this? Where is she now?"

"Not sure, but she asked me if she can work outside. Why?" he asked but I know he already knows the reason.

"She must be at the dinner if she's resigning. Let's make it her send-off party." I said hiding my disappointment. Actually, I don't know what to feel or why I am so disappointed.

Dale just stared at me and said, "Just tell her man." I was confused so I asked, "What to tell her?" Dale just looked at me as if examining my every move.

"Tell her that you're accepting her decision of running away."

I was lost with what he said so I asked him again, "What was that?"

"I said, call her that you are accepting her immediate notice and we are having a send-off party for her. Got it?" Then he gave me a smile and shook his head with an 'I am disappointed in you' look on his face.

Ada answered my call on the second attempt. "Hey, where are you? We're having a staff dinner now."

"Oh, w-where?" She asked in a stuttering voice. "At Table n' Beer. Do you need me to pick you up?" I asked.

"No! No need. I'll just take a cab." she replied in an instant. "Okay. Send me the cab license number. Will wait for you outside. Take care." I said.

I put away my phone when we finished our conversation. Not knowing that there will be someone listening to me. When I turned around, I saw Dale with a questioning face, "What are you? Her boyfriend?"

It took me a few seconds before I could answer, "N-no, her older brother." I said with scrunched eyebrows. Dale gave me a light squeeze in my shoulder. Then we walk inside the bar.

It has been 20 minutes since I spoke with Ada on the phone and she did not send me the cab details, so I texted her. "Where are you?" She replied with "I'm almost there." I got up and decided to wait for her outside.

I rushed towards the cab when I saw her inside and opened the door for her. "Hi.." I said excitedly. "Hey." she said and got out of the cab. She's wearing a long gray cardigan with skinny jeans and a pair of flat espadrilles. How cute and cozy.

Everyone in the room clapped their hands and shouted with enthusiasm when we entered the room. I can feel her body stiffened with how people welcomed her.

I panicked so I coaxed her as if she didn't know the truth. "The show got the highest rating that's why we're celebrating and also you're leaving that's why they're like that."

I gave myself an imaginary facepalm, wishing I did not accept those photo tagging requests early this morning. I am such an i***t!

Ada just looked at me before smiling at everybody.

I can feel that Ada is uncomfortable to be here, well I don't just feel it, I could see it; so, I decided to sit a bit far from her but still could see her.

She has been so distant to me the whole time, so I just sit there and glance at her, and sometimes ask her silently if she is okay.

"So, I can see you guys glance at each other from time to time. What are you two, really?" asked Lina, one of the Program Producers.

Ada was taken aback but she still answered the question calmly trying her best not to stutter.

"Well.. We.. Uh.." she stutters so I interrupted her. "Well, she's like a sister that I never had and a best friend."

Dale coming from outside said in an aggrieved tone, "What best friend?! I am your best friend since birth!" Indeed, we are best friends since I can remember. Everybody laughed at what he said as if there will be no tomorrow.

"Best friend? And what about that video.." the head editor paused and he sang the chorus part of the song, "Lucky I'm in love with my best friend.." while dancing like crazy.

"There is a video?" Ada asked almost yelling and she continues, "Imma kill that old gay!" rolling her eyes in frustration then she laughed to hide her dismay, and everyone continued their laugh.

The party ended at 10 p. m. Everyone is already full and tipsy. Some headed back to the office and others went straight home. Dale, Ada, me, and two other program producers stayed a little longer.

As people go one after another, I grabbed the opportunity to talk to Ada.

I decided to sit next to her so we could talk quietly. I leaned sideways to bump her shoulder "Hi. How are you?"

"I'm good. Having fun." she said, holding a beer bottle not looking at me, but I can see her smiling.

"I saw your story." talking about the photo she posted last night, it was a photo of the paper flower I gave her with a flower emoji caption. "I'll give you a real flower next time." I studied her actions, then I continued with "I'm sorry they made fun of you." I said, looking at her side view.

Ada touched the back of her neck and responded "No, it's fine." she paused a few seconds and added, "Actually, I'm afraid that you might get the wrong idea, that rumors might spread in the office because of those stupid photos."

"And video." Dale added to her sentence. Lina, our program producer added, "No. Honestly, the reason why we teased you is that this is the first time we saw him smile. Smile like in love.."

"In love?" Ada asked with shock, giving a fake smile at the same time but you can see through her eyes that she's confused. While I'm sitting there listening to their conversation. Questioning myself if I have fallen in love with her already.