Strangers in Love

CHAPTER 3: THE BROKEN IPAD

Ada's POVI woke up early today so I can go to my office and process my leave of absence in our department, and so I could also start to work in my new part-time program, well it's only from a different department.

Arrived at the company compound around 10 a.m. I parked my car in the open parking space since my new office building is next to it. While I was waiting for the elevator, I rummaged through my bag to get my script folder while holding my phone, my eyeglass, and my wallet.

And just as the elevator opens, the strap of my bag snapped causing my laptop, iPad, and my other personal-girly things, you know what I mean to fall.

Grunting in frustration, I curse under my breath without looking at the person inside the lift. "Holy crap!" Then I bent my knees to pick up my things when I heard someone and saw his black and white old school Vans stepping out of the elevator.

"Oh s**t! Are you okay?" he said anxiously. He bends down and helps me pick up my things.

"I'm sorry for blocking the way. I'm sorry." I said without looking at the man.

He picks up my iPad, my phone, and my vanity kit then he gives it to me while I pick up my laptop, my earphones, and the script folder. We stood up and I took all of my things in his hands.

"Thank y - Yohan!" I was shocked when I saw him. "Thank you for your help. I'm sorry." I added while struggling to hold the strap of my bag and my things at once.

"Hey, it's alright. Are you all alright? What happened to you? Let me help." he said without stopping.

He pressed the open button of the lift while I checked my stuff. "Uhm, I think your iPad is broken." he said, showing me my now broken screen iPad.

"It's okay. It's not mine." still rummaging my stuff.

"Is there something missing?" he looked at me with a worried face.

"My glasses." I said, then I turned around to see it on the ground broken as well. "s**t!" I mumble.

He picked it up, he chuckled and said, "That's not how you reacted when you saw the broken iPad. So, I guess it’s not really yours." Then he put it inside my bag. We entered the lift then he pressed the 15th-floor button while I'm still struggling to hold my bag.

"Let me hold your bag." he took my bag from me without waiting for my reply. I know. How flirting, right? I chuckled and said "The iPad isn't mine. I am nearsighted and it will take forever to get new glasses so yes, my glasses are more important to me than the iPad."

I saw how curious he was, so I answered his unspoken question. "It's my ex's. I am supposed to give it back to him, but I never had the chance." I said that smiling while looking down at the floor.

"Oh, so you're single." it's not a question, I sense but I ignore it. "Since when?" he added, still curious. "Three years." I answer back, still looking at the floor.

The lift opens and when I am about to take back my purse, he swings it and says, "Where's your table?" Without saying anything else, I pointed the last table to the left near the glass window.

But before he left, I stopped him and gave him three pieces of my favorite candy.

"Uh, what's this?" with a confused smile.

I smiled back and said, "My p*****t for lending me your hand." and I mouthed "Thank you" as everyone around the area is staring at us.

He smiled sweetly then he turned his back at me and left.

Yohan's POV

Dale and I finished our meeting 10 minutes before 10 o'clock in the morning. I felt a growl in my stomach, so I decided to grab a bite before visiting the taping at studio 4 for our new sitcom.

The elevator opens and there's Dale, walking out. "Where are you going?" he asked. I reply while stopping the elevator door to close, "I'll just have a bite then I'll visit the shoot at studio 4." Dale just nods his head.

As I was waiting for the elevator to reach the ground floor, I checked my social media accounts to see if there was new feedback about our new show; I felt satisfied when I saw the number of shares, views, and reactions of our new sitcom video teaser that we posted just yesterday.

While browsing, I don't know how but the next thing I knew, I am viewing the page of the woman I've been longing to see. I guess it's out of curiosity. Okay, I've been stalking her page since I can remember. And there I see what I am fearing to see.

"What? She's back? Who's he?" those were the sentences I asked myself, tightening my grip to my phone while zooming in and out the photo of the woman with her arms wrapped around the neck of the man, I don't know who. I turn off my phone and put it back in my pocket when the elevator opens. And there I saw a woman cursing herself.

"Holy crap!" then she crouched down to pick up her things that just scattered to the ground.

'Ada?' I asked myself silently. I stepped out of the lift and said, "Oh s**t! Are you okay?" then I help her pick up her things.

"I'm sorry for blocking the way. I'm sorry." she apologized, still picking up her things. I bet she didn't recognize me. I pick up her iPad, cellphone, and her kit. We both stood up and I gave her stuff.

Ada looked up to me with surprise "Thank y - Yohan!"

'Did I startle her? Well, that was not expected.' I told myself. But I smiled when she said "Thank you for the help. I'm sorry." I can feel her struggle, carrying her bag by her tone when she apologizes.

I grabbed her things in her hand then I said "Hey, it's alright. Are you alright? What happened to you? Let me help." without waiting for her answer. I pressed the open button of the lift while she's still searching for something inside her bag.

I showed her the broken iPad and said "Uhm, I think your iPad is broken." she's still rummaging her bag when she answers me, "It's okay. It's not mine." without looking at me.

"Is there something missing?" I ask her without me noticing my worried face.

"My glasses." she said then she turned around and swore "s**t!"

I picked up her glasses and let out a chuckle but can't stop my curiosity "That's not how you reacted when you saw the broken iPad. So, I guess it’s not really yours." while checking her glasses before putting it inside her bag.

"Let me hold your bag." I grabbed her bag without waiting for her reply. She answered me smiling "Well, the iPad isn't mine. I am nearsighted and it will take forever to get new glasses, so yeah, my glasses are more important to me."

Now I am really curious who owns this iPad, but I didn't ask anymore.

But Ada spoke without looking at me "It's my ex's." she shrugged her shoulders then continued, "I am supposed to give it back to him, but I never had the chance."

My eyes widened, thinking 'Now I am really interested in her' but I said, "Oh, so you're single." 's**t! Now I look like a creep to her for sure.' I wanted to punch myself by making it too obvious. I don't want to ask anymore but I ask anyway, "Since when?"

She replied, still not looking at me, "Three years."

I am not planning to give back her bag until she settles herself, so I asked her, "Where's your table?" she pointed the last table to the left near the glass window.

I was about to leave when she stopped me. She gave me candies with a 'Thank you' phrase in it. I smiled but confused so I asked her, "Uh, what's this?"

She gave me a cute smile and said, "My p*****t for lending me your hand." 'Well, that's cute.. Wait, what?' I questioned myself.

She just mouthed "Thank you." I felt a sudden heat on my face so I hurriedly turned around and left, fearing that she might see me blushing.