Have You Wonder

Hop In

I arrived in the office and was walking when my tummy suddenly growled. I just realized that I haven't eaten any for breakfast and lunch. Maybe I should go and check if there's still something to eat in the cafeteria.

While I was on the line, I saw this tall guy with amazing broad shoulders. I don't know if is it just me or what, but I don't want him to notice me at all. I'm just not an avid fan of small talks with people I am not close with.

He was so busy giggling with these two other guys who seem to be his officemate. I think they were teasing this a little bit shorter guy while pointing at the lady from the Accounting Department, he's obviously into her.

But the plot twist is... she is taking glances at Luke. These naive guys didn't see it. Or maybe they were just so busy teasing their friend and couldn't get what's truly going on.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Enzey. Gonna have late lunch?" Caloy, one of the friendliest staff in the cafeteria, asked.

"Good afternoon, Caloy. Yeah, I took half-day so I couldn't eat lunch on time." I responded while pointing to the dish I want to order.

"Hey, having late lunch? I didn't see you when I visited the Warehouse this morning." Luke butted in while tilting his head adorably.

D*mn. My heart almost jumped out of my chest from that sudden attack. Will you please stop being so charming? You are ruining my peace of mind.

"Ah...yeah," I replied shortly, trying my best not to make this conversation continue. Small talks will never be my cup of tea.

I was standing behind him in the line to the counter when he suddenly looked at my order. He smiled and didn't say anything at all. I smiled back slightly as I kept feeling uncomfortable with his presence and the attention he is giving me.

"I am paying for these also." He said out of nowhere to the cashier while pointing to my food.

Wait, what? Says who? Is he insane?! I never asked him to treat me for lunch.

"No-no! I'll pay for my food, Missy. I'm fine." I insisted.

The cashier looked at him after she looked at me. She is quite confused about who should she follow. But Luke gestured his hand and the cashier punched the bill as he implied. Then he looked at me with a triumph smirked on his lips.

"You know you don't have to do it, Architect," I mumbled but he just smiled at me. Just right then, I noticed that the two other guys who were with him a while ago suddenly disappeared.

"I don't have to but I just want to, Ms. Enzey~" He uttered emphasizing my name with a little bit of sarcasm while taking away the food tray from my hands. He transfers his food on it and walked away with my food tray.

"Hey~ What are you doing?" I screamed silently. I almost shouted but I realized that we are in the cafeteria. He's insane.

He walks speedily towards the empty table almost near the corner and he gestured his hand that I can take that seat. I smacked my palm on my forehead as I was speechlessly annoyed with his actions.

I was avoiding him for even a bit of small talk but here he is, insisting to have lunch with me... in the cafeteria. It perfect place to catch all the absurd rumors. Good luck to you, Enzey! I guess the quiet working life you've been aiming for in this company ends today.

I walk towards our table with a heavy stride. I wanted to cover my face as I walk towards him but I guess that will never be enough. Almost everyone has noticed me having lunch with this newly-hired young and hot Architect. And look at this guy, he's smiling ear to ear and was never bothered by the attention we are getting from other employees.

"I am grateful for the free lunch but I don't think I can stand eating with you while having this kind of attention." I expressed.

"Let's pretend I didn't hear the words after the word but and just dig into the food in front of us. Shall we?" He asserted while keeping those smiles on his lips.

I scoffed at his persistency. How I do end up being at this table when all I want to do is to have a peaceful lunch. My gally!

========

I've got a lot of stuff to do but I don't have the energy to move swiftly like I'm always used to. Maybe it's just because I didn't get enough sleep from yesterday. So I decided to go home earlier than usual.

"Going home early today, Ma'am Enzey?" The guard queried while I am logging off.

"Yeah. I need a little bit more sleep, maybe I am suffering from overfatigue." I excused, hoping no one heard about what happened last night.

"Maybe you should make it a habit to go home early from now on. Last night, there was a commotion at the bus stop. A drunk guy forced an employee to come with me. Good thing, she was saved by this good samaritan." I gulped as I heard his story.

"Have...they identified who the employee was?" I asked nervously.

"They keep it a secret for the sake of security." He stated and I just exhaled a deep breath as I felt relieved hearing that.

I bid goodbye and walked hurriedly before he noticed how pale I am listening to his telltales.

I decided to wait for the bus at the back gate instead of the main gate where I used to wait at. For some reason, I feel a little bit traumatized standing there and being paranoid. It's been thirty minutes yet no bus can be found. I wonder what's going on.

I was about to take the earphones from my bag when a white eco-sport car stops in front of me. I tried to ignore it but he honks so loud as he lowered the car window. The handsome face of Luke peeks through with a great smile on his lips.

"Hop in!" He shouted.

"What?" I blurted. I heard him clearly but I was just dumbfounded with the confidence he is displaying right now. What makes him think that I will easily ride in a stranger's car.

"Hop in or I'll cause more traffic." He stated.

For some reason, that line sounds so familiar. Just like how that night ended for the two of us. Oddly, I am thinking of Kree in front of this hot and young man who is obviously showing his great interest just to grab my attention.

"Stop wasting your time pondering and just hop in. Don't worry, I'm harmless." I don't know which part sounds funny but I suddenly see myself smiling at his statement.

I ride in his car just like that as if I was hypnotized. Though my short legs within this pencil-cut skirt are not doing me a favor. I am having a hard time riding on smoothly.

When I managed to settle in the passenger's seat, I noticed him holding his smile as he was maneuvering. He must be thinking about how funny I look while struggling to ride in his car.

"Are you sulking?" He asked while glancing at me.

"Me?! Of course not!" I exclaimed.

"Of course you are. Your pouting says it all." He beamed.

He took another glance and the smile on his lips slowly disappear.

"Put your seatbelt's on or I'll stop the car to put them on myself." He asserted. I looked at myself and realized that I do forget to put them on.

While I was buckling them up, I saw Luke's arm stretches in front of me like a speed of light as he stepped real hard on the brake as the motor suddenly overtakes in front of us. He was furious at the reckless driver.

"Are you okay? I told you! You should---" He stopped as he noticed how shocked I am at the way he reacts.

I know he was just worried but I'm okay. He is kinda overacting. Besides, it is not my fault that a reckless driver will pop out of nowhere and will cut through his driveway.

He exhaled a deep breath as he was exasperated with what happened. His furrowed brows and sharp look tell how furious he is right now.

After a few minutes of avoiding my gaze and focusing on what's in front of him, he take another deep breath and he uttered what I was supposed to say.

"I-I'm sorry. I was overreacting. I shouldn't have yelled." He apologized.

"N-no, I'm the one who's sorry. My stubbornness always brings me to danger. I'm sorry." I expressed.

"But still, I feel bad yelling at you. hope you won't get mad at me." He glanced at me and his gloomy eyes show how sorry he is.

"No... I..."

"Enzey, we're cool, okay? Let's not compete who's more sorry. I guess you are the type of person who will never let anyone win against you so let's stop." He giggled and I can't help but smile at what he said.

"Yeah, right. I have that kind of dominance for some reason."

He glances at me and I suddenly feel a little bit awkward. It's as if he has something to say but was kinda hesitant.

"What?" I asked. He's so obvious.

"N-nothing." He shrugged.

"Tell me. What is it?" I insisted.

"I-I...heard about what happened last night. At the bus stop." He mumbled.

I was speechless. I thought nobody knows it was me. Maybe, I was wrong. There will never be a secret especially since it happened right in front of the main gate. For sure, there will be at least one person who could recognize me passing out that night.

"Don't worry, nobody knows about it. I made sure about it." He reassured.

How can you be so sure?

"I... was so mad last night. Remember I called you before you go home. I was waiting for you that night but I missed you. We missed each other and I couldn't make sure you were safe going home. And I...I was so frustrated and furious that it slip through and that happened." He was so serious saying those words.

I don't know what's going on and why is he acting that way? I am quite confused.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you that night, Enzey."

And that somehow brings me butterflies. I can see through his eyes how frustrated he was and he sincerely means what he says.

Why would you want to protect me, Luke? Why?