"ANOTHER DINNER"

"Are you seriously going to wait for me here?" It has been half an hour since Marius arrived when I asked him that question. I was still working while he remained seated on the chair in front of my working table, engrossed in flipping through a magazine.

"You can move to the couch if you want to be more comfortable," I said again as he glanced at me and smiled.

"I'm really serious about everything I do for you," he replied to my initial question. "And to be honest, I don't know whether I should be happy or offended by your second remark," he continued.

My eyebrows immediately furrowed upon hearing Marius's last statement. "Why would you be offended when you're the only one I'm concerned about?" I asked, unable to suppress a soft chuckle.

Marius shrugged his shoulders before answering, "I just remembered that you might be tired of looking at my face, that's why you're suggesting I move to the couch." He still had a smile on his face.

Hearing his words, I couldn't help but burst into laughter. I even had to cover my mouth to regain control over myself.

I expected Marius to speak up in protest of my reaction, but I was mistaken. Instead, he just kept staring at me for reasons I couldn't understand or even guess.

"Why?" I asked him after a few moments, especially when I noticed the twinkle in his eyes as he continued to gaze at me.

I knew that the reason behind it was positive, but I didn't want to assume, so I still chose to ask him.

"You have a wonderful laugh," he replied while maintaining his gaze on me.

Marius's words caught me off guard this time. And at that moment, I couldn't hide it from him anymore.

"And now you are blushing," he added.

At that point, I quickly felt a sense of embarrassment. It felt as if I wasn't in my own office anymore. It was as if I was in a foreign place, and Marius managed to give me that kind of discomfort.

"Are you okay?" he asked when he saw the redness on my face.

I immediately refocused on what I was doing. Then I answered to defend myself, albeit with no real assurance that I could convince him with what I was about to say.

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" I replied, choosing not to look at him.

Marius didn't answer my question, and I silently thanked him for that. He then proceeded to move to the couch and continued his reading there.

I didn't want to speculate on whether Marius could read my thoughts or understand my true feelings, which is why he acted that way. But I couldn't think of any other reason why he would do that.

"Just give me a moment, okay?"

After another thirty minutes, that's what I said to Marius. It was already past five in the afternoon, and technically office hours were over. I felt pressured because of his presence. And my plan to work for a longer period of time was likely to be canceled.

"No, it's okay. Take your time. I'll just wait here," he replied to me.

I turned to look at Marius. "Are you sure?" I asked him.

Marius looked back at me, smiling. He nodded in succession, his face bright and focused on me.

"Yes, of course. I'll also drive you home later so I can see Andrea if she's still awake," he said, shrugging his shoulders before returning to flipping through the architectural magazine he had.

I knew that Marius was an engineer, and according to Lana, he was a half-owner of a construction company. So, as he mentioned to me this morning, he was a busy person. It wasn't hard to believe.

*****

"Thank you, and I'm sorry for making you wait," I said to Marius as we entered the elevator.

I glanced at him and saw that he was indeed looking at me. Our eyes met for a moment, and quickly and tactfully, I averted my gaze.

"No worries. I understand that you have a lot to finish, so I get it," Marius replied.

After that, neither of us spoke. It was already past six in the evening, and I managed to complete the tasks I needed to finish, at least to some extent. There was still a bit left that I could continue tomorrow.

"Where would you like to eat?" Marius asked me once we were inside his car.

Just like yesterday, I informed Mang Poldo again not to pick me up because I had somewhere to go.

"You decide," I replied, fastening my seatbelt.

If I were to compare last night and this morning, I could say that I felt more comfortable now. But of course, the nervousness in my chest still lingered, as if it had permanently settled there and only became active whenever Marius was around.

As we drove, Marius didn't speak anymore. I had the feeling that he was exhausted and doing all of this only because he had feelings for me.

In my final thought, I suddenly paused. I didn't know where it came from or what happened for such a thought to enter my mind. And as I recalled Mama Cecille's words to me earlier in the morning, as well as what Marius said, the reason behind all of this came to mind. I had an idea that maybe my sister's sister-in-law's aunt was right. Perhaps Marius had feelings for me or was courting me.

I wanted to feel thrilled, and I couldn't help but let that emotion touch my heart. But because I didn't want Marius to catch on, I continued to do everything to not let him sense my satisfaction with everything that was happening. Including my thoughts about him.

Now that Marius and I are friends, I think there's no reason for me to deny the truth that I actually have a crush on him. It all started when I first saw him at the mall. Those stolen glances and lingering gazes he gave me back then made me feel uncomfortable. But I also can't deny that I was happy and giddy because of them.

And now, he's here with me. Why does it feel like in such a short period of time, he managed to make me accustomed to everything he does? Well, I hope that includes getting used to his presence so that I won't feel nervous whenever I'm beside him. But there's one thing missing. And as I mentioned earlier, despite the mixed emotions in my heart when Marius is around, I strongly believe that I would miss all of this if he were to stop. It's something I don't want to happen.