‘Why do I have this strong feeling that she is the one behind it even though she doesn’t look like someone that would be interested in doing something like this?’ Lena mused as soon as the class ended abruptly.
She was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice the shadow looming over her until the person’s hands landed on her desk. The first thing she noticed were those familiar black beads that formed a single word around the flawless, beautiful skin.
“What is it about me that has intrigued this young miss?” The feminine voice made Lena look up swiftly. She was a little bit stunned to see the girl she had been staring at throughout the entire class standing in front of her.
“Uhmm… Ermm… I…,” Lena stuttered, suddenly too startled to say anything. The new girl standing opposite her smiled and asked, “What’s your name? Do you want to be my friend ’cause that is one thing I have noticed about humans?”
Lena was confused. Humans? “Sorry. What? I don’t understand your words,” She told the girl with a puzzled look. The latter seems to have realized what she said cause she immediately tried to rephrase her words.
“I mean… I have noticed that people usually tend to look at others when they want to be friends with them. So do you want to be my friend? What’s your name?”
Her nervous laughter made Lena feel suspicious but she smiled back, “I’m Lena Jones. Nice to meet you. What’s your name?”
Lena noticed that the girl looked stunned for no reason. But she still stretched her hand out for a handshake. It took a few minutes for the girl to regain her composure.
She reached out and accepted Lena’s outstretched hand. “I’m Coco. Nice to meet you too,” Coco said with an awkward smile. She couldn’t contain her curiosity so she asked, “Did you just mention that your name is Jones? Like your last name is Jones?”
Lena nodded, “Yes. I’m Elena Jones. You can just call me Lena since everyone calls me that.”
Coco smiled, “What a surprising coincidence? My name is also Jones. Do you think we might be related in some way?”
There was silence for a while before the two burst out laughing. “If you didn’t have a smile on your face, I would have thought you were serious about that statement. How is that possible cause I barely even know you,” Lena mumbled and laughed again?
Coco chuckled. “Yeah… There’s no way we are related,” she mumbled underneath her breath.
“Coco,” Lena suddenly called out, attracting Coco’s attention. “You threw the spitball at the instructor, didn’t you?”
Coco looked hesitant to speak at first but then, she nodded, “How do you know it was me?” She whispered these words to Lena just in case someone might be listening.
“Cause you were the only one looking savage and sassy enough to do that,” Lena stated the facts and Coco almost rolled in laughter.
“But what I do not understand is how you were able to do that unnoticed,” Coco swallowed her laughter at this.
But before she even got the chance to say anything, Lena already continued her unfinished words, “Well… It doesn’t actually matter. You were able to chase the boring instructor from the class.”
Coco chuckled without saying a word. “Since we have so much free time, would you rather we spend it at the cafeteria? I have got tons of desserts I want to try,” Lena squealed and Coco nodded.
****
Emily didn’t notice the frenzied state the company was in when she walked in. She was just lost in thoughts. Her eyes displayed tiny parts of the dark circles around them.
She barely even got any sleep yesterday after a conversation with her mom went South. They’d only argued like that once and that was when her mother had wanted her to specialize in designs like her.
She could still remember her mother’s question vividly. The curious woman had asked, “What’s his last name?” Emily could still remember feeling startled if not stunned at that unexpected question.
But she’d still replied with, “Mother… Why are you asking?”
“Cause he might be my future son-in-law.”
“Mom!”
“What’s his last name, Emily? Don’t try to change the subject. He looks kind of familiar and it’s only natural for me as your mother to know his last name.”
“His last name is…”
“Go on. I’m listening,” her mother urged her and she took a deep breath at that. She could remember how her mother reacted the day she mentioned that she got a job at Derrick’s company. She doesn’t know if it is the right thing to tell her but she said it anyway.
“Ryan… Derrick. His first name is Ryan and Derrick is his last name,” She explained and her mother’s reaction to her words was priceless.
“Emily!,” Emily snapped out of her reverie when she heard someone call her name. She looked up and saw that she’d been standing in front of the elevator without making a move to go in.
“Emily,” The person called again and she turned around. Chris smiled and walked to her. His hands were hidden in his pants pockets.
“Good morning sir,” She immediately greeted him, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Chris’ smile widened, “Don’t you think you should shred the formalities and address me as a cousin or… Cousin-in-law instead?”
Emily blushed at this. Cousin in-law! She laughed softly and was just about to respond when someone suddenly hit her from behind making her stumble. Thankfully, Chris caught her just in time.
He helped her stand upright and they turned to the intruder. Emily’s eyes widened to see Jonas bending low to pick up the files that had fallen.
“I’m sorry Emily. I didn’t notice anyone standing in front of the elevator. I was just in a hurry to take these up. Sorry,” Chris’ eyes rose at the way Jonas addressed Emily.
Hmm… Oh! So this means they’d already met before the interview that day? Uhmm… Should he warn Ryan about this?
“Good morning Mr Chris,” Jonas greeted Chris with a short bow.
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