Chapter 3 THE UNSPOKEN QUESTION

FYON'S POV

I woke up earlier than usual today so I can get to the office before the traffic build-up.

Wanting to process my leave of absence in our department without hassle, so I could also start to work in my new part-time program. The sooner I could process my documents, the better.

Arrived at the company compound around 8 a.m. I parked my car in the open parking area since my new office building was just right next to it.

While I was waiting for the elevator to open, I rummaged through my bag to get my script folder while holding my phone, my eyeglass, and my keys.

And just as the elevator opened, the strap of my bag snapped causing my laptop, the old iPad, and my vanity kit to fall.

Grunting in frustration, I cursed under my breath without looking at the person inside the lift. "Holy crap!"

The moment I bent my knees to pick up my things was the same moment I heard someone and saw a pair of black and white old-school Vans stepping out of the elevator.

"Oh shit! Are you okay?" he said anxiously. He also crouched down and helped me pick up my things.

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

He picked up the iPad, my phone, and my vanity kit while I picked up my laptop, my earphones, and the script folder. He waited for me to gather my other stuff on the floor before giving me the things he just collected.

We stood up and I took all of my things into his hands.

"Thank y - Luca!" I was shocked when I saw him. "Thank you for your help. I'm terribly 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 anxiously in one go.

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

Without looking at him, I replied, "It's okay. Not mine anyway." still rummaging through my stuff.

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

"My glasses," I said, then I turned around to see them on the ground broken as well.

"Shit!" we said at the same time.

He hurriedly picked it up, chuckled, and said, "That's not how you reacted when you saw the broken iPad. So, I'm guessing it's not really yours." Then he put my glasses back in my bag, not bothering to put them in their case.

I looked at him in surprise. "What? It's already broken, though," he said but I didn't say anything. Just stupidly looking at him.

We entered the lift then he pressed the 13th-floor button while I'm still struggling to hold my bag.

"Let me hold your bag." he took my bag without waiting for my reply. I know. How flirting, right?

I chuckled and responded, "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 paused to look at the elevator buttons and added, "Besides, it's old." then my eyes turned to the ground again after seeing his reaction.

Seeing the curiosity written on his face, I answered his unspoken question. "It's my ex's. I was supposed to give it back to him, but didn't have the chance." with a smile I said while looking down at the floor.

And his response was something I am not expecting. "Oh, so you're single."

It wasn't a question, I sensed, but I ignored it.

"Since when?" he added, still curious. "Six years," I answered, then I looked at him with a faint smile.

The lift opened, and when I was about to take back my purse, he swung it and said, "Where's your table?"

Without saying anything else, I pointed to the last table to the left near the glass window.

Luca assisted me from the lift until we reached my table, and I could feel pairs of eyes following us.

"Here you go," he said putting my bag on the table. "Let me know if things get worse," he added with a chuckle.

He was about to leave but I stopped him and said, "Wait." I gave him three pieces of my favorite candy.

He looked at it and asked, "Uh, what's this?" with a confused smile.

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

He nodded and smiled sweetly, then he turned and left.

LUCA'S POV

My meeting with the higher-ups regarding the new show finished around 5 minutes after 8 o'clock in the morning.

My stomach growled, so I decided to grab a bite before visiting the taping for our new show.

The elevator opened and there walked out Jaimie. "Where are you going?" he asked.

I replied while stopping the elevator door to close, "I'll just have a bite, then I'll visit the shoot."

He just nodded 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.

The number of views, shares, and reactions to the teaser of the new show we released yesterday was very satisfying to see.

While browsing, I didn't know how, but the next thing I knew, I was viewing the page of the woman I'd been longing to see.

Maybe because it's out of curiosity? Okay, I've been stalking her page since I can remember. And there I saw what I am fearing to see.

"What? She's back? Who's he?" Those were the questions I asked myself.

Unknowingly tightening the grip on my phone while zooming in and out of the photo of that woman, her arms were wrapped around the neck of the man, I don't know who.

Annoyed, I turned off my phone and put it back inside my pocket when the elevator opened. And there I saw another woman cursing herself.

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

'Fion?' I asked myself silently. I stepped out of the lift and exclaimed, "Oh shit! Are you okay?" then I helped her pick up her things.

"I'm so sorry for blocking the way. I'm sorry." she apologized, still picking up her things.

I bet she didn't recognize me.

Bent down and helped her pick up her iPad, cellphone, and her kit. I waited for her to collect all of her things. I don't want to cause her another disaster today.

She looked up at me with surprise. "Thank y - Luca!"

'Did I startle her? Well, that's unexpected.' I told myself. But I smiled when she apologized.

I could feel that she's struggling to carry her bag by her tone when she apologized.

So, I grabbed her things in her hand then I asked,"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 was still searching for something.

I showed her the broken iPad and said, "Uhm, I think your iPad is broken."

She was still rummaging through her bag when she answered me, "It's okay. Not mine anyway." without looking at me.

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

"My glasses." she said and when I turned around, I saw them lying on the ground, shattered into pieces. "Shit!" I didn't realize that I swore.

Out of curiosity, I said with a little chuckle, "That's not how you reacted when you saw the broken iPad. So, I'm guessing it's not really yours." while checking her glasses before putting them inside her bag.

"What? It's already broken though." I said when I saw her annoyed face. "Let me hold your bag," I added.

Fion started talking while 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. Besides, it's old."

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

But then she spoke again without looking at me, "It's my ex's." She shrugged her shoulders and continued, "I was supposed to give it back to him, but didn't have the chance."

My eyes widened, as another thought came to my mind, 'Now I am really interested in her.' but instead I said, "Oh, so you're single."

I wanted to punch myself right now by making it too obvious. 'Shit! Now I look like a creep to her for sure.' I didn't want to ask anything anymore but I asked her anyway, "Since when?"

She replied, still not looking at me, "Six years." while nodding her head.

I wasn't planning to give back her bag until she settled herself, so I asked her, "Where's your table?"

She pointed the last table to the left near the glass window.

We walked towards it and put her bag down. "Here you go. Let me know if things get worse." I said and laughed.

I was about to leave when she stopped me. "Wait."

She then gave me candies with a 'Thank you' phrase in them. I smiled but was confused so I asked her, "Uh, what's this?"

She gave me a cute smile and said, "My payment for lending me your hand."

'Well, that's cute... Wait, what?' I questioned myself.

She just mouthed "Thank you."

Because of her smile, I felt a sudden heat on my face so I hurriedly turned around and left, fearing that she might see me blushing.