Chapter 26

Porter wouldn’t let Janine go after their meeting in the rooftop. Hell knows how he wanted time to stop right at that moment so he would never be away from her.

“You go first,” he told Janine as they got out of the elevator.

She nodded and walked ahead to the office.

Damn. This girl isn’t ordinary. She will never be ordinary.

Her thoughts and feelings would always be a mystery to Porter. Sure he knows that she likes him but to what extent? He didn’t know. Damn, he wanted her to tell him directly. He wanted to hear it from her even though he’s contented of just being the second.

He was true to his words when he said he will not be jealous. But God knows he was.

That day when she informed him that she’ll spend the night with her boyfriend, he couldn’t sleep. He only had two hours to sleep and he was almost late to the office. He was busy thinking what the two are doing.

He shut his eyes. He didn’t want to think of the possibilities again. Possibilities hurt him as fuck. And it’s no fuck when it’s childish. It’s serious. Porter is wrecked. But he was happy to be wrecked by Janine.

“Good morning, Mr. Kim!” The employees greeted him as he arrived in the office. He just nodded at the girls who greeted him and couldn’t help but notice how they blushed at that simple gesture.

He glanced at Janine who’s talking to Yasmin intently. Yasmin was smiling widely and seemed excited. He figured that Janine might be telling her stories about last night.

Hell. It really breaks his heart.

“Sweetie?”

He stiffened when he heard that voice.

Suddenly, the room became quiet and looked at Czarina who’s standing by his office door, looking at him with a wide smile.

He narrowed his eyes on her. “How long have you been here?” He asked her. Czarina came from the inside so she arrived earlier than him.

She smiled and ran to him, giving him a tight hug. “I missed you, Sweetie!” She beamed as she buried her face on his chest. No, he wasn’t hugging her. She was inserting herself to him. Wait. Did that sound a bit disturbing? No.

Porter suddenly looked at Janine who’s looking at him being so close with someone else without any expression on her face. Damn. When will she at least show him emotion?

He would really appreciate if she at least smirked at him but no. He never got such thing. He only got her poker face. Her damn poker fucking face.

“Don’t you miss me?” Czarina asked him with a cutesy face. Oh, L wanted to puke at that sight.

If this was years back, he would have kissed her but heh, this is right now. She’s the person who disgusts Porter the most. She’s the least person in Porter’s good list. And she’ll never be.

Czarina rolled her eyes and took a step back from him.

Porter even sighed in relief. “What do you want?” He asked her in front of everyone. No matter how much he wanted Janine to get jealous, he couldn’t handle her getting mad, so he’s asking Czarina now. Now, that they’re in front of everyone. He didn’t want Janine to suspect anything bad about them.

“Let’s have lunch?” She asked.

Porter sighed and shook his head. “No.” He beamed.

“Oh, come on!” She whined. “Just this lunch. Then I won’t bother you for a week.” She tried to bargain.

“A year.” Porter suggested. Hell, he wanted to say forever but that would be crazy so he degraded it to a year, instead.

Czarina pouted. “A year?!” She asked in disbelief. “That’s a long time!” She whined.

Porter shrugged and then walked passed her, heading to his office. He didn’t want to talk anymore.

“Fine! A year!”

He stopped when he heard Czarina agree unwillingly to his suggestion. He looked back at her and smiled. “Deal.” He smirked then he walked to the office.

Damn. He didn’t know how one girl was dying on the other side of the room.

--

“Oh my gosh, Janine! Your boyfriend is outside!” Yasmin hollered at Janine as she came back to the office after meeting with a client outside.

Janine immediately stood up from her seat and walked outside.

Johann called her ten minutes ago telling her that he would meet her outside for their lunch but she didn’t expect him to come that fast.

“I have to go.” She told Yasmin. “Johann and I will be grabbing lunch together.”

Yasmin smiled and nodded. Of course, she’s the number shipper of the JanHann couple so she’d be dying with feels right now. “Good luck!” She winked at her friend and Janine just shook her head.

She glanced at Porter’s door before heading out wondering where he’ll grab lunch with Czarina. She knows that Czarina’s an ex and she’s not his either but why does she feel this certain pinching feeling on her chest when she thinks of how he would be spending lunch with another girl.

Is it possible that she’s falling harder?

Wait. Did she just admit that she’s already fallen?

Heh.

But she knows that she doesn’t want Porter to be with Czarina or any other girl. Her mind’s really clouded right now that’s why she couldn’t decide and act well but she knows she wants. She wants L but she couldn’t bear Johann to leave her.

It’s hard because she knows she can’t have them both. Even though Porter said he’s fine with him being the second, she knows that he wanted to be first. Hell, who wouldn’t want to be first?

Somehow, she’s sad because she couldn’t give him that privilege. He couldn’t be first. He couldn’t be her number one.

Not when she’s found the perfect one.

She sighed to herself as she walked to Johann who’s waiting for her while leaning on his Mustang. She could see how some of the girls passing by couldn’t take their eyes off her man and somehow she’s proud of Johann.

How did she manage to get herself a boyfriend as perfect as him again?

“Baby love!” He called as he ran to her and gave her a tight hug. “I missed you.” He beamed as he kissed the top of her head.

Janine smiled at his gesture. “Me too.” She replied as she got buried on his chest.

Just at that instant, she remembered how Czarina was buried into Porter’s chest. Damn. What is she even thinking?

Johann chuckled then slung his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go? I’m freaking famished.” He beamed making Janine chuckle. “Famished?” She raised her brow at his unusual word.

Johann blinked. “What? They use that in the States.” He replied.

Janine chuckled. “You’re an American boy now, then?” She asked.

Johann shook his head. “Don’t be silly, Janine.” He beamed. “I’m your boy.” He finished making Janine pause for a while.

But is she his girl?

--

“I miss Korean food!” Johann beamed as they sat in a classy Korean restaurant.

Janine gave him a look. “I should’ve just cooked for you.” She beamed. If he wanted Korean food, Janine can cook. She can feed him Korean food.

Johann narrowed his eyes on her. “As much as I wanted to eat your delicious cooking, I don’t want to exhaust you, Baby love.” He told her. “I want to treat you as my princess.” He continued.

Janine couldn’t help but smile at Johann’s sweetness. Well, who wouldn’t? Even those elderlies from another table smiled when they overheard what Johann said.

“But…I really like the foods you cooked, so maybe sometimes, I would ask you to cook for me, too.” He beamed and Janine scoffed.

Now, this. This is the thing with Johann. He’s a very jolly and happy person that when she’s with him, she forgets about everything. She forgets about the rest. She’s carefree. She didn’t care if people see them or not because he’s not a secret.

As per Porter, she’s always nervous. She’s always conscious of what’s happening in the background. She couldn’t concentrate on Porter alone. She’s always afraid that someone she knows might see her and might spread rumors about her – about them. Because Porter’s a secret.

But how can two opposite situations give her such similar feelings?

She looked at Johann and smiled. “You know I would always cook for you.” She told him.

“I know that, Baby love. I know.” He replied with his boyish grin. “And it’s one of the million reasons why I love you so much.”

Janine blushed and smiled. Until…

“Porter Kim and Czarina Hwang?” Johann beamed as he saw Porter and Czarina walking towards a table beside them. “You’re still together?” He beamed at the two who were as shocked as him.

Janine noticed Porter’s jaw tighten. “Johann Kim, we meet again…cousin.” He spoke making Janine’s jaw drop. Holy shit, she’s torn between two cousins.