Chapter 32

Days gone by and Porter and Janine had been closer than ever. And of course, Porter got closer to Janine’s family, an advantage that he holds now against Johann who was always away. Damn. Johann Kim was always away. He is always busy running down some business.

But now, it was back to basic, back to normal because holidays are over and it just means one thing: back to work.

“Jonas, follow me to the office now.” Porter ordered at the flustered employee. It was always that way. Porter would call one and that certain person would get flustered upon knowing that Porter’s attention is on him or her. It doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or a girl, if Porter calls you, you would get nervous.

Janine watched Porter as he walked to his office followed by Jonas who’s looking nervous more than ever. Since she spent the holidays with him, she got the chance to know him better and yes, she wasn’t disappointed. In fact, she actually saw something in him.

Something she couldn’t see when she’s with Johann.

“Are you okay?” Yasmin asked her.

Janine smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.” She replied as her eyes are still on Porter’s office door. She didn’t know why she couldn’t keep her eyes off Porter right now. Perhaps, was she…smitten?

“Are you sure?” Yasmin asked again as she stared at how ridiculous her friend looked.

Janine nodded and bit her lip. Damn. Just what is happening to her to be able to be this attached to Porter? What has she been doing all this time?

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Johann.

She stared at her phone for more seconds, contemplating on whether he would accept the call or not. She’s still guilty about how she spent the holidays with another man instead of her boyfriend but she’s not feeling any regrets. She enjoyed Christmas with Porter. It was more than she could ask for.

“Aren’t you going to accept that call?”

Janine was shaken back to her senses when Yasmin poked her asking her about the phone call. She looked at Yasmin and her friend gave her a look.

Yasmin senses something wrong but she didn’t want to say a thing about it because she could be wrong. Maybe she’s seeing wrong things.

Janine sighed and accepted the phone call before walking out of the office.

“Baby love, what are you doing tonight?” Johann sounded really enthusiastic over the line.

Janine almost flinched at the way Johann called her. It seemed like it was ages since he called her Baby love and it’s messing with her mind because of everything she did with L over the holidays.

“Nope.” She replied curtly.

“That’s good!” Johann was ecstatic from the other line. “Then I’d pick you up after office hours.” He beamed.

Janine narrowed her eyes at the painting that she’s facing upon hearing Johann’s words. “Are we going somewhere?” She asked.

She heard Johann chuckle from the other line. “There’s this family gathering in one of our hotels tonight and Mom told me to bring you with me.” He explained.

“Family dinner?”

“Yes. I’ll be picking you up early so we could prepare.” He replied.

Janine cleared her throat. “Are all of your family members going to be there?” She asked.

Johann chuckled from the other line. “Yes. It is a family gathering. All of the clans are coming.” He replied. “Are you nervous? Don’t worry. I’ll be there with you, Baby love.”

Janine gulped upon hearing what Johann had said. All of the family members are going to be there. Meaning, all of his cousins are going to be there. Meaning, Porter Kim will also be there.

Why is the world too cruel to her? Is this consequences of all the sins she had committed?

Why?!

“Hello, Janine? Are you still there?” Johann asked as Janine shut her eyes forcefully.

“Yes. I’m here.” She replied.

“I’ll see you after your work, then? Wait for me, alright?” He asked.

Janine smiled weakly. “Yes. I’ll see you later.” She replied.

“Bye, Baby love. I love you.” And he did some kisses sounds from the other line before hanging up.

Janine stopped upon hearing his last three words. He told her he loves her. It’s not like it’s the first time but why is she this flustered? Why can’t she respond to him just like she did before?

She sighed to herself as she walked back to their office. She was about to enter the room when she saw Porter walking out of the door.

Porter looked at her with narrowed eyes. Even from afar, he could see that something is bothering her. He walked up when he noticed that Janine stopped moving from her place.

“Is there something bothering you?” He asked her in a voice full of concern.

Janine looked down and shook her head. She didn’t want anyone to see them this close because she’s sure that whoever sees them like this would know that something is up between them. She didn’t want Porter’s name to be tainted by her.

“You don’t look like you’re fine, though. Are you sick?” He asked again. He’s trying so hard to make her look into his eyes but he couldn’t. Maybe something happened with her and Johann.

Janine smiled weakly while still looking down. “I’m okay.” She replied curtly.

Porter narrowed his eyes on her once again. “You know that I don’t believe you, right?” He told her again.

This time, Janine looked at him. “You don’t believe me?” She asked in a rhetorical question. “What does that mean?” She asked again.

Porter took a deep breath and held her shoulders to calm her down. “What I meant was,” he took another breath. “I don’t believe you telling you’re alright when you can’t even look me in the eyes.” He explained.

Janine stopped and looked at his eyes. The mere reason why she didn’t like to look at him in the eyes is that once she did, it’s hard for her to look away. She’d get lost at the mere contact that it’s too hard to break it.

“Don’t think that I don’t believe you, Janine Kwon. Stop insulting me.” He said as he walked ahead with a smile on his face.

Janine followed him with her looks as his words lingered in her mind. Don’t insult him? What does that even mean?

--

“Janine, a handsome guy is waiting for you outside the door.”

Porter heard Yasmin speak to Janine as he took the papers he needed for the convention in Thailand next month from Jonas.

He couldn’t stop himself from looking at Janine to see her expression. And who would be that handsome man waiting for her outside their office door? Aside from him, who else is handsome anyways?

Johann? Hell no. Since when did Johann become handsome? Meh.

He looked at her and saw her shocked and out-of-her-mind expression. She looked like she’s about to faint with how pale she was upon hearing her friend’s words.

“Is he your boyfriend?” Yasmin asked in her excited tone of voice.

Right at that instant, Porter’s mood turned from bad to worse. Just upon hearing the word ‘boyfriend’ brings him to the pits of hell. He never wanted to see his girl with someone else but how could he not when that someone else is the recognized and acknowledged man of his girl and not him?

What a crappy situation!

“Hey, Jonas.” He spoke as he watched Janine walk swiftly to the door. It pains him to see her walking away from him, approaching his rival.

“Yes, Mr. Kim?” Jonas asked back.

Porter sighed and faced Jonas. “So, you have this girl that you really liked. No. You love her so much but you can’t be with her because she’s with someone else, what would you do?” He asked.

Jonas blinked at him, wondering why he’s asking these things to him. “Are you in love with someone, Mr. Kim?” He asked and L glared at him.

“Just answer me, you punk!” He beamed making Jonas shiver in fear. Everyone looked at them and everyone in the office is wondering why the ever cool supervisor yelled at Jonas.

“It depends on the girl.” He replied nervously.

Porter looked at him. “What do you mean?” He asked.

Jonas shrugged. “I’m not some martyr who’s willing to fight for someone who wouldn’t want to be with me.” He explained. “And perhaps, if she wants to be with me, she would break up with that someone else. Why would she date someone else if she’s in love with me, anyways?”

Porter looked at him and realized that he made a point. “But what if she’s confused of what she feels at the moment?” He asked again.

Jonas gave him another weird look. Now, he’s really getting suspicious. What was his boss hiding from everyone? But then he’s too scared to not respond to his questions. “Then it’s not worth fighting for.” He replied.

Porter narrowed his eyes on him.

Jonas shrugged. “Why would I risk my heart for someone who’s uncertain about her feelings for me?” He asked. “It’s as risky as paragliding with a broken wing.” He replied and Porter was thrown into deep thoughts. Jonas made sense. He made sense.