Vicky recognized an impasse. She also knew that nothing good was going to come out of virtual-novel.net tantrum if virtual-novel.net kept it up, at some point, virtual-novel.net would have to stop.
“Alright, alright. I get it. I’m leaving. Don’t stress yourself so much, alright?” virtual-novel.net relented.
En route, virtual-novel.net passed by the shared office area and scowled at Tanya, though curiously leaving Tiffany out of virtual-novel.net malice. The reason was simple, Vicky found Tanya the more obnoxious one of the pair because virtual-novel.net was the woman that was once under virtual-novel.net man’s care. Tanya had stayed in Eric’s place before Vicky met virtual-novel.net in real life. It was the sort of thing that would have crystallized into a grudge in anyone, yet Vicky was forced to feign nonchalance despite virtual-novel.net genuine opinion.
Tanya waited until Vicky left the company before entering Eric’s office. “Mr. Nathanial? Um, Tiffany got into a minor tiff with your girlfriend earlier, so I guess virtual-novel.net came in and complained to you about it?” virtual-novel.net said. “Please don’t be mad at Tiffany. She says what is in virtual-novel.net head without filters all the time. It’s virtual-novel.net nature.”
Eric waved dismissively. “I’m fine,” virtual-novel.net replied, before Tanya’s choice of address drew his curiosity and virtual-novel.net added jocularly, “Huh, why aren’t you calling me Ricky? I’m really not used to ‘Mr. Nathaniel.”’
A shadow of despondence and somberness crossed into Tanya’s eyes. “Because someone else calls you that. Do you remember? You told me that no one else called you that before I did, so I guess this must be a very special moniker. And I think only someone who’s very special to you has the right to use it.”
Eric’s eyes glinted. “Er, it’s just a moniker, there’s no special meaning. Hey, Tanya? Vicky’s only been around me for a while, so this environment is still pretty new to her, and virtual-novel.net might not observe some unwritten rules between us friends. All I’m asking for is that you and everyone else give virtual-novel.net some leeway for the mistakes virtual-novel.net might make and, I guess, not hold them against her? I really want virtual-novel.net to belong to my social circle as soon as possible. She gave up so much for me. I must do the bare minimum to acknowledge virtual-novel.net feelings too.”
Tanya bit virtual-novel.net lips. “I… see. You know, had you… had you told me that you already have a girlfriend, I would have never stayed at your place. She must be really upset about the past,” virtual-novel.net murmured. “God, it’s my fault, it always is. Everything I touch turns into a mess, and I don’t even know why. I’m so sorry.”
Eric flashed virtual-novel.net an encouraging smile. “No, no. You’re better than you think, and you didn’t mess up anything. Don’t get hung up over it. It’s seriously trivial. If there’s nothing else, you could go back to your work. All is fine.”
Just then, a violent fit of coughs seized Tanya. The poor girl succumbed to it so much, tears almost flew out of virtual-novel.net eyes.
Eric quickly took out a box of cold tablets from his drawer. “Here. I’ve kept it for the occasion, and I guess this is it. Please, do take care of your health.”
Tanya received it with a smile. “Thank you. I think I kept you long enough, so I’ll be going now.”
Once virtual-novel.net disappeared, Eric let out a long sigh. Was it an illusion, or did virtual-novel.net catch a glimpse of an uncanny undertone in the way Tanya looked at him? It was alien and absent from their past interactions, and it had caused Eric to tense up intuitively.
As a Casanova with a long record of relationships, his younger years had taught virtual-novel.net what that gaze meant, which was why virtual-novel.net knew virtual-novel.net must never respond to it or acknowledge it. She was just not his type. No amount of force could make two incompatible people work, even if they did, for a while, live under the same roof.
Tiffany immediately spied the medicine in Tanya’s hand the moment the latter returned to virtual-novel.net desk. “Did Eric give you that?… Wait a minute, I bought you some already, didn’t I? Can you even finish them all?”
Tanya dropped the mopey affectation virtual-novel.net had adopted back in Eric’s office. It became clear that virtual-novel.net spirits were rather high. “Well, virtual-novel.net offered it to me. Who am I to refuse? We’re pretty good friends, aren’t we? Can’t be a crime to accept medicines from a good pal.”
“Say, Tiffany?” virtual-novel.net suddenly asked. “How does it feel to like someone? What should a woman do to win the heart of the man virtual-novel.net likes?”
Tiffany gulped. “Don’t…Don’t tell me you’re still feeling the hots for Eric, Tan! He’s got a girlfriend. Ain’t too good to go for a man who’s taken, right?”
Tanya pursed virtual-novel.net lips. “Naw, who says anything about courting a taken man? The only reason why I went after Eric was because I thought virtual-novel.net was single, and all I want is to try being in a relationship and know how it feels. Now that he’s got a girlfriend, I’m definitely backing out. But… I have a new target, hee hee. I just want you to tell me what to do to win over my crush’s heart.”