Your Officemate's

55. Let's Just Stop It

Knowing my wife gave up and chose to let me go was more painful than anything. That night I went to Johan. Other than needing a place to exchange ideas, I suspected something.

Don't ask me how embarrassed I am to Johan when I tell him everything I did with Clara. I don't care anymore if he's gonna beat me up or kill me. I deserve that.

A man without firmness, not a man, scorned me for myself. Apparently, he was really my best friend and brother. No insults, scorn let alone a blow from him. He allowed me to continue with his sister, on the condition that this was the first and last time I would betray him. And more importantly, as long as Erika will forgive me, Johan will obey.

Then, he clearly explained how he had been investigating me and Clara. He suspects Clara and me.

Last night I was with Johan talking about many things and possibilities that will happen in my relationship and Erika later.

•

•

Not wanting to drag on, I immediately contacted the IT Staff office the next morning to ask a few things related to mobile phones. I'm a little clumsy when dealing with gadgets, usually Erikah who knows better.

Holy hooch! The answer is so easy, it turns out Clara replaced the email on my phone with her email. So whatever activity I do with my phone will go directly to his phone. Including the timeline of the places I was visiting. Everything will automatically be recorded in his footsteps on Clara's phone. I was wondering why he always knew where I was going. I am the dumbest creature in the world.

Not wanting to drag on, I decided to finish this with Clara. Whatever he does, I will accept the consequences. Even if Erika should know.

Isn't everything the same for Erika? These last days, I've managed to make him uncomfortable and have too many thoughts so that his stomach acid rises. Erika suspected me, she was not calm and I was always anxious for fear of being discovered.

I'm gonna find a way to talk to her nice. Although no matter how I tell, his heart will still be hurt.

But Erika is my mother, my friend, my wife, my best partner, my best friend and my only family besides my children of course. I need to stop torturing her. At least by daring to admit my mistake, I still have a little self-respect to meet him.

I also begged Johan to always be with Erika and be on her side when she was sick and wouldn't look at me.

"My sister always closes the housework. Even though I repeatedly lured him, he never wanted to tell a story" Johan said.

"Don't force her, accompany her and cheer her on. After feeling comfortable and safe, he will usually tell a story. Don't even say you're going to do this to me, because he won't talk. She didn't want to see her brother behave badly, especially for her sake." I explained to Johan how Erikaku has been all this time.

•

•

Greeting, on the grounds of bringing a file from Mr. Lim, Jennifer drove Clara into my room. But I promised myself to make sure today was the last time Clara ever set foot in the office and met me.

As I was sitting on the couch checking some emails, Clara came in with an "inviting" appearance". I took a breath, trying not to look at him.

"What's wrong?" my many.

"Iiisssh...." Clara sulks.

I massaged my temple, and only nodded as Jennifer said goodbye. The alarm sounds again when the door is closed. I made up my mind not to be tempted even if Clara undressed in front of me.

Shortly after Jennifer came out, Clara quickly sat on my lap, her hands swaying spoiled around my neck.

"Don't!" I said while trying to let go of his hand.

Clara pinched her lips, her other hand started to mischievously touch my chest, her face was closing in on me. My heart was beating fast, the sensual scent was returning to my sense of smell.

My body and heart are stirred. I closed my eyes and clenched my hands tightly - tightly to strengthen my heart. It turns out I was misstep. He kissed me instead, and I reflexed him and then I stood up.

"Sir Hansss!!! What are you doing?" his screech was irritated while stomping his feet to the floor.

I didn't respond to anything, tidied up my slightly scuffed shirt and went back to my desk.

"Sit down! I want to talk." My orders are firm with an indisputable tone.

Look better, at least there's a safe distance between me and him. Now I can speak safely. With an annoyed face, he threw his body into the chair in front of me. We were facing the desk between us.

"I'm having trouble seeing you." Clara protested.

"I'm sorry, I was trying to avoid you." I'm telling the truth.

Clara looked dumbfounded, it seemed that she did not expect that I would say such a thing to her. But being straightforward is the best thing to face a guy like Clara. He'll never understand that you're just avoiding.

"To the point. Don't give me a crack. And then, the end." I encourage myself.

I paused for a moment and thought about where my explanation would start.

"Look, my wife already knows about us." I purposely mentioned the word wife to indicate the status difference between Erika and Clara.

Erika is my rightful wife, and she, I don't know what she's in my heart.

"Couldn't you? Did you tell him?" Clara's voice sounded riled up.

"No. No one told him. He knows himself, and I don't want to hurt him anymore."

"Cih. Must have checked my phone" Clara accused Erika. His hands were crossed, and he rolled his eyeballs.

"He knew from the change in my attitude towards him all this time, from me who rarely called him, to me who always disappeared even though we were under the same roof. I'm in the study, and he's in the room. We've never been that way before."

"Then he got mad at you? Why does he like to curb and ban you?"

"No. Not at all. Erika was not angry or said anything. But I know that he already knows about us. And now, he's waiting for evidence to be thrown in my face."

Clara did not answer but it was clear that anger was on her face.

"I hate him. He was lucky to know you first. If I had met you first, you would have married me. Not with him" Clara said with a fire.

"That's impossible." I said.

"What is impossible?"

"Although I met you first, I can't marry you."

"Why? What's the advantage over me?" ask Clara confidently.

"Now answer all my questions. Have you ever thought, just once, of dating a poor, skinny, ugly and un-stylish young man? Can you live in a boarding house with your husband? Do you abandon all your grooming and shopping habits to learn to cook for your husband and children?"

See you in the next episode...