Hi! I forgot to introduce myself.

I'm Lourdes Buenavista.

I'm tall, beautiful (hello, confidence!), perky and a little cheerful if you get to know me.

But if you are just a random stranger, don't expect me to even bat an eyelash at you.

So, here I am inside our office pantry.

I work as a proofreader in a magazine company called 'The Elite'.

I have been called as 'cafephile' by my office mates.

According to them, they barely saw me without a coffee mug on my hand either during meetings or simply just sitting on my desk and doing my job.

I just laughed at them.

Somehow, it's true.

Day won't pass without me having three to four cups of coffee a day.

For me, coffee is healthy and many research studies have proven that.

That's why, I don't understand why this certain person always frowns at me and always gave me a head-to-toe stare whenever he passes by me.

And oh, speaking of the devil in blue.

"Morning." Leonard Leopold mumbled when we caught each other's eyes.

I wasn't able to look away because he was quick enough to utter a greeting.

Plus, there were people inside the pantry.

That guy will barely mutter a word at me!

Everything was just a display!

I have to be and act civil, though.

I don't know what's with him.

We just always get at each other's throats.

He would always argue at me during meetings even if what I am suggesting is sensible enough.

I would also do the same with him.

Not because, I wanted to get back.

But because, I always find some thoughts that would much benefit our company more.

It just so happens that the majority approves of my ideas more than him.

And, I guess he took it the wrong way.

I would normally just shrug and give them a shy smile.

It may be a feigned innocent smile in his perspective but it was of modesty as far as I'm concerned.

"Wow! Was there an angel over us? These two kids talked!" Eleanor Valdez, our photo Editor, remarked that earned a laugh from our Senior Editor, Luisa Custodio and Rembrandt Torio, our Graphic Designer.

"Well, as the old saying says, that's where our parents started!" Rem added and they giggled.

All I could do was roll my eyes.

These people know me well enough.

I have been working with them for the past three years.

Leonard just started a year after me.

So, basically, we treat each other more like family than colleagues.

"Quit it guys." I said and placed my coffee mug on top of the table.

"Hey people! We're having a meeting after fifteen minutes!" Our chief editor, Serena Yllana, clapped to get our attention.

"Yes, ma'am!" We nodded and all of them stood up to proceed to their tables.

I was the last one to stand because I emptied my mug and washed it before I return to my seat.

"Quit it guys, geez! What a remark!" Leonard scoffed loudly.

I almost jumped in surprise.

"You scared the hell out of me! I thought you already went out!" I complained and slapped his shoulder.

"Hey! That hurts! Stop it!" Leonard hissed and I stopped.

I gave him one last glare before I went out to my desk.

---

Our meeting started and all we can hear was Serena discussing next two month's issue.

Apparently, it just so happened that next, next month is our magazine's 25th anniversary.

We have to have a theme since it is our Silver Anniversary.

And oh, before I forget, Leonard is our web designer.

So, being a proofreader and a copy editor, I also have to work with him.

I also failed to inform you.

I also am their copy editor.

I have to check if there will be typographical and grammatical errors.

Besides from being the office's lady cafephile, I am also their 'grammar nazi'.

Yeah. You read it right!

It's an instinct that makes me overbearing and a little conceited to them.

My instincts always correct them if ever I heard them say or write something that sounds off or out of line to them.

They also consider me as their walking dictionary.

I, myself, doesn't know about it.

Its just that English has been my first love even before my exes arrived.

I always loved reading ever since I was in grade three.

I have a collection of Francine Pascal's books, Sweet Valley Kids to Sweet Valley University, so I can say I have a wide array of English terms and vocabulary.

I also make it a habit to read at least one page of the Merriam Webster's Dictionary since then.

Added the fact that I have my memory and vocabulary games on my cellphone so I am familiar with words and their meanings.

"What should we feature in our anniversary? Any suggestions?" Serena asked us and the already quiet atmosphere earlier became quieter.

Even I who used to be very vibrant before fell silent when she asked that question.

"How about setting the trend this year? Let's align it with this year's Chinese New Year?" Rem suggested.

"That could be one. Work on it." Serena nodded in approval and glanced at the rest of us. "Anything else?"

"What if we also add our Valentine's issue along with it?" Eleanor butt in and looked at her.

Serena thought for a while and nodded after a moment.

"What will be the theme for Valentines?" Serena asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"What if two arch-enemies who fell in- love?" Luisa commented and the weird people just did the weirdest thing.

Their eyes rested on me and Leonard.

I saw Serena's smile widened.

"Perfect suggestion, Lui!" Serena applauded. "You take care of those two, alright? Let's add some more the day after but for the meantime, work on those topics I approved earlier, ayt? Meeting adjourned! Good job everyone!"

The team exchanged knowing smiles and glances at us.

What the hell was going on?!