“A HABIT is an act or behavior that a person consciously or subconsciously repeats. Many of us possess certain habits, often serving as unique signatures that define us.”

 ***

Senthie’s gaze swept her surroundings, triggering memories of her last dinner with Kenzo at Belle’s, where she now had a meeting. A week had passed since she ended their relationship, opting to remain friends. They hadn’t met since, and she hoped he was coping well. Her pain had eased within a day, but the lingering guilt and concern for him weighed on her conscience.

Checking her watch, it was seven-thirty in the evening. Liam from GMC had called her yesterday to arrange a meeting for the interview regarding the tenancy of her store, and he had chosen Belle’s as the venue.

Senthie shifted her gaze to the breathtaking view beyond the glass walls, always mesmerizing. Fixing her eyes on the moon felt like being drawn into a trance, her soul entwined with its ethereal glow, leaving her earthly self behind. It whispered reassurance, telling her not to worry, that everything would be fine.

 Her reverie was interrupted by a man’s voice. “Excuse me? Ms. Salvador?”

 When her gaze landed on him, she was momentarily transfixed, not even blinking.

The man standing before her seemed as if he had walked straight out of a virtual boyfriend app, as if he were the very embodiment of her ideal type - the kind she’d custom-create in such an app, only to find him introducing himself as her real-life boyfriend the next day.

The first things to catch her attention were his bold, well-defined eyebrows and his piercing gray eyes that seemed to exude a magnetic allure. Just like the moon’s enchantment over her, those eyes held her captive.

His complexion boasted a warm ivory tone, his nose was elegantly pointed, and his lips were perfectly proportioned in a subtle shade of red. His hair, neatly parted to the side and gently pulled back, featured a few stray strands of bangs that casually graced his forehead. He was undeniably and almost overwhelmingly handsome.

The man’s voice broke her reverie once more, and he waved his hand in front of her face. “You’re early, Ms. Salvador.”

Senthie swiftly stood and introduced herself, but as she did, something tumbled to the floor. Glancing down, she saw her bag lying there, almost as if it were silently chastising her for letting it fall. She had completely forgotten it was resting on her lap just moments ago. In a fluster, she retrieved her bag, apologizing to it as she dusted off any dirt or dust, just in case. She was acutely aware of the man’s amused chuckle, a sound that sent her heart racing. His laughter was light and quick, enough to bring a blush to her cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh, but I couldn’t help it when you apologized to your bag,” the man said as Senthie turned her attention back to him.

His voice held a certain charm like Justin Timberlake’s, and from his dark blonde hair down to his impeccably polished black leather shoes, everything about him exuded elegance.

“It’s just a habit of mine,” she replied with a hint of embarrassment.

“I see.” The man nodded, motioning for her to take a seat. He smoothly pulled his chair to position himself across from her and placed his black leather portfolio bag on the table.

Even his bag is gorgeous. “Mr. Liam, right?” Senthie inquired as she set her bag on her lap.

The man’s response was to retrieve a card from the pocket of his sharp black suit and offer it to her. Senthie reached out to take it and realized it was a calling card.

“Liam is my secretary, and I am his boss. I’m Jimhuesh Anderson.”

Senthie’s eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw his position within GMC. She turned her gaze toward him, blinked a few times, then fixed her attention back on the calling card in disbelief. She found it difficult to believe that the young man sitting across from her was the Vice President of GMC. She wondered why the vice president of one of the country’s top companies was personally conducting an interview like this.

This is unusual. Senthie questioned whether this might be some sort of scam, or if she was simply overthinking it.

“Excuse me, Ms. Salvador. I’m not a painting meant to be stared at. I’m here to interview you,” he calmly reminded her.

She hadn’t even realized she’d been gawking at him. “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just a habit,” she replied awkwardly. Why did he come instead of his secretary? And why is he conducting an evening interview in a hotel? This is weird.

“I guess you have all the habits that no one would expect,” he remarked with a smile.

“Yeah, I think so too,” Senthie replied. She knew that her habits were unconventional. People often told her she was weird, and surprisingly, she took it as a compliment. She embraced her uniqueness and all the quirks that came with it. To her, it was a testament to her individuality. Senthie cleared her throat. “Would you mind if I ask you something?”

Jimhuesh leaned back in his chair, adjusting his tie. “I don’t mind. Go ahead and ask.”

“Do you typically conduct interviews here?” She nervously clasped her hands together.

Jimhuesh responded with crossed arms, his expression unreadable. “You don’t like it? Fine, we can end this interview now for good. Would that be okay with you?”

“No! I’m sorry for asking,” she exclaimed, immediately regretting her question. She couldn’t fathom his sudden change in demeanor. After all, he told her that he wouldn’t mind.

He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I was just joking.” Leaning on the table, Jimhuesh rested his chin on his knuckles, and maintained an unwavering gaze on her. “In fact, there won’t be an interview because you’ve already passed.”

Senthie suppressed an eye-roll and mustered an appreciative smile. “Really? Thank you very much, Mr. Anderson.”

In truth, she was burning with curiosity about what had just transpired. Why was there no interview now, and how had she managed to pass without even going through it?

“You’re welcome, Ms. Salvador,” he replied, unzipping his bag. “Please, take a moment to review this contract and sign it. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.” With that, he handed the contract and a pen to her.

As Senthie delved into the contract, an uneasy feeling washed over her. She sensed his intense gaze fixed upon her and cautiously glanced up, meeting his captivating gray eyes. He responded with a half-smile, an expression that heightened her discomfort. She relished the attention but wished he would cease. It wasn’t just a stare; it felt like he was studying her.

Senthie refocused on the contract, determined to concentrate on its contents. Yet, Jimhuesh’s persistent scrutiny lingered as she continued reading. Well, hello? I’m not a painting meant to be stared at. Though the thought crossed her mind, she knew better than to vocalize it. She had no intention of risking his displeasure.

The contract, just four pages long, made for a quick read. She was on the verge of signing it when Jimhuesh surprised her with a question: “Do you happen to know Rychie Aquino?”

She managed to muster a surprised expression, having been engrossed in the contract. How did he know Rychie, and why is he bringing him up?

Straightening up, she put on a poker face and eyed him closely. “May I ask why you’re inquiring about him?”

Jimhuesh narrowed his eyes and flashed a knowing smile. “Oh, it’s not important. Forget I asked. Have you finished reviewing the contract?”

That unsettling smile lingered, leaving Senthie feeling uneasy. She maintained her composure and proceeded to sign the contract. After completing it, she handed it to Jimhuesh, who signed as the witness. Notably, the lessor mentioned in the contract was the CEO, Jennifer Anderson, whom Senthie suspected might be his mother.

After sealing the contract with his signature, he stashed it in his bag and secured it with a zipper. The pen found a place in his front pocket as he rose from his seat.

“Congratulations, Ms. Salvador. You’ll only have to wait a month before opening your store,” he announced, extending his hand for a handshake.

Senthie stood up and accepted his hand. It was large and warm, and instead of butterflies in her stomach, she felt an oddly comforting sense of safety. “Thank you very much, Mr. Anderson.”

 ~

Senthie unbuckled her seatbelt as the car halted in front of her house. “Thanks for the ride, sir,” she said. The Philippines’ number coding scheme had forced her to rely on Jimhuesh’s generosity instead of taking public transport.

Jimhuesh glanced behind her and asked, “Is that your boyfriend?”

Her heart raced at the thought of Kenzo. She turned to look and was bewildered to see a man with a backpack more suited for a hike than an evening visit. What caught her eyes even more was the fact that he had a cat with him.

She frowned and refocused on Jimhuesh. “He’s just an annoying guy I know.”

“I see. Goodnight, Ms. Salvador,” he said, signaling for her to leave the car. Senthie closed the door of the sleek black Ferrari, once again expressing her gratitude.

She watched the Ferrari disappear, then turned to see the man waving at her in a somewhat dorky fashion. Senthie couldn’t help but notice his once black hair was now blonde, and it had grown long enough for a ponytail.

“What are you doing here, Walter?” she asked, rolling her eyes while crossing her arms, bag in hand. Without waiting for his response, she walked past him, Walter facing her side profile. Senthie didn’t turn her head, but she caught a glimpse of the cat he held in his arms, which was meowing at her. She remarked, “And you also have a cat with you.”

Walter chuckled, gently petting his cat as he introduced, “Her name is Nana. Isn’t she adorable?”

Senthie suddenly felt her irritation surge. “What? Are you kidding me?” she grumbled, turning her full attention to him. “Sure, the cat’s cute, but Nana?”

“Why? I missed Nana already,” he replied, gently lifting the cat up and down as he spoke.

She rolled her eyes and delved into her bag, searching for the key to the double door. Once she found it, she inserted it into the keyhole and unlocked it. She pushed the right door open, just wide enough for her to slip through. As she stepped inside, an evil laugh echoed in her head. She decided to push the door shut abruptly, but suddenly, it met resistance from Walter’s foot.

“Don’t even think about it. You know I’m stronger than you,” he declared, peeking his head through the door.

She couldn’t deny the presence of those bulging muscles, especially with him wearing a fitted T-shirt that accentuated his biceps even more.

“Fine!” she huffed, turning her back on him while rolling her eyes. Whenever Walter was around, her eyes seemed to engage in a never-ending roller coaster ride.

Senthie sighed and flipped on the living room light. She then heard the door lock behind her.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?” Walter teased.

She sat on the sofa and retorted, “Why would I?”

“Oh, come on! We haven’t seen each other in ages. I’m sure you missed me!” he taunted, placing his bag on the floor beside the sofa chair, while the cat remained well-behaved in his arms.

She stared at him and rolled her eyes. “Not even in your dreams.”

“Oh, by the way, I dyed my hair. Does it suit me?” he asked, running his hand through his hair while the cat rested on his lap, playfully rubbing its head with its paw. Senthie found the cat’s antics cute, but her annoyance towards its owner prevailed.

“No,” she responded firmly, crouching down and resting her elbows on her knees. She massaged her temples in a circular motion. Gosh, he’s giving me a headache.

When he set the cat down, allowing it to explore the house, Senthie sensed that he was getting serious. He said, “Let me ask you another question, then.”

She grabbed her bag and rose to her feet. “No more questions, please.”

Ignoring her words, Walter pressed on, “Why were you in the VP’s car?”