'How could I not have caught on to that client? All this while, I never noticed he had vetted interests in me, and why did I go asking for trouble, offering to escort him out? 

Me defending myself must have sounded like total nonsense to that intern as well. Even so, haven't I heard those words before? Sticks and stones, my ass! I may act confident and controlled, but deep inside, I bear lasting scars that will never heal.

Still, shouldn't I be used to rejection by now? Even if it's supposed to hurt, wouldn't it hurt a little less? Every word he uttered struck me like a cord. I should have responded instead of reacting, but his disgusted look towards me hit my very soul. This is the reason I steered off him and kept admiring him from a distance. I'm aware my feelings can never be reciprocated, and neither can I expect to be accepted for what I am as he sees me. 

I want peace.

Should I apologize for what he saw despite it not being my fault? Am I also at fault for allowing that client to go overboard? Am I supposed to be ashamed? Or perhaps I should care that he is affected by my very existence. This is not the first client that has done this, let alone the last. I thought it was an occupational hazard in this industry for women.

Oh well, this is a significant miss on my part, and once again, life laughs at my need for love and to be loved. Sometimes, I wish to turn everything off and be the so-called wretched this society demands.

Even so, I remain hurt. I had so much to tell him, but he silenced each of my attempts as if he were fighting an enemy.'

"Should I come back later?" A gentle tap on the shoulder startled Ari from her thoughts. "You seem quite distracted today."

"You are right. I am very much lost in thought." Ari replied as she fidgeted in her favorite spot in her living room. "Remind me next time not to fall in love."

"I specifically remember warning you that he is a conservative," Mun replied, squeezing himself next to his friend to lean on her shoulder. "Why'd you have to go looking for trouble?"

"He riled me up, and I lost my temper. Anyway, I had a bad day with my trip getting cancelled, but after some sleep, I feel I'm destined for greatness. He'll have to do better than that to bring me down." Ari replied in false conviction, raising her fist as if to affirm her statement.

Mun laughed, lifting his head from his friend's shoulder. "Glad to see you back to your normal self, Ari."

"By the way, that client that worked us up the last couple of weeks is an aristocrat. He shall receive an award, and I need you to tag along with me for that event."

Mun frowned, grabbing a pillow and placing it at the back of his head for support. "Don't do me like that, Ari. If he is a pervert, as you say, shouldn't you be taking someone more capable in case he goes overboard? Rey seems to be the 'no-nonsense type of all the recruits.' He is more likely to set a severe work environment, and if the client oversteps his boundaries, it's only natural he'd defend the company's reputation, if not you." 

"I think not. After pretending to be apologetic, he told me exactly what he thought of me. As his boss, I'm obligated to correct him when he errs as I did. I even recommended a transfer, but then, he was pretty raw in describing how unpleasant it was to see me being kissed. From his perspective, I was scoring deals with a client using my feminine superpowers, and even if I were being attacked, he would have walked away." 

Looking back up at Mun, Ari spoke with a forced enthusiasm. "Now I understand why he puts up with you, or maybe he's become fond of you. You're a guy just like him after all. A woman is supposed to be virtuous as he said, full of value."

"So he said he is okay with you being without value and virtue as long as you don't say you like him."

"Thats a unique perspective" 

Mun stared at his friend for a while. It was pointless for Ari to play tough when she was hurting. He could remember well how much they'd stalked Rey in college until he had disappeared one day. It was fun watching her face redden with excitement. In truth, Rey wasn't her first crush, but he somehow lingered enough to be her most extended love interest. And when Rey showed up again years later, that excited face was visible once more.

Additionally, Mun had been monitoring both Rey and Ari for some time. Before Rey had transferred departments, he'd often steal glances at Ari without her knowledge during briefings, post briefings, branch dinners. On the other hand, Ari was oblivious to this hawking, for she was more attentive to avoiding Rey at all costs.

Enough was enough. It was time to meddle yet again, even if things went south. "Ari, I have an upcoming project with the Clients Relations Manager. Remember, we've been working on reaching out to companies and SMEs who stopped doing business with us." 

"Oh yes! We've been postponing that for ages. You should involve the Sales and Marketing team, too."

"We'll get to that one step at a time. Now, back to the perverted aristocrat client. I won't accompany you so you must pick someone from the new staff. It's a busy time of the year, and the old staff are vamped with deadlines after another."

"Most of the new employees have us as their first job experience. I can't trust their efficiency and credibility in discreetly and cautiously handling this matter. Remember the mistake they made just carrying out a simple task, such as sending a file for print? I can't make mistakes with this sensitive client, not to mention I don't trust the client not to try something perverted again."

"Then consider this an opportunity to mentor someone familiar with the client's perverted behaviour. Our very own uptight, Rey."

"If that is a joke, it's not funny."

"Don't rule out the idea just yet. Don't you want to earn some points by getting even? This is your chance."

"Tempting, but no. I won't get my issues with him mixed up with work."

"Listen to me first. The guy already thinks you bang clients to sign deals with us. This is a chance to clear your name. Additionally, you can't educate him out of his ignorance. How about showing him how high-class projects are executed and also..."

"No."

"You didn't even hear what I have to say!"

"I don't have to. I know your mind is in the gutter?"

Mun laughed aloud. "That wasn't where I was going, but it is still an idea. What I meant to say was exposing him to our risk community kind of helps get rid of his ignorance in some way. Most people who are prejudiced against the forward clients think they know everything when, in actuality, they know nothing. They create images thinking every client means what they say or is after them. A lot of those remarks are not to be taken seriously and left at mare flattery."

"I am after him, so what's your point?"

"Touché. However, you are not doing this to coax him but to work. I know how you get when you become focused on an assignment; everyone does, and that's why we get referrals. This company would fall without you pioneering its success; therefore, capitalize on that intern's need for money and expose him to your world. He won't quit since, by what you said of your discussion with him, he sounds arrogant and prideful. He's in dire need of mula, too."

"I'm not responsible for his ignorance, uncouth character or his bank account's health status. Yes, I feast on his body every chance I get, but I know it's a losing battle when I see it. He may have executed the project all by himself, but I refuse to be mocked for who I am."

"Then you lose."

"Stop that, Mun. I'm afraid I have to disagree with your guilt-tripping or trickery, whatever you are trying to do. You are practically asking me to be a nanny to a grown man."

"Come on, Ari, you know he is efficient. He is the best person to take with you. He knows the client's background and has seen first-hand his perverted side; he works well too. I've caught you crosschecking his proposal plans several times to see how he settled in, and you acknowledged his work. Besides, he appears to have more project-related skills than other new staff. His cut-outs are clean enough not to require editing; his client scores seem promising, not to mention we received two referrals recommending him despite still being on probation."

"He is a jerk."

"His jerky behaviour might just come in handy if that client goes beyond his limits, and from how you described it, I'm convinced he is likely to test your boundaries once more. Imagine if he were to do that with someone other than me. Your secret would be out. At least he kept quiet about your hitting on him. If he were a blabbermouth, he'd have rattled you out to the office."

"He might."

"Or might not. You are a good judge of character, so I know you know I'm right."

"Damn it!" Ari scoffed. "Why do you always get in my head and twist things?"

"Bingo!" Mun threw his hands in the air excitedly. "We are doing this!"

"You are peculiar, you know that? Why are you always excited about my life, meddling every chance you get?"

"Honestly, your life sucks, and we can't have that now, can we?"