"Mr. Jones, I have a favor to ask you," That's the first thing Melissa said when she entered my office. Her hands were tucked behind her back and the confident smile she wore when striding in my office was faltering. Her cheeks were flushed like always.

I raised a brow in question, pausing what I was doing and giving her my undivided attention. That favor she's about to ask me seemed important to her by the way she was acting nervous. She slowly but surely sat down on the chair that Chance sat on a few hours ago. She was looking down and fiddling with her fingers, and don't forget quiet.

Sighing, I closed my laptop and pushed it to the side. Folding my arms over my chest, I asked, "What is it, Melissa?"

She raised her head in hesitation and opened her mouth. "Mr. Jones, there's this function I'm supposed to attend tonight."

I furrowed my brows in confusion and replied, "Okay? And?"

She exhaled the air she's been holding in, like mustering up the courage to tell me. "I'm supposed to bring a date."

Silence overflowed in the room and swallowed any sound or movement outside. Okay. There's something I didn't get about her favor. How did that concern me? I was confused beyond understanding. She must've saw my confusion because she stopped beating about the bush and hit the nail on the head.

"I need a date. I thought that I'd have one before the function, but my luck long ran out. So would you please be my date? Please, Mr. Jones," she pleaded, her lips in a small pout. How could I say no to that face? That would be like telling a little kid that the tooth fairy didn't exist. I didn’t want to give her hope that something between us might happen if this was a ploy to charm me.

I remained quiet, not knowing how to react. I couldn't say no to her. I just couldn't for the love of me. But there's this friendly date that Chance wanted us to go to. He wanted us to strengthen our supposedly blooming friendship. I agreed a few hours ago. How would he feel if I just backed out now?

Then here's Melissa, the girl I've known for a year. The one who's been organizing my files and answering my calls. The one who's been bringing me coffee and lunch for the whole year. I've known her for a year. She never once disrespected me or left my side, or even talked about me behind my back.

Then Chance. He offered to be my friend. I've never had a friend. But then, he did horrible things to me for a good cause, but in his favor. Would I choose someone who is sort of a stranger than someone who is kind of family? Would I choose a stranger over family?

No. No. I wouldn't do that.

She was waiting for my reply with batted breath. I bit my lip in indecision and looked anywhere but at her.

"What's this function about?" I asked her.

Her eyes were lit in hope. The corners of her mouth twitched, a smile threatening to escape. I didn't even say I was going yet, and she was excited. I guess she knew that I would not say no to her.

Melissa and I spent the whole half an hour discussing about the function, what I'm supposed to wear and the time I'm supposed to be ready. When she was telling me all this, guilt was gnawing at my being. But if I had abandoned Melissa, that would've been selfish of me to do.

The moment she left my office, I groaned in agony. How was I going to tell Chance that he should postpone? A text would do, right?

I don't have his cellphone number. Damn! This required me to make the trip to his office, but I had to make an appointment first if I wanted to see him. His PA was a force to be reckoned with. I remember the first time I was going to give him the files. He went all crazy on me like I ate puppies for a living. I told him that Mr. Hughs had sent me to deliver those files.

You know what he did?

He gave me the stink eye. That look where you felt insignificant and embarrassed for a crime you didn't commit.

He sounded irritated when he talked to me. I didn't know what I even did to the poor guy, but apparently, I did something. The second and many times I've went to deliver those files, he kept on giving me the contemptuous looks.

I did notify Chance of the “behavior of his PA. When I told him, he just said that his PA was a misanthrope, which basically meant that his PA disliked people. I told him that I'm a little misanthrope too, but I didn't go around sneering at people or making my dislike noticeable.

I didn't think that he was what Chance thought. I thought that that was his demeanor.

The thought of facing the PA was a pain on my part. Deciding to stop being lazy, I stood up and picked up my phone from the table. Turns out, I didn't even need to step away from my table because a knock was made on the door. Before I could reply, it slowly opened.

I thought it was Chance, but to my surprise, it was Jersey Mey, the lady who needed me to edit her work.

"Oh! Were you on your way out?" she asked me, her heels clicking loudly on the tiled floor.

I smiled a bit and shook my head no. Settling back down on my seat, I opened back my laptop and sent her the edited work.

"Thanks, Mr. Jones. I really appreciate it," she said, a genuine smile adorning her lips. I returned the smile and told her it was no bother.

She left my office, but before closing the door on her way out, she turned back and said, "Mr. Jones, would you maybe like to catch a few drinks tonight?"

Oh God!

"I would love to, Jersey," I said, regretting what I was about to say next. The smile that broke out was making me feel guilty. "But I have plans tonight. Sorry."

"Oh... okay. Thanks by the way," she quickly said, hastily closing the door, but I caught the disappointed look in her eyes.

What's up with me today? Before I could wallow in my thoughts, the door opened. It was Chance.

My heart stopped for a bit because I didn't expect him to show up. I didn't want him to show up because I didn't know how to break the news to him.

He had two brown paper bags that seemed to contain food in them. I checked the time on my wristwatch to see that it was lunch time. Where was Melissa with my lunch?

"Hey. Thought I'd bring you lunch. I told your PA to never mind getting you any 'cause I was going to," he said, placing the two bags on my table.

Guilt was all I could feel. Am I a bad person? He sat down and looked at me with an easy smile. I tried to return one, but it was not possible.

"Are you okay, Jason? You look a bit sick," he commented, his hands already on my forehead to feel my temperature.

I shied away and nodded my head. "I'm fine. Just a bit tired, that's all,"

Sadness flashed across his eyes when I shied away, but I just shrugged it off. Maybe I should tell him before we eat. What if he didn't want to be my friend anymore? What if this ruined everything?

"Hey. I have got something to tell you," I started, anxiety taking over my body. His brows furrowed in anticipation.

"O-kay?"

"I can't go out with you tonight. Melissa asked me to be her date. She's going to a function and has no date," I said all that in one breath, breathing after I've finished.

I was looking anywhere but at him. I couldn't bear to see his face. The one thing I hated the most was to disappoint someone. What surprised me was the chuckle that came out from him. That urged me to look at him. He was smiling, a full-blown grin.

"What's funny?" I asked, confusion evident in my tone.

"Come on, Jones. Did you honestly think that I was going to be mad?"

I didn't say anything because that's what I thought. I heard a sigh escaping from him.

"Jason Jason. Honestly, I'm not mad or anything. Friends don't become mad when one does something. You know what they do? They support each other. Not what you've been thinking."

I gulped and glanced a look at him. Even though he says that it's fine, I had a feeling that he was not entirely being honest with me.

"Let's eat before the food becomes cold," he said, opening one of the bags.

I followed his lead and opened mine. Maybe I'm just over analyzing things. Maybe I'm just thinking too much.

By the time we started eating, I was sure that he was not entirely fine. He kept quiet and the air was tense. What have I done?