"Do you know the band Soul Ecstasy?"

Laurence blinked, confused at the unexpected shift in the subject.

Soul Ecstasy. He sure knew about them. It was the band he'd discovered when he was a teenager. A talented group, they were; had awesome pieces in their discography. Unfortunately, they retired before their music had the chance to be known by the general public. Undiscovered gems were what they were.

But that was not the sole reason Laurence could never forget about Soul Ecstasy. When he was in high school, he'd learned that the group's only female member and main vocalist, Isla, was the mother of one of his juniors.

And that former junior was the same boss standing in front of him right now.

"I don't," Laurence lied through his teeth, unsure why Isaac was bringing up his mother's old group. "I'm sorry, but am I supposed to know about them, sir?"

"No, that's the thing," the young CEO said under his breath. "You were not supposed to know them. Not many people are aware such a group existed. Some might have heard their songs but would not know the artists behind them. They had a few works that were not well known, even among the people who were familiar with their group. One of their least recognized songs was entitled 'Irreversible,' which told about the regrets of losing someone very dear to you."

A frown found its way on Laurence's forehead. The more Isaac talked, the more he got confused.

The young boss leaned away from the long desk, gave his employee a hard stare before taking a stride forward, shortening the gap between them.

By reflex, Laurence stepped back. He mentally cursed, displeased with the evident difference in their heights.

This punk. Who told you to grow this much? He thought even if he was in his original body, Isaac would still have a few centimeters over him.

"Soul Ecstasy's 'Irreversible' was the piece you just sang in karaoke yesterday," said the CEO.

Laurence's eyes stretched out. Caution alarms set off in the corner of his mind.

In an attempt to mask his bewilderment, he let a strained smirk settle on his lips. "I'm not sure why we're even talking about this, sir. So I don't know that group, but I was able to sing one of their songs yesterday. What's the problem with that? You said it yourself that some people might have heard their works but could not even tell who's the artist. That's right. I'd constantly listened to a few random playlists when I was doing physical therapy in the hospital."

Remembering Melvin's words yesterday, Laurence granted himself a minute to collect his thoughts. "Is it because of the amnesia? I don't know what gives you people the idea that someone who's forgotten his memories can't learn something new. Did it ever occur to you that I might have acquired all the knowledge I've now after I woke up from the coma? What I lost were my memories, sir, not my brain's ability to retain new information."

Another silence came over the room. Longer. Heavier.

The tick of the clock tolled like a gong in Laurence's head. He fiddled with his ear piercing and put his weight from one foot to another. Unable to stand the intensity of Isaac's scrutiny any longer, he broke eye contact and feigned interest in the calathea in between kalanchoe and begonia.

Laurence entertained the notion that the young boss might have chosen that plant when he'd started this corporation because he, too, was aware of its symbolism.

"I know at least one person who used to be a listener of Soul Ecstasy."

The comment flung Laurence back to reality. Round hazel eyes rushed to the owner of the low voice once again.

But Isaac was no longer looking at him. Instead, the CEO aimed his wistful gaze at the potted plants, as if the story he was about to unfold was carved on each of their flowers and leaves.

"An upperclassman. His late father was a barista, while his late mother was a florist who owned a small gardening shop. A young man who was passionate and always took pride in what his parents did for a living, so he made sure to learn a lot about their jobs."

Laurence gaped, eyes widening even more if possible. His brain reeled as he grasped the familiar—too familiar—description that had tumbled out of Isaac's mouth. A violent, unwelcome noise pounded against his temples, but he could not pick out if it was the imaginary alert signals or his pulse going wild.

"He was usually so easygoing, but..." For a transient moment, a shadow of a smile softened Isaac's expression. And then, there was nothing again. "If you so much as hinted at thinking little of his parents' occupations, he would never hesitate to give you a piece of his mind."

"Wha—" Laurence shook his head in the hope it would rid him of the daze. Steadying his nerves, he asked, "And why are you telling me all about this? You're really losing me here, Isa—sir. Why are you suddenly bringing up these things which have nothing to do with me... my job or that little mistake I made on this paperwork?"

Sadly, Isaac didn't seem to have a plan for providing him with the actual answer anytime soon.

"He was also the one who gave me the nickname he thought was cooler and a lot easier to say than Isaac."

Turning back to Laurence, the young CEO held his employee captive in his sea-green eyes. His defined jawlines created small twitches, the twin moles flitting ever so slightly as his facial expression tightened.

"Laurence Villegas—"

The name owner flinched.

"—was the only person who had ever called me Ice."

A flaming sensation swallowed up Laurence's whole being and then cold sweat prickled every inch of his skin.

"Ye-Yeah? And I... I should know all of this because? What's really your point?"

"The first day you returned here to the office and saw me, you referred to me with that nickname," Isaac said, each syllable full and clear, not an ounce of doubt tainting his controlled tone.

"No, I didn't." Laurence halted, realizing he might be coming off too defensive with his quick replies. He snatched a glance at the door behind him before returning his eyes to the young CEO. "I was talking about the iced tea I brought you that time. I don't understand what you're trying to imply here, sir, but why'd I call you that? First of all, that's so unnecessary for me to do as your mere employee. Another thing, I was never aware of that nickname."

"I admit I was led to believe you were referring to the drink at first. And indeed, Florence Villena doesn't know about that nickname. None of the people here in the office do."

Isaac took another step toward the other man.

Laurence staggered, his clammy fingers reaching for the edge of the long table to keep his balance, as his whole surroundings appeared to be closing in on him.

"Now that I think of it, you seem to know a lot of things that the old Florence Villena didn't. You can say you've learned and developed interests in them after you've woken up from a coma, but it's strange no matter how much I think about it."

As if to cut off his employee's escape, Isaac placed his hand on the corner of the desk, his arm caging Laurence on the left side.

"Wh-what's strange?" Laurence slanted his gaze, ignoring their proximity.

"I've heard of people acting differently after coming out of a coma, especially those who lost their memories, but I wonder... Can a person really change so much to the point it's as if they have become a completely different person?"

A frisson settled in Laurence's stomach. His heart drummed harder while Isaac continued to talk in a calm voice.

"I don't remember Florence Villena being interested in the plants or in tea and coffee. Then again, I wasn't that close to him to know that. But there's one thing I'm fairly certain about; he was very good at numbers and never the one to call algebra stupid."

"I still don't know what you're getting at."

"I'm sure you do, Rence," Isaac said, stressing the nickname. For the first time since their paths had crossed again, an uncommon emotion flared in his eyes. He offered a wry smirk. "You're not the person everyone thinks you are. You're not the person you're trying to pretend to be."

Before Laurence could hurl another denial, the young CEO leaned in to his left ear, whispering the familiar honorific that a certain former junior used to meekly call him around a decade ago.

"Senior—"

Laurence shuddered as Isaac's warm breath fanned against his neck. He tightened his grip on the edge of the table and pressed his back further against the wood, sensing the potted plants brush against his waist.

Forget about a deer caught in the headlight; he felt more like a deer trapped in a predator's claws and fangs at the moment.

"—it's you, isn't it?"

Note: You can now read the completed novel on Wattpad. Check out at username _reichii