It had been a week since the last time she dreamed of meeting Vano. Until now, Alina still hadn't figured out what she was supposed to remember. Although Alina didn't spend all day thinking about it, there were moments when she suddenly remembered what Vano had said. Like now, as Alina sat in front of her laptop with the report she was working on displayed on the screen, Vano's words suddenly came back to her.
“Hi, Alina. Why are you spacing out? What are you thinking about?”
Alina turned toward the voice that broke her reverie. It was Liam Caprian, her coworker. They were at a cafe now, working together. Alina and Liam had been friends for three years, ever since Alina joined her current company, a publishing house. They were both on the editorial team, though their responsibilities were different. Alina was in the fiction division, while Liam worked in media/news. After COVID-19 hit, their company adopted hybrid work hours: three days WFO (Work From Office) and two days WFH (Work From Home). That was why they were working together at the cafe now.
“No, it's nothing. I'm just getting a headache because my new writer made so many mistakes.”
Alina wasn't lying. She just didn't mention anything about her dream.
The new writer whose story she was responsible for editing before publication was a young author who had only recently signed a contract with them. It was only natural for the draft she'd submitted to contain so many mistakes.
“Oh yeah, I heard about that writer. Hang in there. She's new, so of course she'll make mistakes,” Liam said.
“Yeah, that's why I'm taking a short break. Looking at my laptop for too long gives me a headache and makes my eyes tired.”
“But Alina, if you're having a problem or something's bothering you, you can talk to me.” Liam gazed deeply into Alina's eyes, trying to convince her that he meant it.
“Maybe I can help, or maybe it'll make you feel a little better if you don't keep it all to yourself,” Liam continued, hoping Alina would open up to him.
“I'm fine, Liam. Oh, how's your work going? Are you done?” Alina smiled, trying to change the subject.
It wasn't that Alina was pretending not to understand what Liam meant. She knew he was trying to become more than just a friend to her. Liam had even tried to confess his feelings to Alina once before. But Alina still couldn't accept Liam's feelings because Vano was still in her heart. It felt cruel to accept his sincere feelings when her own heart was still filled with someone else. Alina had also honestly told him that she still wasn't ready to open her heart, though she hadn't told him everything. In the end, Liam had asked Alina to remain friends with him. Alina agreed, because Liam was not only a good coworker but also a friend who had often helped her ever since she started working there.
Liam, realizing what Alina was trying to do, didn't press her any further about what she had been thinking.
“Not yet. I just got a message about a new clarification regarding the news story I'm working on.” Liam showed her the story on his phone.
“Oh, the news about the embezzlement of Company Z's funds? I've read it, though only briefly. The case seems complicated, especially since it involves one of the biggest celebrities, right?” Alina said as she reread the article Liam had shown her.
“Yeah, the clarification I got earlier was from that celebrity.”
“It must be difficult when important names are involved. Anyway, hang in there,” Alina said with a small laugh.
Liam answered with a nod and went back to working on his task. In truth, he was wondering what Alina had been thinking earlier about the person who was the reason she wouldn't accept his feelings. In Liam's eyes, Alina was a strong, intelligent, and patient woman. She was also outgoing and easy to befriend. But Liam always felt that Alina put up a wall between herself and other people, especially men, to keep them from getting close to her. Even so, Liam only became more curious about Alina and the past that had led her to set those boundaries.
“When will I be able to get into her heart? I wouldn't even mind if I could just be the person she confides in.”
Liam thought to himself as he glanced at Alina, who had returned her focus to her manuscript.