THE RIGHT ANSWER
Almost two years of running into each other in the grad school halls, then being classmates, then him finding ways so they would be classmates in every course . . . She didn’t seem to like him. He wanted to change that
(Second of six parts) Bram
She was annoyed. That seemed to be one of the emotions she shuffled through the most, and he’d noticed how she pulled it out often when it came to him.
It should discourage him, but he knew her well enough now. Even though she’d said they weren’t close enough for lies.
“Where are you?” he said after her less than cheerful hello, his phone on speaker as he drove.
“At work.”
“Did you forget?”
“No.”
“Did you forget the time?” “No.”
He’d stopped his car, roadside in front of her building in
Makati. He scanned the faces of people spilling into the darkening afternoon, trying to catch the one he wanted to see.
“Do you need more time? can wait for you.”
A pause from her end of the line. Like he’d surprised her. He liked being able to do that. “No.”
Yvonne appeared through the glass doors, as if she had been hiding behind one of the posts while waiting for him.
He grinned, did not stop grinning even when she slid into his passenger seat and he had a full view of her sullen face and drooping shoulders. “Tough day at work?” She shrugged, putting her seatbelt on and motioning him to drive. He did.
“You didn’t have to pick me up,” Yvonne said. “You could have told me the place and I’d have gotten there just fine.”
“Sure, after waiting 30 minutes—at best—to book a ride, waiting longer for ride to arrive, then waiting in traffic once again in said ride. Add to that, fares are borderline criminal at this hour.”
It was Thursday after-office hours, not as bad as Friday, but pretty close. The roads were filling up with cars of people clocking out and escaping buildings. His car was going to negotiate this block at a crawl before he could cross the stoplight.
Bram turned to his passenger, catching the furrowed brows he often saw on her. No longer annoyed. But suspicious, yet slow to figure him out.
“I came from literally two blocks away,” he brushed off. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Thanks,” Yvonne finally said. She heaved out a long breath, from her workday and worries, Bram imagined. “Clean car,” she added, tapping his spotless dashboard.
“Thanks.” He laughed a little. He could try to pry, ask things he wanted. But he should start with what was comfortable. “Have you revised your external analysis worksheets?”
“My eye bags say yes. You didn’t need to—” Yvonne paused. He saw her lips quirk, then she turned to give him an exaggerated, low bow. “Thank you, Master, for lending me yours.”
“You linked me to sources I didn’t think to look for. Also, we’re partners. Prof said.”
He had to pile on the words without stuttering. He gnawed at his lip. He was a 32-year-old man, for god’s sake. He’d been running a boutique hotel chain since he was 25. He was an actual adult who should be better at this.
“You said,” Yvonne said accusingly. “Why you’d want to be paired with me, I could not imagine. You’re naturally good at everything, meanwhile there’s me.”
“What are you talking about? You always get good marks in our classes.”
“I very nearly flunked Managerial Accounting,” she said with a laugh. “Everything else was a product of late nights and a lot of struggle.”
“Doesn’t change how you’re wonderful,” he muttered, unsure if the words reached her with the sudden honks of cars outside.
The light was red again. He turned to face her narrowed eyes.
“I don’t even think you need to be here, taking your MBA. It’s frustrating and impressive,” she said.
Her face allowed a small smile. He memorized the sight.
“I am well versed in capitalism,” he said. “It’s not something to yell about.”
“It’s because you’ve been in the family business for years,” Yvonne said wisely. “Handson experience and shiz.” At his silence, she leaned forward, angling her face so she could study his. “What? Is it the sad, poor, rich child-of-owner story that you’ve been forced into?”
“I’m driving,” he whined a little, heartbeat skipping at her sudden closeness.
She sank back into her seat.