Chapter 21

"What do you mean? Why did you forbid me?" I asked in disbelief. "Do you underestimate me? I'll prove I can help you, and have you forgotten our agreement about the $5 million? Don't doubt my abilities."

"No, I don't doubt you, that's why I told you not to," Gerry said.

I hissed in surprise and took a step back from him. There was something strange in this guy's head, why did he suddenly change his attitude and look uncharacteristic? Did he just drink a coffee with a mixture of hallucinogenic drugs that made him so strange?

"Hey hey, there's something strange about you. You're not usually like this," I said with a surprised look on my face.

I half-smiled, my teeth still showing, but my smile was not perfect because it was mixed with astonishment in my heart.

"Why do you seem to disagree? Can't I forbid you? I have the right to," Gerryano insisted.

I raised my eyebrows and gasped, "Wait, what do you mean?"

Before I could find out what he meant, he had already lost his temper and left me. Not forgetting to slam the door hard enough to make me jump in surprise.

I twiddled my fingers as I stared worriedly at the door. "I have to ask this--"

"Me, you mean?"

I squealed and screamed in fear, Johan's appearance like a ghost in a horror movie when there's a jump scare moment is really scary. Even the snack in my hand scattered on the floor as I threw it in fear.

"I'm sorry, sir!"

Don't rush to ask how I am and check if I'm okay. There was nothing okay about me almost having a heart attack, gasping for breath as my chest rose and fell, holding my guitar which felt tight and sore from the shock. Even this fresh-looking me was covered in sweat from the pounding and tension.

"If you do that one more time, you're really going to kill me," I half threatened him.

"I really didn't mean to, Mr. Zharies. I was just here watching you two. And I know what you want to ask me, judging by the situation that just happened," Johan said with his typical smile.

Suddenly I got goose bumps, and reflexively stroked the back of my neck. There was no difference between Gerry's behavior and Johan's madness, which was getting worse from day to day.

"Suit yourself, but I really wanted to ask you about this. What do you think happened to that big boy? Why is he like that all of a sudden and not usually like that with me? Is it because of the effects of his company having problems?" I asked.

Johan shook his head while closing his eyes, the wiggling of his index finger was so distinctive that it meant the answer to my question was no.

"You are very wrong to see it that way. This has nothing to do with it, did you not hear what Mr. Gerry just said? He clearly said it has nothing to do with it.

I still didn't get it, but I could understand a little bit of it, but couldn't it just be Gerry's alibi? Why should Johan think so superficially?

"Oh come on, he could have lied about it, couldn't he? He could have been evasive if that's what happened," I argued.

Again Johan shook his head and shook his index finger like before. Seeing this, I felt quite anxious and wanted to twist his index finger to stop posing like that.

"Perhaps you don't know Mr. Gerry's nature. His habit is that he doesn't really like to lie, in fact, rather than lie, he prefers not to say anything about something. So there are two possibilities when he has a feeling about something, the first is that he will express it directly or he will not say it at all rather than lie," Johan tried to explain.

"What does that have to do with it?" I asked.

Johan tapped his forehead, maybe he was tired of my brain taking too long to process information. But honestly, I don't really understand the inner system of someone's feelings.

When Gerry approached me like before, I felt strange with his change of attitude. I couldn't guess what it was and I couldn't imagine the closest possibilities. I could only guess with my logic that it had something to do with the problems at his company.

"I don't know if you are too naive or if you don't understand. But let me clarify your thoughts. Because what Mr. Gerry said really points to his feelings for you. Even that was confirmed by his prohibition to you to keep you from approaching Mr. Samuel," Johan said.

Now that I narrow my eyes, isn't it strange that they're suddenly on the same page? I mean, the strange thing is, why would Gerry forbid me to approach Samuel if it would disturb Samuel's concentration? And what's even stranger is that Johan agreed, shouldn't Johan think more logically about his boss's unusual change of attitude?

"Please get to the point. Just so you know, I find it easier to draw conclusions about a novel than about someone's feelings," I said resignedly.

Johan typed a couple of times, gaping. "Well, if that is the case, it means that there is too much naivety. I'm very intrigued by that, but it makes me even more excited to bring you two together."

See, now Johan was back to his changeable nature in no time. And he's back with his excitement about my closeness with Gerry, which didn't really happen.

Does he really have a habit of bringing two people together that he thinks are compatible?

What's even funnier and more intriguing is that he says yes, to the point of excitement and quiet squealing. I've seen this phenomenon with middle school girls who have just watched a romance movie with their troop, and they start talking about the main couple in the movie who they think is very romantic.

"Now I'm afraid of your attitude, Johan," I interrupted Johan's excited demeanor to frighten me.

"Oh my, ehm." Johan cleared his throat and returned to his formal demeanor as before. "Please forgive my bad habits, Mr. Zharies. Let's get back to the original topic, you asked me to just tell you the gist of the reason why Mr. Gerry suddenly changed his attitude towards you."

"Yes, that is what I asked," I said.

Holding back his smile, Johan looked at me shyly. "Ah, that's easy. Actually, Mr. Gerry's intentions are simple. He doesn't want you to be owned by another man. No-- even being close to another man is not allowed."

I furrowed my brow. "So what? You're talking in circles."

"Gosh, you're naive but impatient. So, the conclusion is that Mr. Gerry is actually..."

"In love with you."