The four went to the nearby Pastry Shop and ordered milk tea, coffee, and a few pastries.
The four sat on a corner table. Heidi is less shy, but Percy remains a bit timid. He is directly opposite Gie, while Heidi is to Hank.
At this point, the group is chatting about random things. A sort of light getting-to-know-each-other session.
"So how long will you be observing under Hank?" Heidi asked Gie.
"Just two months. However, we will still work on it closely together. The next department is purchasing. We won't miss each other that much, that's for sure." Gie answered before putting a fork of blueberry cheesecake in his mouth.
Accidentally, his eyes met Percy's innocent eyes. He smiled at him.
Percy smiled cutely and lowered his eyes to eat his dessert.
"By the way, your name. It's unique. Is it foreign?" Heidi asked again.
"Hmmm, yeah, you were introduced as Gie in the team. I also suspect that's only your nickname." Hank asked.
Give elegantly wiped his mouth first before looking at them then put down his company ID on the table.
[Guillaume Brice Hayes]
"Guess how's that read? I owe dinner to whoever can read it correctly." He sipped his milk tea and rested his eyes on Percy.
"Gieee—-Giii— Gilom...?" Heidi looked down at the ID and started the massacre of his poor name.
"Gie, man. I won't participate. I'd rather treat Heidi to dinner."
"Well, ask her first?" Gie challenged Hank.
"Shhhh give me time. I won't ask her in front of all of you. I might get rejected."
"Oh, stop it!" Heidi blurted.
They all laughed.
Before the laughter died down, Percy like a kitten, opened his mouth and asked softly.
"Uhmmm, that's pronounced as Gee-ohm, right? French name, meaning protector if I'm not mistaken."
Gie's heart trembled. This soft-spoken, cute-looking, slender, and behaved baby boy is already his type. But to actually hear his name from those lips...
Hank and Heidi, with obvious surprise, looked at Percy. Only Gie looked at him deeply.
Percy smiled timidly and lowered his gaze.
"Our baby is so smart!" Heidi clapped her hands.
She looked at her watch. She excused herself and decided to order Nyla's take-out milk tea. Hank said he would order a take out too.
Percy was left with Gie.
"I hope you don't back out. Can I ask you out for dinner soon?"
"I... I thought you weren't serious."
Gie put out his cell phone and opened the keypad for call option.
"I seriously want to know you more. Don't stress too much. I don't know how to say it but... I just want to connect with you. Give me a chance to be a friend...? Not just an acquaintance. I'm afraid I won't see you again after this project. If I miss this chance—" Gie didn't notice that he was getting antsy, obviously panicking and turning into a blabbering mess. His elegance dropped a few points.
"Okay, okay!" Also panicked, Percy took his cell phone and input his personal number then gave the cell phone back to Gie. He was afraid Hank and Heidi would be back, and hear Gie saying a bunch of incoherent words.
Gie stopped, inhaled, and gathered his composure pebbles, and sat relaxed again.
"Thanks." He blushed and drank his milk tea again.
"Hihi, you can relax. Let's chat up to set that dinner." Percy smiled and showed his half-moon eyes.
'Ahhhh my heart!' Gie subconsciously put his hand over his heart and breathed out a long sigh.
Meanwhile at the waiting counter, Hank and Heidi decided to just wait for their take out orders.
Hank noticed Heidi looking at the corner table where Percy and Gie are.
"Relax, Gie won't eat your junior," Hank said.
"Huh?" Heidi looked at Hank. "Oh. No. I mean, just that... Gie and Percy are opposites. I'm not worried. If anything, I am comfortable leaving Percy with him. Not that they will be together most of the time since we're not from the same company. I mean—"
Hank chuckled, cutting her rantings off.
"Hey... Don't get all frustrated explaining to me. You being like that means, you also have seen what I'm seeing earlier."
"What do you mean? Out with it." Heidi raised her right eyebrow to Hank.
"Gie likes Percy. I sure hope he does. His eyes almost never left Percy the whole time we were all together. Percy just wasn't looking. I'm pretty sure right now, after getting Percy's number, that dinner ruse will be happening soon."
Their orders arrived but Hank gently held Heidi's wrist and released immediately.
"Let's wait a bit here. At least until the cellphone was returned." the two stood aside, partially hidden in sight.
Hank continued his monologue.
"I've never seen Gie uncomposed before. He somehow exudes an aura of a young master, you know. But he's a good guy, as far as I can tell from the last few weeks we've worked together."
Heidi looked over and saw the cellphone was returned to Gie.
"Speaking of which... Can I also have your number and invite you to dinner sometime?" Hank asked in haste.
"So that's your intention after all this talk? Kinda not so smooth, Bud." Heidi laughed a bit.
"Haha! Im sorry, im so not used to this." Hank blushed and scratched his nose awkwardly.
"I'd rather an awkward invitation than a player's elaborate scheme. You're fine, dont worry. Come on. Hand me your phone."
Hank gave Heidi a happy appreciative smile when she returned his phone.
They went back to the table and the two gentlemen accompanied Heidi and Percy back to the office lobby before walking towards the stairs to basement.
Meanwhile, the two guys...
"You got his number?" / "You got her number?"
They asked at the same time.
Both stopped and laughed. Their laughter echoed in the stairway.
"I'm excited." Hank whispered.
"Can't be your first?" Gie asked.
"Nope, possibly third. Hoping to be the last. You?"
"Possibly second, first legal. Hoping to be the last too."
"Legal? Like, marriage-certificate legal?" Hank got confused.
"Haha! I mean legal, as in out with the family.. Or let's just say formal. I studied abroad remember? Family doesn't know. This time, I want it out in the open, or at least in my family and friends. And yes, possibly marriage-certificate-legal, hopefully. I don't date casually. I always look for a long term."
Both reached the company car. Hank started the car and stood beside Gie in front. They waited for the car to cool before they travel back to the company.
Both were not smoking so they leaned in the car as if waiting for somebody.
"So, you're okay with all this? With me being gay? No fear or anything?" Gie asked.
"Naaah, immune to it. You haven't explored the whole company yet, right? We have a few "loud", "quirky", and "fabulous" people in the company. There are also some like you who were low-key but talented too nonetheless. The company doesn't discriminate and so do the employees. Of course, I was a bit surprised that you never tried to hide it from me. But you know, it's not that uncommon since we are on the home-styling industry.
Now, as for fear. Thankfully, I've never been harassed though I've received a few confessions. If I have to fear you a bit, it would be that if we have to have a physical fight, I may lose."
"That may be true..." Surprisingly, Gie agreed.
"Huh, seriously? Wait, no. Don't answer that. Let's go back."
Somehow Gie gave him a conquering aura for a split second there.
He waved his hand near his head, dispelling bad juju before getting in the car.