Every Kind of Way

Side Effects

I had a split second. I sprinted towards Mon who still hadn't realized what was about to happen. The sound of the car horn, tires screeching, and Mon's scream were heard at the same time. I managed to pull her towards me. The driver rolled down the window and apologized. I dismissed him. Mon still hadn't said a word. I checked for any sign of injury even if I got there in time. We were holding onto to each other for support. I felt her heart beating loudly and mine was too. I couldn't show any kind of emotion, but I wasn't hiding my concern very well.

"Are you that shocked? What's wrong?" Why hasn't she said anything? "Did I give you so much work that you wanted to get run over?"

"I was just in shock. Um, thank you." I relaxed my grip on her at once. "I thought you left."

"I was still on the phone." Why do I feel the need to explain myself to her? "I ended up seeing you chatting with Yha. You were defending me." Mon was speaking about me like she knew the real me, but that's not possible. "Anyway, do you have a nickname, Ms. Kornkamon?"

"It's Mon."

"It's Mon, baby?" Mon looked away blushing. What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I say that?

"Did you just call me baby?" I shook my head ignoring her question and then cleared my throat.

"How did you know I like dogs?" I remembered the facts that Mon spoke about before.

"Ah...from your interviews."

"But in those interviews, I said I liked cats." I remember the script my friends gave me.

"Then, I must have made a mistake." Why does her face look so familiar? I can't shake the déjà vu feeling I had before.

"Have we met before?"

"Well..." I dismissed whatever she was going to state. It was obvious we have never met before.

"That can't be it. You just started working at Diversity."

"That's true."

"How are you getting back home?" Again, why did I care so much about her?

"I ordered a taxi." Other than the car that almost ran her over, there were no taxis in this area at this hour.

"A taxi this late at night?" I looked down at her shirt. If someone spilled even the tiniest bit of water on her shirt it would become more see-through than it already was. "With a shirt this thin?" I can't let her go around like this. "Follow me." We reached my car and I looked for a blazer to cover her.

"This is Ms. Duanpen." (Duanpen means full moon.) My car is the first thing I bought with my own money. My mom used to read me a poem when I was little about the full moon and how its glow made others happy, so I named the car Ms. Duanpen.

"Is that your car's name?"

"Of course." I closed the door and placed the blazer on Mon's shoulder. I held it close at the front so it would cover most of her body. "Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?" I didn't want her to stop, but if I didn't say anything I would have found myself leaning in.

"No." She moved away from me. I didn't like the distance there was between us now. I missed having her body close to mine. Enough with these thoughts Sam.

"You reek of alcohol. Can you even go to work tomorrow?"

"Of course, I can." My blazer hugged her body perfectly.

"You don't know your limit."

"You sound like my mother." Never say that again, Mon!

"Are you calling me old?"

"No. I mean you worry about my well-being like my mum does." Or a girlf-.

"It's getting late. How are you getting back home?" I can't leave her stranded out here.

"I think the taxi cancelled. I'll try again." I stopped her. I decided to call her a taxi myself to ease my mind.

"VIP taxi?... Could you please pick me up at the Japanese restaurant? It's near Suvarnabhumi Airport." And now we wait.

There was no awkward silence. Mon just stared at me and smiled. What was she looking at? I was about to ask when the taxi arrived.

"Thank you so much, Lady Sam." I liked how my name sounded when she said it. I extended my phone to her. "Hmm?"

"Your Line ID."

"What?"

"So you can text me when you get home." Mon nodded and placed her contact information into my phone. I got into my car and left. I parked around the corner just to make sure that the taxi left with only her. After that I drove off to meet with my friends.