"It's so kind of you to worry about me, but… why do you think he wanted to make me look ridiculous? Can't you believe that someone could actually think I could do the jump?"
"What?! No! That's not what I meant! Of course not!"
"What then?"
"I just know that he uses to mess up with you, and thought that he would have thought low of you. But I knew you could do it! And you will be the most beautiful woman the TV has ever seen."
'What is this guy up to? Does he think I'm stupid?'
"Well, I want you to know that that's not what I want to achieve with my commercial…"
"I'm sure about that."
'Sure…'
"In fact, we could have dinner together while you tell me what your expectations are. What do you say?"
"I say… I have plans for today. Good night, Hans."
I angrily left the room and, as soon as I closed the door, I heard some kind of crashing noise. Rapunzel was not going to be happy with that.
"Did he hurt you?"
Kristoff's still low voice by my side startled me.
"Oh, my God! Kristoff! Do you want to kill me?!"
"You don't need me for that," he said arching an eyebrow.
"Ha, ha. What are you doing here leaning in the wall like a stalker?"
"I said I don't trust him, didn't I?
"So you were worried about me?"
"Let's just get some food. If we dawdle too much, they won't leave us more than cool plasticky pasta."
'Huh…'
"Yes. Let's do that."
So I walked right behind him, seeing his huge back relaxing more and more with each step. He walked hands in his pockets and head to the front; but I could feel that he has somehow looking after me. Maybe he wasn't the asshole I thought he was… At least, I knew I could trust him a lot more than Hans… He was right. Hans' intentions weren't clean…
The dinner passed by talking about how eerily hairy Sven's body was, so our guffaws filled the cafeteria. And, then, each one went to their sleeping-bag in the large room Mr. Blue had set up for us and the silence became the king.
That sweet silence. The soothing sound from the breathing of that people. No cars, no neighbors having sex, no music from the phone of some teen that thinks that I shouldn't need to sleep before I go to work… Maybe I should sleep each day at that office.
But, the best part was the smell and the warmth. One could think that the environment would be charged and dense, but the only sensation I felt as I opened my eyes in the morning, was that familiar and pleasant warm smell. Kristoff's scent.
'Wait, what?'
I focused my gaze as fast as I could and looked to my side.
"Kristoff?"
"Finally awake?"
"Why are you sitting by my side while I sleep?! That's creepy!"
"I was reading."
"I can see that…"
"So?"
"So?!"
He turned his attention to his book, and, as he lowered his head, I could see it. Hans was there. Everyone else had left and there were only the three of us in the room. Hans sitting on his bag scrolling on his cell phone and Kristoff acting as a barrier between us.
"You know…" he said not taking his eyes off his book.
'Is he going to say that he wanted to protect me?'
A weird knot settled in my stomach.
"Your chin is all drooled."
Of course. How could I expect something serious to come from him? But, again… my chin was indeed drooled, and he knew. Had he been watching me sleep? Why is he guarding me? He could have just woken me up. Or leaving the same way the rest did… Maybe he actually thought I was so pathetic that I was lost if no one was looking after me. Or, maybe…
'No, Anna. Don't take that path. That's not for you. Just stop mulling it over.'
"Hey, Anna! Are you awake already? What if we have breakfast together?" Hans said putting the mobile in his pants pocket.
'Fuck… I don't know how to say no right now…'
"I'm sorry," Kristoff intervened. "but that's not gonna be possible. Anna and I are learning from this awesome co-worker experience you created and, since we need to work on our relationship to improve it, we're gonna have breakfast together."
'Okay, what was that?'
Kristoff looked at me like asking me to roll with it and I took advantage without hesitation of the opportunity he was giving me.
"Right. We agreed to do that."
Kristoff smiled discreetly and the knot in my stomach started dancing cha-cha-cha.
"Oh, I see. Well, it's good to know that you are putting effort into improving the company environment. Good job you two."
'Fake smile; I can tell.'
"See you later then," Hans added leaving the room and licking his lip.
"That man is fucking creepy…"
"So you believe me now?" Kristoff asked his smirk coming back to his face.
An uncontrollable smile also appeared on my lips. I hated to agree with him, but it was impossible not to feel a mix of relief and amusement at the look on his face. That hateful smirk was like home.
"Kristoff… Thank you for helping me to get rid of him and… well, for the warning from the other day. I guess you were right."
I was feeling my cheeks burn, but his suddenly wide open eyes and mouth made the scene so funny that I couldn't help it, I started laughing out loud causing my blush to be concealed by the flush of my laughter. And then, he realized what his own face was, and laughed too. And sharing that moment with him was the warmest thing I had experienced in forever.
"So we are having breakfast together?" I asked when I was capable of it.
"That was what we agreed, wasn't it?" That smirk again.
"Of course it is."
And, walking side by side, we headed to the cafeteria to share a breakfast that we never agreed to share.
