We stepped outside together, the air hitting my skin just a little warmer than before.
For a moment, no one spoke.
It felt… strange.
Like something had shifted between all of us, but no one was ready to say it out loud.
Then Kit broke the silence.
"We're heading to LF Lab."
I glanced at Taeng
He was already nodding.
"Yeah," he added quickly. "We've got stuff to check anyway."
Chak just gave a small nod.
Simple.
Controlled.
Like always.
My eyes moved without thinking—
To Vikran.
He turned slightly toward Anamarija, his expression softer than usual.
"I'll take you somewhere."
She looked at him, a little surprised.
"Somewhere?"
"A surprise."
I watched her pause.
Then—
She smiled.
"…Alright."
Something about that felt… different.
I couldn't explain it.
And just like that, we all went our separate ways.
Like it was normal.
Like nothing had changed.
But it had.
I could feel it.
I got into the car next to Chak, closing the door quietly this time.
The space between us felt smaller.
Warmer.
I turned my head slightly—
He wasn't starting the engine.
Just sitting there.
Waiting.
Looking at me.
"What?" I asked, even though I could already feel my lips wanting to smile.
"Give me two kisses."
I laughed softly under my breath.
Leaning closer, I pressed a light kiss to one side of his cheek…
Then the other.
But when I pulled back—
Our eyes met.
And something in my chest tightened.
I didn't think.
Didn't hesitate.
I leaned in again—
And kissed him.
Soft.
Slow.
Like I didn't want to rush it.
Like I wanted to stay there just a second longer.
When I pulled away, I caught the look on his face—
And it did something to me.
"I love your kisses."
My heart skipped.
Just a little.
Too much.
The engine started, and I forced myself to look ahead.
The city blurred past, but my mind stayed somewhere else.
On him.
On what he said.
On what I was starting to feel.
"I don't want to tell them," I said quietly.
He glanced at me.
"Your mom and your sister?"
I nodded.
"About us."
The words felt heavier than they should have.
"I don't want them to know yet."
For a second, I braced myself.
For questions.
For resistance.
But—
"Okay."
I turned my head slightly, surprised.
That was it.
No pressure.
No pushing.
Just… okay.
My chest loosened.
"I'll stay at the apartment tonight," I added. "So don't come."
There was a small pause.
"How am I supposed to sleep without you?"
I almost smiled.
"Take one of my shirts," I said, glancing at him briefly. "From the closet."
A beat.
"It still smells like me."
I shouldn't have said that.
But I did.
And the way his expression shifted—
Yeah.
I definitely shouldn't have said that.
When we stopped, I looked around instinctively.
The old place.
But it didn't feel the same anymore.
Not like before.
I turned back to him quickly—
Leaning in to give him one more quick kiss.
Short.
Almost like I was stealing it.
Then I reached for the door.
I didn't get far.
His hand caught my wrist.
Warm.
Firm.
And suddenly I was pulled back.
The kiss this time—
Wasn't soft.
It wasn't careful.
It was deeper.
Stronger.
Like he didn't want me to leave.
Like he was holding onto something—
Or maybe…
To me.
My fingers tightened slightly against him before I even realized it.
Then—
He let go.
Just like that.
I stepped out of the car, my heart beating a little too fast.
I didn't look back.
I couldn't.
If I did, I wasn't sure I'd actually leave.
So I just walked.
One step.
Then another.
Toward Love Food.
As soon as I reached the table, Pim leaned closer, her eyes sharp.
"Were you with your husband?"
I froze for half a second.
Then—
I nodded.
A moment later, the door opened again.
I didn't need to look to know it was him.
I felt it.
Still—
I looked.
Chak walked in like always.
Cold.
Untouchable.
Like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn't just kissed me like—
My breath caught.
He didn't look at me.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't acknowledge anything.
He just walked past—
And disappeared into his office.
But now—
I knew.
That wasn't the whole truth anymore.
I tried to focus on work.
Really, I did.
Orders. Numbers. Voices around me. The familiar rhythm of the place.
But my mind wasn't here.
It kept drifting—
Back to the car.
To his voice.
To the way he looked at me.
To the way he kissed me.
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to look down at what I was doing.
My phone vibrated.
I picked it up immediately.
Mom.
We'll be there in one hour.
My chest tightened.
One hour.
That wasn't a lot of time.
Not enough to think.
Not enough to prepare.
I stood up almost instantly.
"I'll be back," I muttered, not even sure if anyone heard me.
My feet were already moving.
---
I didn't knock.
I just walked into his office.
Chak was sitting behind his desk, focused on something on his laptop.
Calm.
Composed.
Like always.
"Can I leave early?" I asked.
He didn't even look up.
"No."
Just that.
Flat.
Immediate.
I frowned slightly.
I walked closer.
Stopped right next to him.
He still didn't look at me.
So—
I reached out, placing my hands lightly against his shoulder and pushing him back just a little.
Not hard.
Just enough.
He leaned back in his chair, finally forced to look at me—
And before he could say anything, I moved.
Sitting down on his lap.
Wrapping my arms around him.
Close.
He blinked once, clearly not expecting that.
Our eyes met.
And for a second—
Neither of us spoke.
Then I leaned in.
And kissed him.
Soft at first.
Slow.
But not hesitant.
He responded immediately.
Like he had been waiting for it.
His hand came up, steadying me as he kissed me back, deeper this time, warmer—
Like everything he didn't show outside this room was right here.
With me.
I pulled back just slightly, my forehead almost brushing his.
"I'm going," I murmured.
For a second, he just looked at me.
Then—
"What am I supposed to do without you?" he said, a faint edge in his voice.
Almost… offended.
I smiled a little.
"We'll make up for it tomorrow."
A pause.
"Everything."
His grip tightened just slightly.
I leaned in again—
One more kiss.
Softer this time.
Then I pulled away slowly, even though part of me didn't want to.
But I had to go.
Before I stayed longer than I should.
When I stepped out of his office, the air felt different again.
Like I had to switch back.
Back to normal.
Back to reality.
I walked to my table and started gathering my things, trying not to think too much about what I had just done.
Or how easily I had done it.
My fingers moved automatically—phone, keys, bag.
Everything felt… distant.
Like my body was here, but my mind was still in that room.
With him.
I exhaled quietly.
Then turned—
And left.
---
The walk felt shorter than it should have.
Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention.
When I finally stood in front of the apartment, I paused for a second.
This place.
It used to be mine.
Now—
I wasn't so sure anymore.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside.
And froze.
The atmosphere—
It felt warm.
Lived in.
Familiar in a way that made something tighten in my chest.
My eyes moved slowly around the space.
The table was set.
Food.
Not just something simple—actual dishes, prepared, placed carefully.
Like someone had been waiting.
Like someone still believed I lived here.
My throat felt dry.
It looked like a home.
A real one.
Not just a place I used to stay in.
Not like the life I had now.
I hadn't even had the chance to take it all in—
When the doorbell rang.
The sound cut through everything.
My heart jumped.
They were here.
I walked to the door, my steps slower now.
Heavier.
For a second, my hand rested on the handle.
Then—
I opened it.
They were standing right there.
My mom.
And Nira.
For a second, I just… looked at them.
Like my mind needed time to catch up with what my eyes were already seeing.
My mom smiled first.
Warm.
Familiar.
The kind of smile I hadn't realized I missed until that exact moment.
"Niran."
My chest tightened instantly.
"Mom…"
Before I could say anything else, she stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.
It caught me off guard.
But only for a second.
Then I relaxed into it.
Her arms felt the same.
Safe.
Grounding.
"You look thinner," she murmured softly, like she always did.
I let out a quiet breath, almost smiling against her shoulder.
"I'm fine."
She pulled back just enough to look at me, her eyes scanning my face like she was trying to read everything I wasn't saying.
She always did that.
And it always made me nervous.
Then—
"Niran!"
Nira practically pushed past her, throwing her arms around me without hesitation.
"You didn't even tell me you were coming here!" she complained, her voice full of energy.
I laughed softly, hugging her back.
"I didn't know you'd come this suddenly."
She pulled back, narrowing her eyes at me playfully.
"Suspicious."
My smile faltered for just a second.
Too fast for her to notice—
I hoped.
"Come in," I said quickly, stepping aside.
They both walked in.
And I watched their reactions.
My mom paused almost immediately, her gaze moving across the apartment.
Slow.
Observant.
Taking in every detail.
The table.
The food.
The small things that didn't belong to how she remembered this place.
"This looks…" she started, then stopped.
Different.
I could hear the word even if she didn't say it.
Nira, on the other hand, walked straight inside, already curious.
"Wow," she said, glancing around. "Did you cook all this?"
My throat tightened.
"No."
That was the truth.
Just not the whole truth.
My mom turned to me again.
"Were you expecting us?"
Her tone was calm.
But there was something underneath it.
Something careful.
I shook my head.
"No."
Another truth.
Another incomplete answer.
Silence settled for a brief moment.
Not uncomfortable.
But not easy either.
Then my mom smiled again, softer this time.
"Well," she said, placing her bag down. "It looks like we came at the right time."
I let out a small breath.
Yeah.
Right time.
Or maybe—
The worst possible one.
I forced a small smile and stepped further inside.
"Sit," I said quietly. "You must be tired."
Nira didn't need to be told twice—she was already at the table, eyeing the food with clear interest.
"It smells amazing," she said, leaning slightly closer. "Are you sure you didn't make this?"
I let out a soft huff.
"I told you. I didn't."
My mom, however, didn't sit immediately.
She moved slowly through the apartment instead.
Observing.
Not touching anything—
Just looking.
Her eyes lingered on small details.
Things I hadn't even noticed before.
A glass placed slightly out of line.
An extra chair pulled out.
A jacket that definitely wasn't mine, hanging where I knew I hadn't left it.
My chest tightened.
She sees it.
"Niran," she said softly.
I turned to her.
"Yes?"
She tilted her head slightly, studying me again.
"You've been… taking care of yourself?"
The question sounded simple.
Normal.
But I knew her.
She wasn't asking about food.
Or sleep.
She was asking about everything.
I swallowed.
"I'm fine."
A pause.
Her gaze didn't leave mine.
Then—
She smiled.
Just a little.
"Good."
But I knew that smile.
It meant:
I'll ask again later.
We sat down together.
Plates were passed.
The sound of utensils filled the silence.
Nira took the first bite almost immediately.
"Oh—this is really good," she said, clearly impressed. "Who made it?"
There it was.
The question I didn't want.
I looked down at my plate.
"Someone from work," I said.
Not a lie.
Just not the whole truth.
Nira nodded, satisfied enough.
But my mom—
She didn't say anything.
She just kept eating.
Quiet.
Watching.
I tried to focus on the food.
On the normalcy of the moment.
But my mind kept drifting.
To him.
To what he was doing right now.
If he had already taken my shirt.
If he actually would.
A small, almost invisible smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it.
"Something funny?"
Nira's voice pulled me back instantly.
I blinked, looking up.
"No."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You're acting weird."
I let out a quiet breath.
"I'm not."
"You are."
I shook my head, trying to brush it off.
"I'm just tired."
That, at least, was true.
My mom finally set her fork down.
The soft sound echoed louder than it should have.
"Niran," she said again.
My body tensed slightly.
"Yes?"
She looked around the apartment one more time.
Then back at me.
"This place doesn't feel empty anymore."
My heart skipped.
Just for a second.
"What do you mean?" I asked carefully.
She held my gaze.
Steady.
Calm.
"It feels like someone lives here."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
I forced myself not to react.
Not to look away.
Not to give anything away.
"I live here, alone" I said quietly.
She didn't answer immediately.
And somehow—
That was worse.
Because I could feel it.
She didn't fully believe me.
Nira, completely unaware of the tension, leaned back in her chair.
"Well, whoever helped you," she said casually, "I like them already."
My chest tightened again.
This time for a different reason.
Because I wasn't sure—
If that would still be true
If she knew.
The silence hadn't even settled properly—
When the doorbell rang.
My heart dropped instantly.
No.
No, no, no—
Not now.
For a second, I just stood there, frozen.
My mom and Nira both looked toward the door.
"Niran?" my mom said softly.
"I'll get it," I replied quickly, already standing up.
Too quickly.
I could feel it.
Something was about to go wrong.
I walked to the door, my steps heavier with each second.
A part of me already knew.
And when I opened it—
Yeah.
Chak.
He stood there like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Calm.
Composed.
Like he hadn't just walked straight into the worst possible timing.
My eyes widened slightly.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered under my breath.
He didn't answer.
He just looked at me—
Then past me.
Inside.
And before I could stop him—
He stepped in.