By the time Lucy and Ruben got home, the sky had gone dark.
The house was warm, the kitchen light still on.
Mrs. Annabella looked up immediately as the door opened. "You're back. Why so late?"
Ruben dropped his slippers carelessly. "Something happened at the park."
Lucy shot him a look. "Ruben—"
"What happened?" their mother asked, already concerned.
Ruben didn't sit. "There were some men beating someone. Like… really beating him."
Mrs. Annabella's face changed. "Beating? In public?"
Lucy walked past them. "It's nothing, Mama. We just saw something we shouldn't have."
"That's not 'nothing,' Lucy," Ruben said quickly. "And she almost went to confront them."
Mrs. Annabella turned sharply. "You what?"
Lucy sighed, setting her bag down. "I didn't go."
"But you wanted to," Ruben added.
Lucy looked at him. "Can you not make it sound bigger than it is?"
Mrs. Annabella stepped closer. "Lucy… those kinds of situations are not for you."
"I know," Lucy said quietly.
"Do you?" her mother pressed. "Because going close to people like that… it's dangerous."
Lucy crossed her arms slightly. "I didn't go close."
"But you were involved enough," her mother replied.
Ruben nodded. "And someone even came to meet us after."
That caught her attention. "Who?"
Lucy hesitated.
"A man," Ruben said. "He asked her why she was looking at… their boss or something."
Mrs. Annabella frowned. "Boss?"
Lucy waved it off. "It's nothing. Just people trying to act important."
"Lucy," her mother said firmly, "listen to me."
Lucy looked at her.
"You don't know who those people are," Mrs. Annabella continued. "You don't know what they do, who they work for, or what they're capable of."
Lucy didn't respond.
"So next time," her mother added, her tone softer but serious, "mind your business. Completely."
Ruben nodded. "Exactly what I was telling her."
Lucy let out a small breath. "…Alright."
Mrs. Annabella studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Go and freshen up. Food is ready."
Lucy nodded and walked off without saying anything else.
That night, she lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
The man's face kept coming back.
Those eyes.
That calm expression.
The way he said her name.
Lucy turned to the side, pulling the blanket slightly.
"…It's nothing," she murmured to herself.
And yet—
It didn't feel like nothing.
The next morning, everything should have been normal.
But it wasn't.
Lucy noticed it the moment she stepped into the office building.
"Morning," she greeted the security guard.
He didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he looked at her for a second too long.
Then, "Morning," he said.
Lucy paused slightly, then continued walking.
Inside, the atmosphere felt… tight.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
Just different.
People were quieter.
Movements more controlled.
Lucy walked toward the reception.
"Clara," she said.
Clara looked up quickly. "Lucy… you're here."
Lucy frowned slightly. "Yes… I work here."
Clara forced a small smile. "Of course. I just—never mind."
Lucy looked at her. "What's going on?"
Clara glanced around before leaning closer. "Have you been called by anyone?"
"Called?" Lucy repeated.
"Yes. Management. HR. Anyone."
Lucy shook her head slowly. "No."
Clara exhaled. "Okay…"
"Okay what?" Lucy asked.
Clara straightened. "Nothing. Just… if anyone calls you, let me know."
Lucy stared at her. "Why would anyone call me?"
Clara hesitated. "Lucy, just… do your work for now."
That wasn't an answer.
But Lucy didn't push.
"Alright," she said quietly.
She picked up her cleaning supplies, but her movements weren't as relaxed as before.
As she walked past one of the offices, she heard her name.
"…Lucy?"
She slowed down.
"…the cleaner?"
Her grip tightened slightly on the bucket handle.
Another voice replied, "Yes. That one."
Lucy kept walking.
When she reached the hallway, the supervisor appeared.
"Lucy."
"Yes, ma."
The woman looked at her closely. "You came early today."
Lucy blinked. "This is my normal time."
The supervisor nodded slowly. "Hmm."
There was a pause.
"Have you… noticed anything unusual?" the woman asked.
Lucy frowned. "No."
"Nothing at all?"
Lucy shook her head. "No, ma."
The supervisor studied her face for a moment, then said, "Alright. Continue your work."
Lucy nodded. "Yes, ma."
As the day went on, the feeling didn't leave.
People looked at her.
Not openly.
But enough for her to notice.
Whispers stopped when she passed.
Conversations shifted.
Lucy kept her head down.
Focused.
Quiet.
But inside—
Something wasn't sitting right.
During break, she didn't eat immediately.
She just sat there, her food untouched.
Clara sat across from her again.
"You're quiet today," Clara said.
Lucy looked up. "Am I not always quiet?"
Clara shook her head slightly. "Not like this."
Lucy paused.
"…Did something happen?" Clara asked carefully.
Lucy hesitated, then said, "I don't think so."
Clara frowned. "That doesn't sound convincing."
Lucy gave a small, tired smile. "It doesn't feel convincing either."
By the end of the day, Lucy was certain of one thing:
Nothing had happened.
But everything felt like it had.