Lina didn't remember how she left the office.
The door.
The hallway.
The elevator.
All of it blurred together.
Her steps felt unsteady, like she was walking through something thicker than air. Every sound came slower, duller—like her mind was still somewhere else.
"I'll get back to you."
His voice.
Calm.
Final.
It replayed again.
And again.
Lina tightened her grip around her bag slightly.
What did that even mean?
Her chest felt tight.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
Something worse.
Uncertainty.
By the time she reached her department floor, her thoughts were still tangled, looping over themselves without direction.
"Lina!"
She barely had time to react before someone grabbed her arm.
Yuqi.
Of course.
Her eyes scanned Lina quickly—head to toe, like she was trying to spot visible damage.
"What happened?" Yuqi asked immediately. "Why do you look like that?"
Lina blinked.
"…like what?"
"Like you just came back from a funeral," Yuqi said flatly.
A small pause.
Lina almost laughed.
Almost.
Instead, she looked away slightly.
Why am I afraid of him?
The thought came suddenly.
Sharp.
He was the one who...
She stopped herself.
But it didn't stop.
He forced himself on me… without even knowing.
Her fingers curled slightly.
And now I'm the one avoiding him?
A quiet, bitter thought slipped through.
How pathetic.
Something shifted.
Small.
But real.
Her shoulders straightened slightly.
No.
This wasn't right.
From today onwards…
Her lips curved faintly.
I won't be afraid of anyone.
The smile came slowly.
Not bright.
Not loud.
But...
Different.
Yuqi blinked.
"…why are you smiling?"
Lina turned back to her.
"You said something funny."
"I didn't."
"You did."
Yuqi narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…don't tell me he fired you."
Lina let out a small breath.
Then...
"No."
A beat.
"He wouldn't dare."
Yuqi froze.
Then leaned in slightly.
"…you sound confident all of a sudden."
"I am."
Another pause.
Yuqi studied her face.
Longer this time.
"…yeah," she said slowly. "You do."
Something about that made Lina's smile fade just a little.
Not completely.
But enough.
Because deep down...
She knew.
It wasn't that simple.
"Anyway," Yuqi said, clapping her hands once, breaking the moment, "are you done with your work?"
Lina hesitated.
"Kinda."
"Kinda is not done."
"It's close enough."
Yuqi rolled her eyes.
"Come on. Let's go before someone gives us more tasks."
Lina nodded.
And just like that...
They walked back into the office together.
The noise returned.
Voices.
Typing.
Movement.
Normal.
Lina sat down slowly.
Placed her bag beside her.
Opened her file.
Everything looked the same.
But she didn't feel the same.
Not entirely.
Her fingers hovered over the page for a moment.
Then...
She started working again.
Steady.
Careful.
But this time...
She didn't look toward the door.
Not once.