When we stepped outside, the car was already waiting.
The air felt cooler.
Quieter.
Like everything that had happened inside was sealed behind those doors.
Chak walked straight to the driver's seat.
The engine started.
For a while, no one spoke.
The city lights passed by in soft blurs.
Reflections shifting across the windows.
Across his face.
I watched him.
Not openly.
Just in quick glances.
Every now and then.
And each time—
That same feeling hit me.
Jealousy.
Sharp.
Uncomfortable.
Unwanted.
My jaw tightened slightly.
Just wait until we get home.
Minutes passed.
Something felt… off.
I frowned slightly and looked outside again.
This wasn't the way home.
"Where are we going?" Anamarija asked from beside me.
Chak didn't look back.
"You'll see," he said simply.
That didn't help.
At all.
After some time—
The car slowed.
Then stopped.
I looked out the window.
And froze.
Vikran's building.
I blinked.
"Why are we here?" Anamarija asked, clearly confused.
Chak finally turned slightly in his seat.
"You're staying here tonight," he said.
Silence.
"What?" she asked.
"Why?" she added immediately.
"For safety," Chak replied calmly.
A small pause.
"And so you two can spend some time together before we leave."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Processing.
But she didn't argue.
Not yet.
We got out of the car.
Chak walked up to the entrance and rang the bell.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
The door opened.
Vikran.
The moment he saw Anamarija—
His expression softened.
A genuine smile.
Warm.
Unfiltered.
"Hey," he said.
We stepped inside.
He closed the door behind us, then looked at Chak.
A silent question.
Chak answered it immediately.
"Can she stay here tonight?" he said, nodding slightly toward Anamarija.
Vikran didn't hesitate.
"With pleasure," he replied.
Then his eyes shifted back to her.
And that same softness returned.
Like everything else in the room didn't matter.
Like only she did.
Anamarija pulled her hand slightly closer to herself, her expression tightening just a little.
"Can I wash my hands?" she asked, glancing at Vikran. "That guy kissed my hand again."
There was a brief pause.
Something in Vikran's eyes darkened—
Just for a second.
Then he nodded immediately.
"Of course," he said, his voice calm. "Bathroom's on the left."
She gave a small nod and walked past him.
The moment she disappeared down the hallway—
Vikran turned to Chak.
Chak leaned casually against the wall, but there was a faint smirk on his lips.
"She said something interesting about you," he said.
Vikran raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh?" he replied.
Chak's eyes flicked briefly toward the hallway—
Then back to him.
"She said you're two steps ahead of him."
A beat.
Then Vikran smiled.
Slow.
Satisfied.
"I like that," he said quietly.
Chak let out a soft breath through his nose, almost amused.
"Tomorrow," he added, pushing himself off the wall, "you'll take her to work."
Vikran nodded once.
"Alright."
"And don't forget," Chak continued, his tone shifting slightly back to business, "the meeting is at 10:00.
"Got it."
Footsteps.
Anamarija returned.
Drying her hands lightly.
Before she could say anything—
Vikran stepped closer to her.
Not too close.
But enough.
He looked directly at her.
Searching.
"Am I really two steps ahead of him?" he asked.
No teasing.
No arrogance.
Just wanting to hear it from her.
Anamarija held his gaze.
Then—
She gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Simple.
But it was enough.
Something in his expression softened again.
"Alright," Chak said, breaking the moment.
"We'll go now."
My eyes moved between them.
Something settled in my chest.
Something I didn't want to name.
Because for the first time—
It felt like we were leaving her somewhere safe.
And that thought…
Should have been comforting.
But somehow—
It wasn't.
We moved toward the door together.
Before leaving, Chak stepped closer to Anamarija and pulled her into a brief, firm hug.
"Call if anything," he said quietly.
"I will," she replied.
Then I stepped forward.
I hugged her too—tighter than I expected.
"Don't overthink," she murmured softly near my ear.
I didn't answer.
I just pulled back.
Vikran gave Chak a quick, solid hug.
Then he looked at me.
For a second, we just stared at each other.
Then—
A nod.
Short.
Understood.
I returned it.
We left.
The door closed behind us.
The hallway felt colder.
Quieter.
We walked to the car in silence.
Got in.
Chak started the engine.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
His hand moved.
Reaching toward mine.
Instinctively.
Like it belonged there.
I pulled my hand away immediately.
"Don't," I said.
My voice was cold.
Sharp.
Chak glanced at me briefly.
"Why?"
I turned my head, staring out the window.
"Until you wash your hands, don't touch me."
Silence.
A beat
A quiet exhale.
"My cute cat is jealous."
I clenched my jaw.
"I'm not," I snapped.
A pause.
Then, colder—
"I'm not talking to you anymore."
And I didn't.
Not the whole drive.
I just stared out the window.
Watching the city pass by in blurred lights.
Pretending I didn't feel anything.
Even though it was eating at me from the inside.
When we got home—
Chak didn't say a word.
He went straight to the small bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the silence.
I walked to the living room.
Sat down on the couch.
Waited.
Minutes passed.
The door opened.
Chak stepped out.
Clean.
Quiet.
He glanced at me.
Just briefly.
He said:
"I'll be in the office… if you need anything."
And walked away.
Like nothing had happened.
Like I hadn't just pushed him away.
Like he was giving me space—
Even if it cost him.
Minutes passed slowly.
Too slowly.
Every second felt stretched, heavy, dragging against my patience.
All I wanted was his attention.
Just a look.
A word.
Something.
Anything.
I stood up.
Walked to the kitchen.
Silently.
Like if I made too much noise, I'd break whatever fragile distance had settled between us.
I cut some fruit.
Carefully.
Pointlessly.
Just to have a reason
Then I carried the bowl toward his office.
Step by step.
Slow.
When I reached the door I didn't knock.
I just walked in.
He was sitting at his desk.
Focused.
Completely absorbed in his work.
Papers.
Laptop.
That same calm, controlled expression.
Like nothing else existed.
Not even me.
I placed the bowl in front of him.
He didn't look up.
Not even for a second.
My chest tightened.
But I didn't say anything.
Didn't force it.
I just turned around and walked out.
Back to the living room.
Back to the silence.
I dropped onto the couch.
Letting my body sink into it.
Staring at nothing.
Thinking too much.
How do I get his attention…
And then—
A sudden weight.
"Leo."
He jumped onto me like he owned the place.
I let out a quiet breath and started petting him.
His soft fur grounding me just enough.
"He doesn't love me, Leo," I muttered softly.
He ignored that completely.
Of course.
"I swear… he doesn't even know I want his attention."
My fingers moved slowly through Leo's fur.
"He's so… annoying."
A small pause.
"But also.."
I exhaled.
"He's so hot and cold at the same time."
Leo blinked at me.
Unbothered.
I kept talking anyway.
"Like when he works…"
I stared ahead, lost in the image.
"When his hair falls over his forehead… and he just pushes it back like it's nothing…"
My lips pressed together slightly.
"And he still looks like some kind of Ice Man."
I scoffed softly.
"It's unfair."
Leo shifted, getting more comfortable on me.
And I kept going.
Because it was easier to talk to him than face what I was actually feeling.
"And that Phalin…"
My jaw tightened.
"She'll see."
My fingers stilled for a moment in Leo's fur.
"She'll see that Chak only loves me."
A beat.
My voice dropped quieter.
More honest.
"You know how much I hate it?"
I swallowed.
"When she looks at him…"
My chest tightened again.
"And kisses him."
A longer pause.
"In front of me."
Silence filled the room again.
Only Leo's soft breathing grounding me.
And somewhere—
Behind that office door—
Was the person I wanted attention from the most.
Acting like I wasn't even there.
I turned my head slowly—
Toward his office.
And froze.
Chak was standing there.
Leaning against the wall.
Watching me.
Listening.
My heart skipped.
How long had he been there?
How much had he heard?
All of it?
He tilted his head slightly, his eyes still on me.
"So," he said quietly, "you told the cat everything you feel…"
A small pause.
"…instead of coming to me."
My throat tightened.
I didn't answer.
Didn't move.
I just watched him as he slowly pushed himself off the wall—
And walked toward me.
Step by step.
Calm.
Certain.
Like he already knew he had me exactly where he wanted.
He sat down on the couch.
Right beside me.
Close enough that I could feel the warmth of him again.
And without thinking—
I moved.
Took the chance.
I shifted closer and rested my head on his legs.
Looking up at him.
Straight into his eyes.
No hiding.
Not this time.
Chak looked down at me.
Something softer flickered there now.
Something real.
He leaned down slowly—
Close enough that I could feel his breath.
"I washed my lips," he murmured quietly.
A faint pause.
"So now I can kiss only yours."
My breath caught.
And then
He kissed me.
Slow.
Warm.
Like he was making up for every second of distance.
Like nothing else mattered.