Next day
Morning came quietly.
Soft light slipped through the curtains, brushing gently across the room.
I blinked awake slowly, my body still heavy, wrapped in warmth.
For a moment, I didn't move.
Just lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting everything from last night settle in my mind.
Then I shifted slightly—
And froze.
A sharp ache spread through my body, making me inhale softly.
"…ah," I breathed under my nose.
Right.
Carefully, I pushed myself up, moving slower this time, more aware of every small sensation. My cheeks warmed slightly at the memory, at the feeling that still lingered.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up—
very carefully.
Each step was slow, cautious as I made my way out of the bedroom.
The house was quiet.
I walked toward the stairs, one hand lightly resting on the railing for support.
But the moment I stepped down—
A stronger wave of discomfort hit me.
I paused, gripping the railing a little tighter.
Before I could take another step—
"Niran."
His voice.
I looked up.
Chak was already there, walking toward me, his expression shifting the moment he saw me.
Concern.
Without a word, he closed the distance between us and gently lifted me into his arms.
"Chak—"
"Don't," he murmured softly.
I didn't argue.
Instead, I let myself relax against him, my arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as he carried me down the rest of the stairs.
He brought me into the kitchen and carefully set me down on a chair.
Then he leaned in—
And placed a soft kiss on my lips.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
I nodded almost immediately.
"I'm fine."
But the moment I shifted slightly in the chair—
A small wince escaped me before I could stop it.
My cheeks flushed instantly.
Chak noticed.
Of course he did.
He didn't say anything for a second.
He just looked at me—
that same knowing look.
Then he turned and walked to the counter.
A moment later, he came back with a glass of water and a small pack in his hand.
"Take this," he said gently, placing it in front of me.
Painkillers.
I looked up at him again, a little embarrassed, a little… soft.
"You didn't have to—"
"I know," he cut in quietly.
His hand moved to my hair, brushing through it slowly, the same way he always did when he wanted to calm me.
"But I wanted to."
Something in my chest tightened at that.
Not from pain this time.
From him.
We ate breakfast quietly.
Not an uncomfortable silence—
but a soft one.
The kind that didn't need words.
Every now and then, my eyes lifted to him.
And every time—
He was already looking at me.
Like he hadn't stopped since last night.
My cheeks warmed, and I quickly looked back at my plate.
Chak said nothing.
But the faint curve of his lips said enough.
After breakfast, he stood up first.
Then his eyes moved to me.
Before I could even react—
He stepped closer and lifted me into his arms again.
"Chak…" I murmured, my voice a mix of protest and embarrassment.
"You're not walking like this," he replied simply.
There was no arguing with that tone.
I let out a quiet breath and wrapped my arms around his neck as he carried me back to the bedroom.
He set me down gently on the bed.
"I can do it myself," I said quickly, already reaching for my clothes.
But the moment I tried to move—
I froze.
A small wince slipped out.
Chak raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…sure you can?"
I didn't answer.
Instead, I looked away.
That was answer enough.
He stepped closer again, picking up my shirt.
"Arms," he said softly.
My face flushed instantly.
"This is embarrassing…" I muttered under my breath.
Chak didn't react to that.
Or maybe he did—just not in the way I expected.
His movements stayed gentle.
Careful.
Like this wasn't something awkward to him at all.
Like taking care of me… was the most natural thing in the world.
Slowly, he helped me get dressed, adjusting everything with quiet focus.
I avoided his eyes the whole time.
But I could feel them on me.
And somehow… that only made it worse.
Once I was dressed, he got ready himself—quick, effortless.
And then, just like before—
He picked me up again.
I didn't even protest this time.
In the hallway, he set me down briefly on the bench and crouched in front of me.
I watched him, a little stunned, as he reached for my shoes.
"You don't have to do that," I said softly.
"I know," he replied again.
Same answer.
Same calm tone.
He slipped my shoes on carefully, making sure everything was comfortable before straightening up again.
Then—
Back into his arms.
Outside, the air was fresh, cool against my skin.
He carried me all the way to the car, opened the door, and gently placed me inside.
Before stepping back, he leaned in—
Pulling the seatbelt across me and clicking it into place.
For a second, he didn't move away.
He just stayed there.
Close.
His gaze met mine.
Soft.
Quiet.
"You good?" he asked.
I nodded slowly.
"…yeah."
A small pause.
Then, quietly—
"Thank you."
Something in his expression shifted again.
Softened even more.
He reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
"Of course," he murmured.
And just like that—
My chest tightened again.
Not from pain.
But from how much he cared.
When we arrived at the old town, Chak parked the car and paused for a moment.
His eyes turned to me.
Concerned.
"Will you be okay?" he asked quietly.
I looked at him for a second, then nodded.
"Yeah… I'll manage."
I leaned closer and gave him a quick kiss.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Something in his expression softened, but he didn't say anything.
I stepped out of the car slowly.
Very slowly.
I could feel every step.
But I still walked forward, toward work—
like everything was normal.
Like nothing hurt.
When I reached the office and pushed the door open, I barely took a few steps—
"Niran?"
Non.
Of course.
He noticed immediately.
"Why are you walking like that?" he asked, clearly confused.
I paused for a second.
"…I fell off a chair today," I said calmly.
Non looked at me.
Once.
Twice.
He didn't believe me.
Not even a little.
And then—
The door opened.
Chak.
His presence instantly changed the atmosphere in the room.
Silence.
That familiar, heavy silence.
"Ah…" someone muttered quietly.
"It's one of those days again…"
Chak's gaze was cold.
Sharp.
For a brief moment, it stopped on me—
And then…
Like nothing had happened.
"Coffee. Now."
No eye contact.
No emotion.
Just an order.
I let out a quiet breath and turned toward the kitchen.
"Yeah… sure…" I muttered.
Non was still watching me, now with a slight smirk.
Like he was starting to connect the dots.
"A chair, huh?" he added quietly.
I ignored him
Once the coffee was ready, I carefully carried it to Chak's office.
I knocked and stepped inside.
He was sitting at his desk.
Focused.
Like he hadn't just been… that person outside.
I placed the cup in front of him.
For a moment, he didn't react.
Then—
His gaze lifted.
Straight to me.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
A completely different tone.
Soft.
Real.
I swallowed.
"…it still hurts," I admitted softly.
For a moment, he didn't move.
He just looked at me.
And in his eyes—
There was no coldness left.
Only concern.
I stepped out of Chak's office and quietly closed the door behind me.
For a moment, I just stood there, taking a breath.
Then—back to work.
Like nothing had happened.
The office slowly filled with the usual sounds—
keyboards clicking, papers shifting, quiet conversations.
I tried to focus.
Tried.
But then—
The atmosphere changed.
Again.
A subtle shift.
Like everyone felt it at the same time.
Pim leaned slightly toward me, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Drama princess is here."
I closed my eyes for a brief second.
Of course she is.
I took a slow, deep breath and straightened up in my chair.
"Act normal," I muttered under my breath.
"Too late for that," Pim whispered back, trying not to smile.
I kept my eyes on my work.
Didn't look up.
Didn't react.
Like I hadn't heard anything.
Like I didn't know exactly who just walked in.
But I could feel it.
That presence.
Close.
Step by step
And then—
They stopped right next to our desk.
Phalin.
And her brother.
I didn't look up immediately.
I forced myself to finish the line I was typing.
One word.
Two.
Then slowly—
I lifted my gaze.
Phalin didn't wait.
The moment our eyes met, she stepped closer.
Too close.
Her gaze locked onto mine—sharp, calculating.
"I think you're forgetting your place," she said quietly.
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it didn't need to be.
"I don't like people who overstep," she continued, her lips curving slightly. "And I especially don't like being made to look like a fool."
My fingers tightened slightly under the desk.
I didn't answer.
Didn't react.
Just held her gaze.
Then—
Laughter.
Light.
Unexpected.
It cut straight through the tension like it didn't belong there at all.
Everyone turned.
Including her.
Anamarija.
And Vikran.
They walked in together, still laughing about something, completely untouched by the heavy atmosphere in the room.
The shift was immediate.
Chairs moved.
People stood up.
Respect.
Every single employee straightened, lowering their heads slightly.
Anamarija glanced around once—
Calm.
Confident.
She gave a small nod.
That was enough.
Then her attention shifted back to Vikran.
And she smiled.
Soft.
Real.
Like everything else disappeared when she looked at him.
I noticed it immediately.
Phalin's brother.
The way his expression changed.
That small flicker—
Jealousy.
Sharp.
Uncontrolled.
He stepped forward.
Straight toward her.
"I don't know if you're aware," he said, his voice smooth, almost amused, "but you're my girlfriend."
The room stilled.
Anamarija's expression didn't change at first.
Then—
She looked at him.
Cold.
"I'm not your girlfriend," she said flatly. "And I never will be."
A pause.
Then he smiled.
Like he found that funny .
"You're wrong," he replied calmly.
His eyes didn't leave hers.
"The moment Phalin got married…" he continued slowly, "you became mine."
A beat.
"My girlfriend."
Another step closer.
"And my fiancée."
Silence.
Heavy.
Tense.
"I don't believe you," Anamarija said, her voice steady—but sharper now.