The atmosphere in the office stayed unusually tense even after the emotional moment passed.
Most people still looked confused, though nobody dared ask direct questions. They clearly understood that whatever connection existed between Anamarija and the Phanprasit family was personal enough not to question openly.
Anamarija, meanwhile, had already regained most of her composure.
That calm confidence returned to her expression so naturally it almost made me wonder if I had imagined the vulnerable look from earlier.
Almost.
A few moments later, the office doors opened again.
This time Chak stepped out of his office.
The second his eyes landed on the group gathered near us, his expression softened slightly.
"Mother," he greeted calmly before looking toward Malai. "Phi."
Then his gaze shifted toward Anamarija for a brief second.
"And you."
Anamarija smirked lightly. "Very warm greeting."
"You're lucky you got one at all."
Vikran snorted quietly beside her while I tried not to laugh.
Chak's mother sighed fondly at the two of them before Chak spoke again.
"We're going to lunch," he said. "Come with us."
It sounded less like an invitation and more like a decision already made.
Malai immediately nodded, but Anamarija shook her head gently.
"Another time."
Chak lifted an eyebrow slightly.
"I want to spend time with my friends today," she added casually while motioning toward us.
For a second, Chak looked like he wanted to argue.
Then surprisingly, he let it go.
"Fine."
Chak's mother stepped closer to Anamarija again before carefully fixing a strand of hair behind her ear with unmistakable affection.
"Take care of yourself," she said softly.
"I will."
"And I expect a gift from your trip."
That immediately made Anamarija laugh quietly.
"A gift?"
"Yes."
Anamarija crossed her arms dramatically like she was deeply considering it.
"Then I'll choose something very valuable for you."
"You being safe is already valuable enough."
The softness in Chak's mother's voice made Anamarija's expression gentler again for a brief second.
Then Malai smiled warmly at her too before the three of them finally started heading toward the elevators together.
Chak followed after them, but right before entering, he glanced back toward me briefly.
Just one look.
But enough to make my chest tighten again.
Then the elevator doors closed.
The second they disappeared, Pim turned toward Anamarija so fast it was almost terrifying.
"You seriously kept all of THAT secret?!"
Anamarija blinked innocently. "I like surprises."
"That wasn't a surprise," Pim said dramatically. "That was emotional damage."
Even Amara laughed at that while Non shook his head quietly.
Vikran looked entirely too entertained by everyone's reactions.
Then suddenly Anamarija clapped her hands once.
"Anyway," she announced casually, "since certain rich people abandoned us for corporate lunch meetings…"
Her eyes moved across all of us.
"Let's go eat."
Pim gasped immediately. "Our place?"
"Our place."
That alone instantly improved everyone's mood.
A little while later, we were all sitting together at the small restaurant we usually visited near the company building.
The atmosphere there always felt different from the office.
Lighter.
Safer somehow.
Pim and Amara sat across from us arguing over drinks while Non quietly listened beside them with the expression of someone already regretting joining the conversation.
Meanwhile, Vikran sat beside Anamarija looking far too relaxed for someone constantly getting dragged into chaos.
And somehow…
For the first time that day, I finally relaxed too.
Lunch passed surprisingly peacefully.
Mostly because everyone kept teasing Anamarija.
"So," Pim said while leaning forward dramatically, "since you're apparently rich now, I also expect gifts."
Amara immediately nodded. "Same."
Non raised his hand slightly. "I support this request."
Anamarija looked at all of them with fake disbelief.
"You people are unbelievable."
Pim pointed toward me immediately. "Niran too."
I nearly choked on my drink.
"Why me?"
"Because you'll definitely get something too."
Anamarija looked toward me thoughtfully before smiling slightly.
"That part is true."
I shook my head with a quiet laugh. "You really don't have to buy me anything."
"Hm," she hummed casually. "Too late."
Pim looked extremely satisfied by that answer.
Then Amara suddenly turned toward Vikran.
"What about you?"
He looked up lazily. "What about me?"
"What gift do you want?"
For the first time since lunch started, Vikran's expression softened slightly.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
Then he glanced sideways toward Anamarija sitting beside him before answering calmly,
"Nothing."
Pim narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Why?"
Vikran leaned back in his chair comfortably.
"Because I already have it."
The table instantly exploded into reactions.
Pim nearly screamed.
Amara grabbed Non's arm dramatically.
Even I couldn't stop myself from laughing quietly.
Meanwhile, Anamarija stared at Vikran for a second before rolling her eyes, though the faint color rising to her cheeks completely betrayed her.
"You're annoying," she muttered.
Vikran only smirked slightly.
And somehow, surrounded by laughter, teasing, and warm noise filling the small restaurant…
Everything finally felt normal again.
By the time we finished eating, the table had dissolved completely into relaxed conversation and constant teasing.
Pim was still emotionally affected by Vikran's earlier comment.
"You really said that so casually," she complained while standing up from the table. "'I already have it.' Who even talks like that?"
Vikran looked completely unbothered. "Me."
"You're unbelievable."
Anamarija sighed dramatically beside him. "You see what I deal with?"
"You like dealing with it," Amara pointed out immediately.
The faint look Anamarija gave her was answer enough.
I couldn't stop myself from smiling a little as we all started walking back toward the company building together.
The afternoon sun reflected softly against the streets while conversations blended together naturally around us.
For once, everything felt light.
Easy.
As we walked, Anamarija suddenly moved beside me.
"You know," she said quietly, "I still can't believe you're actually coming."
I glanced at her. "You invited us."
"I know, but still."
There was excitement in her eyes now.
Real excitement.
"I can't wait to show you everything."
I laughed softly. "Everything?"
"Yes. Everything."
"She means literally everything," Vikran said from behind us.
Anamarija ignored him completely.
"You're going to love it," she continued while looking at me. "The mountains, the lakes, the streets, the cafés—"
"And the food?" Pim interrupted immediately.
Anamarija gasped dramatically. "Especially the food."
That instantly earned everyone's attention.
Amara pointed at her seriously. "We also want pictures."
"Lots of pictures," Pim added.
"Your homeland better be as beautiful as you describe," Non said quietly.
Anamarija smiled warmly at all of them.
"I'll send you everything," she promised. "Pictures, videos… maybe even souvenirs if I'm feeling generous."
Pim looked suspicious. "Maybe?"
"I need to maintain mystery."
Non laughed softly while Amara shook her head fondly.
Then Pim suddenly turned toward Vikran again.
"Wait," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Are you going with her?"
For a second, Vikran stayed quiet.
Then he shook his head once.
"No."
Anamarija looked toward him briefly but didn't interrupt.
"I'm going to Japan," he explained calmly. "Work."
Pim immediately looked disappointed. "That sounds less romantic."
"It is less romantic."
"I thought you'd dramatically follow her across countries."
Vikran smirked slightly. "I prefer peace."
"That's a lie," Anamarija said instantly.
Honestly…
She wasn't wrong.
By the time we returned to the company building, the atmosphere around us had shifted again.
Softer now.
Bittersweet.
Because suddenly the reality of Anamarija leaving actually felt real.
The closer we got to the entrance, the quieter everyone became.
Even Pim stopped talking for once.
When we stepped inside the lobby, Anamarija finally slowed down before turning toward Amara, Non, and Pim properly.
"I guess this is where I start saying goodbye."
Pim's expression immediately crumbled.
"No."
Amara looked emotional too, though she was trying to hide it better.
Non failed completely.
The second Anamarija hugged him, he started crying almost instantly.
Actual tears.
"Oh no," Anamarija laughed softly despite her own watery eyes. "Non…"
Pim immediately wrapped an arm around him dramatically.
"Stay strong," she told him while looking equally emotional herself.
"I am strong," Non argued weakly while crying harder.
That only made all of us laugh quietly.
Even through the sadness.
Anamarija hugged Amara next, then Pim, holding both of them tightly for a few extra seconds like she didn't fully want to let go yet.
When she stepped back again, her eyes were visibly shining now.
Still smiling.
But emotional.
Then she looked at all of them carefully before speaking softly.
"I think…" she started quietly, "the time has finally come for me to leave Thailand."
The lobby fell silent around us.
Her gaze softened further.
"And travel with my brothers, my sister, Niran, Kit, and Taeng…"
She paused briefly before smiling gently.
"To the country I come from."
Her eyes drifted upward for a second, almost thoughtful.
"The country that carries love in its name."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Slovenia."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Pim immediately burst into tears again.
"That sounds way too emotional," she cried dramatically.
Amara laughed through her own tears while Non wiped his face unsuccessfully.
And standing there beside all of them, watching Anamarija smile with that mixture of sadness, excitement, and hope in her eyes…
I realized this wasn't just a trip anymore.
It felt like the beginning of something much bigger.