Grace's POV
I had been standing outside the office for almost a minute.
My hand was still wrapped around the strap of my bag.
Should I go in?
Or...
Could I pretend I suddenly had somewhere else to be?
I sighed.
It's fine.
He probably doesn't even remember what I said.
...
He definitely remembers.
I closed my eyes for a second.
Why did I say he looked sleep-deprived?
And why did I let them turn it into "old, bald boss with ulterior motives"?
I really needed to stop talking around people.
Taking a deep breath, I finally stepped toward the gate.
Just then—
A loud engine roared past me.
"Ah—!"
I immediately stepped back.
A black super bike entered through the gate and came to a smooth stop near the small parking area.
The rider switched off the engine.
Then removed his helmet.
I froze.
Rian sir.
...
Oh no.
I immediately looked toward the office entrance.
Maybe if I went inside quickly enough—
I turned around and started walking.
Fast.
Very fast.
"Ms. Grace."
I froze.
...
Too late.
I slowly turned around.
He was standing beside his bike, helmet still in one hand.
I gave him an awkward smile.
"Good morning, sir."
He raised an eyebrow.
"I don't think I'm scary enough to make someone run away."
My smile stiffened.
"Ah..."
Think.
Think.
"I wasn't running because of you."
He looked at me.
I laughed awkwardly.
"I was running because..."
...
"...it's getting late?"
His eyes moved toward his watch.
"Oh?"
I swallowed.
That excuse sounded terrible.
"I mean—"
I took a breath.
I should just explain everything.
Before I could—
He had already started walking toward the entrance.
I hurried after him.
"Actually, sir!"
He glanced back.
"I was just telling them that you look sleep-deprived because..."
I paused.
Too late to stop.
"...your dark circles really give it off."
Silence.
I wanted the ground to open.
"I think you should try sleeping more."
He stared at me for a moment.
Then raised an eyebrow.
"Oh."
A faint smile appeared.
"Thanks for caring too much."
He continued walking.
"Sir!"
He didn't turn around.
"I have some work."
I stopped.
"..."
Great.
---
I eventually sat down at my desk.
I needed something to distract myself.
So I opened my drawing software.
A blank canvas appeared.
Slowly, I began sketching.
A tall figure.
Slender.
But not fragile.
Strong shoulders.
Sharp features.
Messy hair.
I added very faint shadows beneath his eyes.
Then adjusted the hair again.
"..."
I stared at the finished character.
It looked...
familiar.
I zoomed in.
Then, almost out of spite, I created another character beside him.
Short.
Slightly heavier.
Bald.
Deep dark circles.
A distinctly older appearance.
I looked between the two drawings.
"..."
Much better.
I was still comparing them when my phone rang.
I immediately reached for it.
Mom.
My expression fell.
I saved the drawing quickly and closed the tab before walking toward the washroom.
I answered the call.
"Hello?"
"You're still working there, aren't you?"
I sighed.
"I am. So?"
"Is that how you speak to your elders?"
I clenched my jaw.
"If I remember correctly, I never permitted you to work there."
"But Dad did."
"He clearly didn't want you to."
"But he let me anyway."
There was silence.
Then—
"Don't you care even a little about your family's reputation?"
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"First you worked at that café as a waiter, and now this—"
"Let's talk about this at home."
I kept my voice flat.
"I have work."
I ended the call.
For a moment, I simply stood there.
Then I took a breath.
I couldn't let it affect my work.
Not here.
---
When I walked out of the washroom, my expression had returned to normal.
I wasn't really looking where I was going.
So—
Thud.
"Ouch—"
I looked up.
"...Sir."
He was standing there.
"I am so sorry."
He squinted slightly.
"I guess you aren't focused today, Ms. Grace."
"No, it's not that. I just—"
I stopped.
Actually...
This was a good opportunity.
"Sir, I want to talk to you for a moment."
"Why?"
"I won't waste your time."
I gestured toward my desk.
"Just a moment."
He followed.
I opened my tablet.
Two drawings appeared side by side.
Rian looked at the screen.
Then at me.
I immediately started explaining.
"Sir, when I was talking about you yesterday..."
I pointed toward the first drawing.
"I was only making an observation."
"I didn't mean to comment on your appearance."
Then I pointed toward the second.
"But they somehow interpreted it as every boss being old, bald and having bad intentions."
I sighed.
"It wasn't entirely my fault, but I did start the discussion."
"So..."
"I'm sorry."
I looked up.
Rian's expression was strange.
His lips were twitching.
Was he...
trying not to smile?
"Sir?"
He looked at me.
"Did I say something wrong?"
His smile finally escaped.
"So you made these drawings..."
He glanced at the tablet.
"...just to explain this whole thing?"
I looked at the drawings.
Then back at him.
"...Yes?"
He chuckled.
"I was only teasing you."
I blinked.
"...What?"
"You didn't have to explain yourself this much."
He turned toward the door.
"Go back to work."
Then, without looking back—
"...Silly."
He walked away.
I remained completely still.
"..."
Silly?
I looked down at my tablet.
Then toward his office.
"..."
Did he just call me silly?
For some reason...
that one word stayed in my head much longer than everything else he had said that morning.
Kaizer's POV
The apartment was quiet.
Iris was still at the café.
I sat with my guitar across my lap, examining the strings.
They had started sounding dull lately.
I had been putting it off for a while.
Not anymore.
I carefully loosened the old strings and replaced them one by one, taking my time to make sure each one sat properly.
After replacing the last string, I adjusted the tuning and ran my fingers across them.
A few chords.
Once.
Twice.
I listened.
"..."
Better.
The sound was cleaner now.
I nodded to myself before picking up a cloth and wiping the guitar down.
I had just started putting it back in its case when—
My phone rang.
I glanced at the screen.
Uncle.
I frowned slightly.
Why was he calling now?
I picked it up and carried the guitar toward my room.
"Hello?"
"Kaizer, how are you?"
"Fine."
I placed the guitar carefully beside the bed.
"Why did you suddenly call?"
There was a small pause on the other end.
"Uhh..."
"You forgot?"
"...Forgot what?"
"Look at tomorrow's date."
I frowned.
"Okay."
I checked my phone.
Tomorrow's date appeared on the screen.
I stared at it.
For a moment, nothing came to mind.
Then—
...
My fingers stopped moving.
I remembered.
I didn't say anything.
"Now you remember?"
"...Hm."
My uncle's voice softened.
"It's okay, Kaizer."
"We're going to visit your mother's grave tomorrow."
"You're coming, right?"
"I am."
"Hm. Okay."
I was about to end the call when—
"Ah..."
"I forgot to tell you something."
I waited.
"Your father..."
A pause.
"...will also be there."
Silence.
My jaw tightened.
For a few seconds, I said nothing.
Then—
"Okay."
I ended the call.
The phone landed on the bed.
I stood there for a moment.
Then I turned around and fell backward onto the mattress.
My eyes fixed on the ceiling.
...
Tomorrow.
My mother's grave.
And him.
I said nothing.
I simply stared at the ceiling.
The room remained silent.