The next morning, Kyrah arrived at the office earlier than usual.
She had barely placed her handbag on her desk when her phone buzzed.
Seojun: Did you eat breakfast?
Kyrah stared at the message.
She smiled.
Then typed:
Kyrah: Good morning to you too.
His reply came almost immediately.
Seojun: Good morning. Now answer the question.
Kyrah rolled her eyes.
Kyrah: Yes.
A few seconds passed.
Seojun: What did you eat?
She laughed.
Kyrah: Why are you interrogating me?
Seojun: Because you have a habit of forgetting meals when you're busy.
Kyrah looked at the screen for a moment.
He wasn't wrong.
She typed:
Kyrah: Toast and fruit.
Seojun: Good.
Then another message appeared.
Seojun: Don't skip lunch.
Kyrah smiled.
Kyrah: Yes, boss.
Seojun: I'm serious.
She put her phone down, still smiling.
"Unbelievable."
She hadn't even seen him yet, and somehow he had already managed to remind her to eat.
---
Twenty minutes later, Seojun walked into the office.
He was dressed in a dark suit, his tie perfectly arranged, his expression professional.
But the moment his eyes found Kyrah, something softened.
"Good morning."
Kyrah looked up.
"Good morning."
He walked toward her desk.
"You ate?"
Kyrah stared at him.
"Seriously?"
He smiled.
"I'm checking."
"Yes."
"Good."
He glanced at the papers scattered across her desk.
"You're already working?"
"I've been here for twenty minutes."
"That's not an answer."
Kyrah laughed.
"What do you want me to do? Sit and stare at the wall?"
"If that's what it takes to make you rest."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're becoming very controlling."
"Only when necessary."
Kyrah smiled.
"I'm perfectly fine."
Seojun looked at her for a moment.
Then his gaze briefly dropped toward her stomach.
It was subtle.
Almost unnoticeable.
But Kyrah noticed.
She instinctively placed a folder across her lap.
Seojun immediately looked back at her face.
He didn't comment.
That was one of the things Kyrah appreciated about him.
He noticed things.
But he didn't make her feel exposed.
"I have a meeting in ten minutes," he said. "Don't disappear before then."
"I won't."
"And Kyrah?"
"Yes?"
"Wear something comfortable today."
She frowned.
"Why?"
"Because we're going through the HANEUL HOME testing facility this afternoon."
"Oh."
"You'll be walking around for a while."
"I can handle walking."
"I know."
He smiled.
"I just want you comfortable."
Then he walked away.
Kyrah watched him go.
For some reason, her heart felt strangely warm.
---
The morning passed quickly.
Kyrah worked with Flora, Xiumin, and Leo Yunin on the latest HANEUL HOME reports.
Seojun occasionally stopped by.
Not enough to make anyone suspicious.
Just enough for Kyrah to notice.
Once, he brought updated figures for the project.
Another time, he asked about a client issue.
Later, he stood beside her desk while they discussed the next testing phase.
Nothing romantic.
Nothing obvious.
Just work.
But there was something about the way he listened to her.
He never interrupted.
He never dismissed her ideas.
Even when he disagreed, he asked questions first.
And Kyrah had begun to appreciate that.
She didn't realize how much until one of their discussions lasted nearly twenty minutes.
Seojun leaned against the edge of her desk.
"So you want to delay the next demonstration?"
"By two days."
"Why?"
"Because the system is functioning, but I don't like the data we're getting from the environmental sensors."
"What's wrong with it?"
"The readings aren't consistent."
He nodded.
"I noticed."
Kyrah looked surprised.
"You did?"
"Yes."
She smiled.
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
"I wanted to see if you noticed it too."
Kyrah laughed.
"You were testing me?"
"No."
He looked at her.
"I was confirming that we're thinking the same way."
For some reason, that sentence stayed with her.
We're thinking the same way.
It felt good.
---
At lunch, Kyrah sat with Flora.
She opened her meal.
Before she could take her first bite, Seojun appeared.
Flora looked up.
"Sir."
"Flora."
He looked at Kyrah.
"Is that everything you're eating?"
Kyrah sighed.
"Please don't start."
"I'm only asking."
"I'm eating."
He looked at the plate.
"Good."
Flora tried not to smile.
Seojun noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He gave her a suspicious look before turning back to Kyrah.
"I have another meeting."
Kyrah nodded.
"Okay."
He hesitated.
"Do you need anything?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
He walked away.
Flora waited until he was out of earshot.
Then she looked at Kyrah.
"You two are interesting."
Kyrah continued eating.
"No, we're not."
"He checks on you constantly."
"He's my boss."
"He doesn't check on Xiumin like that."
Kyrah looked at her.
"Maybe Xiumin doesn't forget to eat."
Flora laughed.
"Maybe."
Kyrah shook her head.
"Stop."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
Flora smiled.
"I like him."
Kyrah looked down at her food.
"So do I."
Flora's eyebrows rose.
Kyrah immediately corrected herself.
"I mean, I like him as a person."
"I know."
"Good."
"But I didn't say anything."
Kyrah laughed.
"You're annoying."
---
That afternoon, the team visited the testing facility.
The building was larger than Kyrah expected.
Engineers were already working on the latest system.
Kyrah moved from one station to another, asking questions and checking results.
Seojun stayed nearby.
Not hovering.
Just there.
At one point, Kyrah crouched to inspect a connection beneath one of the smart-home panels.
She stood up too quickly.
The room tilted for a second.
She reached for the nearest surface.
Seojun was beside her before she could steady herself.
His hand caught her elbow.
"Kyrah."
She blinked.
"I'm okay."
"Are you dizzy?"
"A little."
"Sit down."
"Seojun—"
"Please."
His voice was gentle.
That stopped her.
She sat on a nearby chair.
He crouched slightly in front of her.
"Did you eat enough?"
Kyrah sighed.
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He looked at her for another second.
Then he handed her a bottle of water.
"Drink."
She accepted it.
"Thank you."
He stood.
"I'll handle the next part."
Kyrah frowned.
"No."
"Kyrah."
"I can work."
"I know you can."
He looked at her.
"But you don't have to prove it every five minutes."
She stared at him.
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Then she smiled.
"Okay."
He smiled back.
"Good."
He walked away.
Kyrah watched him.
There was no pity in his expression.
No judgment.
No suggestion that she was weak.
Just concern.
And somehow, that meant more.
---
Later, as they left the facility, the sun was beginning to set.
Kyrah walked beside Seojun.
"You didn't have to take over for me."
"I know."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
She smiled.
"You're very stubborn."
"So are you."
"I don't think I'm stubborn."
He looked at her.
"Really?"
"Yes."
He laughed.
Kyrah smiled.
It was strange.
She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed this easily around a man.
With Jinyoung, everything had eventually become complicated.
With Seojun, nothing had happened.
And perhaps that was why she felt safe.
There were no promises.
No demands.
No expectations.
Just small moments.
A message asking if she'd eaten.
A cup of water.
A ride home.
A conversation about work.
A smile across a conference room.
Nothing she needed to explain.
Nothing she needed to fear.
As they reached the car, Seojun opened the door for her.
Kyrah paused.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
She got inside.
Before closing the door, she looked at him.
"Seojun?"
"Yes?"
"I'm glad you're my friend."
For the briefest moment, something changed in his eyes.
Then he smiled.
"I'm glad too."
He closed the door.
Kyrah leaned back against the seat.
She didn't see the way Seojun stood there for a moment after closing her door.
She didn't know how much those four words had affected him.
I'm glad you're my friend.
Friend.
For now, he could live with that.
Because Seojun knew something Kyrah didn't.
He wasn't in a hurry.
He would rather earn her trust one day at a time than rush her into something she wasn't ready for.
that was the beginning of something neither of them was ready to name.