Alina's footsteps quickened as she rushed to the café, her thoughts tangled. The words she had overheard at the bookstore still echoed in her ears, refusing to fade. It can't be… all this time I thought he was cruel, arrogant… but I was wrong.
She burst through the café door, scanning for Maya. "Maya!" she called, her voice sharper than she intended. Maya, who was balancing an order slip, blinked at her in confusion. "What's wrong? I thought today was your off-day, why are you—"
"Just tell me," Alina cut her off, almost breathless, "is there a delivery order to Arden Entertainment?"
Maya tilted her head, clearly baffled. "Arden Entertainment? Yeah, there's one. But Alina, it's your day off. Why would you—"
Before she could finish, Alina snatched the tray with the neatly packed coffee cups, ignoring the questioning look on her friend's face.
"I'll take it," she said, her voice firm in a way that brooked no argument. And just like that, she was gone.
Maya was still there, standing confused, wondering what on earth Alina was up to. She came like a storm and went away just like that. Forget it, I need to concentrate on my orders just like that. She got busy making orders.
Arden Entertainment's towering building rose like a giant before her. It was the kind of place that radiated importance, intimidating enough to make even confident people falter at the entrance. But Alina didn't falter. She knew where she wanted to go. Every step carried the weight of determination, her heart pounding louder with each stride. She doesn't know why she was here, but she wanted to be here.
The receptionist, seeing the tray in her hands, smiled politely. "Delivery? Practice room, tenth floor."
Alina nodded, murmured thanks, and stepped into the elevator. The ride up felt longer than it was, her reflection staring back at her from the mirrored walls. Even the lift mirror was cleaner than the house's mirror.
When the doors opened, the sound of a man's voice reached her before anything else. Clear, calm, commanding. She followed the sound until she stood outside a door slightly ajar. Inside, rows of young faces, boys and girls no older than their early twenties, sat with their backs straight, listening intently. It was so quiet that Alina could hear every syllable.
"You've received your training for the past months," the voice said. It was steady, with a tone that demanded attention yet carried warmth. "But I want you to remember this: no matter how successful you become, never forget who you were before fame. Always remain down to earth. That humility will carry you further than talent ever will."
Alina held her breath. The words didn't match the man she had built in her head, the man she thought was arrogant, sharp, and unkind. These words were… different. Gentle, grounded. The teacher dismissed them for a break. Just then— Knock, knock.
Alina's knuckles had already tapped before she realized it. The room's silence shifted as dozens of eyes turned toward the door. She pushed it open. For a heartbeat, she stood framed in the doorway, tray balanced carefully in her hands. And then she saw him.
Dressed in quiet perfection, the kind that didn't need effort to draw attention. A soft grey shirt, the fabric slightly textured, was rolled neatly at the sleeves, revealing the veins and the sharp line of his wrist where a silver watch glinted faintly under the warm light. The shirt was tucked crisply into tailored charcoal trousers that fit just right, not too tight, not too loose, giving him that effortless, composed look.
His hair, dark and slightly tousled, fell naturally over his forehead, that deliberate kind of messy, like he'd run a hand through it a few times, but it still fell perfectly into place. Every move he made seemed unhurried, controlled the way he adjusted his sleeve, or straightened the coat hanging loosely in his hand.
The black leather shoes added a final note of understated sophistication, polished but not overly formal, just like him. There was something about the simplicity of his look, the muted tones and quiet confidence, that made him stand out more than any bold color or flashy suit ever could. He didn't need attention. The room gave it to him anyway.
His gaze snapped to hers, steady and unreadable. For a fleeting moment, the world narrowed the rows of students, the murmurs, the tension in her chest, all of it disappeared.
Her pulse quickened. "Coffee," she managed to say, her voice tighter than she wanted.
Kai broke the moment first. "Have a coffee," he said casually, his eyes flicking to the table near him.
Alina stepped in, placed the tray carefully on the table. She turned to leave without another word, her fingers trembling against the tray as she set it down. But as she straightened, their eyes met again.
One second. Two. Long enough to say everything words couldn't. Then Kai looked away. Dismissive. Detached. As if nothing had passed between them.
Alina swallowed hard, turned on her heel, and left the room. But her heart didn't leave with her. It stayed there
Alina lingered outside the practice room long after she had placed the tray of coffee inside. She told herself she should leave her job was done, but her feet betrayed her, rooted stubbornly to the ground. She didn't know what she wanted, or what words she might find if Kai himself came out. Yet still she stood there, waiting.
Seconds bled into minutes. Minutes quietly stretched into an hour. Her legs ached, her back complained, but she remained, clutching her scarf like it was the only thing keeping her steady.
Finally, unable to resist, she leaned closer to the glass window of the door, peeking inside. Her breath caught. The room was empty.
Her eyes widened. What? Not a soul, no students, no Kai. They had all been there only moments ago. She pressed her palm against the glass, baffled. How did they disappear without anyone coming out?
Driven by curiosity, she slipped inside. The silence felt heavier than it had outside, the air almost humming with secrets. That's when she noticed it: a second door at the back. It was half-opened
Her heart thudded. She followed it, step by cautious step, and found herself standing before a different hallway. A sign on the wall read: Executive Offices.
And then...his office. The sleek door loomed ahead, his nameplate shining in polished brass: Mr. Kai Arden. She tried peering through the frosted glass panel, but it was useless. The blurred outline gave away nothing.
She became aware of the stares then. People walking by slowed, their eyes darting toward her with curiosity, some with suspicion.
"Looking for someone?" a voice asked behind her.
Alina turned. A woman in her thirties, sharply dressed, studied her from top to bottom.m
"Mr. Arden?" Alina asked, her voice small. and nervous at the same time
The woman smiled politely, almost apologetically. "He has a full schedule today. He's not here right now."
Alina's shoulders slumped with disappointment. She wanted to meet him, wanted to talk with him, but the universe is not letting her meet him. She took a step back, ready to retreat, when the woman tilted her head curiously.
"Are you his fan?" she asked.
Alina blinked. What should I say? I'm here to say sorry to him. "Uh? No, I'm not."
The woman's eyes lit up, strangely relieved. "That's perfect. Would you mind helping us, then?"
"Helping…?" Alina echoed, uncertain. Why would they ask a stranger to help them? She was confused
"Yes. We're planning a surprise for Mr. Arden, and we'd love your assistance. It's nothing complicated, really; we just need an honest review."
All around her, the staff had paused their work, watching her with an odd kind of nervous expectancy. Their faces tensed, as though her refusal might ruin something far bigger than she understood.
Alina hesitated, then finally murmured, "...Alright." As long as they don't hand me over to the police station, I'm alright
Smiles spread across their faces in unison. The woman gestured for her to follow, leading her through a maze of corridors until they reached the sixteenth floor.
There, at the end of the hallway, stood a massive steel door. Unlike the others, it didn't have a handle, only a sleek card reader. The woman slid her ID badge against it. A soft beep echoed, and the lock released with a click. The heavy door swung open slowly, like the entrance to a world Alina was never meant to see.
The door creaked open with a soft hiss, and Alina instinctively held her breath.
As her foot crossed the threshold, a faint motion sensor triggered lights to flicker to life one by one, chasing away the darkness in an elegant rhythm. White and golden hues bathed the space, glowing softly from ceiling panels like rising dawn. The corridor ahead stretched with a hushed grandeur.
Alina froze. Her lips parted. What is this place?
"It's an exhibition," the woman beside her whispered, as though the word itself was sacred.
Alina turned, blinking rapidly, her voice a stammer. "Ex… exhibition? Of what?"
The lady smiled gently, as though revealing a secret. "Of him. Mr. Arden. This is a surprise we've been working on. Ten years have passed. Since he first stepped into this industry. We, the employees of Arden Entertainment, wanted to do something to honor him. Something he won't expect."
Alina's eyes widened further, her gaze darting from wall to wall as more lights came alive. The woman continued, her voice calm yet filled with pride. "He doesn't know about this, of course. It's a secret. And not just us, his fans helped too. They've been extraordinary. The loyalty he's built… It's something rare. Everyone loves him more than words can say."
Alina's breath quickened, the words echoing strangely inside her chest. Kai Arden…