The atmosphere at Soun Company buzzed with the usual rhythm of activity—stylists darting back and forth with racks of clothing, make-up artists blending and touching up faces under the bright vanity lights, models moving in and out of fitting rooms as cameras flashed in the background.
Saphirra had fallen into this routine so naturally that her hands almost moved on their own. She adjusted collars, checked hair strands for flyaways, and offered polite smiles to the models she worked with. Outwardly, she was every inch the reliable stylist, blending seamlessly into the background of the industry.
But today, something felt different.
Her bag was a little heavier than usual. Inside it rested the sleek weight of her laptop, the one she hadn't opened in front of anyone from Soun Company in a very long time. Just knowing it was there made her chest tighten with a strange mix of excitement and unease.
When the clock struck breaktime, Saphirra slipped away from the usual chatter of the cafeteria tables. Instead of joining the cluster of colleagues gossiping about actors and models, she carried her lunch tray to the farthest corner by the tall windows. The sunlight pooled there, warm and bright, yet secluded enough that she felt hidden.
She set down her tray, pulled her laptop out, and placed it gently beside her food. For a moment, she hesitated. Her fingers brushed across the lid, lingering as though it were some forbidden object. Then, with a quiet breath, she opened it.
The familiar glow of the screen reflected against her eyes, and instantly, the world around her seemed to fade. While others laughed and gossiped, Saphirra's world shrank to the text and diagrams sprawled across the monitor.
She chewed absently at her lunch, scrolling through articles about new development frameworks, updated coding languages, and emerging tools in software architecture. Her curiosity tugged her deeper—into discussions about data integration systems, artificial intelligence models, and user-interface innovations.
Her mind absorbed the words hungrily, as though she had been starving for this for years. Every explanation, every diagram sparked that old fire inside her, the one she had tried to smother when she agreed with Travier to leave the tech world behind.
She remembered her time in college, the classes she never got to finish—nights spent poring over textbooks and coding until dawn. She remembered the spark of pride whenever she solved a bug no one else could. And she remembered the heavy disappointment when life forced her to set it all aside.
Now, just a glimpse back into that world was enough to reignite the ache in her chest.
Saphirra bit her lower lip, her fork tapping lightly against her tray as her thoughts raced. What if I could still do it? What if I could still create something, even while working here?
She knew Travier wouldn't approve. He wanted her beside him, wanted her far away from the world of tech and its constant grind. But sitting there, her heart fluttered with a quiet defiance. She wasn't just a make-up artist. She wasn't just a supportive wife waiting at home. She had a mind that thrived on building, solving, and innovating.
Her thumb brushed the edge of Laren's business card, tucked carefully into her notebook. The words "Aetherion Technologies" almost seemed to glow in her memory, along with the deep, commanding voice she had heard on the phone yesterday—Mr. Flame's voice.
That memory sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.
She quickly shut her laptop for a moment, leaning back in her chair, her pulse quickening. The cafeteria noise returned to her ears—distant laughter, clinking utensils, footsteps. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.
But even as she tried to push the thought away, her hand drifted back to her laptop, fingertips grazing its smooth surface. She couldn't resist.
'Maybe it's fine, Travier wasn't even here...'
Opening it again, she dove deeper into the world she longed for, her eyes scanning codes and articles, her heart thudding with both guilt and exhilaration.
To anyone watching, she was just a young woman on her break, eating lunch and casually browsing the internet. But inside, Saphirra knew—this wasn't casual. This was the seed of something she had buried long ago, now threatening to grow again.
And she wasn't sure she could stop it this time.
Saphirra was too absorbed in the glowing screen to notice the footsteps approaching. She had just bookmarked a page on new AI-driven integration systems when a familiar voice chimed beside her.
"There you are! I thought I'd find you hiding in some corner."
Saphirra jumped slightly, snapping her head up. Kairie Veyra stood there with a wide smile, her lunch tray in hand. Her auburn hair caught the sunlight from the tall cafeteria windows, and her bright eyes crinkled warmly. Without waiting for permission, Kairie slid into the chair across from her and set down her tray.
Saphirra blinked, then quickly tried to angle her laptop screen away, but it was too late. Kairie leaned forward, curiosity piqued.
"What's this?" Kairie's brow furrowed as her eyes caught a glimpse of the open tabs. Rows of technical articles, charts, and code snippets filled the screen. "You're... researching programming tools? Data systems?"
Saphirra bit her lip and instinctively closed the laptop, hugging it to her chest like a shield. "It's nothing," she said quickly. "Just... passing the time."
But Kairie wasn't convinced. Her frown deepened as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Passing the time? Saphirra, don't lie to me. I know what I just saw—you're reading heavy tech articles, not some casual blog post."
Saphirra averted her gaze, fiddling with the edge of her lunch box. Her voice came out softer. "It's just... something I've always been interested in."
Kairie sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "I know you, remember? I know you were studying all this back in college before you dropped it. But—" her voice lowered, serious now—"I also know Travier doesn't want you involved in that world again. He made it clear. So why are you diving back into it?"
The words hit harder than Saphirra expected. She looked at Kairie, eyes wide, and then quickly down at her untouched lunch. A wave of guilt pricked at her chest.
"I'm not... I'm not diving back into anything," she murmured defensively. "I was just... curious. That's all."
But even as she said it, her fingers drummed nervously against the laptop lid.
Kairie tilted her head, studying her closely. "Curious, huh? You looked more than curious, Saph. The way you were scrolling, eyes glued like the whole world disappeared—" she shook her head, her tone softening. "That wasn't casual. That was passion."
Saphirra froze.
Kairie sighed again, this time with a mix of frustration and worry. "I don't understand why you're hiding this from him. If it still matters to you this much, why not just be honest? Why not tell Travier you want to keep learning about tech?"
Saphirra's chest tightened. She thought about the way Travier scowled the last time he caught her searching about a tech company. The disappointment in his voice when he reminded her of their agreement. She could still hear him saying it: "We already agreed you won't go into that world."
Her throat ached. "Because he wouldn't understand," she admitted in a whisper. "He thinks it's better for me not to... not to touch this path again. That it'll only complicate things."
Kairie leaned forward, her voice firm now. "Or maybe he's just afraid you'll outgrow the box he built for you— or maybe he's just afraid that you will leave him for some reason."
Saphirra's head snapped up, eyes wide at her friend's bluntness.
Kairie softened, reaching across the table to nudge Saphirra's hand. "Look, I'm not saying he doesn't love you. I know he does. But he's chasing his own dream now, right? Acting, modeling, becoming something more. Why shouldn't you get to chase yours too?"
Saphirra's lips parted, but no words came. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. Kairie's words rang too close to the truth she had been burying under smiles and silence.
She clutched her laptop tighter, staring at the table as her thoughts spiraled. "It's not that simple," she whispered. "If he knew I was still drawn to this, it could... it could break something between us."
Kairie studied her for a long moment, her sharp eyes softening with empathy. "Or maybe it could make him see you for who you really are, not just who he wants you to be."
Silence stretched between them, broken only by the chatter of the cafeteria around them. Saphirra couldn't bring herself to reply, her mind a storm of guilt, fear, and longing.
Kairie leaned back with a sigh, letting the matter rest—for now. But her gaze lingered on Saphirra, filled with concern and the faintest trace of frustration.
Kairie tapped her fork against the edge of her tray, her sharp eyes still locked onto Saphirra. The silence between them had stretched long enough, and finally she leaned forward again, refusing to let her friend retreat into her shell.
"Saph," Kairie said firmly, her voice low but intense, "I'm not going to let you brush this off. You're hiding. From him, from yourself. And I don't get it. Why are you so afraid to just say what you want?"
Saphirra's fingers trembled around the laptop lid. Her lips pressed together tightly, and for a moment, she tried to play dumb, shaking her head. "It's not hiding. I'm just... respecting what Travier asked me to do."
Kairie's frown deepened, her brows knitting. "Respecting, or silencing yourself?"
The question sliced through the air like a blade, and Saphirra flinched. Her chest rose and fell unevenly as her thoughts tangled.
"You used to talk about this like it was your dream, Saphirra," Kairie pressed on, her tone rising just enough to show her frustration. "Back in college, your eyes lit up every time you explained your projects, your codes, your crazy ideas. You had ambition, passion—fire. And now? You're sitting here pretending it doesn't exist, hiding research during lunch breaks like it's a dirty secret. That's not you."
Saphirra bit her lip so hard she almost drew blood. She stared down at her tray, her pulse pounding in her ears. "It's not that simple," she murmured, barely audible.
Kairie leaned closer, not letting her escape. "Then make me understand. Why? Why throw away what makes you happy just because Travier doesn't approve?"
The directness of the question broke something inside her. Saphirra's hands tightened around her laptop, and before she could stop herself, the words spilled out, raw and trembling.
"Because I don't want to lose him!"
Her voice cracked, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables. She lowered her head quickly, her long lashes trembling as her throat tightened. "He's everything to me, Kairie. And if pursuing this makes him angry—if it makes him feel like I'm betraying what he wants for me—then what if he decides he doesn't need me anymore?"
Her confession hung in the air, heavy and fragile.
Kairie's heart softened, but her expression didn't waver. Instead, she reached out and placed her hand over Saphirra's, grounding her. "Listen to me," she said quietly, her voice filled with conviction. "You can't live your whole life just to keep him comfortable. That's not love, Saph—it's submission. Love means supporting each other, not caging each other. If he really loves you, he should accept the things that make you shine, not strip them away."
Saphirra blinked rapidly, her vision blurring as her chest tightened with emotions she'd been burying for far too long.
Kairie squeezed her hand, leaning even closer. "You've always followed what he wanted. But when will you follow what you want? At the end of the day, you're the one who has to live with yourself. Do you really want to wake up one day and realize you've given up your dream just to keep someone else happy?"
The words sank into her like seeds breaking through stone. Saphirra swallowed hard, her lips parting as though the answer had been clawing at her throat for weeks, desperate to escape. Finally, in a voice so fragile it almost broke, she admitted:
"I... I want to try. Even if it's just while he's not around."
Kairie's eyes widened, her breath catching as Saphirra looked up at her with trembling determination.
"Someone..." Saphirra continued, her fingers tightening around the laptop. "Someone actually offered me a spot in their company. They said they needed someone with fresh ideas, someone willing to experiment. I've been thinking about it every single day, but I was too scared to even say it out loud."
For a moment, Kairie just stared at her, stunned. Then, slowly, her lips curved into a wide, proud smile. Her eyes glimmered with admiration.
"Saphirra..." she breathed, her tone filled with awe. "Do you even realize how big that is? A company offering you a spot—because of your potential? That's not just luck. That's proof you belong in this world."
Saphirra's heart pounded as she studied her friend's expression, half-expecting judgment, half-fearing disapproval. Instead, all she saw was pride and encouragement.
Kairie straightened, her smile unwavering. "Then take it," she urged. "Take that chance. Follow your heart. Forget what Travier thinks for once—this is about you. You deserve to build something for yourself, Saph. And if he can't understand that, then maybe he doesn't deserve all of you."
Saphirra's lips trembled, her chest filling with both fear and a spark of hope. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to imagine it—working in that company, exploring her passion, proving to herself that she wasn't just a shadow trailing behind her husband.
And for the first time, she didn't feel completely guilty about wanting it.
Saphirra's fingers toyed with the edge of her laptop, her thoughts spinning like tangled threads. The weight of Kairie's words clung to her chest, both terrifying and strangely freeing. She glanced up at her best friend, her voice hesitant, almost trembling.
"Kairie... do you think I'm still doing the right thing? Even if it means going against what Travier wants?"
For a heartbeat, silence fell between them. Then Kairie suddenly let out a soft laugh—warm, genuine, but edged with disbelief. She leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms, her eyes sparkling with both amusement and sincerity.
"Saph," she said, shaking her head as if the question itself was ridiculous, "following what your heart wants is always a good idea. That's the only right thing. Everything else? That's just a compromise. If you keep ignoring what your heart is screaming at you, then you're not living—you're just existing for someone else."
The words struck deep, making Saphirra's throat tighten. She pressed her lips together, blinking as her vision blurred slightly.
Kairie leaned forward again, her tone gentler now. "I know you're scared. I know you love him, and you don't want to hurt him. But listen to me—you're not betraying him by chasing your dream. You're just choosing to grow. And you deserve that chance, Saphirra."
Something within her shifted then, like a fragile lock finally breaking open. She stared down at her hands, breathing deeply, as if steadying herself for the first leap of her life.
Kairie's smile softened as she saw the change in her friend's expression. She reached across the table, giving Saphirra's hand a light push as if nudging her into action. "Go on," she urged. "Call them. Accept it. Stop second-guessing yourself and just... try. You'll never know what you're capable of unless you take the first step."
Saphirra inhaled slowly, her chest rising and falling with determination she hadn't felt in years. She nodded, a small, trembling smile curving her lips. "You're right," she whispered. "Maybe... maybe it's time."
Gathering her courage, she stood from the table, clutching her phone tightly in her hand. She gave Kairie one last look, who answered with an encouraging nod and a thumbs-up. With that, Saphirra turned and walked out of the bustling cafeteria, her footsteps quick but deliberate.
The noise of clinking trays, chatter, and laughter faded behind her as she stepped into a quieter hallway. She found a corner near the end, by the tall glass windows overlooking the city. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through, painting her face in gold as she leaned against the wall, pressing the phone against her chest for a moment.
Her pulse raced, her palms sweaty. Every part of her screamed with nerves—but beneath it all was a glimmer of excitement, a spark that refused to be smothered anymore.
With trembling fingers, she unlocked her phone while grabbing the business card that Laren had given her, double-checking and making sure to dial Laren's number before dialing it.
Her breath caught. Laren—the person who had extended that offer, the one who believed in her potential even when she hadn't believed in herself.
Saphirra closed her eyes briefly, taking one last deep breath to steady herself. Then, with a swipe of her thumb, she pressed the call button.
The screen lit up, her heart hammering in her chest as the phone lifted to her ear.
The quiet hallway filled with the faint, steady ring... ring...