The morning was partly cloudy outside, with soft white clouds drifting across the blue sky. Great weather to bask in while sipping a fresh latte in the park. A weather perfect for relaxation.
Unlike the weather outside, Niramai Holdings has its own weather forecast: an impending storm with black clouds hanging in the air, threatening to unleash thunder. All employees can feel the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
Yothasira has long noticed it too.
From the privacy of her office, she had already heard from Narin. Surithae came to the office ten minutes past her usual time. It was the first time she had been late in the past few weeks, since she had been working in the company.
She had learned to read every shift of Surithae's moods and emotions. Her being perceptive for the past three years was not for naught. And now, she might have an idea of what's going on.
Yothasira closed the file in her hands. Glancing at the sleek modern wall clock hanging on her right, she estimated everything with great precision.
"Narin, cancel my ten o'clock schedule." She instructed the chief of staff through the intercom.
"Ma'am?" Narin asked with doubt.
"Reschedule the appointment," Yothasira said with finality.
"Yes, Ma'am."
She stood from her swivel chair, smoothening the crease of her tailored blazer, and left her office.
Two floors down, she reached Phasuk's desk after alighting from the lift. She stopped when she saw the secretary in a daze, looking at Surithae's figure through the glass partition.
"Has she eaten?" she asked directly.
Phasuk shifted her gaze; startled, she suddenly stood up. She was scared shitless when she saw the CEO standing before her.
"Usually, she would eat the breakfast I served her; however, today seems different; she came to the company later than usual and would not touch the breakfast that I prepared. Miss only had a glass of water," she reported a long string of information.
Yothasira's jaw tightened not in anger but in frustration.
'Here we go again,' she thought.
As if seeing the confusion in Phasuk's eyes when she suddenly looked angry for no reason, Yothasira couldn't help but offer an explanation.
"She does that when she's irritated with something, or simply not in the mood."
There was a sudden stillness in the atmosphere.
"May I… bring her something else?" Phasuk asked with hesitation before she could think better of it.
Yothasira solely trained her gaze on Phasuk. She could feel something from Phasuk's tone. It was not out of ingratiation, but simply out of concern.
Phasuk stood there on edge. She could help but wonder if she said something wrong that earned her the CEO's strong, unabashed gaze.
Upon feeling Phasuk's uneasiness, Yothasira averted her gaze.
"Just bring her some blueberries," she said almost quietly.
Phasuk thought she misheard Yothasira.
'Blueberries?'
"There are fresh blueberries in the break room. Wash those clean and put them in a small bowl, don't forget to sprinkle them with a little bit of salt," she instructed Phasuk on what to do.
"She will feel good if she can have a taste of those," she added.
"I'll prepare it quickly." Phasuk nodded and was very quick to her feet.
She had not left yet when Yothasira called her.
"Phasuk"
Phasuk stopped, turned her head, and waited for Yothasira's words.
"Thank you." Yothasira suddenly said. After saying the two words, she made her way back into the private lift towards her office.
Phasuk stood on her two feet; the words lingered long after Yothasira left.
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Inside Surithae's office, a storm was clearly brewing.
Surithae stared intensely at her laptop screen, though her mind was elsewhere, she could barely understand the document she was reading. The project she's been working on for the past few days felt like blurred and jumbled words before her.
Her perfectly manicured nails rhythmically tapped against the desk.
Slowly.
Purposely.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in."
Phasuk entered the office, holding a medium bowl in both hands.
"Miss Simueang, I brought you something you might fancy. If that's alright."
Surithae's gaze settled on the bowl Phasuk was carrying.
"Bring it to me."
Phasuk walked closer, and she gently placed the bowl on the desk. Surithae peered into the bowl to see what was inside. Blueberries. And, with salt.
She watched Phasuk carefully, as if she were wondering.
"… You didn't have to."
"I know, but you didn't touch the breakfast I've prepared for you. You only had a glass of water. You will feel hungry and won't function well on water alone. Luckily, the CEO came over and instructed me to prepare this bowl of blueberries for you." Phasuk explained gently
A short pause.
Surithae leaned back in her plush swivel chair, studying Phasuk as if she saw her in a different light, a new perspective.
Unexpectedly, she smiled. Not the usual big smiles she wears occasionally, but a small smile. A small genuine smile.
Phasuk was caught in the moment. Surithae's smile brought the pureness and youthfulness of her face. With her brown, pin-straight hair, she looks so beautiful.
"Thank you."
Once again, Phasuk felt as if she were dreaming. It must be her lucky day. She received thanks twice in a row from the two people she thinks are the most difficult in the company.
Surithae started to nibble on her bowl of blueberries. She could taste the sweetness of the blueberries, amplified by a little salt, leaving her with a tangy aftertaste. She enjoyed her bowl of blueberries while humming a few notes.
Phasuk, after seeing Surithae enjoying her fruit snack, offered a sincere smile and quietly left the room.
Today marked the second time she saw something different from Surithae's usual cold exterior. It felt like uncovering something worthy of exploring. Beneath that cold, distant, almost unapproachable persona, hides something special. A word comes straight on Phasuk's thought process – a suitable word to describe Surithae.
Cute.
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Far across the city, rain clouds gathered. The sky was adorned with dark clouds, and at any minute from now, sudden raindrops will disrupt the passing pedestrians.
Kritsada had already noticed the looming dark clouds as soon as he exited his internship site. Blueprints tucked under his arm and a company-issued hard hat on his right hand, Kritsada felt a fulfilling tiredness in his bones.
He had already started his internship in a well-known construction company. Fortunately, among other aspiring interns, he was much more qualified for the role, which landed him the opportunity to work here.
For the past week, his days had always been long – calculations, material testing, site inspections, endless plan revisions; however, his thoughts would seldom drift elsewhere.
Back to the campus.
Back to the beautiful, long, brown-haired Business Administration student.
Surithae.
He already met her twice. But they have not shared a full-on conversation – just a few sentences they have exchanged on that fateful rainy-day encounter.
Still, Surithae's presence was deeply etched in his mind.
Kritsada stood on the balcony of his dormitory, watching the city disappear in the heavy torrential rain.
His phone buzzed. A message from her sister.
[How are you faring these days? Are you doing well on your own? Do you want me to bring you something?]
[It's raining heavily ate. I'm doing fine here. How about you? Hope you're taking care of yourself without me.] He replied immediately.
[Don't worry about me, Krit. I'm doing well also. Please take care of yourself there.]
Kritsada looked up at the dark, gloomy sky. His thoughts drifted somewhere not far away. He knew Surithae was under the same rain. The thought left something deep inside his heart.
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At Niramai Holdings, Surithae stood by her huge office window. The rain clouded the city's vast scenery, reflecting on the glass as if it were almost drowning the dark surroundings.
Left to her own thoughts, Surithae watched her reflection on the glass. Her straight hair was adorned with soft, loose waves at the ends. She stood there alone, longingly, her gaze fixed on nothing.
Phasuk stood quietly in the office, sorting the work files Surithae just finished for the day. She is happy that she gets to assist Surithae now, unlike in the past, when she felt she was about to lose her job and was doing almost nothing.
"Miss Woratanakul," Surithae said, suddenly breaking the comfortable silence.
"Yes, miss?"
"… Do you think the people below have enough things to worry about?" she asked.
The question was so unexpectedly innocent that Phasuk faltered.
"Well, I think people have their own set of worries, big or small," she replied slowly.
"What sort of worries could they have?" she asked, confused.
Phasuk doesn't know where this is going. She wants to applaud herself for continuing this conversation with Surithae. The conversation felt like it would not go anywhere. How can she explain the worries of the common folk to this innocent and guarded young woman? She might often be sharp, always cold and distant, but one could never separate the pureness and innocence present within her.
Surithae trained her gaze to the window once again. She's not expecting that Phasuk will answer her inquiry. She was just speaking what's on her mind.
She slowly ran her fingers against the soft waves and tucked a few stray pieces behind her ear.
Outside, thunder rolled, and lightning struck. The air felt heavy – almost suffocating.
In the dark, rainy night, the people were left in their own little worlds.