Nova couldn't help the genuine smile that spread over her face when she caught sight of Levi, he had a look of concentration on his face as he discussed with a co-worker; she could spend hours watching him. It made her proud to see how hard he worked and it only fueled her determination to stick by his side.
She walked past cubicles where others were working, anticipating the moment when Levi would notice her. Just as she thought that, their eyes met but Levi only looked away and continued his conversation with his colleague, it made her frown slightly.
He was the one who insisted that she come over, he wouldn't have if she was a bother to him. She decided not to think too much about it, hanging patiently on the fringes of their conversation till they were done talking. She nodded politely to Levi's colleague before moving closer to her boyfriend, she was always nice to them but never too friendly.
"Hi-" She started to say with a bright smile.
"You couldn't have waited a few minutes more till we were done with our conversation?" Levi cut her off.
"I-" Nova started to defend herself and then gave it up, reminding herself to be strong. Levi was just going through a rough patch - although said rough patch had stretched out for a couple of months now. "Sorry," She murmured in a small voice, holding out the back. "I brought you lunch."
Levi's dirty blond hair was cut short, his blue eyes judgmental as he took the bag from her. "What is this crap?" He snapped after peering into it, a sneer on his face.
Nova had completely forgotten that she had dropped the lunch bag during her encounter with Mr. Reyes until that moment but explaining that to Levi would only upset him the more. Nova was disappointed in herself, just a little chore, she couldn't complete.
"Sorry, I'll make a new one-"
"Don't bother," Levi handed her the food without even touching it, "As a matter of fact, don't bother ever making me another meal." He went right on, his words and his gaze cruel, "We're over, Nova, so take that crap and leave my office, I'm busy." He completed without remorse, focusing on his computer without sparing her even another look.
Nova was frozen in place at his words, struggling to process them. Levi couldn't be serious, right?
He hadn't even bothered to lower his voice so now his co-workers were looking at her with eyes filled with pity. She couldn't even form words, and the longer she stood there being ignored by Levi, the stupider she felt.
She decided to go back to the apartment to wait for him, surely this was something they could talk through. So she picked up the lunch bag and turned around to walk off, somehow holding her head up and her feet steady and she walked through a crowd of curious stares. By the time she got to the hallway, she was about to break into a run - who was she kidding, they couldn't talk through this.
Levi hadn't even bothered to follow after her, he really couldn't care less what happened to her. The realization slowly settled in her middle like a sinking ship, she didn't notice that she had stumbled to a stop in front of the elevator until a familiar voice reached her ears.
"We meet again, visitor, what a coincidence?"
Nova glanced briefly at Mr. Reyes and then turned away, her vision swimming with tears. She just wanted to get out of this intimidating building and go to the only person who could comfort her. So she dashed into the elevator when it opened, intending to lock Mr. Reyes out but that backfired when he calmly stepped in and the elevator doors closed behind him, trapping them in again.
Her legs failed her then but before she could lean against the metal walls for support, Mr. Reyes caught her. Nova was a hairsbreadth away from breaking down into sobs but she managed to put herself together to string a semblance of a sentence.
"I'm always being a bother, I apologize Mr. Reyes." She said, missing the warmth and strength of his arm when he let her go.
"You're not a bother, and you can call me Roan," He hesitantly offered a hand like he wasn't sure if it was the right time for pleasantries.
Nova actually appreciated the gesture, it distracted her from her current predicament. "I'm Nova," She took his hand, a teary smile on her face like her hands weren't trembling badly.
Roan frowned, an elegant expression, "You seem out of sorts, I feel guilty about leaving you all by yourself." He offered when the elevator doors opened.
Nova was already halfway out of the elevator, doing her best not to dash across the marble floors, a terrible idea in heels. "I'll be fine, I p-promise," Her voice cracked on the last word, making Roan go after her because her worn-out heels decided to give in right that moment, the strap on her right leg breaking and sending her to the polished marble floors.
"Careful," Roan caught her effortlessly and pulled her up against him in the clear view of the entire lobby.
Nova felt her face heat up, her tears drying up instantly from embarrassment.
"Let me send you home, it's no trouble." He insisted, making no move to let her go, instead taking her bag from her.
Nova's wide eyes were stricken, Roan's eyes were focused only on her while all she could see were the people stopping to stare. She was already a spectacle on the fourth floor, she didn't want to be the center of attention again.
She was about to agree to Roan's offer, anything for him to let her go so she could get away but then she remembered that her boyfriend had just broken up with her, and although they both paid for the apartment they shared, it was in his name so she was technically homeless.
"I don't have a place to go," She whispered before she could stop herself, only realizing what she said after the words spilled out.