Shonn woke up late, relishing the rare luxury of a morning without classes. He shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes, and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Levi standing by the stove, flipping pancakes with the ease of someone who clearly had nowhere else to be.
"Morning, Shonn!" Levi greeted, a bright smile lighting up his face.
"Morning," Shonn mumbled, still processing the scene. "Aren't you supposed to be at the office?"
Levi shrugged, flipping another pancake. "I don't have much on my plate today. I figured I'd go in after lunch, stay for a bit, and then head back."
Shonn rolled his eyes, dropping into a chair. "You could've just said you were going in late. Always so extra with the details."
Levi chuckled, the sound warm and familiar. "Sorry, habit. Need a ride to the university?"
"Nah, I've got some stuff to do before class," Shonn replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Levi nodded, but his eyes sparkled with a teasing glint. "Alright. By the way, you and Sara... you guys a thing now?"
Shonn's heart did a little flip. "Uh, yeah, I guess so," he muttered, feeling his cheeks heat up.
Levi's grin widened as he walked over, ruffling Shonn's hair affectionately. "Look at you, all grown up."
"Stop it," Shonn groaned, but there was no real annoyance in his voice.
Levi picked up his plate, ready to head back to his room. "Anything else you want to talk about?"
Shonn hesitated, fiddling with the edge of his sleeve. "Actually, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, shoot."
But the words got stuck in Shonn's throat. "Never mind."
Levi's smile was patient, understanding. "It's okay. Whenever you're ready, I'm here."
As Levi turned to leave, Shonn felt a frustration. I wanted to ask if you could acknowledge me as your brother formally, now that I am ready. But the question remained unspoken, hovering in the air between them. He sighed, watching Levi walk away, feeling the weight of what he couldn't say pressing down on him.
Levi paused at the doorway, glancing back. "Seriously, Shonn, anything you need. You know that, right?"
Shonn mustered a small smile. "Yeah, I know. Thanks, Levi."
Levi nodded, his expression softening. "Alright. I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."
Shonn watched him go, the kitchen feeling a bit emptier. He took a deep breath, knowing he needed to find the courage to voice his thoughts. But for now, he was content to let the moment linger, the unspoken words a promise for the future.
. . .
"Didn't she show up today either?" Levi's concern creased his brow as he leaned against the office door, getting the scoop from one of the staff members, neither Steven nor Maya had come to the office. Is she sick or something? She was drenched last night. He debated calling her but decided against it, not wanting to intrude. Instead, he dialed Steven's number.
"Hey, sorry I had to bail today," Steven's voice came through with a rasp.
"No worries. Why do you sound like that, talking so quietly?" Levi's voice softened with genuine concern.
"I've got a fever," Steven confessed, his tone strained. "Took some meds, but my throat's still killing me."
"Take it easy, man. By the way, did Ms. Larson say anything to you about not coming in?" Levi tried to keep the worry out of his voice.
"Yeah, she texted," Steven replied hesitantly, a hint of uncertainty in his tone.
"Is she sick too? She was soaked yesterday, and I ended up giving her a ride home," Levi explained, furrowing his brow with concern.
"She didn't say she was sick, just that she couldn't make it," Steven said vaguely, his concern for Maya evident.
"Got it. Well, take care of yourself. I might swing by later if you're feeling up to it... Hello? Steven?" The call abruptly cut off, leaving Levi staring at his phone in mild frustration. "Must be a network issue," he muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, Steven, feeling a bit better after a shower, sat quietly beside Maya as she slept soundly. A cool breeze drifted through the open window, gently tousling her hair. He draped a blanket over her shoulders, tucking it around her with care, before settling beside her with a sigh. When Maya stirred awake, she found Steven smiling softly down at her, warmth and concern evident in his eyes.
"Hey there," Maya greeted groggily, her voice still thick with sleep.
"Afternoon, actually. It's almost evening," Steven corrected gently, his tone warm and reassuring.
"Wait, what time is it? Oh no, the office! I completely forgot!" Maya bolted upright, panic flashing across her face, but Steven caught her hand before she could dash off.
"Take it easy, why the rush?" Steven's voice was calm, a small smile playing on his lips.
"I have to get to work!" Maya insisted, her mind racing to catch up with the day.
"Don't worry, Levi knows. I told him you needed the day," Steven reassured her, squeezing her hand gently.
"Thank goodness," Maya sighed in relief, sinking back into her chair with a grateful smile.
"Sorry I didn't wake you earlier. You looked wiped out," Steven apologized softly.
"It's okay," Maya murmured, then her eyes widened. "Oh no, Sara! She said she's coming today."
"Is she? I could order something," Steven offered, reaching for his phone.
"You really don't have to. I can handle it," Maya protested lightly, but Steven shook his head with a warm smile.
"It's all good, Maya. She's practically family. Let me treat her this time," Steven insisted, his gaze meeting hers with understanding.
Maya nodded gratefully, touched by his thoughtfulness. "Thank you," she murmured softly, feeling a warmth spread through her at Steven's kindness.
. . .
Meanwhile, Shonn and Sara were at a shop buying a strawberry cake, Maya's favorite. Shonn kept sighing and whining about having to tag along.
"Shonn, will you stop?" Sara yelled, exasperated.
"Do I really have to go? Your sister might feel uncomfortable," he retorted.
"Are you a kid or something? My sister likes you. She'll be very happy," Sara assured him.
"What about her housemate?" Shonn tried another excuse.
"Urgh, God. He's even better than my sister. Shonn, you need to socialize more. We're not kids anymore. We need to meet more people," she said firmly.
"Okay, okay, ma'am. Then I should buy something for them," he said, looking for another dish.
"Sushi then," Sara suggested.
"Four large packets of sushi, please," Shonn ordered.
"Four large packets! Are you crazy? Who's going to eat all these? You never shop, do you?" Sara scolded him as Shonn pouted and shook his head.
"It's okay, Sara. Sir, please pack those," she said to the shopkeeper.
"Ah, this guy!" Sara sighed.
. . .
Levi left his office, lured by the scent of fresh coffee in the cafeteria before heading out. He spotted Liam at a nearby table and joined him, their conversation meandering through familiar topics. Liam's attention shifted to a man at the next table, clearly searching for someone. Levi followed Liam's gaze and tuned in as Liam mentioned catching Maya's name in the stranger's mutterings.
"Hey, Levi, see that guy?" Liam nodded discreetly toward the stranger.
Levi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Yeah? What's up?"
"He's asking about Larson," Liam whispered back. "Mentioned something about her."
Levi's curiosity peaked. "Why's he looking for her?" He scanned the room, eventually catching the stranger's eye. Levi waved him over casually.
"Excuse me, sir in the blue shirt," Levi called out. The man hesitated before approaching their table.
"Are you looking for someone?" Levi asked, his tone friendly but cautious.
"Yeah, Maya Larson," the man replied urgently. "I'm Emmett Owen, sir."
Levi exchanged a quick glance with Liam. "And your connection with her?"
"Her... ex," Emmett admitted reluctantly.
Levi's demeanor shifted subtly, a touch guarded now. "What brings you here looking for Maya?"
"I wanted to congratulate her on her new job at VISHO," Emmett explained, his frustration evident. "But she hasn't been returning my calls." Emmett added, "I wanted to see for myself what VISHO is like. Maya's always been secretive about her work."
Levi smirked lightly, his voice tinged with protectiveness. "Well, we like to keep things under wraps here."
Liam cleared his throat, his voice calm but firm. "Sorry, Mr. Owen, but we can't discuss our employees with outsiders. It's policy."
Levi interjected, changing the subject smoothly. "Hey, Liam, I was just heading to Steven's place. Wanna join?"
Liam nodded, turning to Levi, "Sure."
"Steven?" Emmett muttered softly, recognizing the name. Levi Thompson and Steven must be close, he thought, noting their easy camaraderie. As Levi and Liam prepared to leave, Emmett stopped them with a final question. "You seem to know Maya pretty well, Mr. Thompson."
Levi smiled wryly. "Well, I am her boss."
With that, Levi and Liam headed out, leaving Emmett standing with unanswered questions. During the drive, Liam couldn't help but mull it over. "How'd he get in, though?"
Levi frowned thoughtfully. "Maybe used Maya's name to bluff his way in. Could happen."
"But she's not even here today," Liam noted, puzzled. Levi glanced at Liam, reflecting on the encounter. "Did you catch that vibe from Emmett? Something's off."
Liam nodded in agreement. "Definitely. Why would he be here if Maya's not even around?"
Levi nodded, the mystery lingering in his mind as they drove off.