Sara stepped into the classroom, her heart racing a little faster than usual. She scanned the room until her eyes landed on Shonn. His voice cut through the chatter as he called out her name, drawing everyone's attention. Shonn, usually so reserved, pointed to the seat next to him with a rare grin. Sara could feel the glares from every girl in the room, and she smiled awkwardly, trying to shrug off the weight of their envy.
As she walked down the steps, she noticed a girl sticking her leg out to trip her. Shonn saw it too and instinctively moved to catch her. But Sara was already onto the girl's game. She deftly avoided the trap and, in one smooth motion, kicked the girl's leg down. The girl stumbled, letting out a surprised yelp, and fell towards Shonn, who immediately freaked out, letting her drop to the floor. The girl's face turned bright red as she tried to play it off, but the damage was done.
"Isn't that what you wanted? Being on Shonn's lap? Don't overdo it," Sara said, her voice dripping with sweet sarcasm. She sat down next to Shonn, who looked utterly bewildered.
"Is she okay?" Shonn asked, his concern genuine but slightly confused.
"Girls like her are always okay," Sara replied casually, opening her book.
"Aren't you going to sit?" she asked, noticing his hesitation.
"Yeah, yeah." Shonn finally sat down, still processing what had just happened. "Why did you… I mean, how did you do that?"
Sara shrugged nonchalantly. "I let you play the hero once because I'm not strong, but I can still handle myself against girls like her." She focused on her book, her lips curving into a slight pout.
Shonn chuckled, the confusion giving way to amusement. "I see a new side of you every time, Sara."
Sara looked at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She pressed a finger to his lips, pulling him closer. "What are you doi—" Shonn began, but she cut him off.
"Nothing. Just proving a point. Don't worry, I'm not stronger than you." She released him, and the surrounding students watched, their curiosity piqued.
"You always leave me speechless, Sara," Shonn said, shaking his head with a chuckle.
"You too," she replied, her tone light and teasing. "By the way, you seem to be in a good mood. It's nice to see you acting normal since yesterday."
"When was I abnormal?" Shonn asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't say that, Shonn Turner." Sara's playful tone made him grin.
"Then, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I like this version of you. You're nice." She smiled warmly, and Shonn felt a flutter in his chest. Shonn scoffed, pretending to focus on his book. "Thank you. And, thank you for meeting me that day at the library," he said quietly, almost to himself.
Sara glanced at him, her heart skipping a beat. "Yeah, me too," she replied softly.
The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, the kind that teetered on the edge of something more. Shonn glanced at Sara, their eyes locking for a moment that felt like an eternity. He felt drawn to her, and the playful banter masked the deeper feelings they both were beginning to acknowledge.
As the class started, their focus shifted back to their books, but the stolen glances and shared smiles spoke volumes. The classroom might have been filled with others, but in that moment, it felt like it was just the two of them, navigating the thrilling uncertainty of what could be.
Shonn couldn't help but sneak another glance at Sara, who was pretending to read. "Hey, Sara?"
"Yeah?" she replied, not looking up.
"Thanks for having my back," he said, his voice soft but sincere.
She finally looked up, their eyes meeting again. "Always," she said, her smile genuine.
. . .
"Steven, are you heading out now?" Liam asked, glancing at Steven, who was preparing to lead a tour for new recruits and employees around their department. From office, surrounded by glass walls, everything had a perfect view of the bustling floor below. VISHO was truly impressive.
"Yeah, Liam. Are you are done with yours?" Steven asked, glancing back with a grin.
"Done and dusted. Mind if I tag along?" Liam asked casually.
"Sure thing, buddy," Steven said with a nod, gesturing for Liam to join him.
Maya wasn't surprised to hear them on a first-name basis; it was clear they were tight. Ethan Irwin, Kevin Smith, Liam Todd, Steven Stone, and Levi Thompson—the VISHO giants. With their striking looks, toned physiques, and towering frames, they were every girl's fantasy lineup. Steven's shock of white hair gave him an almost model air.
"Hang on a sec, gotta take this call," Steven announced, answering his phone while the recruits watched nervously.
"Alright, let's move everyone," Steven said once he hung up.
As Kobe turned to descend the stairs, he accidentally bumped into Maya, sending her off balance. "Oops, my bad!" he exclaimed, flustering Maya. Damn, not again, Maya cursed inwardly, bracing for impact. But before she could hit the floor, Liam swooped in, catching her effortlessly. Steven's brow furrowed. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, jealousy gnawed at him. He wished it was him there.
God, why am I even bothered? I'm just glad she's okay.
"You okay there?" Liam asked, concern etched on his face as Maya kept her eyes shut.
"Hey, what's her name again?" Liam turned to the recruits, still holding Maya.
"Maya Larson," Nira replied promptly.
Maya opened her eyes and straightened up quickly, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Steven shot her a disapproving look.
"Why the rush, Ms. Larson?" Steven's voice carried across the room.
Liam shot Steven a look. "Ease up, man," he signed subtly.
"Sorry, Mr. Todd," Maya stammered, trying to regain her composure.
"Sure you're alright?" Liam asked again, steadying her gently.
"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks," Maya replied, a faint smile on her lips.
Steven watched as Liam continued to assist Maya, a pang of jealousy twisting in his gut. "You've got your moment. Let's keep it moving. Everyone, follow me," Steven instructed briskly, leading the way. Liam and Maya lingered behind, and Steven couldn't help stealing glances at them.
"Sorry about that," Liam apologized quietly.
"No worries," Maya reassured him with a smile.
"He's been off lately. Bear with him. Deep down, he's a good guy—cares a lot about everyone here, even if he doesn't always show it," Liam explained, his eyes warm and reassuring.
"Got it. Thanks for the heads up," Maya replied, her smile widening.
What's got her smiling like that? Steven wondered irritably.
I wonder what's eating at him? Maya pondered.
Throughout the tour, Steven found himself distracted, unable to shake off his irritation. Liam and Maya's easy banter grated on him. He knew he had no right to feel this way, but he couldn't help it.
. . .
Sara glanced up from her lunch in the bustling cafeteria and spotted Mason approaching, tray in hand. His smile was warm and inviting as he greeted her.
"Oh hey, Sara!" Mason's voice carried genuine concern. "You're eating alone?"
Sara nodded softly, feeling a bit shy. "Yeah."
Mason gestured to the empty seats at her table. "Mind if we join you?"
"Sure," Sara replied, her smile widening a bit as she welcomed their company.
Jacob followed Mason, his curiosity evident. "Why bother her when she's eating alone?"
Sara shook her head, trying to put them at ease. "It's really okay. You can sit. By the way, are you both from Chemical Engineering too?"
They settled in across from her, introductions flowing naturally. "I'm Jacob Murphy."
"I'm Sara Larson, from Software Engineering," she introduced herself, feeling more relaxed now.
Jacob couldn't help but ask, "How do you know Mason?"
Mason jumped in, casually explaining, "She's friends with Shonn. We all hung out at the library the other day."
"Shonn has friends other than us?" Jacob chuckled, and Sara joined in, breaking the ice. "Yeah, he's not as antisocial as you'd think. He's actually pretty friendly, just quiet."
"Really?" Mason raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I had no idea."
Sara nodded, a warm smile on her face. "Yep, he's a good guy."
Mason teased lightly, "Feels like my kid's finally coming out of his shell."
Jacob joined in with mock seriousness. "Take care of him for us at school, okay? He's a bit of a recluse at home, so..."
Mason cut in gently, putting a hand on Jacob's arm. "Hey now, let's not spill all his secrets, Jacob. Sorry about that, Sara. Some things are better left unsaid."
"It's alright," Sara reassured them, touched by their concern. "I don't mind. You obviously care about him."
Mason nodded sincerely. "Yeah, we do. Glad he's making friends like you."
"Of course," Sara said with a reassuring smile, feeling a sense of camaraderie with her new companions.
. . .
Maya's first week at the company was anything but ordinary. Steven, the boss, was MIA, buried in negotiations with some Polish company. So, Kevin, his right-hand man, took over the daily grind and handed out tasks to the new recruits, including Maya. These tasks seemed simple enough at first, like little tests. The office was a ghost town during break times, as everyone took advantage of the generous two-and-a-half-hour break to nap or run errands. By afternoon, the place was nearly deserted.
One afternoon, Maya found herself dozing off at her desk. She thought everyone went for lunch, so she could use the time for a quick nap. She didn't realize everyone had left for home. She messed up her schedule, forgetting that it was a half-working day. Her head started to bob with sleep, her eyelids drooping heavily. Enter Levi. He was just passing through the office when he noticed Maya's head swaying dangerously close to the hard surface of her desk.
What the hell am I even doing? Levi wondered, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to walk away. He stood there for a minute, just watching her. Her head swayed again, and instinctively, Levi placed his hand on the table, letting her head rest on it. A soft smile tugged at his lips.
"You're seriously sleeping on it?" he muttered quietly, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and tenderness. He glanced at his watch and realized he had another forty minutes before he needed to be anywhere. Pulling a chair next to her with his leg, Levi decided to stick around.
Oddly enough, he didn't find it boring. On the contrary, there was something calming about watching her sleep. Levi couldn't remember the last time he'd done something like this for anyone. How come no one's coming back? He checked his watch again; forty minutes had flown by.
Realizing he needed to leave before the office filled up again, Levi looked around for something to prop under her head. Not finding anything, he gently slid off his coat and placed it under her head as a makeshift pillow. Satisfied, he quietly left the office, heading to his appointment.
The encounter left Levi with a strange sense of wonder. He was usually the guy who kept to himself, all work and no play. But there was something about Maya that drew him in. Maybe it was her calm demeanor, even in a new and challenging job. Or maybe it was just the peaceful look on her face as she slept.
As he walked to his appointment, Levi's thoughts kept drifting back to Maya. He couldn't shake the image of her sleeping soundly, her head resting on his coat. It was a small moment, almost insignificant, but it had left a mark on him.
Levi found himself smiling. There was something different about Maya, something that made him feel more human, less like the workaholic he usually was. He didn't know what it was, but he knew he was looking forward to seeing her again, even if it was just to catch her dozing off at her desk.