Later that evening, Shonn returned home, feeling a heavy weight on his shoulders. The house was cloaked in darkness; not a single light was on. Levi wasn't in the living room, and the absence of his presence added to the eerie stillness. Shonn's anxiety spiked as he peeked into the kitchen and dining room, only to find them empty. His heart raced as he walked to the backyard, hoping to see his brother who would always wait for him. Then, he spotted Levi's silhouette in his bedroom window, bathed in the faint glow of a street light. A wave of relief washed over him, and he went back inside.
As Shonn approached the stairs, Mr. Holland, the caretaker, appeared, his expression kind but concerned.
"Shonn," Mr. Holland greeted gently.
"Yes?" Shonn's voice was strained, heavy with worry and exhaustion.
Mr. Holland's eyes softened. "He cried," he said, catching Shonn off guard. "I've never seen him cry before. He wasn't hurt by you; he cried because he thought he was wrong for not understanding you. He loves you more than you can imagine."
Tears welled up in Shonn's eyes and began to stream down his cheeks. His heart ached with a mixture of guilt and sorrow.
"I'm sorry," Shonn choked out. "I know I've been hurting people around me. I feel like I'm going to lose everyone. Everyone around me died. I don't want anything bad to happen to him because of me, Holland. I know I'm being a coward, pushing everyone away makes me a devil. I cannot help it."
Mr. Holland stepped forward and enveloped Shonn in a comforting embrace, gently patting his head. Shonn sobbed uncontrollably, like a child seeking solace. From the entrance to the drawing room, Levi watched the scene unfold, shivering at the sound of Shonn's weeping.
"Shonn, let these thoughts go," Mr. Holland said softly. "You're a good person. Levi is proud of you. I'm proud of you. We will always be there for you. Don't isolate yourself. Let's just talk it out."
"I don't know," Shonn murmured, his voice trembling. "I don't know anything anymore." He pulled away from Mr. Holland's grasp, feeling weak and defeated, and headed to his room.
Shonn didn't bother to take a shower; he just collapsed onto his bed. It had been an unbearably long day, and he felt utterly drained.
Mr. Holland watched him go, then turned to see Levi standing in a corner, his face etched with guilt and sadness. "His eyes were puffier. He surely cried a lot, Levi," Mr. Holland said softly.
"It's all my fault," Levi said slowly, sinking to the floor and resting his back against the stairs' wall. "I never tried to see through him."
"Holland, you can go to your room. I want to be alone for a bit," Levi added, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Sure, if you insist. Take care of yourself. Goodnight, then," Mr. Holland replied, giving Levi a reassuring nod before leaving.
Levi sat there in the dim light, the weight of regret heavy on his heart.
. . .
Shonn startled awake in the middle of the night, the house cloaked in silence and shadows. The glow of his alarm clock read 2:13 AM, and he sighed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he padded downstairs. As he reached the landing, he froze. There, in front of the north stairs, lay Levi, curled up and fast asleep.
"Levi, what are you doing?" Shonn whispered, his annoyance melting into something softer. He climbed back upstairs, grabbed a blanket, and returned to Levi's side, covering him gently.
"What are you trying to prove? You'll just get yourself sick," Shonn murmured, shaking his head. He turned to go, but a hand shot out, gripping his wrist.
"What now?" Shonn's voice softened involuntarily as Levi's eyes fluttered open. Levi pointed to the space beside him, silently asking Shonn to sit down.
"I don't have time for this," Shonn began, trying to sound stern. But Levi's pull was insistent, and with a sigh, Shonn settled next to him. The floor was cold beneath them, and Levi's head found its way to Shonn's shoulder, his breath warm against Shonn's neck.
"I'm sorry I didn't know," Levi whispered, his voice fragile and earnest.
Shonn's chest tightened. Tears he'd been holding back for weeks finally broke free, silently streaming down his face and dripping onto Levi's cheeks. Levi's hand found his, pressing it against his heart.
"Don't cry. I'm not going anywhere. Ever."
Time seemed to stretch as Levi's breathing evened out, soft and steady. Shonn wiped at his tears, whispering into the dark, "Are you seriously falling asleep on me to make your point? Tch, goodnight, Levi." Despite himself, a small smile tugged at his lips. As he leaned back, he felt a strange sense of peace wash over him. Slowly, he allowed himself to drift off, Levi's warmth a comforting presence by his side.
. . .
The next morning, Maya was a hot mess of nerves. Despite her meticulous planning, she missed the bus by a frustrating thirty seconds. She watched helplessly as it lumbered away, her heart sinking. Steven's warning about punctuality rang in her ears. Being late on her first day was not an option. She scanned the street for a cab, but of course, none were in sight.
As if sensing her desperation, a sleek black car rolled to a stop beside her. The window slid down smoothly, revealing Levi Thompson's familiar face, all charming smiles and effortless cool.
"Ms. Larson, remember me?" His voice was as smooth as the leather seats of his car.
"Yes, sir. Good morning." Maya tried to keep her voice steady, though her insides were doing somersaults.
"Morning. First of all, congratulations on the new job."
"Thank you, sir," she replied, nerves threatening to choke her words.
"Are you heading to the office?"
"Yes, sir," she confirmed, feeling a wave of anxiety crash over her.
"Get in. I'll give you a ride."
Her first instinct was to refuse. "It's okay, sir. I'll just catch a cab," she insisted, though the street was conspicuously empty.
"Do you want to get scolded by Stone on your first day? If not, hop in."
Maya hesitated, the thought of Steven's disapproval outweighing her discomfort. "Sir, actually, I don't think it'll look…"
"Don't worry about it. Get in, or else you'll be late."
With no other viable options, Maya climbed into the passenger seat, her cheeks flaming.
"Seatbelt, Larson," Levi instructed, his tone gentle but firm.
Her fingers fumbled with the belt, her nerves turning her into a klutz. Levi noticed her struggle and leaned over to help, his proximity making her breath catch. She felt a jolt of electricity as he clicked the belt into place.
"You okay? Need some water?" he asked, his concern palpable.
"Yes, I'm okay," she replied, exhaling slowly.
"Here," Levi said, handing her a chocolate bar. "I got this habit from my little brother. He eats chocolate bars whenever he feels nervous. It really helps."
"Interesting," Maya said, managing a smile despite her jittery state.
"Just call me Thompson or Levi, Ms. Larson," he said with a wink, and for the first time that morning, she felt a bit of the tension ease from her shoulders.
As they drove, Levi chatted about various topics, his easygoing manner gradually soothing her nerves. By the time they reached the office, she felt a little less like she was about to face an execution squad.
"I'll get the door," Levi said, parking the car.
Maya stepped out and immediately spotted Steven standing with Kevin a short distance away. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of her emerging from Levi's car. He quickly looked away, but not before Levi called out to him.
"Hey, Steven! Kevin!" Levi's voice was casual, like this was an everyday occurrence. Maya was surprised by Levi's informal tone. Steven, however, didn't seem amused.
"Ms. Larson, why were you with him?" Steven's tone was sharp, almost accusing.
Levi and Kevin exchanged puzzled glances.
"Steven, try to be formal," Kevin said, attempting to lighten the mood.
"We're not in the office yet. I think I'm being plenty formal," Steven shot back, his eyes fixed on Maya.
Maya glanced at Levi for help, feeling a wave of confusion.
"She missed the bus. I saw her at the stop, so I gave her a ride," Levi explained smoothly.
"Would you do that for anyone?" Steven's voice was tight with an edge of something Maya couldn't quite place.
"What?" Levi looked genuinely confused.
"And you, don't get into another guy's car like that," Steven added, directing his frustration at Maya.
"What?" They all exclaimed in unison.
"Ms. Larson, go ahead. We'll follow," Steven said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Feeling awkward and bewildered, Maya walked into the building. What on earth had just happened?
"Dude, what was that?" Kevin asked Steven as they followed her in.
"I'm just looking out for her as her boss," Steven said defensively. "Levi's a good guy, but not everyone's like him. Let's go."
As she reached her desk, Maya couldn't shake the feeling that Steven's reaction had been a bit over the top. Was he just being protective, or was there something else going on? She sighed, knowing her first day had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.
. . .
"Good morning, everyone!" Liam Todd's voice rang out, bursting with energy and enthusiasm. He stood tall at the front of the room, his confident presence unmistakable. "I'm Liam Todd, head of the finance department and your host for the orientation program. First, I want to congratulate all of you for being selected. You are among the 2.3% who made it. After this event, each team will tour their designated floor guided by their head. Without delay, I'd like to request our CEO and the heads of departments to say a few words. Thank you."
Nervous applause echoed through the room. VISHO. The name alone was enough to send shivers down Maya's spine. She sat with two other recruits from her department, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. On her left was Kobe Isaacs, who seemed friendly and relaxed. To her right, Nira Evans, who looked like she could still be in high school, fidgeted nervously.
"Now let's welcome Steven Stone, Head of the Network Administration Department," Liam announced.
Maya's ears perked up at the mention of Steven's name. She couldn't help but notice his transformation from a casual yellow shirt and jeans to a sharp white suit, crisp black shirt, and perfectly tailored white gabardine pants. He looked like he'd stepped out of a GQ magazine, drawing every eye in the room, including Maya's.
"Before the program, I heard Stone is the scariest head and trainer at VISHO. He doesn't know the word 'Backup,' but he's ridiculously famous with the girls. He never really cares, but he gets comfortable around his friends: Levi Thompson, Kevin Smith, Ethan Irwin, and Liam Todd," Nira whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of admiration and fear.
"We're in trouble then," Kobe said, his tone dripping with mock dread.
"I guess. Look at him, exuding that aura. His friends are the opposite. Levi Thompson is tough but ensures his coworkers are doing well. He scolds but comforts too," Nira explained, her eyes wide with the wealth of knowledge she seemed to have.
"You sure know a lot, Nira," Kobe said, genuinely impressed.
Steven scanned the room, his gaze piercing as it settled on the group of new recruits. He gave a smirk that made everyone in the room gulp collectively.
"Congratulations. This is the word you'll hear for the next week or two from friends, family, and colleagues. So, I won't congratulate you here. You came for your dream or to become a better version of yourself. Don't get overwhelmed by people. The truth is, you came here to work. Finish your work on time, don't be late, and remember, every single one of you will be watched at every step. That's all. Thank you."
Maya couldn't help but notice Kevin, seated in the front row, looking decidedly annoyed. As Steven descended the stage, Kevin reached out and pinched his left chest, eliciting a barely stifled laugh from Maya.
"That was scary, man. This is definitely VISHO," Maya heard a guy mutter behind her.
"Alright, thank you, Steven Stone. Now let's welcome our CEO, Levi Thompson," Liam's voice came through the speakers again, bringing Maya back to the present.
Maya smiled at the mention of Levi's name. She'd heard whispers about him—intimidating yet somehow comforting.
"He looks intimidating too," Kobe observed, echoing Maya's thoughts.
"If Stone is the scariest, then the CEO is the toughest but can comfort after scolding. Let's see what he says," Nira said, her voice full of anticipation.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm Levi Thompson, CEO of VISHO. Despite my position, I'm not the most experienced here. I'm learning every day from my coworkers. Thank you for choosing VISHO. If you face any difficulty, you'll find help from your head, our service team, or even me. I don't think of myself as a CEO but as a general worker. Please let me guide you through your journey at VISHO. But we won't guide you if you don't try to work first. I'm sorry if that sounds scary, but it's the truth. You need to be strong to be guided. I'll personally visit each of you. That's all. Thank you."
Levi's eyes met Maya's as he stepped down from the stage, and he offered a small, genuine smile. Maya felt her cheeks heat up as she instinctively smiled back.
"He wasn't trying to be scary like Stone, but it didn't work. He's scary too," Kobe whispered, leaning in closer to Maya.
As the orientation continued, Maya couldn't shake the feeling of excitement mixed with a bit of dread. VISHO was everything she'd dreamed of and more, but the reality of the challenge ahead was starting to sink in.