"Earth to Rosel." Rachel, her ever-practical deskmate, waved a hand in front of her face, her voice tinged with concern. Rosel blinked, snapping out of her reverie.
"What?" she managed, her voice a hoarse whisper.
Rachel rolled her eyes playfully. "You're spacing out again. The meeting's about to start." With a gentle tug on Rosel's arm, she guided her towards the dreaded conference room.
The weight of the impending meeting pressed down on Rosel like a physical force. Every step she took felt like a slow-motion descent into the abyss. She had managed to contact Flora and Zoe, her two pillars of support, in a frantic call, spilling out her predicament in breathless gasps.
Flora, ever the voice of reason, suggested treating the situation as a scientific experiment. "You're a researcher, Rosel. This is just another challenge," she had said, her voice steady. Zoe, on the other hand, had erupted into a fit of laughter, her amusement both cruel and comforting.
As Rosel clutched her coffee mug, a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty, Rachel's words nearly caused her to choke. "What's wrong with you today? Don't tell me the hot CEO is your type?" Rachel's eyes sparkled with mischief, her voice dripping with innuendo.
Rosel glared at her colleague, her face flushing with embarrassment. She managed a weak chuckle, hoping to deflect the attention. The last thing she needed was office gossip about her tumultuous past. As if on cue, the universe decided to throw her a curveball.
Jun Yale walked into the meeting room, his presence filling the space. He was different, undeniably so. The boyish charm she remembered had evolved into something more mature, more commanding. Now, if only age had done him a little dirty, perhaps those butterflies she thought she had forgotten would have remained forgotten. Instead, his features were more refined, he grew to be much taller, a whole neck and head above Rosel. The casual attire of their youth had been replaced by a tailored suit that hugged his broad shoulders, hinting at a physique honed by exercise. A surge of unexpected emotions, a complex blend of nostalgia and trepidation, washed over her.
Rachel, ever the observant friend, nudged her ribs. "He's smoking," she whispered, her voice filled with admiration. Rosel rolled her eyes, trying to maintain her composure. "You and your fantasies," she replied in an equally hushed tone.
A cough interrupted their silent conversation. Their boss turned to introduce Rosel, but before he could finish, Jun's voice cut through the air. "Ros-" His voice trailed off, a flicker of recognition and something else, perhaps hesitation, crossing his face. The unfinished greeting hung in the air, heavy with unspoken words.
"Mr Yale. I'm Rosel, a chemist under this project. Nice to meet you," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. She managed to plaster a polite smile on her face, but her heart was racing. The shift in his expression was palpable, a flicker of recognition followed by a calculated indifference.
Their eyes locked for a brief, intense moment before he turned back to their boss. The air in the room seemed to thicken with unspoken words, as if the entire room was holding its breath. The management settled everyone down and started the meeting.
Rosel stifled a yawn, her mind still reeling from the shock of the unexpected encounter. The past few nights had been a whirlwind of sleepless nights and vivid dreams, a disconcerting replay of a life she thought she had left behind. The sterile conference room, with its fluorescent lights and endless stream of financial jargon, was the last place she wanted to be. Her neck and back ached from prolonged stillness, and her eyelids felt heavy. To combat the creeping drowsiness, she began doodling on her notebook, abstract shapes and lines taking shape as her mind wandered.
She was vaguely aware of a persistent gaze, a sensation that prickled at the back of her neck. Ignoring it as best she could, she focused on the meaningless scribbles, a futile attempt to stay awake. Finally, the interminable meeting drew to a close. As her colleagues began to pack up, her boss announced, "With that, I officially declare the start of Project Reminisce."
Relief washed over Rosel as she gathered her belongings. A chance to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the conference room and immerse herself in the familiar world of her laboratory was a welcome reprieve. As she turned to leave, her name was called.
"Rosel! I have some things to discuss," Benjamin, one of her team members, said with a friendly smile. "Let's grab something to eat," she suggested, eager for a change of scenery.
As they chatted animatedly about potential lunch spots, Rosel felt a sense of normalcy return. For a brief moment, the world seemed to be back in order. She was oblivious to the intense scrutiny of a pair of eyes that followed her retreating figure. Jun Yale watched as she laughed and joked with Benjamin, a pang of something akin to jealousy piercing through his carefully constructed facade. His secretary's voice broke through his reverie. "Mr. Yale?"
He nodded absently, his gaze still fixed on the door through which Rosel had disappeared.
He forced a polite smile as he shook hands with Josh, their business partner. "It's a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Josh. I assume we'll be in close contact over the next year," he said, his voice carefully modulated. As he turned to leave, his mind was conflicted over several thoughts, or rather one person.
Slowly but surely the sirens have started to sound again after ten years.