A few weeks had passed since that chaotic dinner,
and Leo had been swamped with back-to-back business trips,
leaving him barely any time at the office.
He was handling investor meetings personally,
traveling constantly, and our encounters had dwindled to almost nothing.
My role shifted as I managed his packed schedule,
calling him in advance to remind him of meetings and deadlines,
but it wasn't the same as having him here.
He trusted me to handle things at the company,
which I did, but his absence was starting to weigh on me.
I missed the lighthearted conversations we used to have,
the way his eyes would crinkle when he smiled,
and even the teasing banter that always seemed to lift my mood.
Now, the office felt emptier without him,
the lively energy he brought replaced by the cold, monotonous routine of work.
I'd catch myself glancing at the empty chair in his office,
hoping he'd walk in with one of his usual witty remarks, but he never did.
Every time I dialed his number, it was just business.
No more jokes, no casual chats—just the sound of his tired
voice confirming his next move before quickly hanging up.
I knew he was busy, that this was part of his job,
but it was hard not to feel a pang of loneliness every time the day ended without seeing him.
It was silly, really—I was his secretary, not his girlfriend,
despite the claims made during that awkward dinner.
Yet, I couldn't help but feel like something was missing,
like the distance between us was more than just physical.
I sighed, flipping through his calendar on my screen,
filled with back-to-back meetings and trips.
The day's work was never-ending, but it wasn't the workload
that drained me—it was the absence of his presence that left an ache I couldn't quite shake.
As I spun absentmindedly in my chair,
my thoughts drifted to Leo—wondering what he was doing at that very moment.
Was he in another meeting? Stuck in traffic? Before I could dwell on it any longer,
my phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Seeing Leo's name flash on the screen,
I quickly composed myself and answered with a professional tone,
trying to mask the excitement that bubbled up.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Cyprus. How can I assist you?"
I said, keeping my voice steady.
"Melody, I need an update on the Henderson proposal,"
Leo's voice came through, sounding tired but focused.
"Have they sent over the revised terms yet?"
"Yes, I received their email earlier today,"
I replied, clicking through my files to pull up the document.
"They've adjusted the pricing structure as we requested,
but they're still pushing back on the timeline.
I've drafted a response, suggesting a compromise,
but I wanted to get your approval before I send it."
Leo let out a short sigh, clearly weighing the situation.
"Typical of them. Go ahead and send it.
Let's see if they bite. Anything else I need to be aware of?"
"There's a meeting with the Asian investors next week,
but they're requesting to move it up if you're available sooner.
They seem eager to close."
Leo was quiet for a moment,
and I could almost picture him rubbing his temples,
trying to fit everything into his already packed schedule.
"Move it up if possible—I'll make time.
And keep an eye on the contracts for the new project. I don't want any surprises."
"Understood. I'll make sure everything is in order,"
I said, keeping my voice upbeat despite the lingering
disappointment of another purely business call.
"Thanks, Melody. I appreciate it," he said, his tone softening slightly.
"You're doing great handling everything."
"Just doing my job, sir," I replied,
trying to ignore the small flutter of warmth his words brought.
"Alright, I've got to run. We'll touch base later."
"Of course. Have a good meeting, Mr. Cyprus,"
I said, ending the call.
As the line went silent,
I couldn't help but feel the familiar ache return—business as usual,
with no hint of the easy camaraderie we used to share.
I wanted to ask Leo if he'd eaten or how he was holding up,
but I couldn't bring myself to cross that line.
I was just his secretary—nothing more.
As the day dragged on and the office emptied out,
I gathered my things, feeling the weight of another day without him.
By the time I reached the ground floor,
the sky had already darkened, the city bathed in a soft glow of streetlights and twinkling stars.
I paused for a moment, gazing up at the scattered lights above,
raising my hand as if I could pluck one from the sky.
They were beautiful, distant yet comforting.
Just then, out of the corner of my eye,
I noticed a figure standing by the entrance, someone familiar.
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized him—Zake, my childhood friend.
"Zake!" I called out, my voice echoing with surprise and excitement.
He turned at the sound of his name,
and when our eyes met, a bright smile spread across his face.
I didn't even think twice—I sprinted toward him,
feeling like a child reuniting with someone dear after a long time apart.
He caught me in a warm embrace, and for a second, all my worries melted away.
"What are you doing here?" I asked,
pulling back slightly to look at him.
He grinned, his eyes sparkling with that familiar,
boyish charm. "I missed you," he said simply, holding up a bag filled with my favorite snacks.
"Your mom sent me these for you, and when I heard you finally got into your dream company,
I had to come and congratulate you in person."
I laughed, touched by his thoughtfulness.
"But what about your work? Aren't you busy saving lives, Dr. Zake?"
He shrugged, his smile never fading.
"I took some leave. It's been too long, and honestly... I missed you."
His voice softened on those last words, and my heart fluttered unexpectedly.
I couldn't tell if he meant it as a friend or if there was something more behind his gaze,
but either way, it sent my emotions spiraling.
As he kept talking,
I realized that he still had no idea that he'd been my childhood crush,
the one I never confessed to—the unrequited love that lingered
in the background of our friendship.
I felt my cheeks warm, and I looked away for a moment,
trying to steady my racing heart.
"So... what do you say?" he asked, his voice light and teasing.
"Up for catching up over some late-night snacks?
We can pretend we're kids again, sneaking treats under the stars."
I nodded, unable to hide my excitement.
"You have no idea how much I've missed this," I said, grinning. "Let's go."
As we walked side by side,
my heart swelled with a mix of nostalgia and something new—a spark of hope that maybe,
just maybe, this time, things could be different.
"So, how's the job treating you?"
Zake asked, his tone casual but genuinely curious.
I smiled, shrugging lightly.
"It's good—challenging, but in a good way. Keeps me on my toes."
Zake nodded, looking pleased.
"I always knew you'd end up doing something big."
I chuckled and then asked,
"How are my mom and dad? They doing okay?"
"They're doing great," he assured me.
"Your mom's still obsessed with her garden, and your dad's still trying to
fix that old motorcycle that's been collecting dust since we were kids."
I laughed, imagining my dad in his usual spot, tinkering away.
"Some things never change."
Zake grinned. "Oh, speaking of things that never change,
remember Mr. Thompson from next door?
He's still fighting with Mrs. Bell over whose cat keeps stealing the fish from his pond."
I burst out laughing. "Are you serious?
Those two have been at it since I was, like, ten! Has anyone told them that it's
probably the raccoons?"
"Nope," Zake said, shaking his head.
"But they did start a 'Neighborhood Watch' to keep an eye on each other.
It's basically just them spying out their windows and yelling across the fence."
I snorted, the memories of our quirky hometown filling me with warmth.
"Typical. Oh, and what about Mrs. Green? Is she still claiming she saw
Bigfoot in the woods behind her house?"
Zake rolled his eyes playfully.
"Not only that, but she's upgraded her 'evidence.'
Now she's convinced Bigfoot is stealing her laundry because one of her socks went missing."
I laughed so hard I had to clutch my sides.
"Oh my gosh, that woman! I swear, every time something goes missing,
it's always Bigfoot's fault."
Zake grinned, enjoying my reaction.
"Yeah, she's a legend.
And don't even get me started on the rumors that Mr. Lee started a
chicken dance club—right in his backyard."
"No way!" I gasped, wiping tears of laughter from my eyes.
"I leave for a few months, and the whole town turns into a sitcom."
Zake shrugged, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia.
"Hey, you always said it was the quirkiest place on Earth.
Guess it's just living up to its reputation."
I smiled, feeling a wave of warmth at the familiar stories.
"Yeah, it really is. Makes me miss home even more."
Zake nudged me gently, his smile turning soft.
"Well, the place definitely misses you too. You should come back more often...
preferably before Bigfoot steals the rest of Mrs. Green's laundry."
We both burst into laughter,
the evening air filled with the sound of our shared memories,
and for a moment, it felt like we were right back in our little hometown,
surrounded by all its weird and wonderful charm.
Suddenly, a thought struck me,
and I hesitated before asking,
"How's your girlfriend? Are you two still together?"
Zake's smile faded a little, and he shook his head.
"We broke up a few months ago. You didn't hear?"
"What?!" I blurted out, my voice louder than I intended.
A few people nearby glanced our way, and I quickly sank back into my seat,
flustered. "Oops, sorry about that," I muttered, feeling my cheeks heat up.
Zake chuckled at my reaction but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Yeah, it just… didn't work out."
"What happened?" I asked softly,
my curiosity piqued but my heart strangely lighter,
a feeling I couldn't quite understand.
Was it hope? Silly me. This isn't about me.
Zake sighed,
his mood shifting to a quiet melancholy.
"I don't know… maybe we just weren't meant to be.
We grew apart, I guess. It's hard when you're both chasing different things."
I watched as his usually bright demeanor dimmed,
the weight of the situation settling over him.
He ran a hand through his hair, looking lost in thought.
"It's weird," he continued, voice softer now,
"you think you have it all figured out, and then one day you wake up
and realize you've been living two different lives under the same roof."
I nodded, feeling the heaviness of his words.
"That sounds really tough, Zake. I'm sorry you went through that."
He offered a faint smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Thanks. It's just… life, I guess. Sometimes things just don't go the way you planned."
There was a silence between us,
filled with unspoken thoughts and lingering emotions.
I wanted to comfort him, to say something that would make it better,
but all I could do was sit there and be present.
"Hey," I finally said, nudging him gently.
"You know you've got people who care about you, right?
And maybe this is just life's way of making space for something—or someone—better."
He glanced at me, his eyes softening at my words.
"Yeah, maybe you're right."
We shared a quiet moment,
both lost in our own thoughts, but somehow,
it felt like a new chapter was starting for both of us,
even if neither of us knew exactly where it would lead.