Sherry stood in the elevator, the confined space enveloped in silence, broken only by the steady "ding" as each floor passed. Her hand gripped tightly onto the strap of the bag containing the lunchbox, feeling as though if she loosened her grip, everything within her would spill out and shatter. The stark white light in the elevator illuminated her face, reflecting the anxiety in her eyes. She glanced at the numbers climbing on the display screen, silently counting the floors, the seconds. Just a little more, just a little longer, and she would see the person who had completely unsettled her thoughts.
Her breath left a faint fog on the polished steel mirror. She adjusted the hem of her blouse, then smoothed her hair, trying to summon a shred of confidence through these small gestures. But her heart continued to pound as if it wanted to burst through her chest.
Will he notice how nervous I am? she wondered, her low-heeled shoes tapping lightly on the floor, not to steady herself but to calm her trembling legs.
When the final "ding" sounded, the elevator came to a stop. The doors slowly slid open, bringing light and a wave of emotions that left her throat tight. She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. At this moment, she knew she was about to see him, and the restlessness in her heart had reached its peak.
"Calm down, it's just a delivery!" Sherry told herself, trying to reassure her racing mind as she stepped out of the elevator. Yet as she stood in front of the large door, her feet felt rooted to the ground. The door wasn't just an inanimate object; to her, it was a towering, unyielding wall separating her from his world. But she couldn't turn back now. Taking another deep breath, Sherry tightened her grip on the bag handle and mustered the courage to knock three times.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in." Rye's deep, warm voice called from inside, like a breeze that soothed her anxious heart. Sherry gently pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Rye was seated in a chair, wearing a white shirt with a few buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of his toned chest. His demeanor was both relaxed and captivating. This wasn't the serious Rye she often saw in a suit, nor the alluring Rye fresh out of the shower. At this moment, with sunlight streaming through the window and bathing him in a soft glow, he exuded a gentle warmth, like a hero ready to shield the world. Sherry instinctively tightened her grip on the bag strap, trying to steady herself against her racing heart. It was just a delivery, but why did it feel like she was stepping into a fragile dream?
Sherry took a few steps into the room, each step echoing louder than it should in the quiet space. Rye looked up, his deep gaze landing on her, making her freeze for a moment.
"You're here!" Rye said with a faint smile—a smile that wasn't overly pronounced but was enough to brighten the room slightly in her eyes.
"Ah… yes, this is your lunch!" Sherry replied, trying to keep her voice steady, though a hint of nervousness still slipped through. She stepped forward and placed the bag on the table, deliberately avoiding his gaze, though she couldn't help but notice his every move—the lazy way he leaned back in his chair, his fingers casually flipping through a notebook, exuding an effortless charm.
"Have a seat." Rye said suddenly, his words catching Sherry off guard. He gestured toward the chair opposite him, a light invitation that carried an undertone of insistence.
"Oh, there's no need... I don't want to bother you!" Sherry replied awkwardly, her hands unconsciously intertwining.
"You're not bothering me. I was just about to take a break anyway." Rye said calmly but with a hint of firmness. Feeling the unspoken nudge, Sherry reluctantly sat down, her mind a whirlwind of unease.
For a moment, the room fell into silence, broken only by the rustling of paper as Rye turned a page in his notebook. Sherry felt his gaze occasionally brush over her, as though he were observing something. Unable to bear the growing tension, she spoke, breaking the quiet:
"Do you… work a lot? You always seem so busy."
Rye paused, his gaze turning contemplative before a slight smirk appeared. "That's true. But sometimes you need to relax, like now." His words made Sherry feel both shy and as if she were sharing a private moment with him.
"Relaxing... so that means you need good food to keep going, right?" Sherry tried to make a lighthearted comment to ease the awkwardness.
Rye chuckled softly, this time his smile more pronounced. "Exactly. And it seems I'm lucky to have someone who cares about that."