The Only Exception

7. Falling Slowly

I love you, I miss you.

Have a nice read, I will be waiting for your comments

The office was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the faint, rhythmic ticking of the minimalist clock on the wall. Asi sat at her desk, her laptop open in front of her, a spreadsheet glowing on the screen that she hadn't actually processed in over twenty minutes.

Her hand was resting on the wireless mouse, but her eyes were far away. Her mind, as much as she wanted to deny it, wasn't on the quarterly data. It wasn't on the updated ethics review she had to send in by noon. It wasn't even on the upcoming AI safety summit she was supposed to be preparing for.

No.

It was on him.

Her jaw clenched, and she pushed her chair back with a small exhale, standing abruptly and pacing toward the window. Her heels clicked softly on the concrete floor. Outside, the city glittered, steel and glass catching the morning sun. Inside, her thoughts were anything but bright.

Alaz.

Last night.

She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the cool glass, trying to force the memories away. But they rushed back, vivid and hot.

The way he held her up in the shower, so careful yet firm. Like she was precious. The way his fingers had gently massaged shampoo through her curls, his touch reverent, not playful. Not seductive. Just... tender.

His voice, low and sincere, whispering, "Still beautiful."

The way he'd wrapped her in the soft white towel, dried her off like she was fragile. Tucked her into bed. Stayed until he thought she was asleep.

It had been intimate in a way that undid her. It wasn't lust. It wasn't tension. It wasn't one of their typical firework fights leading to something messy and hot.

It was worse.

It was soft.

And she had no defense against soft.

Her stomach twisted with something too complicated to name.

A knock at the door shattered the spiral.

Asi turned sharply, blinking. "Yes?"

The door swung open before she could finish, and Ruya burst in, sunshine in human form. "Good morning!"

Asi nearly jumped out of her skin. "Ruuu! You're finally here!"

She rushed across the office and threw her arms around her friend, pulling her into a tight, sudden hug.

Ruya froze in surprise. "Asi... are you okay? What happened? You're scaring me."

Asi pulled back, sighing, and rubbed her temple. "I'm really confused."

Ruya gave her a look and let herself be led to the seating area, plopping down across from her with practiced ease. "Why? What's going on?"

Asi sat down, fiddling with the hem of her blouse. "Last night..."

Ruya leaned in. "What?"

"Things got a little weird. With Alaz."

Ruya's jaw dropped. "You had sex?!"

"Shhh! No! You horny animal." Asi smacked her arm lightly. "We didn't."

"Then what happened?"

Asi looked down, cheeks pink. "He helped me take a shower."