Aguero sat in the dim light of his office, slowly swirling the whiskey in his glass. His tie was loosened, his fingers brushing over the silky fabric as he let out a deep breath. It was evening, and the rest of the building had already fallen silent.
It was so quiet that, for a moment, Aguero felt as though he was suffocating in his own silence.
He stood up, placed his glass of whiskey on the desk, and stretched with a deep sigh. Then he left the building and started walking toward the bar nearby.
There was only one thing on his mind.
Yomi.
The rather ordinary-looking woman always smiled whenever she brought Aguero his order. She was so kind, so polite, that Aguero couldn't help but be affected by her. It was something he rarely saw in his own world. Perhaps that was why, over time, he had developed what he believed to be a one-sided fondness for her.
When he entered the bar, he sat in his usual spot and ordered his usual drink.
"Mr. Khun, here you go."
A woman brought him his drink, and Aguero looked up. He glanced around.
Yomi wasn't there.
And Yomi hadn't brought his drink either.
He simply nodded at the woman to thank her before sending her away, then stood up. He stopped near the bar stools and glanced at the few employees who were talking among themselves.
"Ah, Mr. Khun. Did you need something?"
One of the employees approached him. He was tall, with a slightly muscular build.
Khun shrugged.
"Is Yomi not here?" he asked, deliberately keeping his voice indifferent.
"Yomi? She'll be here soon."
Khun raised one eyebrow.
The man had said Yomi's name rather casually.
That made him think.
His hand instinctively went to his tie, tugging at the fabric once again.
He shouldn't be having such ridiculous thoughts.
After all, Yomi wasn't his.
Not yet.
"Ah, Mr. Khun, welcome."
A bright, cheerful voice from behind interrupted his thoughts.
When Khun turned around, Yomi was standing in front of him. There was a wide smile on her face.
"Yomi."
He said her name in an even tone. His hands, however, lingered on his tie for longer than they should have.
"Are you stressed?" Yomi asked, her voice concerned. "A business meeting?"
"Something like that."
Aguero's answer was short and somewhat curt.
Yomi's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Aguero said dismissively. But his mind was still stuck on the way that man had said her name.
He's just a coworker, he thought. You don't have to be a genius to figure that out.
Still, with that uneasy feeling lingering inside him, he put his hands into his pockets and simply stood there, staring at Yomi.
When they reached the table, Aguero dropped into his chair and took a deep breath.
"The usual. Again," he said in a commanding tone.
Yomi smiled.
"You seem a little more bossy than usual today," she teased playfully.
Aguero lifted his head from his tablet.
"Since when did you make a habit of observing me?"
"Because you do the same thing every time."
Khun frowned. Still, the fact that Yomi paid attention to him touched a place inside him he hadn't even known existed.
Just then, the tall man called Yomi over again. Aguero pretended to look at his tablet while watching them.
His hand tightened around his glass. He downed it in one go and tried to return his attention to his tablet, but he was failing miserably.
"Mr. Khun," Yomi said as she came back to him. "If something is bothering you..."
"Nothing is bothering me," Aguero said with a sigh, placing his tablet on the table. "It's just... been a long day."
"Hmhm," Yomi replied, nodding.
Then she smiled.
"Then let's give Mr. Khun our special complimentary massage!"
Before Aguero could object, Yomi placed her delicate hands on his shoulders. She began gently massaging them.
Aguero flinched at the sudden touch. As the scent of her perfume filled his senses, he felt himself relax.
"You're very good..." Aguero murmured.
"Hm?"
"You're too good for your own good."
Yomi was silent for a few seconds. Then she smiled.
"I'm glad you liked the massage."
Aguero frowned.
"I'm not talking about the massage."
Yomi's hands tightened slightly on his shoulders.
"Is that so?"
Aguero looked away, as if only now realizing what he had said.
"Forget it."
Yomi smiled. She gave his shoulders one last squeeze before pulling her hands away.
"You're really strange today, Mr. Khun."
"You're the strange one."
Yomi stared at Aguero's face for a few seconds before smiling.
"Okay."
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing."
Yomi grinned even wider.
"See? You're doing it again."
Khun stood up.
Yomi took a step back.
"Because I like seeing you like this."
"Like what?" Aguero asked. He was genuinely curious now.
"Normal," Yomi said with a shrug.
Hah. I'm already normal, Aguero thought.
But he didn't say it.
The two of them remained like that for a while.
Eventually, Yomi went back inside, leaving Aguero standing there alone.
"I hope he's just a coworker."
