It started with small things.
Things no one else would notice.
But for them,
They meant everything.
Riyana had just settled at her desk when
A cup appeared beside her laptop.
She looked up.
Bosco.
"Professional?" she asked, raising a brow slightly.
"Completely," he replied, straight-faced.
She picked up the cup.
Took a sip.
Then paused.
"You remembered."
No sugar.
Exactly how she liked it.
Bosco shrugged lightly. "Not hard."
Riyana tried to hide her smile.
Didn't fully succeed.
Meeting room.
Serious discussion.
Everyone focused.
Except—
Riyana.
Because Bosco was sitting next to her.
Too close.
Again.
She tried to stay focused on the presentation.
Then
A slight nudge against her foot.
She froze.
Slowly,
She glanced sideways.
Bosco was looking straight ahead.
Like nothing happened.
Another nudge.
Slightly more intentional.
Riyana pressed her lips together.
Trying not to react.
Then,
She nudged back.
A tiny pause.
And for the briefest second,
A faint smile appeared on his face.
No one else noticed.
But she did.
She handed him a file.
Their fingers brushed.
Simple.
Normal.
But neither pulled back immediately.
A second too long.
Then,
Riyana cleared her throat lightly.
"File," she said.
Bosco took it.
Still watching her.
"Hmm."
That sound again.
And suddenly,
She forgot what she was about to say next.
"Riyana."
She looked up.
Bosco was leaning against her desk.
"You're staring at the same line for the last two minutes."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"I'm thinking."
"No," he said calmly. "You're distracted."
She frowned. "By what?"
A pause.
Then—
"You."
Her breath caught.
"Excuse me?"
Bosco straightened slightly.
"You're distracting yourself," he corrected.
Too late.
The damage was done.
Riyana looked away quickly.
"Go back to your cabin," she muttered.
But her ears—
Were slightly red.
She was about to eat alone.
As usual.
Until,
He sat across from her.
No permission.
No question.
"Meeting?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said. "With you."
Riyana blinked.
"This is not a meeting."
"Very important one," he added.
She tried not to smile.
Failed again.
The AC was too cold.
Riyana rubbed her arms slightly.
Didn't say anything.
Didn't complain.
But Bosco noticed.
Of course he did.
A minute later,
Something warm settled over her shoulders.
She looked down.
His jacket.
"Bosco"
"Work," he said simply, like it was nothing.
Her fingers lightly touched the fabric.
Still warm.
She didn't give it back.
The office was almost empty again.
They walked out together.
This time,
Not accidental.
Not silent either.
"Still think this is a mistake?" Bosco asked casually.
Riyana glanced at him.
A small smile was playing on her lips.
"Ask me later."
"When?"
She thought for a second.
Then,
"When I stop liking this."
Bosco looked at her.
"Let me know when that happens."
Riyana didn't answer.
Because deep down
She knew.
That moment
Wasn't coming anytime soon.
Back at the office door
They stopped.
Not because they had to.
But because neither moved immediately.
A quiet pause.
Then,
A look.
No words.
No teasing.
Just something soft.
Something real.
Something new.
Riyana broke it first.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
She turned to leave.
But this time,
There was no running.
No hesitation.
Just a quiet certainty.
That whatever this was,
It was hers.
And she was finally
Okay with that.