Cercis trudged into the agency, dark circles under her eyes betraying her lack of sleep. She stifled a yawn, mentally bracing herself for another grueling day. Her colleagues moved around her, immersed in their own tasks, the office buzzing with energy she couldn't summon.
Shun, impeccably dressed and seemingly unfazed by the whirlwind of the collab project of their respective agencies, spotted her immediately. He walked over, his brow furrowing with concern.
"Cercis, you look exhausted. Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice soft yet insistent.
She forced a tired smile. "Yeah, just... dealing with Jerry… It's been rough. He got beaten up so badly a few days ago, now he’s hospitalized.”
Shun nodded, his gaze never leaving her face. "Do you have a minute? Let's grab some coffee."
They found a quiet corner in the break room, the smell of coffee offering a brief reprieve from her exhaustion. Shun handed her a cup, and she gratefully took a sip, savoring the warmth.
"Why are you still taking care of him?" Shun asked calmly but with a stern tone, his eyes searching hers.
"I’m not sure," Cercis sighed, the burden of unspoken emotions evident in her voice. "I feel this overwhelming sense of responsibility. I can't just abandon him, even if he may not deserve my compassion."
Shun nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "Do you want me to come with you to the hospital later? You shouldn't have to do this alone."
Cercis looked up at him, surprised by his offer. She saw something in his eyes—an intensity, a flicker of something she couldn't quite place. It unsettled her, but also made her feel a bit of relief.
"That would be nice, actually," she admitted.
As they talked, a group of Cercis’s coworkers gathered near the coffee machine, casting glances in their direction and whispering among themselves.
"Have you seen how close they are?" one of them murmured, her voice dripping with envy. "I wonder what's really going on between them."
"She’s always getting special treatment," another added, rolling her eyes. "I bet she's just using him."
The gossiping continued, the whispers growing louder and more malicious. Shun's sharp hearing picked up on the snide remarks, and he glanced over at the group, his expression unreadable. He turned his attention back to Cercis, who’s oblivious to the conversation happening just a few feet away.
Without missing a beat, Shun reached out and gently tucked a strand of Cercis’s messy hair behind her ear. His touch was tender, and he smiled warmly at her, his eyes filled with a quiet affection.
"You’ve got a little stray hair," he said softly, his hand lingering for a moment before he pulled away.
Cercis blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the gesture. A faint blush crept up her cheeks, and she managed a grateful smile. "Thanks, Shun."
The room fell silent as her coworkers watched the exchange, their gossip dying on their lips. The sight of Shun's gentle touch and the warmth in his eyes left them shocked and envious. The unspoken bond between Shun and Cercis is undeniable, and the malicious whispers are replaced with begrudging admiration.
Shun glanced briefly at the group of coworkers, his expression calm but carrying a hint of a challenge. They quickly looked away, returning to their own conversations, chastened by the silent message.
As the break room settled back into its usual rhythm, Cercis felt a wave of gratitude for Shun's quiet support. She glanced at him, her eyes reflecting a deep, unspoken appreciation. However, she reminded herself of her objective; she needed to uncover something about him—anything she could potentially use against him. She shouldn’t be swayed by his apparent kindness; she knows better than to trust someone like him.
Later that evening, they arrived at the hospital together. The fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow over everything, and Cercis felt the familiar knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. Shun walked beside her, his presence steady and calm.
They reached Jerry's room, finding him sitting up in bed, talking animatedly into a seemingly new phone. His face paled when he saw them.
"Cercis," he greeted, his voice a bit too loud, his eyes darting nervously between her and Shun. "This is just my cousin from abroad."
Cercis raised an eyebrow, scepticism clear on her face, but she didn't push it. "Alright."
Jerry's gaze shifted to Shun, his eyes widening in recognition. "Sean?" he whispered, shock evident in his voice.
Shun smiled, a calm and composed smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, taking a seat in the corner without a word, his presence commanding yet silent.
The tension in the room is immediate and palpable. Jerry's eyes kept flicking towards Shun, a mixture of fear and annoyance evident in his expression. Cercis felt the strain but chose to focus on her usual routine, asking Jerry about his treatment and the advancement of the case.
Jerry sighed. "I talked to the police again today. They're making progress. They think they might have a lead on the guy who attacked me."
"That's good news," Cercis said, though her voice lacked enthusiasm.
Jerry nodded. "Yeah, it's something. At least they're doing something about it."
Cercis felt her legs tremble with fatigue and sank into the chair beside Jerry's bed. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the tension headache building behind her eyes.
"You look exhausted, Cercis," Jerry said, his tone softening. He reached out and took her hand gently. "You've been doing so much for me. You need to take care of yourself too." He gave her a small, flirtatious smile. "You always did work too hard."
Cercis managed a tired yet sarcastic chuckle, but before she could respond, there’s a sudden, sharp sound that startled both of them.
Shun, who had been quietly observing from his corner while sipping a canned energy drink, had crushed the can in one hand with a loud crunch. The aluminum crumpled easily in his grip, and both Cercis and Jerry turned to look at him.
Jerry's flirtatious demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a look of unease. Shun glanced down at the crushed can in his hand, then up at them, a slightly embarrassed smile on his lips.
"Sorry about that." Shun said smoothly, his tone light though his eyes held a quiet intensity.
Cercis looked at Shun, her expression a mix of gratitude and wary. "N-no no, it’s okay. Thanks for being here, Shun."
Shun nodded, his gaze briefly locking with Jerry's before returning to his usual calm demeanor. "Anything…for you."
The tension in the room is palpable, the earlier discussion about the perpetrator now overshadowed by the silent, charged atmosphere. Cercis leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her strength.
Jerry shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting between Cercis and Shun. The undercurrent of unspoken emotions hung thickly in the air, making the room feel smaller and more confined.
Cercis opened her eyes, feeling the weight of the moment. "Jerry, just focus on getting better, okay?"
Jerry nodded, though his eyes remained wary, especially when they flickered to Shun. "Yeah, okay. Thanks, Cercis."
As Cercis and Shun made their way out of the hospital, Cercis found herself stealing glances at Shun's aquamarine eyes. The cool evening air brushed against her skin, but her thoughts were focused on the man beside her. She kept her expression indifferent, studying him quietly, trying to piece together the puzzle that is Shun.
Without warning, Shun turned to her, catching her mid-glance. A playful smile tugged at his lips. "Is there something on my face?" he asked, his voice teasing yet warm.
Cercis quickly shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "No, nothing. I just... can't help but look at you."
In her mind, a plan was forming. Now that she has Shun here, what if she tried to get even closer to him? What if she pushed the boundaries, saw just how far she could go? As they walked down the street, Cercis began to chat casually, bringing up a topic she knew well—alcohol.
"You know," she started, her tone light, "alcohol has this funny way of revealing people's true feelings. Their true selves."
Shun nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I've heard that. It’s interesting how it can lower inhibitions."
They continued talking, the conversation flowing easily between them. As they approached a grocery store, Cercis suddenly suggested, "Do you mind waiting outside? I need to pick up a few things."
Shun hesitated, then shook his head. "Actually, I was planning to grab some snacks too. I'll come with you."
Inside the store, Shun’s eyes followed Cercis as she loaded her cart with cans of alcohol. A flicker of concern crossed his face, and he asked lightly, "That’s... quite a bit."
Cercis laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah, well, it’s my coping mechanism."
As they reached the checkout, Cercis turned to Shun with a casual air, though her heart raced with anticipation. "Do you want to hang out tonight? Maybe have a drink with me at my place?"
Shun halted, his eyes widening in surprise. He hadn’t expected that. Cercis noticed his reaction, her heart sinking slightly as she doubted he would agree, especially with his busy schedule. She tilted her head, feigning nonchalance. "Do you drink?"
Shun shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I do, but rarely."
Cercis sighed dramatically, hoping to guilt-trip him a little. "Guess I’ll just drink by myself again."
As she began to walk toward the cashier, Shun suddenly reached out and gently held her arm. "Wait," he said, his tone sincere. "What if we hang out somewhere else? Somewhere that doesn’t involve alcohol."
Cercis paused, genuinely curious. "Where?"
Before Shun could answer, they both noticed the whispers and giggles around them. A small crowd had gathered, some people snapping pictures, clearly recognizing Shun. Cercis felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her, and she instinctively tried to pull away from the scene. But Shun, sensing the same unease, gently tugged her arm, leaning closer as he whispered, "How about a movie? Let’s get out of here."
Cercis noticed the tension in Shun’s voice and casually agreed, grateful for the excuse to leave. At the checkout, she reluctantly opted for only three cans of alcohol, unable to carry more in her bag. They left the store quickly, heading toward the nearest cinema, but as they arrived, they realized it’s late, and the cinema had closed for the night.
Disappointment settled in the air between them. Cercis, still determined to execute her plan, suggested, "We could watch a movie at my place instead."
Shun hesitated, his cheeks flushing slightly as he politely declined. "I... I can’t."
Cercis frowned, genuinely confused. "Why not?"
Shun looked away, clearly uncomfortable, but he refused to give a straight answer. Cercis sighed, feeling the sting of disappointment. She forced a smile, trying to mask her frustration. "Sorry if I made things awkward."
Shun quickly shook his head. "No, it’s not that. It’s just..."
But whatever he was going to say, he left it unsaid. Cercis didn’t press him, sensing that he was holding back. "It’s fine," she said, her voice softer now. "I’ll head home then."
Shun offered to escort her, but Cercis declined. "My place isn’t far. I’ll be fine."
They stood there for a moment, an unspoken tension hanging between them. Shun seemed to want to say something more, but the words never came. He simply smiled, and Cercis could see a mix of emotions in his eyes—something she couldn’t quite decipher.
She smiled back, turning away to head home. As she walked, she cracked open one of the cans from her bag, taking a long drink, the alcohol warming her as she tried to push down the disappointment of the evening.
Behind her, Shun remained standing, watching her disappear into the night, a lingering expression of concern and unresolved feelings etched across his face.
“Cercis… I…”
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