Phrase XIII

The stockroom lights buzzed.

Nico led Kai inside.
He didn't say anything until they stopped near the back wall.

"You good?" he asked.
He was quieter than usual.

Kai gave a half-nod.
His chest was tight.

Nico hesitated. "Alright. I'll be outside. Take a minute, yeah?"

Kai didn't respond.

Nico lingered a moment longer.
Then left.

THUNK

The door shut behind him.

Kai didn't move.

His hands braced against a shelf.
He stared at a box of syrup pumps.

Images flashed in his mind—

That look.
That sneer.

—Kai blinked—

Luca stepping in front of him.

—His breath caught.

It wasn't even—

He pressed his palms against his eyes.

Why did he—?

His heart was racing.

I didn't even—

Kai felt tears on his hands.

I shouldn't even—

Something creaked.
Kai looked up.

A stack of boxes near the top shelf—
Wobbling.

One box tilted.
Then another.

He just stared.

Oh...

The shelf lurched.

CRASH

Cardboard blurred from above—
Kai flinched, his arms half-raised—

THUD

A firm grip yanked him sideways.

Warm.

Boxes hit the floor where he just sat.
Sticky liquids across the tile.
Cracked plastic.

He blinked—
Luca was holding him.

An arm locked across his shoulder.
Another braced behind his back.

Kai could feel his heart thudding.

They were close.
Too close.

Luca's face was slightly turned away—
Jaw tense.
Breath shallow.

Kai swallowed.

"I—uh..."

He meant to say thank you.

"Do you... always sweep people off their feet?"

Luca blinked.
Then pulled away fast.

"I mean—" Kai said, hands up slightly, "—nice catch. Uh! Thank you?"

Luca didn't respond.

He looked like his brain crashed.
His mouth opened slightly.

He was about to speak—

SLAM

Sienna burst through the door, her clipboard in hand.

"Kai?! Are you alright?"

Kai jumped.
Luca backed up further, turning around.

"I'm fine," Kai said quickly. "Just—No big deal."

She zeroed in on him—eyes sharp, then soft.

"You sure? I swear, this day—" She crossed over, already checking him over. "That guy. Now this. I'm sending you home."

"What?" Kai didn't understand.

Sienna sighed.

"You've done enough. No one should have to deal with any of that."

She shot a glance at Luca.

"I mean it. We'll clean this up later."

"But—" Kai tried.

"No 'but.' Clock out. Breathe."

Her voice was still stern, but her hands were gentle as she turned him toward the door.

Kai looked back once.

Luca stood frozen near the shelf.
He was still looking away.

Kai hesitated—

"Alright..."

—then left.

The door shut behind him.

Luca stood there.
Staring at the spot where Kai was sitting.

His face was red.