เข้าสู่ระบบJayden was watching her, waiting for her answer. She could feel his gaze.
“You’re thinking about something,” he said.
“I’m always thinking about something.”
“Fair.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “But you’re thinking about&nbs
His phone buzzed.The sound was a sharp, ugly vibration against the wet pavement, cutting through the rain and the weight of her words. It was a leash, yanking him back to a reality that didn't include her.Elliot flinched. The movement was small, almost imperceptible, but to Yerin, it was a scream.Her eyes dropped to the glowing screen.Hazel.The name was a brand, searing itself into her vision.The frantic, hopeful beating of her heart stilled into something cold and heavy. This was the answer she'd been too afraid to ask for.She took a shaky step back, wrapping her arms around herself, squeezing
The restaurant was quiet, tucked away in a corner of the city where the lighting was soft and the air smelled of grilled meat and garlic. Yerin arrived a few minutes early, her heart beating faster than it should have. She had told herself it was just dinner. Just two colleagues sharing a meal.But the journal was still in her bag. She had brought it without thinking, as if keeping it close would somehow make her brave.Elliot was already there. He sat at a table near the window, one hand resting against his temple, his gaze fixed on something outside. He had ordered already – the dishes arriving just as she walked in, steam curling from the plates. The scent of her favorite meal lingered in the air.He had remembered.But h
Jayden was watching her, waiting for her answer. She could feel his gaze.“You’re thinking about something,” he said.“I’m always thinking about something.”“Fair.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “But you’re thinking abouthimright now, aren’t you?”She didn’t answer.Jayden’s smirk faded slightly. He didn’t push."It's late. Let's heading home" he stood up and walked outside.They walked in silence fo
Yerin had been searching a reference document that morning before she headed to work in her desk drawer – the one she never opened, the one where she kept things that didn't belong in her orderly world.She pulled out old receipts, expired coupons, a pen that no longer wrote. And then her fingers brushed against a small, leather-bound journal.She had bought it years ago, intending to use it for work notes. But instead, she had written in it only once.The night before Elliot transferred to her department.Yerin sat back on her couch, the journal in her hands. She hadn't looked at it since that night. She wasn't sure she wanted to.But something made her open it.
The restaurant was quiet, tucked away in a corner of the city where the lighting was soft and the air smelled of grilled meat and garlic. Yerin looked around, still getting used to the fact that she was here, sitting across from Jayden with a menu in her hands. The place was small—maybe ten tables—with wooden walls and low‑hanging lanterns that cast warm shadows. It felt intimate in a way she hadn't anticipated.Jayden leaned back, watching her. “You look uncomfortable. I didn’t think you’d be the type to get awkward over dinner.”Yerin scoffed lightly, picking up the menu. “I’m not awkward. I’ just wondering how this happened.”“You mean how you ended up having dinner with someone you can’t stand?” He smi
The mistake was found late in the afternoon. A wrong number in one of the market reports had thrown off their entire forecast, putting key decisions in jeopardy. Not a small error—the kind that could wreck the whole project.The room went silent. Elliot froze, the color draining from his face as he stared at the numbers in disbelief. He had been trying so hard to hold everything together, and now it was crumbling because of him.Yerin felt a sharp ache in her chest watching him.Jayden was the first to speak. “We need to fix this. Now.”Hazel took a sharp breath. “We can rework the approach, but we don't have much time. We have to tell leadership before they find out on their own.”Elliot's voice was quieter than usual. “I'll take responsibility. I should have caught this sooner.”Yerin clenched her fists. “Let's focus on solving it first. We'll figure the rest out after.”Elliot met her gaze briefly. Gratitude, maybe, or just pure exhaustion. Then he nodded.Jayden was already moving







