The days after the meeting were a minefield of silent glances and disguised provocations. Ryan and Yun followed their corporate routine with the precision of two powerful gears — but inside, they were slow-burning embers.
That morning, Yun arrived before everyone else. The office was still dim, and footsteps echoed too loudly in the silence.
He told no one, but the previous night had been consumed by restless dreams. An endless hallway. Ryan's scent. A touch that never happened, yet his skin seemed to remember.
Ridiculous, he thought, slamming down into his chair. You're a dominant omega. None of this makes sense.
Not long after, Ryan entered.
"I thought I was the obsessive one who got here too early," he remarked, setting his folder on the desk.
Yun only lifted his eyes to him, too tired to build his usual walls.
"I woke up. Figured working was better than trying to outrun my own mind."
Ryan watched him in silence for a few seconds longer than he should have. Then he walked over to the coffee machine and made two cups. One black, strong. The other with just a trace of sugar — just the way Yun liked it. Without asking.
Yun raised an eyebrow when the cup appeared in front of him.
"Are you spying on me now?"
"I'm reading you," Ryan replied, serious. "You're predictable when you try to look impenetrable."
Yun chuckled, worn.
"Was that supposed to be a compliment?"
"It was a confession."
Silence fell. But it was the full kind. Alive.
Ryan approached slowly, leaning against the side of the desk. His eyes met Yun's.
"You're different."
"And you're closer than you should be."
"I'm not just talking about physical distance."
Yun gripped the cup tightly. His fingers trembled. And that enraged him.
"Careful, Ryan. You're starting to sound like someone who cares."
"And what if I do?"
Yun had no answer. For the first time in years, control was slipping through his fingers. And strangely… he didn't want to regain it so quickly.
To be continued…