When I wake up, sunlight streams through the curtains, warming the room and giving everything a soft, golden glow. I blink a few times, still feeling groggy. My head feels heavy, like I've stayed up way too late.
I slowly sit up, pushing my messy hair out of my face. The sheets are all tangled around my legs, and my body feels tired, but in a good way.
Then, memories from last night come rushing back: the charity gala, all the flashing cameras, the long speeches. I remember how Kairo caught me when I almost fell, holding me like I was something fragile he didn't want to let go of.
That thought tightens my chest, so I press my hand against it, trying to shake off the feeling. I remind myself that this is just a job, just part of playing a role.
I swing my legs off the bed and shuffle towards the door, yawning and stretching. My mind starts to race through the day's plans, emails to send, meetings to attend, pretending everything is fine.
But as soon as I step into the living room, I freeze.
On the coffee table sits a huge bouquet of deep red roses. There are so many of them, it almost looks unreal, like something out of a painting.
I just stand there, staring. For a moment, my heart pounds so hard I can hear it.
It has to be Noah. He's the only one who sends flowers that make me feel this way.
My feet move closer to the table. The roses smell so sweet and rich, it hits me right away.
I notice a small white card tucked between the stems. My hand shakes a little as I reach for it.
I flip it over and just freeze.
It's blank. No message, no name, nothing. Just empty.
It's like the flowers are asking me something I can't answer.
My heart races even more, and I can barely breathe.
I'm still standing there when I hear soft footsteps behind me. I turn quickly.
Kairo is there.
He's dressed for work, dark pants, a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up to show his forearms. His tie hangs loose, and his hair is a bit messy, like he hasn't had his coffee yet.
His face is calm, but his eyes...
They land on the roses, then slowly meet mine.
He doesn't say anything. Just stands there with his hands in his pockets, watching me.
The silence feels heavy, pressing down on me. I clutch the card tighter, wishing I could just disappear or say something clever.
"They're beautiful," I finally say, my voice quiet. I clear my throat and try again. "Beautiful."
Kairo doesn't respond. He just nods a little, like he's acknowledging what I said. A small smile almost appears but fades away quickly.
He looks away, fixing his tie as if he needs something to focus on. It feels like the silence between us is stretching, and I might snap.
I glance back at the flowers, running my finger over one of the soft petals. They're so gentle, so alive.
These flowers aren't from Noah. They're from him.
From kairo.
My heart pounds hard against my ribs, and I have no idea how to stop it. Or if I want to.
He clears his throat. "I thought you'd like them," he says in a low voice.
I snap my head up, our eyes locking.
It's him. Not Noah. Not someone from my past.
Kairo.
Something shifts inside me, like a door is creaking open. It feels like a breath I didn't know I was holding that finally escapes.
He doesn't wait for me to thank him. He just checks his watch, his mouth tightening a bit. "Breakfast in twenty minutes. Don't be late."
And just like that, he's gone, his footsteps fading down the hallway, leaving me alone with the flowers and a million questions I'm not ready to face.
I sit on the edge of the couch, staring at the bouquet. I reach out and touch one of the petals again. It's soft, almost like it's alive under my fingertips.
Why did he send them? Why now? And why does it feel like something inside me is starting to break free? Something I've worked hard to keep hidden.
I lean back against the couch and close my eyes, feeling the sunlight on my skin.
And suddenly, with a heavy twist in my chest, I realize maybe it's not just pretend anymore. Maybe it never was.