Contrary to every nervous thought pounding in my head, Thomas had pulled me aside not to scold me—but to comfort me.
“You see,” he started, fidgeting with his fingers slightly, “Ed—I mean, Eddie—he’s just… really strict at work.”
I blinked, watching the little shift in his tone. “It’s not easy becoming a team leader that young,” he continued. “There’s a reason for how he is. You get what I mean, right?”
“…Yes,” I whispered, heart slowly unclenching. “Mr. Lewis is a great team leader. He’s sharp—he sees all the flaws right away. And for that… I’m also sorry. To you, Thomas.”
He looked confused. I pressed on. “You stayed up helping me. Worked overtime. And I still—didn’t do well.”
His eyes widened slightly, then softened with a kind of earnest urgency.
“Mia,” he said firmly, “you shouldn’t be sorry to me. Really. It’s nothing at all.”
“But—”
“I’m your mentor. I should be helping you. That’s literally my role,” he said, smiling gently now. “So please—don’t feel guilty. Don’t think you’re a burden. You’re not.”
He looked at me with those warm, open eyes, the kind that made you believe—just for a moment—that everything would be okay.
“…Thomas.”
I said his name quietly, almost under my breath. My throat tightened unexpectedly, and my heart warmed in a way I couldn’t explain. How… can a person be this nice?
There was no lecture in his tone. No disappointment. Just concern. Gentle, genuine concern.
“I’m just worried…” he said, his voice soft, “that you might start thinking something bad… when all your efforts seem to be in vain.”
I blinked at him. What…?
“Thinking bad things?” I echoed cautiously.
Thomas nodded slowly, then looked down at his clasped hands. “Like—‘Why am I so stupid?’ Or, ‘Why can’t I do anything right?’”
A wave of realization washed over me.
Oh my gosh... He read my mind.
He glanced up, hesitantly. “Or maybe even... ‘I don’t have to do this anymore if I just quit right now.’ That kind of thought.”
I stared at him, stunned.How did he—?
“You… aren’t thinking those things, are you?” His voice was quiet, but his eyes searched mine with worry. My lips parted, but no sound came out at first.
“…How did you know that?” I whispered, my voice a little shaky.
He looked so sad. So honest. But then I forced a small smile and straightened my shoulders.
“But I’ll do my best. Don’t worry, Thomas. I promise.”
Thomas’s expression didn’t ease.
“mia,” he said. “I’m really sorry.”
I blinked. “Huh?”
“I haven’t been the best mentor. I should have guided you better—so you wouldn’t have to struggle this much.”
“No! Nooo—!” I quickly waved my hands, flustered. “You’ve already done your best! I really appreciate it! It’s me—I haven’t done my best. I… I know Eddie’s disappointed in me.”
But Thomas shook his head.
“No, he’s not…”
He hesitated, then looked away. “Uhhm… I’m not supposed to say this…”
That sentence alone made my curiosity explode.
Not supposed to say this? Then I definitely want to know.
I leaned in a little closer, eyes locked on him.
“What? What is it?”
Thomas cleared his throat and finally met my eyes again.
“He said… that you’re a smart lad. And he wants to teach you more.”
My breath caught.
“He said… you’ve got potential.”
I stared at him.
“…Are you sure that was me?” I asked, barely above a whisper.
"Yes, you, mia," Thomas said with a quiet certainty, as if the answer had always been obvious.
I blinked rapidly. "Y-you're saying... that I’ve got potential? That I'm s-s-smart..."
Thomas raised an amused eyebrow. “You know your voice is getting louder, right? Go ahead and laugh if you want to.”
I clapped my hands over my mouth but couldn’t stop the bubbling laugh that escaped.
“I’m sorry,” I said between giggles, “but honestly, wow—this feels better than great.”
“Are you happy?”
“Yes! Very! I love the compliment—my mentor—and... my team leader.”
Thomas looked a little stunned. “Me?”
“Yes! I should try harder. You and everyone else are supporting me—I want to do better. For all of you.”
Thomas’s smile turned soft—bashful, even—and something about it warmed the space between us.
“I’m glad to hear that,” he said, then straightened up a little. “Alright then. You’ve still got five more hours. Good luck! And if you need anything—anything at all—just ask, okay?”
I nodded eagerly. “Yes! I will!”
I turned around and marched back into the office with a new fire in my step. But halfway to my desk, my brain caught up to me.
Wait. Why did I say all that out loud...?!
As I sat down and stared at my laptop screen, panic set in. But before I could spiral—
“Hmm. mia, are you almost done?”
Eddie’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
“Yeap! I’m almost done, mom!”
The moment the word left my mouth, my soul left my body.
Eddie paused. “...Mom?”
I clutched the desk. “Oops—I-I mean, yes, Eddie...”
Oh no. What? MOM?! Why did I say that?!
I shriveled into my chair, ready to evaporate into the floor. I really should’ve quit this job this morning.
“You’ve got 30 minutes left,” Eddie said, glancing at his watch.
“Y-yes... I guess so.”
He looked at me for a moment longer, then surprisingly... smiled.
“Good luck.”
He reached out and gently patted my head—a quiet gesture of encouragement—and walked away.
But as I stared at my screen, hands trembling over the keyboard, I sighed.
“...Luck? Eddie, I don’t think I have anything called ‘luck’ left in me.”
Phew. Just a little more... I tell myself, fingers trembling slightly over the keyboard. Submitting an unfinished proposal would be ridiculous. No—unacceptable.
I take a deep breath and look up.
“E-Eddie, may I work on it a bit more?” I ask cautiously, like a student begging for five extra minutes on a final exam. “It should be okay as long as I hand it in today… May I?”
Eddie looks up from his screen, calm as ever. “Well, you could do that.”
I blink. “Then... may I submit it a bit later? I want to check it thoroughly.”
He gives a slight nod—and even offers a rare, kind smile. “All right, you may.”
Wait, what? Just like that?
I turn to Thomas, eyes wide. “Thomas, do you think it’s okay now?”
He leans in, reviewing my screen again. “Hmm… I think so.”
“But—are you sure? Isn’t there anything else I should check?”
Thomas chuckles gently. “I really think you’ve got it, mia.”
It’s already past nine in the evening, yet Thomas is still here. Still helping me. Still cheering me on. And now, it’s time.
Eddie steps forward and opens the final version of the file. He scans it silently. Very silently. Too silently. The kind of silence that makes every nerve in your body tense up. I hold my breath.
Finally, he speaks. “Good work.”
My heart jumps. “...You mean—?”
“Yes. You can submit it.”
A second of stillness.
Then—
“YASSSSS!!!” I shout.
Both Eddie and Thomas burst into laughter.
“Haha—” Eddie chuckles.
“Ahaha—” Thomas echoes.
I freeze. “...D-did I shout out too loud? I-I’m sorry! I’ll go submit it now!”
“Good,” Eddie says with a satisfied nod.
“Okay!” Thomas grins.
I step over to the computer again, my hands just a little shaky. Calm down, mia. Calm down... But my heart is racing.
The screen blinks with the words:
> Project Summer – Project Plan Submission Guide
Would you like to submit?
I hover the mouse for a moment.
“…Yes,” I whisper, then press the button. “I—I really submitted it…!”
And just like that, a huge weight lifts from my chest. I did it. I actually did it.
My first project proposal. My first real task since I began my career. I actually submitted it.
I still can’t believe it.
“Good work, mia,” Thomas says with a soft, proud smile.
“Yes,” Eddie adds. “You did a great job.”
I wave my hands quickly. “No, no. It’s all thanks to you two.”
Thomas stretches, yawning like a sleepy golden retriever. “Well, let’s head home now. It’s almost ten! Thank goodness tomorrow’s Saturday.”
“Right,” Eddie agrees. “Let’s call it a day.”
A weird pang of guilt stabs my stomach.
“...Uh, did you two work overtime just because of me…?”
Stupid. Stupid question, mia.
Eddie tilts his head. “Nope, I had my own work to finish. Did you work overtime for Miss mia, Thomas?”
Thomas plays along. “No, sir. I had stuff left, too.”
But I know better. I saw them. They didn’t do anything but help me out.
I look down. “...I know you two didn’t do anything else but help me...”
Eddie grins. “Well, that’s our job.”
Thomas lets out a dramatic groan and rubs his eyes. “Woo, I suddenly feel so sleepy... Let’s head home before I pass out!”
Grateful. Touched. A bit embarrassed. I feel all of that—and maybe something more.
So I blurt it out.
“Uhm, if you two don’t have any plans tonight—”
At the BBQ Restaurant
“I’ll treat you both! Order anything you want!” I declare, throwing my arms wide like I just landed a huge raise instead of barely scraping by.
Eddie eyes the menu with a glint of mischief. “Then how about some wagyu beef?”
“...Except for that!” I shoot back, eyes narrowing.
Eddie laughs. “Haha, I was joking.”
Thomas chuckles. “mia, you really don’t have to buy us all this.”
“Nooo,” I say, full of passion. “You both worked overtime just for me. You deserve it!”
It’s Friday night, and the three of us sit around a round BBQ table, watching the sizzling grill heat up as cold water is poured into our glasses. The restaurant is warm and buzzing, the smell of grilled meat floating in the air like temptation itself.
Eddie scans the menu, then pulls out his phone. “So… what’s the most popular dish here?”
I blink. “Uh… I don’t know. I only know this place is popular. I’ve never actually been here.”
Eddie hums and taps his screen. “Let’s check. Maybe the restaurant website has something.”
Thomas leans over. “Ohh, I like this set menu!”
Eddie squints. “This blog post looks sponsored…”
“Well, everything is an ad these days,” Thomas says with a shrug.
“Yeah, but look at this emoji,” Eddie counters, holding up the phone. “Doesn’t it look too fake?”
Thomas isn’t having it. “But this menu looks good.”
Eddie frowns dramatically. “Still looks commercial.”
“By the way,” I said, looking between the two men, “you two look so close.”
Eddie gave a short, dismissive laugh. “Nah. We’re only acting close for business.”
Thomas pouted dramatically. “Aww, come on—”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Is it Thomas who's tailing you, then?”
Thomas straightened up, indignantly pointing a thumb at himself. “No—Eddie, I mean, Mr. Lewis likes me a lot too! He’s my BFF!”
Eddie smirked. “No, I’ve got closer friends.”
“Come on, man!” Thomas groaned, leaning back as if physically wounded.
I chuckled. “Haha, you two really do look close.”
“Nah…” Thomas mumbled, glancing at Eddie with a sheepish grin. “I’m tailing him around. You probably already know this, but even though Mr. Lewis can be scary at work—”
“I’m scary?” Eddie interrupted with mock offense, turning to Thomas. “You never seemed scared of me.”
“Man, seriously!” Thomas laughed, throwing his hands up.
Eddie only grinned wider. “Haha—go on.”
Thomas shook his head but continued, “Anyway, even though he is quite scary sometimes, you learn a lot from him.”
“What?” Eddie scoffed. “Are you flattering me? I don’t even do employee evaluations, so it’s useless.”
Thomas just looked at me with the expression of someone defeated. “...See? I’m tailing him alone.”
I couldn’t help but laugh again. Their chemistry was undeniable, the kind that came with long hours and shared chaos.
As the two continued their back-and-forth, I flagged down the waiter and placed a quick order. “Oh, and I’ll add one beer, please.”
Eddie raised an eyebrow. “Beer? What for?”
“That beer’s for Thomas,” I said casually. “He only drinks that one.”
Thomas perked up, pleasantly surprised. “Oh, come on—! Even our new girl knows my taste now?”
Eddie leaned back, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “It’s just that Mia cares for others a lot.”
Thomas nodded slowly, the grin on his face fading into something more genuine. “Well… I have to agree on that part. I sometimes get quite touched.”
“You do?” I asked, a little amused.
“You start missing the kindness of another human being,” he said, his voice quieter now, “when you live alone for eight years... and haven’t dated anyone in five.”
“Woah... five years?” I echoed, surprised.
Eddie gave him a knowing look. “But you said no when I tried to introduce you to someone.”
Thomas sighed. “I just don’t like that kind of artificial romance. I want to meet someone naturally, you know?”
“Naturally...” Eddie repeated, a little unconvinced.
I tilted my head. “So what kind of girl do you like?”
Thomas didn’t hesitate. “I like someone bright—”
That’s very common, I thought, feeling my interest flicker slightly. Just another typical answer.
But then he added, almost softly, “And caring.”
I looked up—and met Thomas’s gaze. Or rather, he was looking directly into my eyes.
At the Street
“I really was going to treat you all!” I insisted, half-pouting as I walked beside Eddie.
“I know, I know,” he replied easily, hands tucked into his pockets as we strolled toward the taxi stop.
We had just waved goodbye to Thomas, who headed in a different direction. Now, it was just the two of us under the quiet city lights.
“I didn’t expect you to sneak off and pay for everything,” I added, nudging him. “Telling us you were going to the restroom, seriously?”
Eddie chuckled. “That made you fall for me, right?”
I blinked. “...Really, I was going to treat you two…”
“Hm? You didn’t answer my question,” he teased, casting a sly glance my way.
I rolled my eyes and mumbled, “No, I didn’t fall for you...”
But in the back of my mind, the truth whispered: If I ever do fall for you, it won’t be because of your charm or antics. It’ll be because of that face. That stupidly handsome face. Not that I’d ever say that out loud.
At Main Street
As we reached the main road, the breeze was cooler, quieter. The streets were calm, glowing under the faint orange of the streetlights.
“Well,” Eddie said, glancing at the time on his phone. “Take a cab and hurry home. It’s already past midnight.”
“What about you?” I asked, pausing beside him.
“I got a call from some friends. We’re grabbing more drinks tonight.”
“Oho~” I teased, raising a brow. “You’re so popular.”
“Yeah, I know I’m popular,” he said with that signature grin.
And there it was—that smile again. When his eyes curved into that perfect crescent, it didn’t matter what he said. It all sounded true. Annoyingly true.
“Oh, it’s here,” Eddie said as a cab pulled up. He stepped forward and opened the door for me, like it was second nature.
I turned to him, half inside the car. “I promise I’ll pay next time.”
He smiled again, but this time with a hint of mischief. “Well then… it should be just the two of us.”
“HUH!?” I blurted out, heart skipping a beat.
“’Cause it should be cheaper?” Eddie added with a cheeky grin, following up his flirty comment like nothing happened.
“...Ah. R-right,” I stammered, still recovering from his earlier words. Just the two of us—was he just teasing, or...?
Inside the Taxi
I slid into the cab seat, trying to compose myself. My cheeks still felt warm, and my heart? It was doing its own little drum solo.
“Take care,” Eddie said through the open door, his voice low and casual.
Then he chuckled softly, closing the door gently. I caught a faint whiff of BBQ smoke lingering on his shirt. His deep eyes met mine again—curving into that crescent smile. Ugh. Why does he smile like that? It’s unfair. I’m overreacting, I told myself. But still, that moment settled into my memory, warm and impossible to shake.
A Friday night I knew I’d never forget.
The Next Day
After successfully submitting the project plan at work, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. My heart was lighter, and so was my mood. It was subtle at first—a quiet gratitude—but then it bubbled up.
I wanted to do something. Not just for Eddie... but for Thomas, too.
I couldn’t just turn a blind eye to the people who helped me out. So, I made a decision. A small gift wouldn’t hurt.
At the Building Entrance
I waited by the exit until I spotted Thomas. Timing this on purpose felt a little dramatic, but—whatever.
“Uh, Thomas!” I called, catching up to him.
He blinked, surprised. “Yes?”
Before he could ask questions, I grabbed his arm and gently dragged him along. “Come with me.”
At the Arcade
We ended up at the small, familiar arcade near the BBQ place we’d gone to with the team. The air was filled with game sounds and the buzz of neon lights, faintly nostalgic.
“I wanted to thank you,” I said. “For helping me out with the project.”
Before he could object, I slid a bill into the claw machine’s slot.
Thomas fumbled. “Oh, uh… You don’t have to—”
Even as he said it, his eyes lit up. His body had already leaned in toward the machine, face flushing slightly in excitement.
“Then… can I have a try?” he asked, like a kid given surprise candy.
I smiled. “Hmm? Why not!”
He grabbed the lever confidently and cracked his knuckles for show.
“Well, if I press the button here—”
“Oh! That’s amazing!” I cheered as the claw twitched forward.
Thomas leaned forward with focus, hands steady on the claw machine controls. With one final adjustment, he pressed the button—and down went the claw. It clamped onto the plush bunny doll I’d quietly had my eye on earlier. To my surprise, the claw didn’t let go. It lifted. It dropped. Right into the prize bin.
“Wow!” I gasped, eyes lighting up. “Thank you!!”
Thomas grinned... but then tilted his head with a mischievous glint. “...Well, I didn’t say it’s for you.”
My smile faltered. “Oh…” He looked at me, then burst into laughter. “Ah, your face is red, Mia.”
Flustered, I quickly turned my face away, pretending to be interested in the claw machine’s blinking lights. My ears were burning. I didn’t even know why I was so embarrassed—it was just a doll. Right?
“Mia, are you angry?” he asked, leaning closer.
“No, I’m not,” I muttered, still refusing to meet his gaze.
“Mia, please look at me.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. I wanted to look, but I also wanted to sink through the floor. Wasn’t this just supposed to be a thank-you outing?
“You’re not upset, right?” he asked again, his tone softening. “I was kidding. I’m going to give this to you, Mia. I mean, I won it with the money you put in. So this doll was meant to be yours from the start.”
My heart fluttered a little. “But… it was you who actually caught it.”
Thomas gave a playful smirk. “Then what if I take the carrot… and you take the bunny?”
I blinked. “That would be… even weirder.”
With a dramatic sweep, Thomas held the bunny out to me, bowing slightly.
“Take it, quick,” he said, imitating a squeaky voice. “Master, I belong to you!”
I groaned. “Oh, come on…”
But he kept going, bouncing slightly on his toes like a ridiculous, overgrown bunny. His voice was too cute and too odd not to laugh at.
Finally, I gave in. “…Alright. Thank you.”
As I reached out and accepted the plush toy, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. It wasn’t the doll that made my heart warm—it was the memory being made. A silly, sweet moment I hadn’t expected to treasure.
In the Taxi
"Master, I belong to you!"
Thomas’s playful voice echoed in my head, and I couldn't help but smile.
The streets outside blurred past in soft smudges of city light, and I sat quietly in the backseat, absentmindedly patting the bunny doll on its head. The night was hushed now—peaceful. Yet his voice still lingered, silly and warm like an aftertaste of laughter.
That night at the office dinner... I remembered how Thomas had offered to go home in my place when I seemed uncomfortable—brushing it off so casually. It was kindness, I realized now. The punching machine incident? Definitely alcohol-driven. But the way he held back a cheer after beating his own score... that was all pride.
Somehow, thinking about it made my chest feel lighter. Maybe that was his unintentional magic. Stress seemed to melt a little in his presence.
At the Same Time... Elsewhere
Thomas leaned back against the cool window of the train, his reflection barely visible in the glass. He chuckled softly to himself, thinking back.
She really rolled up her sleeve like she was going to fight that claw machine. That determined little face. And when she looked worried about him hurting his wrist at the arcade—something about that made his heart lurch a bit.
Cute. The word snuck into his thoughts before he could stop it.
Embarrassed by himself, he quickly turned his face away, rubbing the back of his neck as if it could shake the thought out of his head.
But it didn’t.
And somewhere, across town, Mia still smiled to herself in the taxi—stroking the head of a bunny plush won by a man who didn’t quite realize he’d won something else that night too.
At the Project Team Office
“Ha… This is insane,” I muttered under my breath, staring blankly at the pile of documents on my desk.
My name is Mia.
And just because my project plan had been approved—it didn’t mean I was free. If anything, the real madness had just begun.
Three days until the client meeting. Three days to turn this into something polished, presentable, and, ideally, not a disaster.
Eddie strolled over, coffee in hand, looking as relaxed as ever. “You’ve got a meeting in three days, right? How’s it going?”
I turned slowly to face him, letting out a deadpan laugh. “Ha…… hahahaha.”
In my head, I had already written at least four resignation letters. All of them dramatically worded.
Before I could spiral further into mental chaos, Thomas peeked over his monitor. “Let’s continue after lunch,” he said kindly.
I nodded weakly. Just those words—after lunch—offered a brief moment of hope. Like a tiny break from the war zone.
But before I could even stretch that peace out a little longer—
“Hey Mia, how’s it going?” Gray asked, cheerful and oblivious as ever as he passed by.
I let my head fall onto the desk. “I miss my mom…”
“Oh boy…” Gray muttered sympathetically as he read the latest message. “The meeting’s been set. It’s this Thursday.”
This Thursday? My stomach dropped.
Gray, noticing the despair creeping onto my face, reached into his drawer and pulled out a small snack pack. “Here. Eat this and cheer up.”
I looked at it, touched. “Gray… I might actually cry. I’m touched.”
Before I could dramatically accept it, Thomas leaned over from his desk, brows slightly raised. “Mia, do that after lunch.”
I turned to him with a pout. “Ah, Thomas…”
“What do you want to eat?” he asked, standing and already reaching for his jacket.
I hesitated. “I haven’t prepared much for the meeting next week… I should probably just grab some bread or something.”
Thomas frowned. “What? It’s just a meeting. Do you have that much to prepare?”
I hesitated again, tugging at my sleeve. “It’s just that… I’m a bit worried. You know, I want it to go well.”
Thomas softened. “But you should still eat well... That matters too.”
From behind us, Eddie's voice drifted in. “Sounds like you’re having a hard time.”
I turned toward him, grateful but half-teasing. “And what are you going to eat, Eddie?”
He tapped his chin dramatically, pretending to think. “Hmm... Should we eat fried squid, Thomas?”
Thomas blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, I—”
As Eddie continued pondering what to eat with theatrical slowness, I cut in. “Thomas can’t eat squid.”
Eddie blinked. “Oh, really?”
I nodded. “Last time he ate it, he got an upset stomach.”
“Really? Why didn’t I know that?”