"Will you marry me?"
Dani almost missed a step while walking down the stairs.
Who would have thought a proposal would take place in a place like this? she thought. She never imagined something so personal happening in her work department.
As a Narrative Designer at Ainsoft Gaming Company (AGC), Dani was used to weaving stories, not walking into one. She approached the gathering crowd, her glasses slightly dark from the sun outside, giving her the innocent look people often mistook for inexperience.
Her fellow workers stood around, anticipating a response to the proposal. As Dani squeezed through, she saw the couple in the middle of it all. Her lips parted, and a whisper escaped, full of confusion and quiet disappointment.
"Carl."
The name barely left her mouth when she heard the answer.
"Yes, yes!" Kate replied joyfully to Carl. He nervously fumbled as he placed the beautiful ring on her finger. The two hugged, and the office erupted in applause.
Dani felt her legs wobble at the sight of it, him, Carl, proposing to her friend.
Carl had always been her first love. Even though their relationship had never grown strong roots, she had treasured it like a delicate memory. She didn't cry, but her chest ached, not because he chose someone else, but because she had taken it too seriously. He wasn't guilty. He had always been clear that she was just his best friend.
The couple thanked their coworkers for the cheers, and the crowd slowly dispersed back to their tasks.
But Dani still stood there, unaware of her surroundings.
"Dani," Kate called, stepping in front of her.
"Uhm, hi. I mean, congrats," Dani forced a smile.
"Thanks, Dani," Kate blushed as she admired the ring on her finger.
Dani was genuinely happy for her friend, though deep inside she scolded herself for letting her feelings for Carl grow unchecked.
"Congratulations, Carl," Dani said. There was a subtle note of disappointment in her tone—one Kate noticed. Carl smiled in response, and Dani returned a brief smile to both of them.
"We'll be waiting for the wedding date. I wish you the best in your marriage," she added, her voice lighter this time.
Kate hesitated, then asked, "Are you happy?"
Dani blinked, caught off guard.
"Do you still love Carl?" Kate asked. "Because I know you did. So… do you still love him now, even after all this?"
Dani was taken aback by her directness. She glanced at Carl, who looked just as surprised.
After a long pause, Dani sighed.
"Yes."
Kate frowned slightly. Carl's eyes widened like never before.
"No—no, I mean… as a best friend," Dani corrected herself quickly. "He isn't my enemy, so I can't say I don't love him at all."
Both Kate and Carl let out a breath of relief at the same time. Dani couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of their synchronized reaction.
She wasn't the kind to throw tantrums or create misunderstandings. Dani always wanted the best for the people she loved. She rarely found herself on the wrong side of any situation. And when she made a mistake, she believed it either came with a lesson or a blessing.
"So, let's get back to work," Dani said.
Carl wasn't a staff member at AGC. He was the clumsy, fragile, yet brilliant younger brother of the CEO, an intelligent game plot planner and programmer who always seemed to fumble with wires, drop devices, or forget his own notes but somehow never missed a story beat. That day, he was exempt from being scolded for proposing inside the company.
Dani returned to her office, sat down comfortably, and exhaled deeply. She looked around at her tidy desk, game scripts, concept notes, plot outlines. Her three-year relationship with Carl, though short-lived and undefined, had taught her something: it was a lesson for her, but a blessing for Kate.
She wondered what fate had in store for her.
Turning on her laptop, Dani pushed her glasses up her nose, blinked back the sting behind her eyes, and resumed her duty.