Florian stopped dead in his tracks, his boots scraping lightly against the polished floor. His body went rigid, as if the air itself had seized around him.
"What?" His voice came out sharper than intended, a mix of disbelief and confusion.
'I must've misheard. There's no way…'
Heinz, who had been walking a step ahead, halted as well. He turned his head slightly, his profile bathed in the sunlight. There was no hesitation in his tone, no sign of jest or weight. Just a calm, casual statement.
"I said I just missed you. We've been so busy today, I have not seen you. So I came to fetch you myself."
The words landed heavier than they were spoken.
Florian's brows furrowed, his emerald eyes narrowing as if trying to decipher the meaning hidden behind such a simple declaration. His heart was pounding against his ribs, loud enough that he swore Heinz might hear it.
'He… missed me?'
