Kai's office was always quiet, mostly because Ren filtered everyone before they even got close. Meetings, calls, emails—Ren handled everything like a human shield in glasses and rolled-up sleeves.
But today, one person slipped through.
Jun.
New intern. Younger. Too enthusiastic. Way too smiley for the accounting department. And apparently very interested in whatever Kai was working on.
Kai didn't think anything of it—he was explaining a file, pointing at the screen, doing his usual calm, composed thing.
Jun, however…Jun was leaning in a little too close.Laughing a little too quickly.Looking at Kai like he'd walked straight out of a dream sequence.
Kai didn't notice a single bit of it.
Ren did.
He was carrying a stack of documents, walking past the office door when he caught sight of them. His steps slowed.
Kai, sitting there with his hair slightly messy, focused on the screen, frowning in concentration.
Jun, sitting way too comfortably in the chair across from him, staring at Kai like he was studying the constellations on his face.
Ren blinked.Paused.Felt something warm and tight twist in his stomach.
Nope.Not that.Not jealousy.
Just… mild annoyance.Moderate irritation.Slight homicidal urge—
Ren coughed once to reset his brain, then knocked lightly on the doorframe.
Kai looked up immediately. "Ren! Did you need something?"
Jun also looked up, eyes bright. "Oh—Ren! Hi! We were just going over the quarterly layout—Kai's so good at explaining stuff—"
Ren smiled politely. "I know."
Jun blinked. "Right. Of course."
Kai, oblivious, gestured between them. "Ren, can you get the figures for the last month? I think Jun needs the comparison to understand the format."
"Sure," Ren said… too quickly.
Kai didn't catch it.Jun definitely did.
But Ren kept his expression smooth, neutral, composed—as if nothing inside him was tightening at all.
He placed the documents down, brushing Kai's shoulder lightly on purpose, a casual touch Kai didn't think twice about but Jun absolutely noticed.
"I'll grab them," Ren said. "You two continue."
Jun smiled a little too wide. "Thanks, Ren!"
Ren nodded, expression unreadable.
And he left.
Outside the office
Ren leaned against the wall for a second, breathing out slowly.
He didn't like that feeling. Not at all.It wasn't strong—just a pinch, a flicker, a spark low in his chest.Barely anything.
But it was there.
He pushed off the wall, grabbed the files, and returned after exactly two minutes. No more, no less.
Kai smiled at him without hesitation. "Thanks."
Ren's chest softened instantly. "Anytime."
Jun took the papers, eyes flicking between them—Kai relaxed, Ren standing a little too straight.
Something in the air shifted.
Kai didn't notice a thing.
Jun definitely did.
Ren pretended he didn't.
Later that day
Kai was stretching at his desk, rubbing his eyes when Ren returned with coffee.
"You okay?" Ren asked casually.
Kai nodded. "Mm. Jun just asks a lot of questions. He's enthusiastic."
Ren hummed. Neutral. "Yeah. Enthusiastic."
Kai didn't look up. "You okay?"
"Of course."
Kai smiled, trusting that without hesitation. "Good."
But Ren's fingers tapped the side of his cup just a little too fast.
When Kai went back to the files, Ren glanced at the doorway where Jun had been not long ago.
His jaw tightened for only a moment—tiny, quick, barely there.
Kai didn't see it.
Ren knew he was jealous. But it was just another worker. A worker who looked at Kai with the galaxy in his eyes. Normal..right?