The office was quieter than usual.
Not because there was less work—
But because most people had already left.
"Riyana, we need to finish this tonight."
She looked up.
Bosco stood near her desk, a file in his hand.
Her first instinct was to say no.
To avoid.
To create distance.
But—
"This has to go out first thing tomorrow," he added.
There it was.
No escape.
Riyana nodded. "Okay."
And just like that—
She was stuck.
The hours passed slower than usual.
The silence heavier.
Only two people remained in the office.
Her.
And him.
Riyana sat across the table in the meeting room, laptop open, files scattered between them.
She kept her eyes on the screen.
Focused.
Determined.
Not looking at him.
"Scroll up."
His voice broke the silence.
She did.
Without question.
"Stop."
Her fingers paused.
"There," he said, leaning slightly forward.
Riyana leaned in too.
Just enough to see clearly.
And that's when she felt it.
The closeness.
Too close.
His shoulder almost brushing hers.
His presence—
Right there.
Her breath slowed.
Not steady.
Just… aware.
"Second column," he said.
She nodded. "I see it."
But her voice came out quieter than intended.
Bosco didn't move back.
Didn't increase the distance.
And neither did she.
For a moment—
They both stayed like that.
Close.
Silent.
Aware.
Then—
Riyana pulled back.
Quickly.
"I'll fix it," she said, her tone returning to controlled.
"Hmm."
That sound again.
She focused harder on the screen.
Typing faster than necessary.
Trying to ignore—
The way her senses felt sharper.
The way every small movement of his felt noticeable.
A few minutes passed.
"Give it."
She turned the laptop slightly toward him.
Bosco leaned in again.
Closer this time.
Too close.
Riyana's fingers stilled on the keyboard.
She could feel it now.
Clearly.
The warmth of his presence.
The slight shift of air when he moved.
The quiet sound of his breath—
Closer than it should be.
Her heart picked up.
Just a little.
"Riyana."
Her name—
Low.
Close.
She turned her head slightly—
And that was a mistake.
Because now—
She was facing him.
Too close.
Barely any space between them.
Her breath caught.
His gaze didn't move.
Not to the screen.
Not to the file.
To her.
And suddenly—
Everything else faded.
The room.
The work.
The time.
Just that moment.
Her eyes flickered—
To his lips.
Instant regret.
She looked away immediately.
But it was too late.
He had noticed.
The shift in her breathing.
The way she stilled.
The way she pulled back—
But not enough.
"Focus," she muttered under her breath.
More to herself than to him.
But Bosco heard it.
A faint, almost unnoticeable change crossed his expression.
"Are you?" he asked quietly.
Her grip tightened slightly on the table.
"Yes."
A lie.
Because her mind wasn't on the file anymore.
It was on—
This.
The closeness.
The tension.
The memory of yesterday still lingering between them.
"You're distracted," he said.
"I'm not."
"You are."
She exhaled sharply, finally looking at him again.
"Can we just finish the work?"
The question came out more tense than she intended.
Bosco didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He leaned back slightly.
Creating distance.
And suddenly—
She felt it.
The absence.
Her breath steadied again.
But something about that felt…
off.
"Fine," he said.
Work resumed.
But not really.
Because now—
The silence wasn't empty.
It was filled.
With everything neither of them was saying.
Another hour passed.
Riyana stood up, stretching slightly.
"I'll get coffee."
Bosco nodded once.
She walked out quickly.
Needing space.
Air.
Distance.
In the break area, she leaned against the counter, exhaling slowly.
"What is happening…"
This wasn't normal.
This wasn't control.
This was something else.
Something she was losing grip on.
She closed her eyes briefly.
And then—
She felt it.
Before she even heard him.
Bosco.
Standing behind her.
Not too close.
But close enough.
Riyana didn't turn immediately.
"You didn't have to come," she said.
"I know."
A pause.
Then—
"Still did."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the coffee cup.
Silence stretched.
Then—
"Riyana."
She turned.
Slowly.
And again—
Too close.
Not as close as before.
But close enough to feel it.
"Look at me," he said quietly.
"I am."
"No," he said. "Properly."
Her breath hitched slightly.
But she didn't look away this time.
She held his gaze.
And that—
That was worse.
Because now—
There was nothing to hide behind.
No screen.
No file.
No distraction.
Just them.
"You're still pretending this is nothing," he said.
Her jaw tightened.
"And you're still making it something it's not."
A step closer.
Barely noticeable.
But enough.
"If it's nothing," he said, his voice low now, "then why do you react like this?"
Her heartbeat picked up again.
"I'm not reacting."
"Then don't."
The words landed softly.
But heavily.
Because now—
He wasn't stepping closer.
He was waiting.
Watching.
And somehow—
That was more dangerous.
Riyana held his gaze for a second longer.
Then—
She stepped back.
Just one step.
But it said everything.
"I said I'll get coffee," she murmured.
And walked past him.
This time—
Creating distance.
Real distance.
Bosco didn't stop her.
Didn't follow.
He just stood there.
Watching her leave.
And understanding something clearly now—
This wasn't one-sided.
Not even close.