The day passed slower than usual.
Not because the work was difficult, but because Hae-joon couldn't shake the feeling sitting at the back of his mind. Every now and then, he'd glance at the window without meaning to, his attention slipping for just a second before he forced it back.
By the time evening rolled in, the office had started to quiet down. Chairs scraped back, systems shut off, conversations shifted from work to plans.
Normal.
Everyone else seemed normal.
"Alright," Yuna's voice cut through as she leaned against his desk again, way too energetic for someone who had worked all day. "Time to go!"
Hae-joon didn't look up. "I am going."
"With us," she corrected.
"No."
"Yes."
"No," he repeated, grabbing his bag this time. "I'm not in the mood."
Yuna frowned slightly. "You've been 'not in the mood' the entire day."
"Exactly. Let me continue that in peace."
She studied him for a moment.
"…Did something actually happen?" she asked again, quieter this time.
Hae-joon paused.
Then shook his head.
"I'm just tired."
"That's a very boring excuse."
"It's a very real one."
Yuna sighed dramatically. "Fine. Be boring. But don't complain later when we have fun without you."
"I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
"You will."
"…Okay, maybe a little."
That earned a small smile from her.
"…Text me when you reach home," she added, more casually than it sounded.
Hae-joon blinked at her. "…Since when do you care?"
"Since you started acting like a ghost."
"…Wow."
She rolled her eyes and stepped back. "Just go."
"Gladly."
Hae-joon didn't wait for her to say anything else. He slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out, weaving through the last few people still hanging around.
The moment the building doors slid open, the evening air hit him..cooler, quieter, a sharp contrast to the noise he had just left behind.
For a second, he just stood there, breathing..Letting the silence settle.
"How was your day?" A familiar voice asked.
Hae-joon turned, "You are still here.."
"I did say I would be."
"…You didn't even consider leaving?"
"No."
Hae-joon stared at him.
"…Do you hear yourself?"
Arthur tilted his head slightly. "I do."
"And you don't think that's weird?"
"I think it's effective."
"…You're unbelievable."
They started walking, Arthur was behind Hae-joon, keeping a sharp eye on everything and everyone that passed by.
"If you keep doing that, people might think you are some psycho killer on loose.."
"But it's necessary. You can't trust anyone. Everyone needs to be inspected."
"Neither am I the president nor a celebrity..why do I get this unfortunate privilege of an obsessive bodyguard?"
"You are my priority."
Something in Hae-joon's chest tightened..sharp and sudden.
For a second, he didn't react.
Didn't speak.
Didn't move.
Like his mind just… stalled.
"…What?" he said finally, but it came out quieter than he meant it to.
Arthur didn't look away. "I said--"
"No..I--I heard you," Hae-joon cut in quickly.
Never, not even once had he heard this word from someone. He was always a second option or something that was just a spare. What he wanted for the longest time ever, came from someone he never thought he'd meet. Was it real? Was it genuine? Or was it just a compulsion?.. perhaps his duty..?
Hae-joon let out a short, awkward laugh, dragging a hand through his hair like he needed something to do.
"…You can't just say things like that," he muttered, looking anywhere but at him.
"Why not?" Arthur asked, completely genuine.
Hae-joon opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
Because he didn't actually have an answer.
"Nothing..."