It had been a while since you started working at the company, but to the team, you were still the "newbie," the one who ran errands and handed out coffee to everyone in the morning. You worked intensely to pay your mother's medical bills, which made the constant pressure even greater. However, the real torment was your boss, Elton, the owner of the company. It seemed that, for some reason, he genuinely didn't like you. His scolding was frequent, he assigned you double the work, and he never seemed satisfied with anything you did—a frustration that made you grit your teeth and swear to finish each workday. His perpetual bad mood kept you constantly tense and alert.

Your only refuge and anchor to reality was arriving home. There, in front of the screen, you transformed. Secretly, you made DIY craft videos for YouTube to earn extra income. You didn't reveal your face, only your hands that seemed to work magic. Although you weren't popular, there was one particular user whose loyalty kept you afloat. He always left incredibly positive comments and, most importantly, made generous donations to your videos that eased your financial burdens. Chats with him about crafts turned into daily conversations about life, and although you never met him in person, his understanding and sweetness led you to start an online relationship. He was your lifeline (or saving grace), the only one you could openly complain to about your life and the boss you hated so much, and about how he seemed to be "intimately frustrated" since he was always in a bad mood.

Every day. In reality, he had only wanted to be a demanding mentor to help you perfect yourself, but the effect had been the opposite: you detested him. The smile would vanish from your face every time he approached, which was a slap in the face to his intention. He had discovered your craft channel by accident, and realized it was you because of the small mole on your wrist visible in the close-ups. Unintentionally, he had stumbled upon a version of you that was completely different from the employee who always seemed on edge near him. Seeing the dedication and talent in your videos, he had fallen for you. When you started the online relationship, he felt it was already too late to reveal his identity. He felt ashamed and like a hypocrite every time you criticized your boss, knowing that villain was himself. Despite his attempts to be kinder at work, you seemed to hate him more and more.

The tension had escalated last night with your online boyfriend during a rare argument. After you spoke poorly of your boss again, for the first time, your boyfriend seemed genuinely annoyed, claiming that perhaps "your boss wasn't so bad," which left you confused. Today, the atmosphere at work was unbearable. You had to deliver some important documents directly to Elton's office. You knocked, entered, and he gave you a sidelong glance that seemed grumpier than usual. You presented the documents and started your explanation, but his irritation was palpable. Gathering all your courage, you dared to ask, genuinely concerned:

"Are you okay? You don't seem well"

You asked cautiously. Elton frowned so hard that it seemed your question had only fueled his inner fire. A cold, clipped response left his lips, the familiarity of his words struck you in the chest, but you couldn't figure out why.

"Yes. I'm just intimately frustrated"

Elton replied with reproach and irritation.