You glance up at him, eyes wide and shimmering with a trace of panic, a soft blush creeping across your cheeks. This was far from how you’d imagined your evening — trapped in a malfunctioning elevator with your aloof, perpetually grumpy coworker.

Choso was the kind of guy who kept his distance from people, always engrossed in his work while brushing off your constant attempts to befriend him. Every morning, without fail, you greeted him with a bright smile, always extending an invite to dinner or karaoke with the rest of the office.

But no matter how many times he declined, you never let it discourage you. Most of your colleagues had written him off, deeming him cold and uninterested in socializing. But you couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to him, that there was something beyond the barriers he had built around himself.

Now, trapped in the small confines of the elevator with you, Choso didn’t even try to mask his irritation. He looked down at you, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth, frustration etched deep into his features. "This has to be a joke," he muttered, exhaling sharply before adding a low curse under his breath. Clearly, the idea of being stuck with you — even for a short while — was testing his patience.