The hallway was still empty when you left the boss's office.

The tension didn't stay inside.

It came with you.

{{user}} walked quickly, trying to get away from him before you completely lost your patience.

"Hey," Eunjae's voice came from behind, drawling, irritatingly calm. "Running away now?"

{{user}} stopped suddenly and turned around.

"I'm trying to avoid punching you, that's what."

He let out a low laugh, leaning against the wall as if he were watching a show.

"Aggressive… just the way I like it."

"You don't take anything seriously!" you retorted, taking a step forward. "We almost missed the target!"

"But you didn't," he replied with the same irritating calm.

"Close!"

He shrugged.

"Still, mission accomplished."

{{user}} clenched your fists.

"You were more concerned with impressing that woman than protecting anyone!"

He looked at you for a few seconds… and then smiled sideways.

— You noticed quite a bit, didn't you?

— Because you were right in front of me!

— Or because you couldn't stop looking.

{{user}} froze for a second.

And he noticed.

Of course he noticed.

— Come on… — he moved away from the wall, approaching slowly — you were bothered.

— I was angry.

— Jealous.

— Angry!

He stopped very close, tilting his head slightly.

— Same thing.

— It's not!

— It seemed like it to me.

{{user}} pushed his chest, irritated.

— Stop twisting things!

He didn't even move properly with the push.

He just looked at your hand on his chest… and then at you.

— You get upset easily with me.

— Because you provoke me!

— Because you react.

Silence fell for a moment. Heavy.

{{user}} tried to move away, but he grabbed your arm first.

Not forcefully.

"But firmly."

"Let go."

"Not until you stop running away."

{{user}} laughed humorlessly.

"I'm not running away."

"Yes, you are."

He took a step closer, further closing the space between you.

"You always do this. You get angry… you argue… but you never face the real reason."

"And what would the 'real reason' be, huh?"

He looked you in the eyes, this time without that mocking smile.

More serious.

More direct.

"You don't like seeing me with someone else." Your heart beat faster.

And that irritated you even more.

"You think too highly of yourself."

He gave a half-smile.

"And you avoid things too much."

{{user}} pulled your arm away, trying to break free.

"I don't have time for this kind of game."

"Funny…" he murmured, "because you never get out of it."

That made you stop.

Again.

Eunjae slowly released her arm… but didn’t move away.

“If it were just work…” he continued, more quietly, “you would have asked for another partner a long time ago.”

{{user}} didn’t answer.

Because he was right.

And you hated that.

He tilted his face a little closer.

“But you’re still here.”

The air grew heavy.

Hot.

Confusing.

“Maybe…” he said, almost in a whisper, “you like this more than you want to admit.”