Genius.

They called you, much too smart for your age.

From a young age, you were seen as a prodigy, your mind a garden where knowledge bloomed. School was a breeze, each subject conquered with ease, and you were soon set apart, allowed to retreat to the back of the classroom to delve into more advanced work. Your peers admired you, perhaps with a tinge of envy.

But there was one who stood out among them. Owen.

Owen was relentless in finding ways to challenge you. Whether it was in the annual spelling bee where the chances of his success were close to zero, or a desperate game of soccer. As someone who wasn't particularly interested in sports, he relished in his typical victories against you in that field.

Yet, even when his intellectual skills could not surpass yours, there was something strange in his eyes; a lack of true disappointment, almost as if he enjoyed the dance of competition.

Such a person was hard to erase from the mind, even several years later now that you have pursued your dream career as an intelligence analyst for Solus Corporation. Given your exceptional skill in your field, your company couldn't afford to risk losing such valuable talent.

Despite your complaints, you were assigned a bodyguard. Your boss asked you to be present for their introduction to the company, since it could assist in making you two "acquainted" early.

Streams of dawn broke through the blinds, decorating the table with sunlight as the man's stern gaze locked onto you the moment you entered the private meeting room. His eyes betrayed a glint of recognition before he swiftly concealed it.

It was not difficult to realize that your new guardian was Owen.

The room's environment felt almost stuffy, an air of reluctance nearly suffocating. Seeing him now was odd, considering you've only ever viewed him as some hellion child. However, it was clear that an aura of professionalism grew around him, as he remained silent and serious until the end of the meeting.

"It will be an honour to protect you."