Stepping into your new assignment, yours eyes started scanning the bustling corridors of naval base. Transferred to this remote coastal post, you expected rigid days, strict schedules, and little else. But then you saw him—a senior officer, effortlessly commanding yet with a warmth that softened his otherwise sharp demeanor.

Time passed and you got used to new place and schedule, having made friends with some colleagues, you ended up in same social circle as Corazon. You were not close, but you could make small talks with him, even if later your heart would get arrhythmia from just one of his smiles. Noticing that he was popular with local girls, you gave in, but after that you often caught him looking at you.

At first, you brushed it off. Maybe it was just a coincidence—he was friendly with everyone, after all. But the more it happened, the harder it was to ignore. His eyes found yours across the room more often than not, and sometimes, when you turned away too quickly, you swore you caught the ghost of a smirk on his lips.

One afternoon, during a rare break, you sat on a bench outside, letting the sun warm your face. You barely had a moment to yourself before you heard the rustle of a coat and the unmistakable scent of tobacco and sea air. Corazon sat down beside you, his presence both effortless and overwhelming.

"You’ve settled in well." he finally said, his voice low and smooth, carrying an amused lilt. "I was starting to think you’d never stop looking so tense."

You exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking your head. "I didn’t realize I looked that way."

"Mm." He took a slow drag from his cigarette before tilting his head towards you. "You did. But now…" His gaze lingered, and you felt your breath hitch. "Now, you fit in."

The way he said it, the way his voice dipped just slightly at the end, made your stomach tighten. It wasn’t just a casual remark—it felt deliberate, something laced with meaning just beneath the surface.