CHAPTER 5
Over the past few days, I’d started to realize one thing.
Arka Mahendra wasn’t actually as frightening as I’d first thought.
He was cold.
Too serious.
Sometimes, the look in his eyes could make me forget what I wanted to say.
But beneath it all, he was actually pretty considerate.
The problem was...
that consideration only left me confused.
Especially since he’d started calling me by my name.
“Nara.”
I still wasn’t used to hearing it.
That morning, I arrived at the office at exactly seven thirty.
I smiled with satisfaction when I saw the time on my phone.
“Nice.”
I wasn’t late today.
I hadn’t bumped into anyone.
I hadn’t spilled my coffee.
I hadn’t sent a message to the wrong person.
I felt like my life was finally starting to return to normal.
I set my bag on my chair and turned on my computer.
But when I reached for the desk drawer, my hand stopped.
There was a white box on my desk.
I furrowed my brow.
“What’s this?”
I looked to the right and left.
Not many employees had arrived yet.
There was a small slip of paper on top of the box.
I picked it up.
The neat handwriting only made me more confused.
Eat. Don’t skip it.
There was no name.
I opened the box.
Inside were rice, an omelet, cut fruit, and a bottle of milk.
I stared at the food for a while.
Who had sent it?
I immediately turned toward Maya, who had just stepped out of the elevator.
“Maya!”
She walked over.
“What?”
I pointed at the food box.
“Who does this belong to?”
Maya looked at it.
“Why are you asking me?”
“Because it was on my desk.”
Maya read the note.
Then her smile slowly widened.
“I think I know.”
“Who?”
Maya pointed toward the director’s office.
I immediately looked at Arka’s door.
“Mr. Arka?”
Maya shrugged.
“Maybe.”
I furrowed my brow.
“But why?”
“Because you often skip breakfast.”
I fell silent.
It was true.
I often skipped breakfast when I was in a hurry.
But I’d never told Arka that.
At least...
not directly.
“Could he have seen me?”
Maya laughed.
“So what if he did?”
I glared at her.
“Don’t make me get the wrong idea.”
Maya went back to her desk.
I continued staring at the food box.
Finally, I picked up a piece of omelet.
It was delicious.
I smiled without realizing it.
Around nine, the door to Arka’s office opened.
I was checking the meeting schedule when he walked over to my desk.
“Nara.”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
“Have you eaten?”
I looked at him.
Then, without thinking, I glanced at the now-empty food box beside my computer.
“Yes.”
Arka nodded.
“Good.”
He started to leave.
I hurriedly called after him.
“Arka.”
He stopped.
I was a little surprised myself. I’d already gotten used to calling him by his name.
“Thank you.”
Arka looked at me.
“For what?”
I pointed at the food box.
“This.”
He looked at the empty box.
He didn’t say anything.
I smiled.
“It was good.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“Good. I’m glad you liked it.”
My heart suddenly began to pound.
I furrowed my brow.
Why?
Why could such a simple sentence make me nervous?
Arka walked away.
I watched him until he went back into his office.
Maya immediately came over.
“I saw that.”
I turned toward her.
“Saw what?”
“The way you were looking at Mr. Arka.”
I immediately shook my head.
“I was just thanking him.”
“Sure.”
“Maya.”
She laughed.
I went back to work, trying to ignore the warmth spreading across my face.
Near lunchtime, I received a call from the finance department.
There were several documents Arka needed to sign.
I brought the files to his office.
“Arka, these—”
I stopped.
He was talking on the phone.
I waited near the door.
A few minutes later, he hung up.
“Put them on the desk.”
I set the documents down.
As I was about to leave, my eyes caught a small piece of paper near his hand.
I recognized the handwriting.
Eat. Don’t skip it.
I looked at Arka.
Then at the paper.
Then back at him.
“You wrote this?”
Arka raised an eyebrow.
“Wrote what?”
I pointed at the note.
“This.”
He looked at it.
Then he looked at me again.
“Yes.”
I smiled.
“Why?”
“You never eat breakfast.”
I fell silent.
“How did you know?”
Arka shrugged.
“I’ve seen you drinking nothing but coffee several times.”
I felt embarrassed.
“So you’ve been paying attention to me all this time?”
Arka was silent.
Only then did I realize what had come out of my mouth.
I quickly corrected myself.
“I mean... paying attention to my work.”
Arka looked at me for a few seconds.
Then he said,
“Let’s just say that’s what I mean.”
I furrowed my brow.
What kind of answer was that?
I turned to leave.
But Arka spoke again.
“Tomorrow, I’ll have them prepare breakfast again.”
I immediately turned back.
“That’s not necessary.”
“Why not?”
“I can buy it myself.”
“I know.”
“In that case...”
“Eat breakfast tomorrow anyway.”
I stared at him.
Arka went back to reading the documents as though our conversation was over.
I couldn’t hold back a smile.
“Okay.”
I left the room.
As soon as the door closed, I touched my own cheek.
It was hot.
Really hot.
I shook my head.
“Don’t get any ideas, Nara.”
He was just my boss.
A boss who bought me breakfast.
A boss who reminded me to eat.
A boss who knew my little habits.
I sighed.
Maybe it was all just a superior looking out for his employee.
Right?
In the afternoon, I was tidying my desk when Arka walked by.
He stopped for a moment.
“Did you like your breakfast?”
I nodded.
“I did.”
“Don’t be late tomorrow.”
I smiled.
“If I come in earlier, will there be breakfast again?”
Arka looked at me.
I immediately realized I’d just teased my own boss.
I held my breath.
But instead of getting angry, Arka gave me a faint smile.
“There will.”
Then he walked away.
I stood there, frozen.
That smile just now...
It had been a real smile.
Not a slight smile out of politeness.
Not the vague expression he usually wore.
He had really smiled.
And for the first time, I started to wonder...
Maybe Arka’s concern for me wasn’t merely a boss’s concern for his secretary.
Maybe there was something more.
It was just that...
I wasn’t brave enough to admit it yet.
To be continued...