ep 2
Ria is stealing glances at Xavier, who is deeply engrossed in work with his colleagues. Despite her outward distaste for him, her eyes betray a hidden fondness.
Xavier remains oblivious, his focus entirely on the task at hand.
[Time Skip: 1:00 PM – Elevator Area]
Xavier
/steps into the elevator to head to the canteen/
Ria
/Ria joins him, along with a few other colleagues/
As the elevator ascends, Ria sneaks quick glances at Xavier, trying to be discreet.
Xavier
/Notices her glances out of the corner of his eye and smirks faintly but quickly masks it, maintaining his composure/
The elevator dings as it stops. Everyone steps out together. Xavier, however, quickens his pace, walking ahead of the group.
Ria
/Watching him rush off, her face falls slightly in disappointment. She had hoped for a brief moment alone with him/
Xavier sits alone at a table, enjoying his lunch quietly while a group, including Ria, sits at a table opposite his.
Ria's focus remains mostly on Xavier, stealing glances as he eats, while her colleagues engage in a lively conversation.
Employee 1
If you want to move forward in life, listen to your senior. And right now, I’m your senior.
Employee 2
You talk big, but I’m not buying it.
Employee 1
Don’t you want to go to the US someday?
Ria, uninterested in their banter, keeps her attention on Xavier.
He, on the other hand, seems disinterested in everything around him, his eyes on a TV mounted on the wall.
The screen displays an interview with a doctor discussing paranormal phenomena.
Doctor on TV: "A ghost can’t possess a sleeping or unconscious body. Possession can only occur when the person is sound of mind."
Xavier
/continues eating, unbothered by the surrounding discussion/
Ria is in the documents room, organizing papers and taking printouts.
While waiting for the printer, she takes out her phone to click a selfie, using a filter. However, the filter doesn't detect her face properly and instead locks onto something invisible behind her.
Ria
/Frowning, she looks over her shoulder, but there's no one there/
She switches the camera back to check again. The filter still reacts as if someone invisible is standing behind her on the opposite side.
Ria
/Growing uneasy, she wipes the front camera and tries again/
The door creaks open suddenly, and Xavier enters. Startled, Ria relaxes upon seeing him.
Ria
/Smiling to hide her nervousness/
Hi!
Xavier
Hi
/He replies in a neutral tone, walking toward the printer/
Ria
You came here to meet me?
Xavier
Nah, I’m here to take some printouts. Get aside.
Ria
/Playfully scoffs/
Tch. Why are you lying? Taking printouts is just an excuse, isn’t it?
Xavier
/Pauses, raising an eyebrow/
Do you talk like this to everyone in the office, or am I getting special treatment?
Ria
/Smirks mischievously/
Should I be honest? I like you.
Xavier
/Snorts lightly, shaking his head/
I don’t have time for useless things like ‘dying on the line.’ But if you want, I can make you my sister. Would you like that?
Ria
/Fuming, she slaps him across the face/
The printer beeps, signaling that the printouts are ready.
Ria grabs the documents, storms to the door, then pauses to look back.
Ria
Just like guys hate being called ‘brother,’ girls hate being called ‘sister.’ Keep that in mind!
She exits the room in a huff. Xavier, still standing by the printer, smirks slightly, rubbing his cheek where she slapped him.
Xavier
/To himself, with a faint chuckle/ Interesting.
As the sun dips below the horizon, the last of the employees leave, and the office grows eerily quiet.
Xavier remains at his desk, working on the assigned project. The VP walks in, holding a file.
Xavier
/Looking up from his screen/ What happened, sir?
VP
Glancing at Xavier, then at the file/
Got this new project just now. The client needs it done quickly, but… forget it. It’s late. You can head home.
/He turns to leave/
Xavier
/Without hesitation/
I’ll do it.
VP
/Pauses, raising a skeptical brow/
Are you sure?
Xavier
/Nods confidently/
Yeah, yeah.
The VP smirks faintly, leaving the file on Xavier’s desk before walking away.
The office is almost silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning. Xavier works diligently.
The Office Watchman enters, carrying an old ID card.
office watchman 1
/Politely/
Sir, I’m going for my meal break. Since you’re new, you might not have received your permanent ID card yet. Take this old one—it’ll let you open the other doors if needed.
/He places the ID on a desk near the door/
Xavier
/Distracted, still typing/
Hmm. Thanks.
office watchman 1
/nods and exits/
The room grows quiet again, with only the sound of Xavier typing and sipping from a coffee mug. He sets it down on the side desk.
Moments later, Xavier notices something strange. His coffee mug, which he had placed near him, has slid slightly further away.
Xavier
/Pausing his work, frowning slightly/
When did I put the cup so far?
Xavier
/Shrugs it off and continues working/
A few minutes pass. The office feels colder, and Xavier senses something unsettling.
A light brush grazes the back of his neck, accompanied by the faint sound of breathing—raspy and close.
Xavier
/Swiftly turns around, his eyes darting around the dimly lit office. There’s nothing there. Shrugging it off again, he mutters under his breath/
Just my imagination.
He resumes typing, but the eerie sensation grows stronger. It feels like someone is standing behind him, fingers brushing through his hair.
Xavier
/Turns sharply, this time his chair scraping the floor/
Hello? Who’s there?
The room is empty. A chilling draft sweeps past him, sending shivers down his spine.
Xavier decides to wrap up his work quickly.
Xavier steps into the elevator and presses the button for the ground floor. The doors close, and the elevator begins its descent.
Midway, it halts at the 1st floor.
Xavier
/Presses the ground floor button again, confused/
The elevator doesn’t move. Thinking there’s a technical issue, he steps out onto the 1st floor, intending to find the staircase
The hallway is unnaturally quiet, the fluorescent lights flickering occasionally.
Xavier looks around, his footsteps echoing eerily as he walks forward.
He spots something unusual at the end of the corridor—a shadowy figure standing perfectly still.
Xavier
/Pausing in his tracks, narrowing his eyes/
Comments
Rimuru Tempest
I didn't want the book to end, it was that good! 😍
2024-12-26
1