Chapter 11

It was getting towards the end of the week now, and the office felt… different after hours.

Quieter.

Not just in the obvious way—though that was part of it. The usual hum of conversation, keyboards clacking, phones ringing—all of it had faded into something distant, almost nonexistent. What remained was softer. The low buzz of overhead lights. The faint echo of footsteps somewhere down the hall. The occasional murmur of janitors moving between floors.

It felt like a completely different building.

Mina followed a step behind as Momo led them down the hallway, their footsteps sounding louder than they should against the polished floor. Most of the lights had dimmed automatically, leaving pockets of shadow between the brighter sections. It made everything feel… smaller. More contained.

More private.

Momo stopped at one of the glass meeting rooms near the end of the hall. She swiped her keycard against the panel, the soft beep cutting cleanly through the quiet before the door clicked open.

Mina stepped in first.

The room was simple—long table, rolling chairs, a screen mounted at the front wall. But with the rest of the office empty, it felt strangely intimate. Like they weren’t supposed to be here.

Momo stepped in after her and shut the door behind them. The click of the lock sounded… louder than it should have. She glanced at the small panel again, then back at Mina, a small, almost satisfied smile tugging at her lips. “We’ve got until nine.”

Mina nodded, setting her bag down on the table. “That’s plenty of time.”

But as she pulled her laptop out and settled into one of the chairs, she couldn’t shake the feeling curling quietly in her chest.

This feels… different.

They got set up quickly. Laptop open. Slides pulled up. Notes scattered between them.

The outline sat half-finished on the screen—bullet points incomplete, sections still vague, pieces waiting to be filled in. It wasn’t bad. Actually… it was coming together better than Mina had expected.

Which made it even more ridiculous that they weren’t doing anything. Momo tapped her pen against the table, staring at the screen like it had personally offended her. “…Okay,” she said after a beat. “Why are we more productive when we’re not together?”

Mina didn’t even look up. “You’re the one talking.”

Momo turned her head slowly. “You literally just asked me a question.”

“I asked you one thing,” Mina countered, scrolling through the document. “You’ve said, like, ten.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is.”

Momo leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “You started it.”

Mina huffed a quiet laugh under her breath. “Oh my god.”

They fell into silence again. For about five seconds. Then Momo shifted, leaning forward, pointing at the screen. “Okay, but this section—”

“Momo.”

“I’m just saying—”

“Momorin.”

“—if we don’t clarify the—”

“Momo.”

She stopped blinking. “…what?”

Mina finally looked at her, completely unimpressed. “We’re not gonna get anything done.”

Momo stared at her for a second. Then—despite herself—laughed. “Yeah,” she admitted. “That’s… actually fair.”

The laughter faded naturally. And with it, something else settled in. Momo shifted in her chair again, this time quieter, her gaze drifting back to the screen—but not really seeing it. “…I’m a little stressed about this,” she admitted after a moment.

Mina glanced up. Momo didn’t look at her. Just reached for her pen again, rolling it between her fingers. “They want the outline done soon. And you know the presentation will be right after.” She exhaled softly. “And I leave next week.”

There it was. The China trip.

Mina softened immediately, leaning back in her chair. “We’ll be fine,” she said gently. “We’ve already got most of it figured out.”

Momo huffed quietly, finally glancing over. “It’s not even that,” she muttered. “It’s just… the way they do it.”

Mina tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“They literally told us this week,” Momo said, a little more animated now. “Like—’Congrats, your department got picked,’ and then it’s just, what, pack your bags? You’re leaving in a few days?”

Mina let out a small laugh. “…Yeah. It’s kind of fast.”

“Kind of?” Momo scoffed. “I had a dentist appointment next week. I had to cancel it. Do you know how hard it is to get another one of those?”

Mina smiled. “That is tragic.”

“I’m serious,” Momo said, though there was a hint of a smile now. “And you can’t even opt out. If you complain, they just hit you with, ‘You should be grateful your department got picked.'”

Mina hummed, nodding slowly. “That does sound like them.”

Momo sighed, slumping back slightly in her chair. “I mean—I am glad. It’s just…” She gestured vaguely. “The timing is so bad.”

Her voice dipped a little at the end of that. Mina’s expression softened again, more noticeably this time. Momo hummed, but it wasn’t fully convincing. “It’s just that……I don’t like leaving things unfinished.”

Something about the way she said it—quieter, more grounded—made Mina pause. Because it didn’t sound like she was just talking about the project.

Mina watched her for a second longer than necessary, then nodded. “…we’ll finish the outline. It will get done. You’re fine.” she said simply.

Momo glanced at her then. Held her gaze for just a second. Then nodded back. “Yeah.”

A beat passed. Then Momo huffed softly, like she was shaking the weight off on purpose. “Also,” she muttered, leaning back again, “if I have to deal with Mr. Lee one more time before we leave, I might actually lose my mind.”

Mina blinked. “…your manager?”

“Yeah, that old—” Momo cut herself off, then waved a hand. “He’s useless. I’m serious. Like, actually useless.”

Mina smiled faintly, settling back into her chair. “It’s still that bad?”

“Worse.” Momo sat up straighter now, clearly warming up. “He doesn’t read emails, he forgets meetings, he gives feedback that makes zero sense—like, I’m convinced he just says things to hear himself talk.”

Mina let out a quiet laugh.

“And everyone hates him,” Momo continued. “Not even in a dramatic way. Just—collectively. We’ve literally been filling out forms to get him removed.”

Mina’s eyebrows lifted. “…you can do that?”

Momo glanced at her, a smirk pulling at her mouth. “Depends who you know.”

Mina leaned in slightly, intrigued. “Okay… explain.”

Momo didn’t need to be asked twice. “There’s another manager on our floor—Sunmi. She’s a lead, and actually competent. Like, she listens, she follows up, she doesn’t make you want to quit your job every five minutes.”

“That sounds… nice,” Mina said dryly.

“It is,” Momo said. “And she’s been helping us. Apparently she knows someone—like, outside the company—who’s looking for a new position.”

Mina’s eyes widened slightly. “…wait… really?”

“Yeah,” Momo said, clearly enjoying this now. “So she’s been talking to higher-ups, trying to see if they can bring her in.”

“…that’s kind of insane.”

Momo shrugged. “Welcome to corporate politics.”

Mina shook her head, a small laugh escaping her. “I had no idea any of this happened.”

Momo glanced at her again, something unreadable flickering briefly across her expression. “…yeah,” she said. “It does.”

Mina tilted her head slightly, studying her now. “…how do you know all this?”

The question landed softer than she expected. But it landed. Momo stilled for just a second. It was subtle. Easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it. But Mina saw it.

Then Momo shrugged. “My ex worked here.”

Casual. Too casual. Mina paused. “Oh.”

Momo didn’t look at her, just reached for her pen again, tapping it lightly against the table. “It got messy,” she added, like it didn’t matter.

No elaboration. No details. Just that.

“She got transferred after we broke up.”

Another shrug, and the conversation was over. Mina didn’t push. But something about it… stuck. A quiet beat settled between them. Then Mina leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table, her tone shifting—lighter, but not entirely.

“So… you just mess with people at work a lot?”

Momo’s head snapped up. “What? No—”

Mina tilted her head, a small, teasing smile tugging at her lips. “Then what is this?”

Silence covered them. Real silence this time. Momo stared at her. Mina held her gaze. Didn’t look away. Didn’t back down.

“…this is different,” Momo said finally.

Mina didn’t miss a beat. “How?”

Momo hesitated. Just for a second. “…..it just is.”

Not an answer. But not a denial either. And that was enough. The tension sat there for a moment. Then—Mina leaned back again, breaking it first with a quiet huff of amusement. “I really think they’re friends now, by the way.”

Momo blinked. “…who?”

“Nayeon and Jeongyeon.”

Momo stared at her. Then scoffed. “Bullshit.”

Mina laughed. “What? That’s what Nayeon told us.”

“They flirt too much for it to be just friendly,” Momo said, shaking her head. “There’s no way.”

Mina smiled, shaking her head slightly. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m right,” Momo shot back.

“You’re not.”

“I am.”

Mina just laughed again, looking back down at the screen of her laptop. Momo didn’t laugh this time. She leaned back slowly, her expression shifting—subtly, but enough. “If Jeongyeon messes that up…” she said, quieter now, “…it gets complicated for all of us.”

Mina glanced up. “You’re overthinking.”

Momo shook her head slightly. “…I don’t like variables.”

There it was again. That same underlying edge. That same need for control. Mina watched her for a second. Then—softly—”It’ll be fine. They’re okay.”

Momo didn’t respond right away. Just looked at her. Then gave a small nod. “…yeah.”

And just like that—The room fell quiet again. But this time…It didn’t feel the same. The quiet lingers for a second longer. Then—Mina exhales softly, like she’s shaking something off. “Chaeyoung’s been acting weird, by the way.”

Momo looks up immediately. “Weird how?”

Mina hesitates, picking at the edge of her notebook. ” She’s been like off. Fidgeting around a lot, and hasn’t been saying too much since the other day we all talked.”

Momo groans instantly. “Don’t tell me, it’s about that weird intern girl you told me she’s dealing with huh?”

Mina frowns. “Weird is a little—”

“No, I’m serious,” Momo cuts in, sitting up straighter now. “That girl is fucking weird.”

“Momo—”

“I’m not even being dramatic,” she continues, already fully committed. “Calling Chae ‘Miss Pervert’ for weeks over accidentally seeing some panties? Texting her like that all the time too? Please, that’s not normal.”

Mina presses her lips together, trying not to laugh. “You’re making it sound worse than it is.”

“It IS worse than it is,” Momo argues. “It’s creepy what’s she doing to her. It’s, like—” she gestures vaguely, searching for the word, “—some weird-ass man behavior shit.”

Mina snorts despite herself. “Oh my god.”

“I’m serious,” Momo insists. “If some random guy was doing that shit, you’d be like, ‘call HR immediately.'”

“…Okay, when you say it like that—”

“I’m saying it how it is,” Momo mutters.

Mina leans back slightly, crossing her arms. “I don’t think she’s trying to be creepy.”

Momo gives her a look. “Then what is she trying to be?”

Mina shrugs. “I think she likes her.”

A beat passes. Momo blinks. “That’s worse.”

“No, it’s not,” Mina argues, laughing now. “It just means she’s being stupid about it.”

“Yeah. And she’s being fucking weird to your friend,” Momo says immediately.

“Momo.”

“I’m just saying. Chae should fucking report her ass, before shit gets worse.”

Mina sighs, but there’s a small smile there. “Nayeon thinks the same thing as me.”

Momo squints. “That she likes her?”

“Yeah,” Mina nods. “That’s why we told Chaeyoung to go to lunch with her.”

Momo stares at her.”…You did what?”

Mina winces slightly. “We thought it would help.”

“You set her up?” Momo says, incredulous. “With that girl?”

“She’s not that bad—”

“She’s texting her like a freak,” Momo cuts in. “What do you mean she’s not that bad?”

Mina hesitates.”…I think she went to the lunch already,” she admits.

Momo freezes. Then slowly— “Oh, she definitely did something to her.”

“Momo—”

“No, I’m dead serious,” she says, pointing her pen at Mina. “That intern girl escalates shit. You can tell.”

Mina pauses. “…What do you mean?”

“Based on how you said she was texting Chae, it’s obvious that she doesn’t get told no a lot,” Momo says. “So when she doesn’t get what she wants, she pushes harder.”

Mina goes quiet for a second. Because—”…okay, yeah,” she admits. “That part might be true.”

Momo leans back like she just proved a point. “Exactly.”

Mina exhales, thinking. “I mean… she is younger that Chae. Like, twenty two? Twenty three maybe?”

“That’s not a baby,” Momo mutters.

“I’m not saying it is,” Mina says. “But she’s… different.”

Momo raises a brow. “Different how?”

Mina taps her pen against the table, trying to explain it. “I saw her the other day in the hallway,” she says slowly. “Other interns were talking to her—like, flirting. It was very obvious.”

Momo makes a face. “Ew.”

“And Tzuyu just… shut it down,” Mina continues. “Like she wasn’t even interested.”

Momo pauses. “…Okay.”

“And it wasn’t even mean,” Mina adds. “Just… dismissive. Like she’s used to that kind of attention.”

Momo squints slightly. “So she’s spoiled.”

Mina laughs. “Kind of, yeah.”

“And now she found someone who’s not throwing themselves at her,” Momo says.

Mina nods. “Exactly.”

A beat passes. And then Momo’s mind started piecing things together.

“…So she’s acting out,” Momo finishes.

Mina smiles a little. “Something like that probably.”

Momo leans back, exhaling. “…That doesn’t make it any less weird.”

“I didn’t say it did,” Mina says.

“Chaeyoung needs a spray bottle,” Momo mutters. “Like—pssh—get back.”

Mina laughs, covering her mouth. “You’re so mean.”

“I’m right,” Momo says easily.

Mina shakes her head, still smiling. “I think Tzuyu’s just…. immature.”

“I think she’s a problem,” Momo counters.

There’s a small pause that settles between them. Then Momo adds, quieter this time—”If Chaeyoung did anything with her… she’s fucked.”

Mina glances at her. “You think it’s that bad?”

Momo nods once. “Yeah.” A beat. “…Because that kind of girl doesn’t do anything halfway.”

That sits for a second. Mina shifts slightly. “…I don’t think it’s that serious.”

Momo just looks at her. “Watch,” she says simply. “Give it, like, two days. It’s gonna come out.”

Mina huffs softly, but she’s still smiling. A small beat passes. Then Mina leans back, crossing her arms, her tone shifting just a little. “There are rules, you know.”

Momo raises an eyebrow. “About what?”

Mina gestures vaguely between them. “…this.”

Momo doesn’t even blink. “I don’t follow rules.”

Mina lets out a quiet scoff. “…clearly.”

Momo tilts her head, studying her. “You don’t either.”

Mina straightens immediately. “I do.”

Momo leans forward. Slow. Deliberate. “Then what are we doing right now?”

The air shifts. Just like that. Mina doesn’t answer. Because she can’t. Because she knows. Momo leans back again like nothing just happened, glancing at her laptop. “We’ve done nothing on this outline.”

Mina blinks, dragging her eyes back to the screen. “That’s your fault.”

“Is it?”

“…yes.”

Momo hums softly, unconvinced. “Doesn’t feel like it.”

Mina presses her lips together, trying very hard not to react. It doesn’t work. Momo leans forward again, this time actually looking at the screen. “Okay, wait—this part—”

She shifts closer. Closer than necessary. Mina notices immediately. She doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t move away. Momo reaches past her, pointing at something on the laptop—and her hand snakes around and lands at Mina’s waist.

It’s light. Barely there. But unmistakable. Mina stills for half a second. Then—leans into it. Just slightly. Like she didn’t even think about it. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Momo pauses. Not pulling away. Not moving either. Just… staying there.

“Okay,” Mina says, voice a little too casual. “You’re distracting me.”

Momo huffs softly. “You were already distracted.”

Mina turns her head. “You’re literally touching me.”

“And?”

“And—” Mina cuts herself off, then shakes her head. “You’re annoying.”

Momo smiles slow. “Yeah?”

Mina doesn’t think. She just moves. Her hand darts out, catching Momo’s side—and she starts tickling her. Momo jolts. “—hey—”

Mina grins, pressing in a little more. “You started it.”

“Stop—” Momo laughs, trying to twist away, but Mina doesn’t let up.

“You’re the one distracting me.”

“You’re—worse—”

Momo reaches out blindly, grabbing Mina’s wrist—then the other—catching both of them. And just like that—they stop.

Silence swallows them. Their laughter fades too quickly. They’re still close. Too close. Mina’s hands are still in Momo’s grip. Momo’s hand is still at her waist. Neither of them moves. Neither of them looks away.

Something settles. Heavy. Quiet. Aware.

Momo’s gaze drops. Just for a second. Then comes back up. Mina’s breath catches. Barely. It’s almost nothing. But it’s there. They both feel it.

They lean in. Not all the way. Just enough. Like they’re waiting. Testing. Seeing who’s going to close the distance first.

A second passes. Then—Mina lets out a quiet, breathless laugh, and pulls back slightly. “Okay—” she mutters, shaking her head. “That was—”

“Yeah,” Momo exhales softly.

Neither of them finishes the sentence. Then there’s another beat. Quieter now. Different. Momo’s voice drops when she speaks again. “You’re dangerous.”

Mina blinks. “…you like it?”

Momo doesn’t hesitate this time. “…yeah.”

That lands. Harder than anything else so far. They don’t laugh this time. They don’t look away. Momo shifts closer again. Slower now. More intentional. “So are you gonna kiss me now?” she murmurs, almost teasing—but not really.

Mina’s heart jumps. “Maybe,” she says softly. A beat. Then—”Or you can just do it already.”

Momo’s lips part slightly. Mina’s eyes flicker down. They both lean in—closer—closer—

BUZZ.

Mina jerks back like she’s been snapped out of something. “—sorry—” she breathes, already reaching for her phone. “One second—”

Momo exhales slowly, leaning back in her chair, running a hand through her hair. “Yeah,” she mutters. “Yeah, okay.”

The moment shatters. Just like that.

Mina glances at her screen. It’s the group chat. Of course. She opens it, and immediately regrets it.

Chaeyoung: did you guys kiss yet

Mina: no??

Nayeon: damn. you easy as fuck then

Mina’s jaw drops.

Mina: what is wrong with you???

Nayeon: you said y’all are there till 9. be serious LOL

Mina rolls her eyes so hard it physically hurts.

Mina: if you were with jeongyeon you’d be worse

There’s a pause. Then—

Nayeon: fuck you

—and she leaves the group chat.

Mina snorts. Two seconds later—Chaeyoung adds her back like nothing happened. Mina just stares at the screen.”…fucking idiots,” she mutters under her breath.

She puts her phone down. Exhales. Looks up—and Momo is already looking at her. Grinning. Like she saw everything without even reading it.

Mina freezes. “…what?”

Momo shrugs, still smiling. “Nothing.” A beat passes. Then—”You done?”

Mina narrows her eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Momo leans back in her chair, completely relaxed. “Because you’re cute when you’re flustered.”

Mina’s brain short-circuits again. “…I’m not flustered.”

Momo just hums, unconvinced. “Mhm.”

She has that stupid, knowing look that doesn’t go away. Mina grabs her pen, flipping it between her fingers like she has somewhere else to put her energy. She doesn’t. “…we need to work.”

Momo glances at the laptop. Then at the time. Then back at Mina. “…we’ve been here for two hours now.”

Mina’s eyes widen slightly. “You’re lying.”

“I wish I was.”

Mina groans, dropping her head forward for a second. “Oh my god.” When she looks back up, she’s serious now. Determined. “We are not wasting the next thirty minutes.”

Momo raises a brow. “That sounds aggressive.”

“I’m serious.”

“Okay, okay,” Momo lifts her hands in surrender, leaning back in her chair. “What’s the plan—”

Her sentence cuts off mid-thought.A low, unmistakable sound from their stomachs fills the space. Mina freezes. Momo blinks.”…was that—”

Another one. This time louder. From Mina. There’s a beat. Then they both just—look at each other. And burst out laughing.

“Oh my god,” Mina groans, dropping her head into her hands for a second. “Okay, wait—”

“Yeah, no,” Momo says immediately, still laughing, rubbing her stomach. “We’re not getting anything done like this.”

Mina grabs her phone, already unlocking it. “We should just order something.”

“Yeah,” Momo nods, leaning closer instinctively. “Okay, bet.”

Now they’re both on their phones, shoulders nearly touching as they scroll. Momo glances over at Mina’s screen, then back to hers. “…should we get Chinese?”

Mina doesn’t even look up. “No.”

Momo pauses. “…no?”

“We literally had Chinese yesterday,” Mina says, scrolling. “You complained about it being too greasy.”

Momo blinks. “…I did say that.”

Mina hums. “You did.”

A small smile tugs at Momo’s lips. “…you remember that?”

Mina shrugs like it’s nothing. “You said it three times.”

Momo just watches her for a second. Then—”…okay, what do you want then?”

Mina scrolls a bit more, then tilts her phone slightly toward her. “Burgers?”

Momo doesn’t even hesitate. “Yeah.”

“Fries?”

“Obviously.”

“Makes sense.”

Mina taps through the app, already building the order. She pauses briefly—then adds toppings without asking. Cheese. Grilled onions. Extra pickles. Momo leans in, squinting slightly. “…wait.”

Mina doesn’t look up. “What?”

“That’s—” Momo points lightly at the screen. “That’s exactly how I order it.”

Mina finally glances at her. “Yeah.”

“…you didn’t even ask.”

“You always get it like that.”

Momo stares at her. A beat passes. “…you’re kind of scary.”

Mina snorts softly. “Why?”

“You pay way too much attention.”

Mina shrugs again, casual. “Not really.”

Momo watches her a second longer than necessary. Then glances back at the phone. “…what sauce did you pick?”

Mina scrolls. “The garlic one.”

Momo exhales, almost impressed. “Okay, yeah, that’s—”

“I know.”

Momo lets out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “…you’re insane.”

Mina just smiles a little to herself, finishing the order. “It says it’ll be here in thirty minutes.” She pauses, then adds, “I’ll pay.”

Momo looks at her immediately. “Wait—really?”

“Yeah,” Mina says simply. “You paid last time.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

“It’s fine.”

Mina hits confirm before Momo can argue. Momo watches her for a second. Something softer settling in her expression. “…okay,” she says quietly. “Thank you.”

Mina nods once. “Yeah.” Then—she points at her. “No talking.”

Momo squints. “That seems harsh.”

Mina snaps her fingers once. “—No talking.”

Momo presses her lips together. Nods.”…fine.”

But there’s a smile she can’t quite hide. And she definitely doesn’t stop looking at Mina right away. And somehow—It works. For the first time all night—They actually focus.

Momo opens the slides, typing something out, glancing over at Mina for approval. Mina nods once, already editing a bullet point. A minute passes. Two. Five. Momo opens her mouth—

Snap.

Mina doesn’t even look at her. Momo shuts it again. Ten minutes later—Momo leans back, staring at the screen, thinking—”…what if we—”

Snap.

She turns slowly. “…are you serious.”

Mina doesn’t look up. “You agreed.”

Momo scoffs, but there’s a smile tugging at her mouth. “…this is abuse.”

“Keep typing.”

Momo rolls her eyes—but she does. And somehow—They make progress. Actual progress. Slides start filling out. Outline almost done. Ideas connect. It’s quiet. Focused. Almost—Normal.

Thirty minutes later—Mina’s phone lights up. “The food’s here.”

Momo sits up immediately. “Oh, thank god.”

They both stand at the same time. Too fast. Too close. They pause for half a second—Then Mina turns quickly. “Let’s go.”

The hallway is quieter now. Dimmer. Their footsteps echo a little too loudly as they head toward the elevator. Momo falls into step beside her. Close. Too close. Her hand brushes Mina’s waist—then lingers.

Mina doesn’t react right away. Then—leans slightly into it. Like it’s instinct. Momo notices. Doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t move her hand.

The elevator dings. Doors slide open. They step in—Momo’s hand drops immediately as someone else steps in behind them. There’s a janitor.

Silence takes over them. Professional distance. Mina stares straight ahead. Momo presses the button like nothing happened. Their shoulders still almost touch.

Soon enough, they make it to the lobby. Another employee near the entrance. They separate again. Just enough. Just enough to look normal. It’s ridiculous.

Outside the front doors—The night air hits them. Cool. Quiet. Momo steps closer again, instinctively, her hand finding Mina’s waist like it belongs there now. Mina exhales softly. Doesn’t pull away.

They grab the food. Paper bags. Milkshakes balanced carefully. And on the way back—They keep drifting. Closer. Then apart. Closer—Then someone passes. Then apart. Like they’re learning a rhythm. Badly.

Back in the meeting room—The door clicks shut behind them. Locked again. Private. Too private.

They settle in side by side this time. Not across from each other. Closer. Knees almost brushing. The laptop sits open. Ignored.

They eat. At first, it’s quiet. Hungry. Real. But then—The glances start again. Too frequent. Too long. Mina catches Momo looking. Momo doesn’t look away fast enough. They both pretend it didn’t happen. It happens again. And again.

By the time they finish their food—The room feels smaller. Warmer. Charged.

Mina picks up her milkshake, taking a slow sip. A bit of whipped cream catches at the corner of her lip. She doesn’t notice. Momo does immediately. Her eyes flicker. Then stay there. “…hold on.”

Mina blinks. “What?”

Momo leans in slightly. “You’ve got it—”

She reaches out. Her thumb brushes lightly at Mina’s lip. Soft. Careful. She wipes it away. And then pauses. Just for a second too long.

Mina’s breath catches. Barely. But it’s there. Momo notices. Of course she does. And something shifts again. Momo’s gaze drops—to Mina’s hand. There’s still a bit of whipped cream on her finger. Momo hesitates. Just a second. Like she’s deciding something.

Then—she leans over and gently takes Mina’s wrist, bringing her hand up to her own lips. She doesn’t just lick it. She closes her mouth around Mina’s finger, her tongue swirling slowly to clean off the cream. She gives the tip a soft, playful bite before pulling back, her eyes locked on Mina’s the entire time.

Mina freezes. Completely. Her eyes widen. A deep, furious blush blooms across her cheeks and down her neck. Because—what the….?

Momo pulls back, a slow, deliberate smirk playing on her lips. “…sorry,” she mutters, but her tone is anything but apologetic. “That was—”

She doesn’t finish. Because Mina hasn’t moved. Hasn’t said anything. Just staring at her, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. The air thickens. Heavy. Different now.

Momo swallows. Then, like she’s trying to recover—she reaches for the whipped cream in her milkshake cup with her fingers. Then dabs a little at her own collarbone. Barely anything. Just enough.

She glances at Mina. Half teasing. Half a dare. “What?” She gives a small shrug. “You gonna leave me like this?” A beat passes, and then she gets bold. “Your turn now.”

Mina just stares at her. Heart pounding. Brain completely gone.

Momo immediately backpedals, seeing the genuine shock in Mina’s eyes. “—I’m kidding,” she says quickly. “Relax. You don’t have to—”

But Mina leans in. Momo goes still. It’s hesitant. Careful. But real.

Mina closes the distance between them, her hair falling forward to curtain them from the rest of the world. She doesn’t use her hand. She leans in and slowly, deliberately, licks the whipped cream off Momo’s neck with the flat of her tongue.

Momo inhales sharply, a low, guttural moan escaping her throat before she can stop it. The feeling of Mina’s warm, wet tongue on her skin sends a jolt straight through her. And just like that—everything changes.

Mina pulls back instantly, covering her face with both hands. “Oh my god—” Her voice is muffled. “I’m—sorry—I don’t know why I—”

Momo doesn’t respond right away. She’s just—staring. Processing the shock, the pleasure, the sheer boldness of it. “…okay,” she mutters finally, running a hand through her hair, trying to compose herself. “Yeah….” A breath. Then, quieter, almost to herself— “Jesus.”

Silence swallows them. Thick. Unavoidable. They both turn back to their laptops. Like that’s going to fix anything.

“We should… work,” Momo says.

“Yeah.”

A beat passes. Momo doesn’t move. “You’re not typing.”

“You’re not either.”

They both stop. Look at each other. Then immediately look away again. Both of them—blushing. Smiling. Trying not to. Failing.

And the project? Still open. Still waiting. Completely ignored. Again. For a while—they don’t say anything. Not even fake working. The laptops stays open between them, screen glowing softly in the dim room.

Neither of them types still. Neither of them even pretends to. They just—sit there. Breathing. Recovering.

Mina glances up. Momo is already looking at her. She immediately looks away. A second later—she looks back. Momo’s still looking.

They both break eye contact at the same time. It’s stupid. It happens again. And then—Momo exhales quietly. Shifts in her chair.”…you surprised me today.”

Mina stills. That tone—it’s different. No teasing. No smirk. Just—honest. She swallows. “…you surprised me too.”

Silence settles again. Heavier this time. Not awkward. Just—real. Like something shifted between them—and now it’s sitting there, right in the middle of the room, and neither of them knows what to do with it.

Mina stands abruptly. Too fast. “I’m gonna—throw this away.”

She grabs the empty bags, the crumpled wrappers—anything she can justify holding—and turns toward the door. It’s not about the trash. It’s about breathing.

Momo watches her the entire time. Doesn’t even try to hide it. Her gaze follows Mina across the room—to the bin—back again. Slow. Intently.

Mina can feel it. God, she can feel it. She tosses the trash. Takes a breath. Then turns—and walks back. She then reaches her chair. Starts to sit—And it rolls back.

Mina blinks. “…what?”

Momo’s foot is hooked casually against the wheel. She nudges it back again. Like it’s nothing.

Mina stares at her. “…what are you doing?” Her voice is half-annoyed—half-laughing.

Momo shrugs, completely unfazed. “You don’t need that.”

Mina huffs out a breath, shaking her head. “Give me my chair back.”

She steps forward—tries to grab it—and Momo just pushes it farther away. Now it’s intentional. Mina lets out a quiet, incredulous laugh. “You’re so annoying.”

Momo leans back in her chair. Relaxed. Watching her. Then—she pats her thighs. Slow. Deliberate.

“Your seat’s right here.”

Silence echos in the room. Mina doesn’t move. Just—stares at her. Processing what the hell she just said. Momo doesn’t look away. There’s a faint smirk there—but her eyes are sharper now. Watching. Waiting.

Mina scoffs softly. “…you’re actually ridiculous.”

“What?” Momo says lightly. “I’m offering solutions.”

But there’s a shift. Underneath it. Something quieter. More careful. Like she’s not entirely sure how far she can push. A beat passes. Then another.

Momo exhales, breaking it first. “Okay, okay—fine—” She leans forward, reaching for the chair. “Relax, I was just—”

“No.”

Momo pauses. Hand still mid-reach. “…what?”

Mina steps closer. Not laughing anymore. Not deflecting. “…I’ll sit.”

Momo blinks. Actually blinks.”…you’re—what?”

Mina doesn’t answer. She just—moves. Slowly. Deliberately. She steps into the space between Momo’s knees—close enough now that Momo has to tilt her head slightly to keep eye contact.

Neither of them says anything.

Momo’s hand drops from the chair. Back to her own lap. Like she doesn’t know what to do with it anymore. There’s a flicker of something in her expression—something that wasn’t there before. Uncertainty. Like—maybe she went too far.

Mina sees it. And that’s what does it. The hesitation. The almost-backtracking.

Mina’s breath catches—just slightly—but she doesn’t step away. If anything—she leans in closer. Momo goes very still. Every bit of confidence she had a second ago—gone. Now she’s the one waiting.

And Mina—Mina makes the choice. She turns and then lowers herself—slow, careful—onto Momo’s lap. And the second she does—everything stops.

Momo inhales sharply. Hands hovering—like she’s not sure where she’s allowed to put them. Mina freezes too. Because—oh. This is real now. Too close. Too warm. Too—much.

Neither of them moves. Not right away. Not when Mina can feel Momo’s breath against her neck. Not when Momo can feel how tense Mina is—how aware she is—how much she’s not pulling away.

The room is completely silent. Even the laptop hum feels louder.

Momo swallows.”…Mina—”

They don’t know what to do after that. They just—sit there. Too close. Too aware. Something shifted, and now it’s sitting between them, heavy and undeniable. And neither of them knows how to move around it.

Mina can’t look at her. Her eyes stay locked on the laptop screen, fingers hovering uselessly over the keyboard. She’s not reading anything. Not thinking about work. Just—replaying everything.

The way Momo looked at her. The way she touched her. The way everything felt. Her face burns.

Behind her, Momo is just as gone. Her heart is pounding so hard it almost hurts. She has no idea what to do with her hands. One is frozen near the keyboard of her laptop. The other hovers awkwardly before slowly settling—careful, hesitant—at Mina’s side. Like she’s asking permission without saying it out loud.

Mina exhales quietly. “Let’s… get back to work.”

“Yeah,” Momo says immediately. Too fast. Too rough. “Yeah, okay.”

She shifts slightly in the chair, swiveling them both more toward the table. Mina is still on her lap. Neither of them acknowledges it.

Mina then pulls her laptop closer and starts typing. Fast. Focused. Like if she just keeps moving, she won’t have to think about it. Momo doesn’t move. She just watches. The blush creeping up Mina’s neck. The way her shoulders are just a little too tense. The way she’s pretending this is normal.

Momo exhales slowly, as she tries to focus. But it doesn’t last long, as she fails. She let out a shaky breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She could feel all of Mina, the soft curve of her thighs, the way her body shifted with the movement.

She leans forward slightly—too close—and before she can stop herself, she dips her head just enough to catch the faint scent of Mina’s hair. Soft. Clean. Familiar already.

Mina stiffens instantly.”…what are you doing?”

Momo jerks back like she got caught. “Sorry—I didn’t mean to—”

There’s a pause. Then— “…it’s fine,” Mina says quietly. “…I don’t mind.”

That doesn’t help. At all.

“It’s just—” Momo swallows. “You smell really good.”

Mina makes a small sound—half acknowledgment, half embarrassment. A low, vibrating sound that Momo felt more than heard. “You should focus.”

“Right.”

Momo nods. She does not, in fact, focus. She tries to type. Her fingers hesitate. Missing keys. Backspacing. Trying again, as she slowly types on the computer.

“…your hand’s shaking,” Mina murmurs.

Momo lets out a quiet, breathy laugh. “Yeah.” Then there’s a beat. “I’m a little nervous….”

That makes Mina laugh. Soft. Unexpected. Momo glances at her, a small smile pulling at her lips. “What?”

Mina shakes her head, finally turning slightly to look at her. Her eyes are bright. “You took it too far.”

Momo huffs out a laugh. “…yeah.” A beat. “…I did, huh?”

Mina hums, clearly pleased with herself. Then, settling more comfortably in her lap, she shifts just enough to get situated—and doesn’t move again.

Momo narrows her eyes. “…You’re not gonna get up?”

Mina doesn’t even hesitate. “Mm-mm.” She shakes her head lightly. “Nope.”

Momo lets out a quiet laugh, a little incredulous. “So you’re just gonna sit here?”

“Yeah.”

A beat passes. Momo’s voice drops, softer now. “…I don’t want you to move.”

Mina glances back at her, something warm flickering across her face. Slowly, she lifts her hand—reaching back, fingers gentle as they find Momo’s cheek. She cups it lightly, guiding her face just a little closer.

“You’re so stupid,” Mina murmurs.

Momo blinks. “…Wow.”

Mina smiles, soft and fond. “But it’s cute.”

Momo exhales through her nose, clearly trying not to smile. Failing a little. “…You should get bolder,” she mutters.

Mina raises a brow. “Bolder?”

Momo shrugs slightly, like it’s obvious. “You’re already sitting in my lap.” Then there’s a beat. “…Can I get a kiss?”

Mina snorts. “Shut up.”

“What?” Momo huffs. “I’m just saying. Might as well.”

Mina turns her head more fully this time, looking at her. And then—she leans in. Slow. Close enough that Momo’s breath catches, eyes fluttering shut without thinking—

And at the last second—Mina presses her palm to Momo’s cheek and pushes her face away. “Let’s get back to work,” she says, already turning back around, giggling.

Momo groans immediately. “You’re so annoying.”

Mina just hums, clearly pleased with herself as she shifts forward slightly, reaching for her laptop like nothing happened. For a minute, they were both a flurry of meaningless activity—scrolling, clicking, switching between tabs.

They weren’t adding a single thing to the project. Momo pouted quietly, then gave up entirely—resting her chin lightly against Mina’s shoulder. Careful. Not pushing. Just there. And for a second—they settled. A tangle of limbs and unspoken feelings, pretending to work.

Then Mina shifts again. Just slightly. Getting comfortable. A small, subtle movement. And that’s when Momo felt it. The curve of Mina’s ass, pressed right against her. It felt good. Too good.

Her breath catches. Oh. She goes very still. Momo started taking deep, silent breaths, trying to calm herself down, trying not to make it obvious. Mina shifted a little bit more, and Momo squeezed her eyes shut. Fuck. It felt good. She could feel herself getting worked up, a low thrum of arousal building in her gut.

Don’t react. Don’t react. Don’t—

Mina glances back over her shoulder, their faces suddenly inches apart. “…am I too heavy?”

Momo shakes her head immediately. “No—no, you’re fine.” She says it too fast. Too honest. A beat passes. “…you feel—” she stops herself. “Really good.”

Mina squints at her. “…uh-huh.”

She does not believe her. At all. They try again. Typing. Scrolling. Pretending. It lasts maybe thirty seconds. Momo swallows hard. Her brain is spiraling. Her body is not helping.

Okay. Just breathe. Just act normal. This is normal.

It is not normal. She exhales slowly, then—carefully—places her hand at Mina’s waist. Gentle. Light. Testing. Mina flinches a tiny jolt. Just a little. Then—relaxes.

Okay.

Momo lets out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “…this isn’t weird, right?”

Mina glances back. “What?”

“My—hand.”

A beat passes. “…it’s fine,” Mina says softly.

“Okay.”

Momo leaves it there. Doesn’t push. Just—rests. And after a moment—Mina leans into it. Barely. But enough. That’s what gets her. Momo’s thumb starts moving without thinking. Small, slow circles against the fabric at Mina’s side. They both go quiet again. This time—not tense. Just—aware.

Momo swallows. Her gaze drifts—not even on purpose—just… noticing. She liked being this close to Mina. She realized they’d never been this close. They’d never even hugged or anything like this up until now. It made her heart ache in the best way. Her thumb started to rub small circles over the fabric of Mina’s skirt more. Mina looked so good in that white button-up blouse and the short pencil skirt with the stockings underneath.

Soon enough, they started to find a rhythm. Their bodies got less stiff, and they started to melt into each other. Momo didn’t know how much time passed, but then Mina leaned forward slightly over the table. And God, the way she arched her back. Momo’s breath hitched.

She pulled her other hand away from the computer and leaned back in the chair just to look. She hated that she was looking, but Mina looked so fucking good from behind. The line of her spine, the way her blouse pulled taut, the perfect curve of her ass sitting right on her lap.

Mina looked back at her over her shoulder, and Momo’s breath caught. The side of her face, the way her hair fell… it was so fucking good. Mina’s hair tossed a little, and Momo got another whiff of that perfume. Fuck, she smells so good.

“…what are you doing?” Mina asks, her voice quieter now.

There’s a hint of something in it. Not annoyance. Momo doesn’t even try to lie.”You look… really good.”

Mina exhales sharply. “Stop.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You are.”

“Well,” Momo murmurs, a small smirk forming despite herself, “you’re sitting on my lap.”

“You wouldn’t let me sit down~” Mina argued, her voice a playful whine.

“I gave you a seat.”

“You’re so annoying.”

Momo just watches her, glanced over her figure a bit. Soft now. Honest.

“…isn’t this what you wanted?” Mina asks, glancing back. “Me sitting here?”

Momo doesn’t hesitate this time.”…yeah.”

The honesty lands. Heavy. Mina’s expression softens. Just a little. “…don’t stare too much,” she mutters, turning back to the screen. “We still have work.”

Momo took a minute just to appreciate the view. Then she leans forward again. Trying. Actually trying this time. “Right.”

But the second she moves—Mina shifts another time. The sudden movement made Momo’s body jolted. The way she swayed her hips….. Momo freezes.

And that’s when she felt it. Her body had been buzzing for the last couple of hours of them doing all this stupid shit. Momo realized, with a jolt of panic and arousal, that she was really turned on. And she was kind of hard right now.

Oh my god.

Mina moved her hips again, and Momo slapped a hand over her own mouth to stop a sound from escaping.

Holy shit.

Her body was fucking reacting. She exhales sharply, dragging a hand down her face. “You’re—” She stops.

Mina turns slightly. “What?”

Momo laughs under her breath. Tense. Helpless. “You’re killing me.”

Mina frowns. “What are you talking about?”

Momo shakes her head quickly. “Nothing. Forget it.”

Mina studies her for a second. Confused. Curious. And that’s when Momo breaks. She leans forward—wraps her arms around Mina’s waist—and pulls her closer. Not aggressive. Not rough. Just—like she needs her there.

Mina gasps softly. “Momo—what are you—”

Momo buries her face against her shoulder. Hiding. “…you feel really good,” she mumbles. A pause. Her grip tightens—just slightly. Then, quieter—more to herself than anything—

“…you feel… familiar.”

Mina stills. Momo doesn’t seem to notice. Her voice drifts, unfocused. Hazy. Like memories start floating around her head. “I don’t know why but… it’s like—” she exhales against Mina’s shoulder, brow furrowing as a fog clouds her mind, “like I’ve been with you—”

She stops. Shakes her head faintly.

“…like that night…”

Mina’s entire body tenses. Her stomach drops. “What are you talking about?” she asks, too quickly. Too sharp.

Momo blinks, like she’s just waking up. “…what?” She pulls back slightly, confusion flashing across her face now. “I—” she lets out a small, awkward breath, rubbing the back of her neck. “…I don’t know. I’m just—” She gives a weak laugh.

“…I’m just saying shit.”

But her expression doesn’t fully settle. Because even she doesn’t believe that. Then suddenly her hands snake around back to Mina’s waist, and across her stomach. And then—quieter. Momo says it, more honest than she meant to be—

“You just… really turn me on.”

Silence echoed in the room. Mina’s eyes go wide. “…what—”

And that’s when she finally felt it. She could literally feel it, hard and insistent, pressed right up against her ass. It was warm, thick, an undeniable pressure that made her entire body flush with heat. She was blushing so hard it felt like her skin was melting.

Momo was mortified.

Her face was buried against Mina’s back, arms still loosely around her waist like she didn’t know what else to do with them. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, voice muffled. “Mina, I’m—really sorry.”

Mina’s lips pressed together, her face still burning. She shifted slightly in her hold, turning just enough to look back at her. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “It’s… fine.”

Momo lifted her head. Their eyes met. And for a second—everything else disappeared. Momo looked completely undone. No teasing. No confidence. Just… her.

Something in Momo’s expression flickered—uncertain, overwhelmed—and Mina felt her own chest tighten in response. She didn’t even realize how close they still were until Momo tried to move—and gave a small, experimental thrust upwards into Mina’s body. Into the heat of her thighs. And then she froze again.

Because then, Momo heard it. A soft, breathy moan escaped Mina’s lips. It was the prettiest sound Momo had ever fucking heard in her life.

“Oh my god—” Mina’s voice cracked slightly as reality rushed back in. Her face crumpled in embarrassment, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. She tried to scramble off Momo’s lap, mortified. Standing suddenly, hands fumbling against the edge of the table. “I—I should—”

Momo reacted on instinct. Her hands caught Mina at the waist—not rough, just… firm enough to stop her from pulling away completely, and she pulled her back down into her lap. Mina felt it again, that hard length pressing against her, and this time it was deliberate.

“Don’t—” Momo said quickly, then quieter, “don’t go. Not like that.”

Mina stilled. Her heart was racing so fast it felt ridiculous. Momo dropped her gaze for a second, like she was trying to gather herself. Then, barely above a whisper— “You drive me crazy Mina.”

Mina’s breath caught, as she felt all of it. She felt Momo’s length pressing against her more, the tight grip of Momo’s hands on her hips, the desperate words vibrating against her back.

“I didn’t mean to—” Momo exhaled, shaking her head a little. “I just…..got carried away.” Her voice softened, more honest than Mina had ever heard it. “I pushed too far today.”

Mina shook her head immediately, her voice barely a whisper. “No—you didn’t.”

Her voice was quiet. Careful. But certain. Momo looked up at her again. “…I didn’t?”

Mina hesitated. Her cheeks burned even hotter. But she held her gaze. “…I liked it.”

Silence hit them. Momo blinked. Actually blinked. “…wait. Really?”

Mina nodded, shy now, her eyes darting away for a second before forcing herself to look back. “I did.”

That did something to Momo. You could see it. A sharp inhale. A stunned, almost disbelieving look crossing her face. “…you’re—” she huffed out a quiet, incredulous laugh. “You’re serious.”

The two just stared, at each other. And then Momo blurted it out. “I liked it too. I liked that sound you made.” Her breath hitched, as she started to ramble. “You make me… really hard Mina. I want you. Like….really bad.”

Mina covered her face for a second, groaning softly. “Don’t say it like that. Don’t make it a thing—”

“No,” Momo said gently, reaching up and pulling her hands down just enough so she could see her again. “Don’t cover your face, I want to see you.”

Mina froze. Momo’s voice dropped, softer now. “I meant what I said.” Then there was a beat. “I liked that noise you made. I want to make you sound like that again.”

Mina’s entire body went hot. “Stop,” she muttered immediately, turning her head. “Oh my god—stop talking.”

Momo smiled—just a little. “…it was cute.”

“Shut up.”

“It was.You’re so sexy Mina.”

“I’m literally leaving.”

Momo let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Okay, okay—”

And then—she leaned in. Slow. Careful. Like she was giving Mina time to stop her. Mina didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Their lips were a breath apart—

BANG. BANG. BANG.

They both jumped like they’d been shocked. Mina scrambled off her lap so fast she nearly tripped, grabbing the edge of the table to steady herself.

Momo jolted back in her chair, face going red as she immediately looked anywhere but at Mina, her hands fly down to cover her crotch.

There was a voice barked from outside the door—”It’s nine o’clock! You two need to get out—we’re locking up!”

They both turned toward the door like they’d just been caught committing a crime.

“Sorry—!” Mina blurted out immediately.

“Yeah—sorry!” Momo added, scrambling to her feet.

The janitor just stared at them through the glass. Unimpressed. The second he walked off—silence echoed. Mina let out a shaky breath. “…we should probably—go.”

Momo nodded too quickly. “Yeah.” Then—after a second—”…I just need a minute.”

She dropped back into her chair, dragging a hand down her face. Mina paused. Watching her. Taking her in. Like she couldn’t quite believe what just happened.

“…I’m gonna call an Uber,” Mina said finally, voice softer now as she grabbed her phone and went in the app to book her ride.

Momo looked up immediately. “You don’t want me to take you home?”

Mina hesitated. Then shook her head. “…I think I just need a minute.”

Momo nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”

She looked… a little embarrassed again. A little quieter. Mina started packing her things, movements slower than usual. Still processing. Still replaying everything. Momo stayed where she was, staring at the table for a second before letting out a quiet groan. “I’m such a dumbass.”

Mina looked at her immediately. “…no, you’re not.”

Momo huffed out a soft laugh, glancing up at her. “You say that now.”

“I meant what I said.”

Momo blinked. “…about—?”

“Don’t.”

Momo grinned a little. “Oh, so we’re not talking about it?”

“We are never talking about that.”

“You sounded really—”

“Momorin.”

“—sexy—”

“Momo!”

Momo laughed under her breath, leaning back in her chair. “Okay, okay. Fine.” But she was still smiling.

Mina slung her bag over her shoulder, glancing at her phone as there was a sudden ding. “My Uber’s here now.”

Momo nodded, softer now. “Okay.” Then there was a beat. “…I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Mina hesitated. “…yeah. Tomorrow.”

She turns toward the door—then pauses. Momo looks up, confused. “…what?”

Mina walks back. Just a couple steps. Not overthinking it this time. And before Momo can react—she leans down and presses a quick, soft kiss to her cheek. Momo freezes completely.

Mina pulls back just as fast, already turning away like it didn’t just happen. “Okay—bye.”

“…wait—”

Mina glances back. Momo is still sitting there, stunned, hand halfway lifted to her cheek. “…so—” she starts, brain clearly lagging behind, “you’re not gonna sit on my lap again?”

Mina just stares at her. “…you’re actually insane.”

Momo frowns slightly. “What? You said it was fine.”

“It was fine,” Mina says quickly, face heating again. “That doesn’t mean—” She cuts herself off, shaking her head. “That was just—unexpected.”

Momo leans forward a little. “So… maybe again?”

Mina lets out a short, incredulous laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”

Momo shrugs, completely serious. “I’m just asking.”

Mina rolls her eyes—but she’s smiling. “…maybe.”

Momo perks up immediately.

“But,” Mina adds quickly, pointing at her, “you cannot be a perv again.”

Momo scoffs. “I’m not a perv.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I swear,” Momo says, almost defensive now, sitting up straighter. “I didn’t plan any of that. It just—happened.”

Mina studies her for a second. Then laughs softly. “Yeah,” she says. “That’s the problem.”

Momo just grins. Completely unhelpful. Mina exhales, shaking her head, backing toward the door again. “I need to go home.”

“Yeah,” Momo nods quickly. “You should probably—yeah.”

“My brain is—” Mina gestures vaguely. “A mess.”

Momo laughs under her breath. “Same.”

There’s a small pause. Then— “Goodnight, Momorin.”

“…night, Mina.”

And then she’s gone. The door shuts behind her. The silence hits. Momo sits there. Still. Hand slowly coming up to touch her cheek. “…fuck.” She drops her head forward onto the table with a soft thud. “Why am I like this—”

BANG.

“Hey! I said get out!”

Momo shot up instantly. “I’m going! I’m going—sorry!”

She scrambled to grab her bag, nearly knocking her chair over in the process. Still flustered. Still reeling. Still smiling like an idiot. And very aware—that nothing between them was the same anymore.