The office was dimly lit, the only sounds coming from the rhythmic tapping of keys and the occasional rustle of paper. Kim and Jane were sitting side by side, sifting through Madison's files. But despite the serious nature of their work, an undercurrent of tension was thick in the air. It was undeniable—the atmosphere between them had shifted.
Kim had noticed it earlier but had chosen to focus on the task at hand. He couldn't afford to be distracted, not now. But as the hours wore on, he couldn't ignore it any longer. Every time he glanced at Jane, there was a heaviness in the air, a lingering uncertainty.
Finally, Jane set down the file she was holding and looked at Kim, her gaze more intense than usual. Her fingers drummed lightly on the desk as she took a deep breath.
"You know," she began, her voice low, almost as if she was testing the waters, "I've been thinking about us. About everything."
Kim froze for a moment, his chest tightening. He didn't want to go down this path again. Not after everything that had happened. They had broken up, and it had been for good reason. The past was a closed door.
But Jane wasn't done. She leaned in slightly, her eyes locking with his. "I know we've been through a lot, Kim. But... I've been with other people since we broke up. And I'll admit, none of them compare to what we had."
Kim shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to keep his tone casual. "Jane, we've both moved on. It's in the past."
But Jane wasn't backing down. She continued, her voice gaining a certain edge. "You think I don't know that? But it doesn't change the way I feel. All those relationships... they were nothing. They weren't you. And I've been lying to myself about that for months."
Kim's stomach churned. He didn't want to feel this pull, this lingering connection to Jane. He knew the damage they'd caused when things ended the first time. Yet, there was something in the way she looked at him that made him hesitate.
She leaned a little closer, her voice softening. "I want you back, Kim. I've tried to deny it, but I can't. I miss us."
Kim's heart sank, a mixture of guilt and confusion flooding him. He wasn't sure how to respond. He didn't want to hurt Jane, but he also couldn't ignore the truth of the situation.
"Jane, I... I care about you," he began, his voice firm but hesitant. "But things are different now. I'm not the same person I was when we were together. And I've moved on."
Jane's eyes widened, as if she hadn't expected him to say that. There was a flicker of hurt in her expression, but she quickly masked it with a smile. "So, you're seeing someone else now?"
Kim stiffened, his heart racing. He hadn't wanted to tell her this, not like this. He took a deep breath before speaking, his words measured. "Yes, I am. I'm in a relationship with Riele now."
Jane's face remained composed, but there was a subtle shift in her demeanor, a quiet resignation. She glanced down at the files in front of her, processing his words. "Riele, huh?" she muttered, her tone low. "I didn't expect that."
Kim nodded, his voice calm but resolute. "I didn't either. But things just happened. It's different this time, Jane. Riele and I, we've been through a lot together, and we're... we're good for each other."
Jane leaned back in her chair, her fingers once again drumming against the desk. "I see."
A long silence passed between them, the weight of the conversation settling in the room. Kim could feel the air grow thick with unspoken words, but he wasn't sure where to go from here. He didn't want to hurt Jane, but he also knew he couldn't give her what she wanted.
Finally, Jane spoke again, her voice soft but tinged with determination. "I don't care, Kim. I'll do whatever it takes to get you back. I've made up my mind."
Kim's eyes widened slightly, a surge of unease rushing through him. "What do you mean by that?"
But before Jane could respond, the door to the office opened, and Jay stepped in, his casual demeanor instantly picking up on the tension between them. He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the room before settling on Kim and Jane.
"Am I interrupting something?" Jay asked, his voice light, but there was a knowing look in his eyes.
Kim quickly stood up, eager to break the mounting tension. "No, everything's fine. We're just working through some things."
Jay glanced between them, raising an eyebrow, but he didn't press further. "Alright, well, I just wanted to make sure you guys were still good. Let me know if you need anything."
With that, Jay turned and left, leaving Kim and Jane alone once again.
Kim exhaled, trying to shake off the feeling that Jane had just dropped a bombshell. He knew her well enough to understand that when she said she would "do whatever it takes," she meant it. And that worried him.
Jane, however, wasn't looking at him anymore. She was staring at the files in front of her, her expression unreadable.
Kim's heart pounded in his chest. He didn't know what Jane's next move would be, but he could feel the weight of her determination in every word she had spoken. She wasn't going to let go easily.
As the silence stretched on, Kim couldn't help but wonder what he was truly up against. This was why he never liked the idea of Jay bringing Jane into his life.