I walked over to my desk and sat down. I pulled the monthly calendar from the yellow folder and started organizing the meeting schedule on my computer. Once I was done, I printed it out and slipped it back into the folder.
Just then, Chak stepped out of his office and walked past me without a word. Our eyes met briefly, but he said nothing and left.
I glanced at my phone to see if he'd messaged me where he was going. But the screen was blank no messages.
Where did he go? Why didn't he say anything?
I took a deep breath and told myself not to overthink it. I put the phone down and tried to focus on work. Most of the colleagues had already left for lunch, and the office had gone quiet.
About twenty minutes later, Chak came back, carrying a small black bag. He gave me a look and subtly gestured for me to follow him.
My heart skipped a little, like it always did when he gave me attention.
I got up, straightened my shirt, and lightly knocked on his office door before walking in.
Chak was sitting on the couch, unpacking containers of food from the bag. He carefully laid everything out on the small coffee table in front of him, almost like a ritual.
"Come," he said softly, nodding toward the couch beside him.
I walked over slowly and sat down next to him, stealing a glance at his face. He looked calm and peaceful in the same way he does when we're at home.
Chak checked the time. "We've got thirty minutes to spend together."
I smiled. "You think of everything."
I leaned my head on his shoulder and whispered into his ear,
"What if we stayed longer?"
He looked at me with that serious expression of his. "Don't forget, we're at work."
"I know," I murmured. "But you still made time for us. And I really like that."
He gently stroked my back and pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head. My heart swelled with warmth.
I picked up my fork and started eating. When I looked up, I noticed he was just watching me.
"Why aren't you eating?" I asked.
A soft smile tugged at his lips. "I was watching to see if you liked it. I cooked it myself."
"I do," I said with a shy grin. "But I like the cook even more."
My cheeks flushed at my own words.
Chak chuckled and finally picked up his fork. We ate in silence, but it was the kind of silence that felt full warm and safe.
Once we were done, he set his fork down, glanced at the clock, and said, "We've got five minutes left."
Then, without a word, he gently lay down across my lap and closed his eyes. I ran my fingers slowly through his hair, watching him breathe, feeling every second of this rare peace.
"My dragon... I love you, Chaky," I whispered softly.
He took my other hand and placed it over his chest, letting me feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"I love you too, my artist," he murmured.
A few moments passed before he sat up suddenly, his expression shifting back to serious.
"Let's get back to work," he said firmly.
"Alright," I replied, standing up. I walked to the door, hand on the knob, and turned to look at him one last time. I gave him a smile before stepping out and heading back to my desk.
I smiled when I got back to my desk. His warmth means to me everything.
Two hours later, my phone buzzed on the desk.
I glanced at the screen.
Chak: Don't wait for me. When you finish with work just go home and make yourself dinner. I'm not sure when I'll be back.
I stared at the message, reading it twice.
Don't wait for me...
The warmth from our lunch break still lingered in my chest, and now this.
He didn't even say why. Just… that.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek and locked the screen without replying. For a moment, I just sat there, staring blankly at my monitor.
Was he overwhelmed again? Or... pulling away?
A quiet sigh escaped me. I didn't want to overthink, but I couldn't help the sting in my chest.
Maybe he really doesn't know when he'll be done. It's work. Nothing more.
By the time I finished work, the office was nearly empty. I turned off my computer, gathered my things, and stepped out without saying much to anyone. The city was already dipped in twilight, streets glowing under the soft haze of streetlights.
The ride home felt longer than usual.
When I unlocked the door and stepped into the quiet house, it felt... emptier than I remembered.
I dropped my bag near the entrance, kicked off my shoes, and sighed.
Don't wait for me.
His message echoed again in my head.
Instead of going to the kitchen, I turned toward the living room. The pillows were scattered, the coffee table a bit cluttered. I walked over and started picking things up. Folded the blankets, fluffed the cushions, wiped down the surface.
It wasn't dirty, not really, but I needed to do something.
Room by room, I moved quietly. I took out the trash, straightened the hallway rug, even dusted the shelves. My body worked on autopilot, but my mind kept drifting.
He brought me lunch. Let me rest on his shoulder. Told me he loved me. And now he's gone again. No explanation. Just silence.
In the bedroom, I smoothed out the sheets and picked up a shirt Chak had left tossed over a chair. I brought it to my chest for a second, breathing in his scent before folding it and placing it in the wardrobe.
The cleaning made me feel like I was putting things back in order even when everything else felt uncertain.
Maybe tomorrow will be better, I thought, closing the wardrobe softly.
After I finished cleaning, I headed into the kitchen. The silence felt louder here. I opened the fridge, took out some vegetables, rice, and a few eggs. Nothing fancy just something to fill the space in my stomach.
I chopped slowly, mechanically. Cooked in silence.
The food was warm, but eating alone made it feel tasteless.
I kept glancing at my phone on the table.
Should I text him?
My fingers hovered above the screen, but I stopped. No. If he wanted to talk, he would have.
I left the message unsent.
When I finished eating, I washed the dishes, dried them one by one, and wiped down the counter. Everything felt too neat. Too quiet.
Eventually, I headed to the bedroom, slipped into my pajamas, and got into bed. The sheets felt colder without him beside me. I pulled the blanket up to my chest, curled on my side, and stared at the empty space next to me.
Sleep came slowly.
A few hours later, I woke up to the faint hum of something maybe water, maybe wind. I turned over.
Chak still wasn't in bed.
Is he... still not home?
The clock read 11:00. pm.
I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and slowly got out of bed. The house was dim, the only light coming from the hallway night lamp. I walked barefoot into the kitchen to get a glass of water. As I filled the glass, something outside caught my eye.
I turned toward the window.
In the faint moonlight, I saw Chak.
He was in the pool, moving through the water slowly, his strokes almost meditative.
My heart skipped.
Without thinking, I grabbed a towel from the cabinet and quietly stepped outside.
The night air was cool, and I wrapped the towel loosely around my shoulders as I approached the edge of the pool.
Chak noticed me and swam toward me. His dark hair was wet, sticking to his forehead, and the water shimmered around him.
"When did you get back?" I asked softly.
He reached the edge and rested his arms on the tiles, breathing steadily. "About twenty minutes ago," he said.
I nodded, biting my lip. He looked tired, but peaceful as if the water was the only thing keeping him grounded.
"Come in," he said, voice low, almost teasing.
I shook my head. "No."
His eyes held mine for a second longer.
Then, without warning, he reached out and grabbed my wrist.
"Chak!"
With one swift pull, he yanked me into the water.
A splash. Cold. Weightless. Everything disappeared for a second.
And when I came up for air, gasping, Chak was right in front of me. Smiling.
I surfaced with a loud gasp, water streaming down my face, my hair plastered to my forehead. The towel was gone, floating nearby like a useless cloud of cloth.
"Chak!" I snapped, blinking water out of my eyes. "Seriously?!"
He laughed that low, unapologetic laugh of his and raised both hands in mock surrender.
"You said no, but your eyes said maybe."
I splashed water at him. "You ruined my pajamas!"
"They weren't that flattering anyway," he said with a smirk, ducking as another splash came his way.
I swam a few strokes away from him, more to cool my nerves than to escape. My heart was still pounding partly from the shock, partly from the fact that he was right there, soaked, shirtless, looking at me like I was the only thing in the world worth seeing.
"You could've just asked," I muttered.
"I did," he said, swimming closer. "You said no."
"Exactly."
He was right in front of me now. I could feel the warmth of his breath against the cool night air. Water dripped from his lashes, and the faint pool lights danced on his skin.
"I missed you," he whispered.
I looked away, biting the inside of my cheek. "Then why didn't you come home earlier?"
"I couldn't," he said, his voice softer now. "I wanted to. But I knew if I saw you… I wouldn't want to let go."
I looked back at him. The irritation melted a little, just enough for the tenderness to creep in.
"You could've at least sent more than two dry sentences," I said, half sulking, half teasing.
Chak smiled, then gently touched my cheek. "You're here now. And I'm here. That's all I care about."
For a moment, we just floated there in the stillness of the water, the night holding us like a secret.