Zeff

The office buzzed with the usual midday activity, phones ringing and keyboards clicking away. I glanced at the clock on my screen: 1:30 PM. The morning had flown by, a blur of meetings and deadlines. I stretched, feeling the strain of sitting for too long, and my eyes wandered over to Liliam. She was hunched over her desk, intently focused on her work, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

It struck me that I hadn't seen her leave her desk once, not even for a quick break. Concerned, I stood up and walked over to her.

"Liliam," I said softly, trying to get her attention. "Have you had lunch yet?"

She barely glanced up, her eyes fixed on the screen. "I'm too busy to stop, Zeff. I'll grab something later."

I frowned, knowing this wasn't the first time she'd skipped a meal for the sake of work. The dark circles under her eyes and the tension in her shoulders told me she was pushing herself too hard. I could feel Gaius stirring restlessly within me, disapproving of how she was neglecting her well-being.

"You need to take care of yourself," I insisted, trying to keep my voice calm.

"I'm fine, Zeff. Really," she said, waving me off, her focus never leaving her computer.

Something in me snapped. Gaius growled softly in my mind, urging me to do something. I reached out and gently grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away from the keyboard. She looked up at me, surprised and slightly annoyed.

"You have to take care of yourself," I said more firmly, my voice almost a growl. "Come with me to the café. You need to eat."

She blinked at me, taken aback by my sudden assertiveness. "Zeff, I really can't—"

"Yes, you can," I interrupted, my grip on her wrist firm but gentle. "You can't work effectively if you're not taking care of your basic needs. Please, just take a break."

For a moment, she looked like she might argue, but then she sighed, the fight draining out of her. "Alright," she conceded, her voice soft. "But just a quick break."

I released her wrist and smiled, relieved that she was finally listening. "A quick break is better than none. Let's go."

We made our way to the café downstairs, the fresh air and change of scenery doing us both good. As we sat down with our meals, I watched her relax a little, the tension in her shoulders easing.

"Thank you, Zeff," she said quietly, taking a bite of her sandwich. "I guess I needed this more than I realized."

I nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "It's important to take care of yourself, Liliam. You can't pour from an empty cup."

She smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes, and it made my heart skip a beat. "So," she said, after taking another bite, "tell me a little about yourself. What do you like to do outside of work?"

I leaned back in my chair, thinking. "Well, I enjoy hiking and being outdoors. There's something peaceful about nature that I find very grounding. I also like to read, especially anything related to history or mythology."

Liliam nodded, seeming genuinely interested. "That sounds wonderful. I've always wanted to hike, but I never seem to find the time. What kind of books do you enjoy the most?"

"Mostly fantasy and historical fiction," I replied. "I love stories that transport me to another time or place. It's like a mini-adventure every time I open a book."

She smiled. "I'm a big fan of fantasy too. There's something magical about getting lost in a world so different from our own. Do you have a favorite book or series?"

"It's hard to pick just one, but I'd say 'The Lord of the Rings' is up there for me. The depth of the world Tolkien created is incredible."

Her eyes lit up. "I love 'The Lord of the Rings' too! The movies are great, but the books have so much more detail and richness. I always find something new every time I read them."

I felt a warm connection forming as we continued to talk. "What about you, Liliam? What do you like to do when you're not buried in work?"

She laughed softly. "Well, I love writing. It's a great way for me to relax and express myself. I also enjoy watching dramas, especially Korean dramas. They're a bit of a guilty pleasure."

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"Writing sounds amazing," I said, genuinely impressed. "I'd love to read some of your work sometime. And as for Korean dramas, I've heard they can be pretty addictive."

"They are," she admitted with a grin. "I can lose hours watching them. But writing is my real escape. It helps me unwind after a long day."

"I'd like to hear more about your writing sometime," I said, feeling more connected to her with every passing moment.

"Sure, I'd love to share," she said, her smile widening.

"Maybe we can go hiking together sometime too. It sounds like it would be a great way to unwind," I suggested

Her smiled faltered, "I have a partner Zeff."

"Does he prevents you from going out."

"well no but-" I arched an eyebrow and she blushed slightly, "You're a guy."

"I would like it," I replied, my eyes not leaving hers as I drink the last of my water bottle.

Her cheek redden and she said, "We should probably get back to work."

"Agreed," I said, though I was reluctant to leave the comfortable bubble of our conversation.

****

A week had passed since I convinced Liliam to take that much-needed break for lunch. During that time, we had settled into a comfortable rhythm of working together. However, our growing connection hadn't gone unnoticed by our colleagues.

As I walked into the office that morning, I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. The usual hum of activity was punctuated by hushed whispers and furtive glances in my direction. It didn't take long for me to catch snippets of the ongoing gossip.

"Did you see how close they were at lunch yesterday?" one of the girls murmured to her friend, her eyes darting towards Liliam's desk.

"Yeah, and they left the office together again. She's always lingering around him," another replied, her tone tinged with envy.

I tried to ignore the comments, focusing on my work, but it was impossible not to notice the undercurrent of curiosity and resentment. Every time Liliam and I exchanged a few words or a smile, the whispers would intensify.

"She's supposed to have a boyfriend, right?" someone else added, their voice dripping with speculation. "What does Owen think about all this?"

The question hung in the air, and I couldn't help but wonder about it myself. I had seen Owen's jealousy that night when he picked her up, and I knew it wouldn't take much to spark a confrontation if he felt threatened.

I glanced over at Liliam, who was busy typing away at her desk. She seemed unaware of the gossip swirling around her, or maybe she was just good at pretending not to notice. The sight of her focused and dedicated brought a smile to my face, but it also made me worry about the pressure she was under.

As the day went on, the gossip didn't let up. Every interaction between us seemed to fuel the rumor mill even more.

"Do you think they're...you know, together?" one girl whispered, not realizing I could hear her.

"I don't know, but they sure spend a lot of time together," her friend replied, casting a speculative glance our way.

By lunchtime, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken questions and judgments. Liliam and I headed to the café again, trying to keep things as normal as possible. As we sat down with our meals, I could tell she was more tense than usual. Her shoulders were tight, her gaze often drifting to the side as if she was trying to avoid eye contact.

"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned, leaning slightly forward to catch her eye. "You seem a bit off today."

She sighed, stirring her salad absently with her fork. "The gossips are annoying me," she muttered, her tone laced with frustration.

I frowned, feeling a surge of protectiveness rise within me. "Forgive me if—"

Liliam raised her hand to stop me, shaking her head. "You're my apprentice, Zeff. It's normal for you to hang around me. This is just the dickhead girls being jealous."

I chuckled, taking a sip from my bottle of water. "Jealous?"

Liliam looked up at me, her expression a mix of amusement and annoyance. "I mean, a handsome guy like you looming all over me and not them—"

"Handsome? Looming over you?" I teased, leaning in closer, a grin spreading across my face.

Liliam's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, and she stammered, "I didn't mean to—"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "I like the fact you think I'm handsome and looming over you."

"I have a boyfriend!" Liliam hissed, her voice a whisper but with a hint of playful exasperation.

I raised an eyebrow, keeping my tone light but with a hint of seriousness. "Who you seem to be ignoring?"

Liliam looked taken aback, her eyes wide. "So you've heard the rumors?"

"I do," I replied calmly, shrugging slightly. "I just don't pay them any attention. People will always talk, Liliam."

"People react too, Zeff," Liliam clarified, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. "It's why I have twice the work on my desk."

I stopped, remembering the piles of documents that seemed to grow every day. "They do that on purpose?"

Liliam nodded, stabbing at her salad with her fork. "It's the way haters work around here."

A wave of guilt washed over me. Did this mean that the extra work was because Liliam was spending more time with me? Was I inadvertently making things harder for her?

I reached across the table and gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I'll take responsibility as well," I said softly. "You've been working harder than anyone else here. And as for spending time with me, well, I'm not going to apologize for that. I enjoy your company."

She smiled weakly, her eyes softening as she squeezed my hand back. "I appreciate it, Zeff," she murmured. "I do. It's just... it gets overwhelming."

I nodded, understanding the weight she was carrying. "Good thing Im here, Liliam and I'm not going anywhere."

She looked down at our joined hands for a moment before looking back up at me, her expression a mixture of gratitude and something deeper, something I couldn't quite place. "Thank you," she whispered.

A comfortable silence fell between us, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the room. The noise of the café faded into the background, and all I could focus on was her. The way her hair caught the light, the curve of her lips as she smiled, the warmth of her hand in mine.

As we finished our meal, I could see some of the tension leaving her shoulders, her posture relaxing slightly. I wanted to keep her smiling, to keep her at ease, and I realized then just how much I cared about her well-being. More than I probably should have, given the circumstances.

But I didn't care. All that mattered was that she was here, with me, and that I could be there for her.