missed connections

story of us

mysha pov

9:47 am.

he is late today. so unlike of him. it's now been a month since i started, and surprisingly we get along quite smoothly.

last week i went on a date with Kabeer. well not exactly a date, he asked me for a coffee last time we met and i instantly agreed. also, apparently, we go a long we before our 'coffee incident'. he was also on the debate team with me. and he was my partner in second-grade exams.

the door swung open. and came a tall man covered with a black shirt, lean pants, and a long navy blue coat.

oh, there he was ! the atmosphere of the room shifted. he was tensed. we didn't wish each other good morning today. i quietly focused on my own work. i took glances at him in between. same stoic expression. it was worrying. not that i care about him or anything but he's my coworker after all.

6:50 pm

it was time to go home. he was still ramming through the loose papers. it was scattered throughout the room. his part of the room, to be specific.

"Mr. Lee, you aren't done for the day?" i asked with a tone of concern.

"I- I am trying, "his voice tells me the otherwise. 

he was on the verge of crying but hid it under a resting bitch face. anyone could tell he needed a break. he was burnt out.

i walked to his desk, carefully placing my stilettos through the messy room. dodging all the case files scattered on the floor. technically, his part of the room.

i hovered over him from behind his chair with my hand on the mouse, the other gripping on the table, covering Aarav from all 3 sides.

"maybe if you format these tiles with formula 3 then we can get this done easily" i said.

author pov

Aarav was visibly flustered by the very close distance between them.

"you got the tally wrong here. it should have been 67" she pointed out another one in a low voice.

her breath hit behind Aarav's ear. He was now clutching onto the chair for his dear life.

"oh- oh okay i will redo them" he stuttered.

Mysha didn't notice the tension

"you can't possibly do this all alone overnight, we have a deadline at 10:30 am tomorrow; i will stay with you."

Aarav tried to look at the conflict logically.

if Mysha stayed, they could finish the work easily but he might lose his control; if she didn't, they would cause a loss to the company, and also he might get demoted.

"thank you. that would be a great help, Ms. Parker" with that he allowed her to stay.

Mysha dropped her bag on her desk and rolled her chair to his desk. she tied her black, curly hair into a bun, revealing her sculptured collarbones. Aarav was very close to losing control. she looked mesmerizing and he was enchanted.

23:53.

Mysha's heels lying in the corner of their office, his tie loosened and 7 coco-cola drinks later, 4 hours have passed.

They had a very little amount of work left. Mysha drifted off to her wonderland with her head placed on the desk, facing him. He didn't notice until the paper he picked up was wet around the corner. she was drooling. he let out a chuckle.

Aarav too rested his head on the desk. but first, he cleared all the papers, submitted whatever files they have completed, picked up her heels, and placed them properly. perfectionist much?

he faced her. the wheels rolled as he pulled Mysha's chair closer to his. to get a clear view of her face. he pushed her curly locks away. just like that one scene from the playful kiss. he kept looking at her with stars in his eyes.

"i remember you, mysha," he said in a sorrowful tone. "how can i not?"

he pulled her closer to him and gently stroked her loose curls.

"the day i saw you running you towards the elevator, the moment you screamed stop, i recognized you. you have changed, and for the better in these few years. i thought about you from time to time from the day i moved to Korea. whenever i used to see those stupid kdramas playing on my roommate's tv, or when Taylor swift played on the radio, it took me back to you fangirling in high school. i got busy and eventually, you started to fade from my memories. seeing you again, both of us, all grown up, in a foreign city is like another chance.
another chance to be with you. but isn't that selfish of me? i don't think you remember me, and rightfully so! i promised myself i will watch you from the sidelines, silently, not interrupting your life; but i don't think i can control this anymore. i love you. and i want to be in love with you. i don't want the history to repeat itself" he confessed, hands still in her hair. 

mysha slowly opened her eyes. she had a stone-cold expression. aarav was heartbroken seeing not one emotion on her face. anger, sorrow, acceptance, love, anything instead of nothing would do. he was waiting for her to say something. anything. mysha sat upright. still emotionless. it was ripping aarav apart second by second.

he removed his hand from her hair. and she watched him. more like eyed him.

"I'm sorry this was very unprofess-" before he could finish his sentence, mysha pulled him closer by his already loose tie and collided her lips on his. it took a few seconds for him to process. he kissed back. mysha threw her hands around his broad shoulders. her fingers lingering on his back. he lifted her up and sat her on his lap. their tounges fighting for dominance. his hands caressing her cheeks and neck, her hands gripping his hair. it was a heated moment.

"i was waiting for you. i thought you didn't recognize me" she pulled away.

"i want to be yours too, but you need to lower your voice when i am sleeping" mysha let out a giggle.

he hugged her waist and she rested her head against his rapidly beating heart. he was stimulated because of her. she liked that.

"wait for a second..... does that mean we are dating from now onwards?" mysha asked pulling away from the hug.

"yes. colleagues don't wildly make out with each other" he kissed her forehead and pulled her head back in his arms.

she opened the door. she took the train. she read the book. it was their happy ending.