To Your End

June 11, 2022

The office had always been a sea of noise—keyboards clicking, phones ringing, colleagues murmuring—but since the eight of us had grown close, the noise felt different. It was like we had created our own world, a bond so unbreakable that the rest of the office couldn't help but notice. Weekends became synonymous with hangouts, group calls echoed with laughter, and lunch breaks were no longer just a time to eat—they were a sanctuary.

Yet, even in the best of times, life had a way of pulling the rug from beneath your feet.

I was lost in a spreadsheet at my desk when my phone buzzed.

Dean: Meet in the garden.

I frowned. What was so urgent it couldn't wait until lunch?

Me: Not possible. Meeting at lunch.

Dean: Can't.

Me: Tell me here.

Dean: Not a great option.

Me: Coming.

Dean: Thanks.

Letting out a sigh, I put my phone down and pushed my chair back. As I stood, Maria's voice called out from across the room.

"Where are you off to?" she asked, eyeing me curiously.

"Washroom," I lied smoothly, grabbing my phone and walking away before she could probe further.

I couldn't tell her where I was really going—not when the entire office had already started shipping me and Dean. It wasn't like I hated the idea, but the teasing was relentless.

The garden was empty when I stepped through the glass doors, the midday sun casting soft shadows across the neatly trimmed hedges and flowerbeds. Dean stood near the fountain, hands in his pockets, looking unusually pensive.

"Hey," I called out, walking toward him. "What was so urgent?"

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "I need to tell you something."

His tone made my heart flutter. Was this finally it? The moment I'd been waiting for?

"Yes?" I urged, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I've been keeping this in for a while, and... I can't anymore," he said, taking a step closer.

This was it. The confession I'd dreamed about for years. My pulse quickened as I met his gaze, the world around us fading away.

"Go on," I said softly, willing him to just say it.

Dean hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "So, we've been hanging out a lot these past few days, right?"

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest.

"And during all that time," he continued, his voice dropping, "I've come to realize something. It's new for me, and I wasn't sure how to say it..."

I leaned in slightly, holding my breath.

"I think I've fallen for Ava."

Time seemed to freeze.

"What?" I asked, blinking in disbelief.

"Yeah," Dean said, his face lighting up. "I like Ava. Her laugh, the way she talks, the way she—"