Chasing the Storm

the outcome of an action

As the final days of Beam's internship approached, a sense of unease settled over her that she couldn't quite shake. For the past few months, she had been working closely with Payu, and in that time, she had come to see a side of him she never expected. The confident, sometimes intimidating man who had once acted so coldly toward her had transformed into someone caring, considerate, and surprisingly patient.

But now, with the internship coming to an end, Beam found herself questioning everything she thought she knew about him. The thought of not seeing him every day brought a pang of something she couldn't quite define.

She sat at her desk, pretending to focus on the last of her tasks, but her mind was elsewhere. Payu had been out for a meeting, and the office felt oddly empty without his presence. She wondered how different things would feel once she was no longer shadowing him, no longer sharing quiet lunches or exchanging knowing glances over the drafting table.

Could she trust this new version of Payu? Was this the real him? Or was it all an act - a professional façade that would disappear once her internship ended, and she was no longer his responsibility?

Across town, Payu was having similar thoughts. His meeting had gone smoothly, but his mind kept drifting back to Beam. The end of her internship was looming, and the thought of not having her around unsettled him more than he cared to admit. Over the past few months, he had grown used to her presence, to the way she brightened the office with her quiet determination and the occasional shy smile.

He wondered if he had managed to change her opinion of him. When they first met, he knew he hadn't made the best impression - his arrogance and brusque demeanour had probably alienated her. But had he made amends? Did she see him differently now? Did she trust him, maybe even like him?

That last thought lingered in his mind, making his heart beat a little faster. It wasn't just that he wanted her to trust him as a mentor. No, it was more than that. He realized he wanted her to see him as someone she could rely on, someone she could maybe, just maybe, see as more than just her boss.

But how could he know what she was thinking? Beam was hard to read, her emotions often masked by a calm exterior. And even now, after everything, Payu wasn't sure if she liked him or if she was simply being polite.

The morning sun filtered through the car windows as Payu and Beam drove towards the site for one of their projects. It was her last day, and it was shaping up to be a busy one, but Beam didn't mind. These site visits had become one of her favourite parts of the job, offering her a chance to see the designs she had worked on come to life.

They were halfway there when Payu suddenly slowed the car, his expression shifting to one of realisation. He muttered under his breath, glancing at the clock on the dashboard.

Beam looked over at him, concerned.

"Is everything okay, P'Payu?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I left an important file at home. I can't believe I forgot it. We'll need it for the meeting with the site manager. I'll drop you off at the site first and then I'll go back to get it."

Beam considered his words and then shook her head.

"That's silly, P'Payu. Why don't we just stop by your house on the way? It won't take long, and I really don't mind."

Payu glanced at her, a bit surprised by her suggestion.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

She offered him a reassuring smile.

"I'm sure."

He hesitated for a moment, wanting to be absolutely certain she was okay with it, then finally nodded.