The Great Escape

X X X

Lai's POV.

At exactly 10:00 pm we finished all my paperwork. There are only a few workers left and everyone's bound to go home.

I wore my coat and took my bag as Si Cheng remained sitting, stretching his arms. "that's probably the most work I've done my entire life" he remarked.

"you did like 3 folders only, get up" I said as I pushed him off the swivel. He stood up completely towering me.

"Still, if I didn't help you you'd be home by..." he pulled the sleeves of his coat a bit to catch a glimpse of his wristwatch. "midnight" he cooed. I rolled my eyes at him.

"yeah thanks for your help" I said half-assly. He chuckled, following me towards the elevator. We were silent but the silence is lighter than the other day. He must be tired.

"I'll drive you home" he said as soon as we got to the lobby. Oh no.

"no need I can go home by myself" I refused. He frowned.

"you have a car?"

"uh... I'll take a cab--"

"we'll take my car" he cut me off. Ugh. I can't let him know where I stay! and also I swear to God I'd feel suffocated inside his car. The awkwardness will kill me.

"no you look tired you should get some rest, my place is far" I insisted.

"I'm not tired----" He got cut off by another voice.

"she'll go with me" Jaehyun.

Si Cheng looked at me quizzically. I'm now in between these two tall ass men in suits.

"Actually I'll go home alo---"

"with me" Jaehyun's voice boomed with command, but he wasn't looking at me.

They're actually staring at each other. Si Cheng is grinning meanwhile, Jaehyun's expression remained neutral. Just where the fvck is this tension coming from?

I faked a cough to catch their attention. "c'mon" Jaehyun grabbed my wrist, gently pulling me away from Si Cheng but I stopped.

"Safe roads... Winwin" I said before turning my back on him. Though I turned around quickly, I didn't miss the change in his expression. It became softer.

"good night Layih" he said. I can't help but let out a small smile as I let Jaehyun drag me off the building.

His car is parked in front of the building. He opened the door for me and I got in the shotgun seat. He drove off immediately.

"thanks" I said glancing at him.

"for what?" he asked which got me thinking as well.

right... precisely what am I giving thanks for?

"uh... for opening the door for me?" I answered absentmindedly. He took a quick glance at me. "also for driving me home tonight--" and that's how things I need to thank him for started flooding my mind "--almost every night actually, for the breakfast the other day, uh... for bringing me to your place when I was hella drunk, for cleaning my wound..." I started enumerating. Even holding my fingers out to count.

for going to that party with me and for doing everything to find the warehouse...

"...Just felt I owed you so much." I mumbled.

"I would prefer something else over thank yous then" he replied. I noticed that we're at a stoplight.

eh? he leaned against the window beside him, his elbow welled as he gazed at me.