Guon - T1 Empire: Mischievous Games

Chapter 59

Gumayusi felt as if he was trapped in a bitter winter. The once radiant warmth that Oner provided had vanished, leaving the chilling frost of his coldness in its wake. Days at the office were no longer filled with shared laughter, the teasing banter that punctuated their interactions, or the comforting touches that they'd unknowingly grown accustomed to. Now, everything was businesslike and succinct.

Gumayusi would catch Oner from the corner of his eye, engrossed in work, always maintaining an impenetrable façade of professionalism. The brief lunches they once enjoyed, where Oner would cheekily feed Gumayusi or sneak a bite from his plate, had turned into solitary affairs. The light in Oner's eyes seemed to have dimmed.

And then there was the matter of Oner's newfound refuge at Zeus's house. The simple act of Oner evading his presence was a sharp dagger to Gumayusi's heart. On multiple occasions, Gumayusi would try to bridge the gap, only to be met with walls higher than ever.

The suffocating tension between them felt like a thick fog, refusing to dissipate. Tomorrow was the Gala, an event Gumayusi had been looking forward to, especially since he thought Oner would be by his side. With a deep sigh, he approached Oner's desk, "You remember the Gala is tomorrow, right?"

Oner glanced up, his face void of emotion, "I'm not attending."

This caught Gumayusi off guard. "What? Why not?"

Without waiting for a response, Gumayusi stepped forward, trapping Oner between his arms and the edge of the desk. Their faces inches apart, Gumayusi's deep gaze bore into Oner's, searching for any hint of the connection they once shared. Oner's breath caught in his throat, his heart racing at their proximity, memories of better days threatening to spill forth.

"I'm begging you, Oner. Please come to the Gala with me," Gumayusi's voice quivered with emotion.

But Oner, although visibly flustered, pushed Gumayusi gently. "This isn't professional, Gumayusi. You can't keep doing this."

Gumayusi's eyes brimmed with a mixture of hurt and frustration. "So, attending a Gala as my secretary is unprofessional now?"

Oner's face fell, guilt and sorrow evident in his gaze. "That's not what I meant."

Gumayusi's expression turned cold, his voice devoid of its earlier warmth. "Either way, you're attending. As my secretary."

The weight of their strained relationship bore heavily on both of them, casting a dark shadow on the impending Gala event.