Meant to Collide

19. Fears and Flashes After Hours

The late hour blanketed the company in darkness. Sky finished his work, stretching as he stepped out of his cabin, only to see a glimmer of light still shining from his desk. "Didn't she turn it off before she left?" he murmured about Jules, turning it off immediately. The room plunged into deeper shadows, and Sky, sensing the stillness, couldn't shake the eerie feeling creeping over him. His eyes darted around, scanning every corner, bracing himself for any sudden movement. The quiet hum of eerie music began to intensify, amplifying the tension.

Just as Sky turned, he froze at the sight of a pale white face staring back at him. Clad in a pink dress, the figure yawned with eyes half-shut. Heart racing, Sky let out a loud shout, "Ahhh!"only to be met by an equally startled scream from the other side. In a panic, Sky hurled his coat at the figure and sprinted in the opposite direction, but the figure gave chase.

"Argh! What are you doing?" The 'ghost' shouted, catching up.

"Stay back! Nooo!" Sky wailed, still running, refusing to look back. Grabbing anything in reach, he launched his attack, shouting, "Do ghosts feel pain?"

"Owieee, I'm not a ghost!" the voice cried out in pain. Sky shielded himself with a file, still eyeing the 'creature' with suspicion, until he finally heard a familiar voice- Jules.

Taking a closer look, he let out a breath. "You're... Jules?" he muttered, still shaking. But he couldn't resist smacking her lightly again, exclaiming, "See! You look like a ghost!"

With an exaggerated sigh, Jules rubbed her eyes. "It's because I was rubbing my makeup off too much," she explained, wincing.

"See, serves you right," Sky scoffed, trying to act nonchalant. "You just popped up out of nowhere!"

"Oh, do you even have to ask? You smacked me hard!" Jules said, rubbing her temple. Sky held out an ice pack a bit too forcefully, his voice a mix of playful scolding and genuine concern. "Serves you right for showing up like that. And hold this I'm freezing."

"Ugh, you're so mean," Jules muttered, glaring at him.

Sky waved it off with a smirk. "Can't blame me; I'm terrified of ghosts." He added, trying to brush off his earlier reaction. Jules just shook her head. "I was just washing up and ruined my makeup, okay?"

"Maybe consider investing in some better cosmetics," Sky retorted teasingly. "Waterproof, maybe? Then you won't look like a ghost."

Jules rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Fine. Maybe I will, just so I don't give you a heart attack." Her voice softened, a hint of humor and lingering soreness.

He looked at her with a playful glint, asking, "Anyway, why are you still here?"

"Working on a new project for you," she replied, smiling proudly.

"Oh, so you wanted to show off?" Sky's gaze narrowed as he smirked, teasing her. "Worried I'll catch the office mole, huh?"

"Even if there is one, it's not me!" Jules defended, shaking her head. "Just trying to help Unity Soft gain followers, as you like it."

Sky gave her a slight nod, seeing her genuine commitment. "You know, being a fresher, you're pretty dedicated," he murmured, leaning in. "Next time, maybe we should work together one-on-one."

Jules's eyes widened with surprise and excitement. "Are you serious?!"

"Of course," he said, his tone shifting to a playful edge. "This way, if secrets leak, I'll know exactly who to blame."

Her excitement faded as he spoke, but she managed a grin. Just as she extended her hand for a handshake, he reached past her for the ice pack, leaving her momentarily embarrassed. "Feeling better?" he asked, finally meeting her gaze.

"Yeah," Jules replied, a soft smile creeping onto her face.

"Going anywhere after this?" she asked, her voice light with curiosity.

Sky looked taken aback. "Are you asking me to go somewhere with you? Because I'm not."

A quiet laugh escaped Jules as they exited the building together, making their way to the nearby park. Under the night sky, she asked, "Feeling better now?"

Sky hesitated but nodded, glancing at her. "I do, actually. I feel relaxed... when you're near." The words slipped out before he could catch them. He turned to face her, watching her reaction.

Instead of the embarrassment he expected, Jules chuckled, "This spot looks perfect. Let's take a few photos."

"No way," Sky grumbled, but before he could resist, she began snapping shots. A resigned smile played on his lips as she begged him to pose, even pulling him into a quick selfie, which, to his surprise, he allowed.

After a while, Jules directed him to sit on a park bench adorned with soft lights, sneaking a few more candid shots of him. "Are you done yet?" he asked, interrupting her.

"Not quite. One more big smile!" she said, her excitement infectious. But as they sat side-by-side for one last shot, Sky paused, glancing at her face with sudden familiarity.

"Your face... It seems like we've met before," he murmured, puzzled. Jules stiffened, her mind racing, hoping he'd remember her.

"Ah, right!" he exclaimed suddenly. "You're the one from the watch boutique! Took the limited edition before I could!"

Jules's tense posture relaxed, and she shook her head, laughing. "Nope, not me. I don't have millions to spend on a watch!"

"Right, forgot you're not rich," he replied in his usual teasing tone. She stared back at him, smirking. "Who could be as rich as you?"

As he walked away, she felt a pang of disappointment. But a flicker of hope lingered perhaps, just perhaps, the universe was planning something different for her.