The Email [Yandere Boss x Reader]

Chapter 43 - Strange Feeling

(Y/N's POV)

The sun was shining, the streets were busy with the usual weekend bustle, and yet I couldn't shake the odd feeling that had settled over me like a heavy blanket. It wasn't just exhaustion; it was a deep, gnawing sense of being off somehow. 

The air felt too thick, my limbs a little too heavy, as if the world around me had slowed down but I hadn't gotten the memo.

I kept trying to brush it off as I strolled through the shopping district with Sarah and Jake, but every step seemed more tedious than the last.

"You good?" Sarah asked, looking up from a rack of clothes, her brow furrowed in concern. "You've been quiet since we got here."

"I'm fine," I muttered, forcing a smile I didn't really feel. "Just tired, I guess."

Jake, who was rifling through some shirts nearby, chimed in,

"That's what happens when you spend your Friday night working. You've gotta live a little, Y/N."

I let out a half-hearted laugh, the sound hollow even to my own ears. 

"Yeah, I'll try to remember that."

But the truth was, I couldn't focus on anything other than the strange sensation crawling through my veins. I'd been tired before, sure, but this felt different.

I tried to push past it, tried to lose myself in the distraction of shopping with my friends, but every laugh felt forced, every interaction stretched thin by the weight on my chest.

Sarah shot me a sideways glance as we walked out of one store and toward another. 

"You sure everything's okay? You seem... I don't know, off."

I sighed, rubbing my temples in frustration. "I don't know. Maybe it's just anxiety. It's been a weird few days."

Jake smirked, nudging me with his elbow. "Weird like you and Hayes getting all cozy?"

I could feel the blush creeping up my neck. 

"What? No. It's not that. I'm just... tired. Probably overthinking things."

"Uh-huh," Sarah said, her tone teasing but gentle. "Well, whatever it is, you've been acting kinda strange lately. Like, I don't know, more out of it. Are you sure nothing's going on with Hayes? You can tell us."

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog.

 "No, it's nothing. I think I've just been stressed. Maybe I haven't been sleeping well."

Jake gave me a knowing look. "Or maybe it's all that time you've been spending at work. You've gotta make time for yourself, you know? Not just for him."

Their words made sense, but it didn't ease the unsettling feeling coursing through me. Something about the way I felt—drained, hazy—wasn't right. But I wasn't ready to admit that, even to myself.

The last thing I wanted was for my friends to worry, especially when I wasn't even sure what was going on.

"Yeah, maybe," I said, brushing it off as we stepped into the next store. "I'll figure it out."

But even as we wandered through the aisles, I felt myself slipping further away from the moment. 

The conversations around me seemed muffled, like I was hearing them from underwater. The vibrant colors of clothes and shoes blurred into indistinct shapes, and I couldn't find the energy to care about any of it.

After what felt like hours, I finally excused myself.

"I think I'm gonna head home," I said, forcing a smile. "I'm not feeling great."

Sarah frowned but nodded. "Okay, take care of yourself, alright? Call us if you need anything."

"Yeah," Jake added. "And, uh, maybe lay off the late-night work sessions. You're burning out, Y/N."

I gave them both a quick wave before heading out. The walk home felt endless, my legs heavy with every step. I thought about their words, about how weird they thought I was acting.

Maybe they were right.

Maybe I was pushing myself too hard.

When I finally got back, the first thing I noticed was the faint smell of something comforting.

Tea?

No, something stronger.

On the counter, I spotted a thermos with a small note tucked underneath it. Hayes had left it for me. I picked up the note, smiling softly as I read his familiar handwriting:

"For when you're feeling down. Thought you could use a little pick-me-up. —H"

I unscrewed the cap and sniffed the contents—herbal tea, warm with hints of spices. The smell alone felt soothing, and without thinking much of it, I poured a small cup and took a sip.

Almost instantly, the tightness in my chest began to ease. The fog that had weighed me down all morning started to lift, like a window cracked open to let in fresh air. I could feel my muscles relax, my mind clearing just enough to think straight again.

It was subtle, but noticeable.

I let out a long breath, sinking into the couch, feeling the warmth from the tea spread through me. Whatever strange feeling I'd had earlier was melting away, leaving me with a sense of peace I hadn't realized I was craving.

Maybe it really was just anxiety, after all.

As I took another sip, I couldn't help but think of Hayes. He always seemed to know exactly what I needed, even before I did. The tea was perfect—calming but invigorating, lifting the heaviness that had been dragging me down all day.

I smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude for him. He was always looking out for me. Always there, even when I didn't ask for help.

But then...

why had I been feeling so strange lately?

I frowned, staring into the cup. Maybe I was just overworked. Or maybe it was just stress, like I told Sarah and Jake. It wasn't like I was used to this level of closeness with anyone. Hayes... he had a way of getting under my skin, making me feel things I wasn't used to feeling.

Was this normal?

I took another sip, trying to shake off the creeping doubt. Hayes cared about me. He was always there for me. And maybe that was why I was feeling so off—because I wasn't used to letting someone in like this.

It was probably just anxiety, like I'd said.

The tea was good. It was helping.

I settled back into the couch, letting the warmth of the drink and the quiet of my apartment lull me into a peaceful calm.

Whatever was going on, I could figure it out later. Right now, I just wanted to feel better.