Secret Admirer

37. Send off

Kayu walked through the dimly lit storeroom, his footsteps echoing softly against the concrete floor. It was oddly quiet, and though this space was usually cluttered with forgotten boxes and old office supplies, tonight, something felt different.

As he moved further inside, a sudden loud pop startled him. He froze, his heart racing, and spun around to find a group of his colleagues standing there with wide smiles and a huge cake. 

POP

A loud cheer erupted as they called out, "Surprise!"

Kayu's eyes widened as he took in the transformed space. 

The dusty, neglected storeroom was now unrecognizable. Colorful streamers hung from the ceiling, balloons bobbed against the walls, and a long table was covered with trays of snacks, drinks, and plates. 

The centerpiece was the cake, adorned with the words "Good Luck, Kayu!" written in neat, elegant icing.

For a moment, Kayu was speechless. He hadn't expected this—hadn't even thought about the fact that his last day was already here. It was strange how fast the notice period had flown by.

 A lump formed in his throat as he looked around at the smiling faces of his colleagues.

"Thank you," he managed, his voice cracking slightly. "This is... really thoughtful."

The weeks leading up to this moment had been a whirlwind. 

Kayu had rejoined work immediately after cutting short his leave, the day after Ciro had asked him to be his boyfriend. Coming back had seemed like the right decision—not just because it gave him a chance to spend more time with his boyfriend cum boss, Ciro but also because he genuinely loved his work.

What Kayu hadn't anticipated, however, were the apologies.

On his first day back, several colleagues had approached him, looking sheepish and uncomfortable. They stammered out heartfelt apologies for the rumors they had spread about him—rumors that had been whispered behind his back for weeks. 

Kayu had been blindsided, unsure how to respond until two of the company's intern secretaries spilled the truth: Ciro had found out about the gossip and had gone ballistic.

Apparently, his boss-turned-boyfriend had marched into the office one day, his usual calm and composed demeanor replaced by icy fury. He had threatened the perpetrators with strict disciplinary action and even mentioned potential legal consequences for defamation. The rumors stopped immediately.

Kayu couldn't help but feel a swell of pride when he heard the story. Ciro had defended him so fiercely, yet they had both agreed to keep their relationship under wraps. 

The last thing Kayu wanted was to stir up more drama in the workplace, and Ciro had respected his wishes.

Now, standing in the decorated storeroom, surrounded by the same colleagues who had once whispered about him, Kayu felt a mixture of emotions. 

Forgiveness was a choice he had already made, and seeing their efforts to celebrate his farewell filled him with gratitude.

One by one, his colleagues approached him with small gifts and handwritten notes.

 There were books, trinkets, even a potted plant. Each gift was accompanied by kind words—some heartfelt, some humorous. Kayu thanked them all sincerely, his heart growing heavier with every gesture.

Finally, it was Ciro's turn. He stepped forward with the same composed air he always carried, holding a small, neatly wrapped package. His expression was perfectly professional, his voice measured as he said, "Kayu, I hope this helps you in your next chapter. Wishing you the very best."

Kayu accepted the gift, their fingers brushing briefly. Despite the composed facade, Kayu could feel the warmth behind the gesture. He smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Khun Ciro. I will do my best."

The colleagues around them were none the wiser, laughing and joking as they urged Kayu to cut the cake.

Kayu stepped forward, the knife in his hand trembling slightly as everyone gathered around. He made the first cut, and cheers filled the room. Carefully, he sliced a small piece and turned to Ciro.

"Here," Kayu said, holding the fork out to him.

Ciro hesitated for only a moment before leaning forward and taking the bite. His lips curved into a faint smile as he chewed. "Delicious," he said simply.

Ciro then cut a piece for Kayu, holding it out with the same professional detachment. "All the best," he said, his voice steady but his eyes warm.

Kayu's cheeks heated as he accepted the bite, quickly turning away to avoid lingering too long. He moved on to share pieces with his closer colleagues, who chattered excitedly about how much they would miss him.

Soon, trays of steaming food were brought in—aromatic dishes that filled the room with the scents of spices, herbs, and freshly cooked meat. 

Kayu knew that Ciro had initially offered to pay for the party, but his colleagues had insisted otherwise.

"This is our way of apologizing and thanking you," one of them had explained earlier. "You have been such a good teammate, and we want to send you off properly."

Ciro had eventually relented, though not without some persuasion. Now, as everyone settled down to eat, the atmosphere grew even livelier. Laughter echoed through the room, accompanied by the clinking of glasses and the scraping of cutlery.

Kayu found himself at the center of attention, his colleagues sharing stories about their time together. Some of them became emotional after a few drinks, their voices cracking as they begged him not to leave.

"P' Kayu, you can't go! Who's going to fix all our mistakes now?" one of them wailed, throwing an arm around his shoulders.

"You are the glue that holds us together!" another added dramatically, raising their glass in a mock toast.

Kayu laughed, trying to reassure them. "I am not going far," he said. "We can still keep in touch."

Ciro, who had been watching the scene unfold from a corner, chuckled quietly. He sipped his drink, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he observed Kayu's growing embarrassment. It was clear that Kayu was loved—and that love extended beyond their secret relationship.

The party carried on late into the evening, the initial formality giving way to a more relaxed, carefree atmosphere. When it finally came to an end, Kayu stood at the door, saying goodbye to each of his colleagues as they left.

"Take care of yourself," one of them said, pulling him into a tight hug.

"Don't forget us!" another called out, waving as they disappeared down the hall.

Finally, it was just Kayu and Ciro. The storeroom was quiet again, the decorations now slightly deflated and the table scattered with empty plates and glasses.

Ciro stepped closer, his voice low as he said, "You handled that well."

Kayu smiled, leaning slightly against the doorframe. "It was easier than I thought it would be."

There was a moment of silence between them, the kind that felt warm and comfortable.

"Are you ready?" Ciro asked finally.

Kayu nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."

As they walked out together, side by side, Kayu felt a sense of closure. The night had been bittersweet, but he was leaving with no regrets—and with Ciro by his side, he knew the future was bright.