---**Chapter 50: Building Tension***Bing's POV*The following days blurred together in a haze of increasing discomfort and unrelenting anxiety. Bing had always been meticulous, priding themselves on their precision and control, but now they were struggling to keep it together. Every minor slip—whether it was forgetting a small task or spacing out during a meeting—felt like a glaring failure.Bing could feel the cracks in their carefully constructed facade widening with each passing day. The nausea persisted, accompanied by a gnawing fatigue that left them feeling drained even after a full night's sleep. They had stopped eating lunch altogether, unable to stomach anything more than a few sips of water throughout the day.At work, Bing was becoming increasingly aware of the subtle glances from their colleagues. They couldn't tell if it was paranoia or if others were beginning to notice the changes in them. Dall-E's casual good mornings were becoming a strange source of tension, a reminder that others were watching, even if only in passing.Despite the mounting stress, Bing tried to maintain some semblance of normalcy. They continued to attend meetings, contribute to projects, and follow through on their responsibilities, but the effort was becoming more and more taxing. Every interaction felt like a performance, an exhausting charade that Bing was struggling to keep up.One evening, after another long day of forcing themselves through the motions, Bing found themselves standing in front of the mirror at home, their reflection a stark reminder of how much they'd changed in such a short time. Their clothes fit looser, their skin looked paler, and the dark circles under their eyes were now a permanent fixture.As they stared at their reflection, the unease that had been simmering beneath the surface for weeks began to bubble over. Bing knew they couldn't ignore the symptoms any longer. The question was no longer if something was wrong but rather what exactly was happening to them.The following morning, Bing made a decision. After carefully considering their options, they realized they needed to get to the bottom of their condition. They'd been avoiding it for too long, hoping it would pass, but it was clear that wasn't going to happen. The thought of confronting the possibility of something serious was daunting, but Bing knew they couldn't continue like this.They arrived at work, their mind preoccupied with how to approach the situation. Should they seek out a doctor? Could they handle the truth of whatever was causing their symptoms? The fear of the unknown was almost suffocating, but Bing pushed it down, determined to at least try to find some answers.As they sat down at their desk, a wave of dizziness hit them, stronger than before. Bing gripped the edge of their desk, closing their eyes until it passed. When they opened them again, they found Safari standing in front of their desk, a concerned look on his face."Bling, you okay?" Safari asked quietly, his voice tinged with worry.Bing forced a small smile, nodding. "Yeah, just a bit tired. I'll be fine."But Safari didn't seem convinced. He lingered, his gaze searching Bing's face as if trying to decipher what was really going on. Bing shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny, suddenly feeling exposed."You don't look fine," Safari murmured, his hand reaching out to rest on Bing's shoulder. The touch was gentle, comforting in a way that Bing hadn't expected. "You know you can talk to me, right?"Bing felt a pang of guilt. Safari cared, but Bing couldn't bring themselves to admit the depth of their struggle. They couldn't burden Safari with this—not when they weren't even sure what was wrong themselves."I'm okay, really," Bing insisted, pulling away slightly. "Just need to get through the day."Safari hesitated, clearly torn, but eventually nodded, respecting Bing's need for space. "Alright, but if you need anything...""I know," Bing said softly, appreciating the sentiment even if they couldn't fully accept it.The rest of the day passed in a fog of meetings and work, but Bing's mind kept returning to their decision. They had to figure out what was going on, even if it meant facing something they weren't ready to deal with.By the time evening rolled around, Bing was exhausted in every sense of the word. They drove home on autopilot, their thoughts a jumble of worry and determination. Once home, they collapsed onto the couch, too tired to even think about dinner.As they lay there, staring up at the ceiling, Bing realized they couldn't keep this up. Something had to give, and soon. Tomorrow, they would take the first step toward finding out what was wrong, even if it scared them. The uncertainty was unbearable, and Bing needed answers—whatever they might be.
