Next Day.
The office hummed with its usual energy—keyboards clicking, phones ringing, and muffled conversations echoing from glass-walled meeting rooms. Rebecca’s heels clacked softly on the polished floor as she walked toward the marketing wing, her thoughts scattered. She’d spent the morning reviewing campaign proposals, but her focus wavered since Irin’s words from the grocery store had taken root in her mind.
*"My friend said he’s been showing up wherever she goes. You never know what people are capable of, Rebecca. Stay alert."*
She rounded the corner and froze. Her eyes widened, heart hammering against her ribs.
Standing a few feet away was *him*.
The man from the grocery store.
Her breath hitched, and she clutched the file in her hand as if it could shield her. *What is he doing here?* The question rattled in her head. For a moment, she thought she must be imagining things. Maybe it wasn’t him—maybe it was someone who only *looked* like him. But then their eyes met, and her stomach twisted. It was unmistakably him.
Rebecca’s mind raced. *Did he follow me here? Is he really stalking me?* Irin’s casual warning replayed in her head. Her pulse quickened, and the file slipped from her trembling hands, scattering papers across the floor.
The man—Freen—looked startled as the papers fluttered to his feet. Without hesitation, he crouched down to help.
"Here, let me get that," he said in a steady, calm voice, scooping up the pages.
Rebecca’s panic only grew. She took a step back, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.
"No, it’s fine," she blurted, her voice shaky, but Freen was already gathering the papers.
As he stood and handed her the stack, Rebecca avoided his gaze, clutching the papers so tightly her knuckles turned white. "Thank you," she mumbled under her breath, barely audible. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away briskly, her head down.
Freen watched her go, puzzled. He’d only been trying to help, but her reaction was… odd. She hadn’t even looked at him properly.
"Well, that was rude," he muttered, brushing off his hands before heading to the HR office.
---
At her desk, Rebecca’s hands trembled as she placed the file down. Her coworker, Riya, noticed her unusually pale face and raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, Rebecca, you okay?" Riya asked, spinning her chair toward her.
Rebecca hesitated, still shaken. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just… a little tired," she lied, forcing a weak smile.
"You sure?" Riya pressed. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost."
Before Rebecca could respond, Yay walked up, holding a coffee cup. "What’s going on?" she asked, setting the cup down on Rebecca’s desk.
"Nothing," Rebecca said quickly, hoping to deflect the conversation. "I’m just—"
"She’s lying," Riya interrupted, smirking. "She looks like someone scared the life out of her."
Rebecca sighed, realizing they weren’t going to let it go. "It’s nothing. I just… saw someone who looked familiar, that’s all."
"Familiar how?" Yay asked, narrowing her eyes.
Rebecca hesitated, debating whether to tell them about the man from the grocery store. "It’s probably nothing," she said finally. "Just my mind playing tricks on me."
Riya exchanged a glance with Yay, clearly unconvinced. "Well, if it’s bothering you, talk to someone. You’ve been on edge all week."
---
Meanwhile, Freen had just finished his meeting with HR. As he made his way to his new workspace, Heng called him.
"How’s it going, Freen? Did you settle in yet?" Heng asked.
"Just got out of HR," Freen replied, his tone clipped. "But I already had a weird run-in with someone."
Heng chuckled. "Weird? It’s your first day, man. What happened?"
"Some woman dropped her papers, and I helped her, but she acted like I was some kind of criminal."
Heng laughed. "Office drama already? Sounds like you’re making an impression."
"Not the kind I wanted," Freen muttered. "She didn’t even say thank you properly."
"Relax, Freen," Heng said. "It’s probably nothing. Focus on settling in. You’re in a new city, new job—don’t let one interaction ruin your mood."
"Yeah, maybe," Freen said, though her reaction lingered in his mind.
---
Later that day, Rebecca avoided the corridors where she might run into Freen. But her anxiety remained. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
On the other side of the office, Freen tried to focus on his onboarding process, but he couldn’t forget the encounter. To him, she was just a rude coworker. To Rebecca, he was a potential threat.
Neither of them realized that this misunderstanding would only be the first of many.
---
Rebecca sat at her desk, staring blankly at her computer screen. Her eyes were wide with anxiety, and her brow was furrowed in concern. Nam, her coworker and friend, walked into the room and noticed Rebecca's distressed expression.
"Hey, Rebecca, what's wrong?" Nam asked, concern etched on her face. "You look like you've lost your last marble."
Rebecca took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. "I'm just having a weird day, that's all," she replied, trying to brush off her anxiety.
Nam wasn't convinced. "No, really, what's going on?" she pressed, sitting down beside Rebecca. "You're not yourself today."
Rebecca sighed and rubbed her temples. "I don't know, Nam. I just feel really overwhelmed, I guess."
Nam nodded sympathetically. "Well, maybe I can take your mind off things. I'm planning a small party for Heng's birthday, and I was thinking you could come."
Rebecca's eyes widened in surprise. "A party? I don't know, Nam. I'm not really in the mood for socializing."
Nam laughed. "Come on, it'll be fun! And you have to meet Freen, Heng's best friend. He's amazing – smart, funny, and Handsome!"
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Nam, slow down. I'm not interested in meeting anyone right now."
Nam ignored Rebecca's hesitation. "Trust me, Rebecca, you two would hit it off. Freen is perfect for you – you're both into the same things, and he's really charming."
Rebecca reminded Nam, "Nam, I think you're forgetting that I'm not looking for anyone right now. And besides, you're already taken – you have Heng!"
Nam giggled. "I know, I know! But that's exactly why I want to set you up with Freen. Heng and I are happy, and I want you to be happy too!"
Rebecca shook her head firmly. "Nam, I appreciate the thought, but I'm really not interested. I'm just not ready for relationships or dating right now."
Nam's expression turned sympathetic. "Okay, Rebecca, I get it. You've been through a lot lately, and I respect your boundaries. But I still think you should come to the party – just as a friend, no pressure. It might be good for you to get out and socialize a bit."
Rebecca hesitated, unsure if she was ready to face a big group of people. "I don't know, Nam...I'm just really not feeling up to it."
Nam nodded understandingly. "No worries, Rebecca. I'll leave you alone for now. The party is still on,But if you change your mind, you know you're always welcome to come – no strings attached, I promise!"
Rebecca smiled, feeling grateful for Nam's understanding. "Thanks, Nam. Just knowing your care means a lot to me. You're a great friend. "
Nam smiled back, hugging Rebecca. "Anytime, Rebecca. That's what friends are for! "
Nam smiled back. "Rebecca, By the way, I have some news that Freen - is actually joining our company on Monday."
Rebecca replied casually, "Oh, okay. That's cool, I guess."
Nam nodded. "Yeah, I'm excited to have him on board. I think he'll be a great addition to our team."
Rebecca smiled politely. "That's great. I'm sure I'll meet him around the office sometime."
Nam stood up, smiling. "Yeah, definitely. Well, I'll let you get back to work. But don't forget about the party this weekend!"