Shadows in His Silence
From Rimi's Perspective
The city lights blurred past my window like tired stars collapsing into the darkness... I sat quietly in the backseat of the car,, arms folded tightly around my chest,, trying to keep my heart from falling apart again... My eyes were on the reflection in the glass,, but my thoughts were miles away… tangled in the web Adrian had slowly,, unknowingly spun around me.
He was sweet... I won't deny that... From the way he smiled at me when no one was looking,, to the subtle way he brushed his fingers against mine when handing me a file. The way he made sure my coffee was just the right temperature,, how he noticed when I was cold,, distracted,, or hurting—yes, Adrian had a way of making me feel… noticed...
But then,, he called me Miss Rimi... In front of Mr. Kwon.
The formal tone stung more than I thought it would. It was cold,, distant—as if all the warmth we had shared moments before hadn't existed. I had looked at him,, hoping to catch a glint of that soft gaze he reserved just for me... But it wasn't there... It was gone. Wiped clean,, like the mask he wore in public.
And then the balcony...
The air had been soft and slightly scented with night jasmine... The city below buzzed with life while we stood still in silence. That's when he said it...
"I missed you..."
Just like that. Soft,, Unassuming. Dangerous.
I hadn't said a word... My lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. I didn't know how to respond. Part of me screamed to ask,, What do you mean by that?? Another part of me wanted to fall into his arms and confess how much I missed him too—even when I didn't understand who he truly was...
But I stayed silent,. Frozen in a moment that haunted me now.
And then… that speech...
He stood at the front, the confident CEO,, commanding attention with every syllable. Everyone applauded,, impressed by his eloquence,, his poise. But I knew... I knew those words weren't general. They were meant for someone. Me...
He didn't say my name,, but he didn't need to. The way his eyes flicked toward the corner where I stood,, the pause in his voice, the ache that lingered behind his carefully measured words… it was all there...
And yet, the moment he walked toward me afterward—his gaze locked on mine with such intensity—I felt something shift...
But then… he saw Oliver..
Just standing beside me,, chatting casually, probably asking something harmless... And suddenly,, Adrian's warmth vanished. Like someone had flipped a switch,, turning him into a stranger again. Cold... Calculating. Distant.
Why??
I pressed my hand against my chest,, as if that would still the confusion unraveling inside me...
I glanced sideways at Luna,, who sat beside me, her head resting lightly against the window,, her face half-lit by the passing streetlights... She looked lost in her thoughts, perhaps contemplating the same chaos I was caught in...
"Luna…" I said softly,, my voice barely louder than a whisper.
She turned to me slowly,, blinking herself back into the present. "Hmm??"
"Adrian… he's not Kai..."
Her brows furrowed. "Why are you saying that now??"
"Because…" I paused,, inhaling deeply. "Because he didn't respond when I called him Kai... Not once... Not even a flicker in his expression. Nothing. Just… silence."
Luna tilted her head,, as if weighing my words carefully. "You're saying that just because he didn't respond?? That's unlike you,, Rimi."
I sighed,, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "It's not just that. It's a feeling... I don't know how to explain it… but I feel like… he's Adrian. Not Kai..."
"Maybe," she murmured,, then paused. "I don't know… I just don't understand why you're giving up so easily."
I looked at her sharply... "Who said I'm giving up??"
Her expression softened,, almost teasing. "So… you're not??"
I smirked slightly. "Not so soon... Not until I know who he really is. Not until I understand why he's trying so hard to hide it."
Luna's eyes sparkled. "Good... Because I've already decided—I'm going to find out everything about him. About Adrian... And Kai."
I smiled. "Thank you..."
"I mean it. I won't let this go until we have answers." She pulled out her phone,, eyes lighting up as she scrolled through something. "Speaking of which… you have to see this..."
She turned her screen toward me.
The headline glared back at me in bold,, dramatic font:
"Who is the Mystery Woman Behind the CEO's Cryptic Gratitude??"
I stared at it. Then blinked. Then blinked again...
"Mystery woman??" I repeated flatly.
Luna stifled a laugh. "Apparently,, you've become part of a very dramatic marketing campaign..."
"'Cryptic gratitude??'" I mimicked with a scoff. "Really?? Who writes this stuff??"
"Probably the same people who think moody gazes equal marriage proposals..."
I sighed and leaned back against the seat. "Nice marketing... Wonder how he treats this 'mystery woman' when the cameras aren't rolling. Saying he's busy… avoiding eye contact… acting like she's invisible..."
"Rimi," Luna said,, nudging my shoulder gently. "Breathe... You're spiraling again."
"I'm okay,," I mumbled.
But I wasn't. Not really...
I hugged my arms around my waist and stared back out the window,, the ache inside me growing heavier. I didn't understand Adrian. I didn't understand myself... I was constantly swaying between anger and longing, between confusion and hope... And all because of a man who felt too close to someone I had lost… and yet,, too far to be him.
I didn't realize we had arrived until the car stopped in front of my penthouse...
Luna stepped out first,, and I followed slowly behind,, the cool night air brushing against my cheeks like a whisper. As we stepped inside,, Bella rushed toward me,, her tiny paws tapping against the marble floor...
"Oh,, Bella…" I bent down and scooped her up in my arms,, burying my face in her soft fur. Her little purrs hummed gently against my chest,, grounding me in the simplest comfort I had right now—unconditional love...
Luna watched with a soft smile. "She missed you..."
"I missed her more,," I whispered.
For a moment,, neither of us said anything. The silence wrapped around us like a blanket...
Then Luna spoke. "Rimi… do you want him to be Kai??"
Her question caught me off guard.
I looked down at Bella,, stroking her back gently. "I don't know what I want anymore..."
Luna walked to the window,, gazing out into the dark skyline. "Maybe the truth isn't whether he is Kai… but whether you need him to be..."
Her words sank into me like ink on paper.
Did I need Adrian to be Kai??
Or was it the familiarity,, the feelings he stirred,, that made me want him to be??
I looked at the picture on my bookshelf—Kai and I,, smiling under the summer sun. His eyes so full of life,, his hand holding mine with the ease of someone who never imagined letting go...
Then I thought of Adrian...
Of his silence... Of his shadows.
Of the way he looked at me when no one else could see.
The way he pulled back the moment he saw Oliver beside me...
There was something there. Something hidden. And whether it was pain,, jealousy,, or something else—I had to find out...
I stood up,, Bella still nestled in my arms. "Luna,, if we do this…"
She turned to me,, nodding.
"We go all in,," I said.
A spark lit in her eyes. "Then let's start tonight..."
I smiled.
Adrian might not be Kai...
But he was hiding something...
And I was done pretending not to notice...
To be continued…