The apartment was silent, just the way Kieran liked it. No echoes, no footsteps, no laughter lingering in the walls—just the soft hum of the ceiling fan and the distant murmur of the city outside.
His laptop screen glowed in the dark, half-filled reports staring back at him. He shifted his glasses up and toyed with his hair a little, just like before—work was easy. It didn't ask any questions or try to hold any conversation. It didn't remind him of things he didn't want to remember. He typed another line, the click of the keyboard breaking the silence, but even that felt too loud. It was too loud.
The sunlight shifted. A golden beam cut through the blinds, spilling across the desk, and for a second, it felt familiar. Warmth, laughter, a voice he hadn't heard in—
Kieran shut his laptop. He didn't have time for ghosts. Not anymore.
Kieran, a 22-year-old man, standing at 6'3" with a muscular body and slim waist and an unfriendly look. An abandoned child with nothing but his study and his cat, he eventually worked hard enough to start a business and now owns a company. Unlike others, he is actively involved in the movement of the company. It's practically all he has.
It's Monday and he's alive again. For him, it's just a regular day. Going to bed late and waking up early was a norm for Kieran. He had no other activities but work. He's up by 4 a.m. as always and he's preparing to leave.
The past weeks were very heavy on him. It was the holidays and he had nowhere to go. He had no friends or family. No social life or whatsoever. He decided to change that. It was time he opened up to at least one person.
On his drive to work, he listens to soft music to relax his mind. He sometimes remembers the suffering from his childhood, so he decides to enjoy life a little. He had suffered enough.
He gets to the office and his secretary—a tall, slender woman—welcomes him. "Good morning, boss," she says, and for the first time in years, he replies—in a soft, low-toned voice, "Thank you, Ness." She's left in shock, as he never talks. Not to anyone but himself.
Today's very different. He was brighter than before. Kieran proceeded to call a meeting. He needs a personal assistant, and everyone felt the same; an opening was created. The activities continued at the office and so did everyone's curiosity—what happened to Kieran?
It's a week later and Kieran is still different. Most employees have gotten used to the happier version of him—saying funny things to make him laugh. Not a great change in behavior, but it was quite noticeable.
The job opening was closed, and interviews were slated for Wednesday. He was looking forward to hiring a personal assistant. That would be his first friend.
To no one's surprise, most applicants were women. He was unimpressed. Of course, most applicants were women. Not surprising. But Kieran wasn't looking for admiration—he needed something else. Something... different. He called them "boring," and he said they all thought alike.
There were five applicants left, then a young man walked in. Caelum Hills, a tall, handsome, bright-looking man with golden brown hair like the evening sun and grey eyes like the evening clouds. Kieran was surprised a man had applied. He smiled and thought, "This is different." They proceeded with the interview.
Caelum was quite funny. He made jokes at the slightest chances and put a smile on a face that hadn't smiled in years. Kieran thought—he is the one. He didn't hesitate to tell Caelum he was hired and was expected to resume the next day. They were both excited. It was the start of something very beautiful.
Kieran couldn't sleep. He felt like a child about to resume to a new grade or a child a few hours to his birthday. He hadn't felt such happiness and joy in years. "My very first friend," he thought. On the other hand, Caelum slept like a baby, gathering enough energy for his first day at work. They were both excited.
It's a cold morning and Kieran is getting ready to leave for work. It's starting to snow, so he turns to walk back in his apartment to get a jacket. He hears a soothing voice say, "It's fine, sir, I got an extra jacket for you." To his surprise, it's Caelum standing in a suit, looking dashing. His hair is freshly cut and he looks magnificent. He's out in the snow with two umbrellas waiting for his boss. Kieran had a lot of questions but didn't ask any. Today, Kieran doesn't drive to work; Caelum does.
They arrive at work shortly after and Caelum goes straight to his office, trying to figure out his duties, but Kieran is uneasy in his office. So he calls Caelum over. He's dying to ask Caelum questions. He's excited as always, and he rushes over to Kieran's office.
He's in the office now, but Kieran just stares at him, making him a bit uncomfortable. Caelum breaks the silence by asking what he was called for. "You didn't call me here just to admire me now, did you?" he said. Kieran replied, "What if I did? Is there a problem with me admiring my assistant?" Caelum was shocked. They both sat there, staring deeply into each other's eyes.
Caelum looked at his boss—a young man with a well-defined face, black silky hair, beautiful blue eyes, and a little scar on his cheek. He asks, "What scarred your face?" and Kieran looked genuinely flustered—no one ever notices the scar. He smiled and brushed off the topic. It was too early to open up.
Months had passed and work was fun for Kieran. He looked forward to it now. While he leaves for work, he texts Caelum to get some things ready for him, and Caelum always did. He is getting paid to do so. Work wasn't the same anymore. "Time flies when you're having fun," they say, and the day ended quickly. But Kieran is still shocked about him noticing the scar. It had been months, but he couldn't seem to forget. It was a memory he didn't want to remember. He wasn't ready to remember.
Caelum drove him home. The car was awkwardly quiet. The silence had to be broken. Kieran spoke, "Let's get a drink," and who was Caelum to refuse? Kieran is the boss anyway.
They headed to the bar. Kieran stuffed his face with booze. It was obvious something was wrong. Caelum was worried. He tried bringing it up, but Kieran wasn't paying attention. Tipsy and talkative, Kieran spoke, "My scar was caused by my grandparents. I wasn't loved as a child." He opened up to Caelum, and he felt pity for him. He looked like someone he had tried to lock up for years—a helpless child. His hair was scattered, his well-defined chest exposed. He was drunk. He had to be taken home.
Caelum drove him home. This was too much information. How would someone as beautiful and hardworking as him be unloved? How would someone as successful as him have no one around him? It was too much to comprehend. He felt pity for the boss who was always uptight, like everything was always fine. Caelum made it a personal duty to always make his boss happy. It was the only thing he could do..