Chapter 5: Unspoken contract
Mira sat in the front seat of Zack’s car, dressed in a dark green suit. She glanced out the window as the rain pattered softly against the glass, offering her a momentary distraction from the growing tension in her mind. "Thanks for the ride, Zack," she said, flashing him a warm smile, trying to shake off her unease.
Zack grinned, his hands still on the steering wheel. "No worries. That’s what apartment neighbors are for, right?"
Mira nodded, appreciating his laid-back attitude. The drive was quiet, with only the sound of raindrops hitting the windshield filling the silence. Eventually, Zack pulled into a small café along the way to grab some coffee. He handed a cup to Mira with a friendly smile.
"Here you go, something to keep you going," Zack said, passing her the cup.
"Thanks," Mira replied, taking a slow sip. The warmth of the coffee helped ease some of the nervousness that had been bubbling inside her since the morning.
As they continued driving,the rain had already died down, the atmosphere between them shifted. The once friendly silence began to feel a bit heavy, awkward even. Mira glanced at Zack out of the corner of her eye, wondering if he could sense it too.
When they finally pulled up in front of the company building, Zack parked the car and both stepped out. Mira immediately noticed the stares from her co-workers. Whispers floated through the air, and she felt eyes lingering on her longer than usual.
Zack chuckled under his breath, leaning close to Mira. "Looks like they think we’re dating," he said in a low voice, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
Mira’s eyes widened in surprise. She glanced at their matching dark green suits and the fact that they had arrived together. It didn’t take long for her to understand the misunderstanding. She bit her lip, unsure how to react. "Let them think what they want," she muttered, shaking her head.
Zack just laughed, patting her on the back before heading into the building.
Once at her desk, Mira tried to focus on her work. She pulled out a chocolate bar from her bag, the one she had bought last night on her way home. Slowly unwrapping it, she took a small bite, letting the sweet taste linger on her tongue as she turned her attention to the tasks in front of her.