Monday morning. Sunlight streamed through the office blinds as Jill approached Sally’s desk with concern etched across her face.
“How’s your leg?” she asked, eyeing the small bandage visible beneath Sally’s pants.
“Don’t worry,” Sally replied with surprising calm. “It’s nothing serious—should be fine by next week.”
Her usual edge was gone.
Jill looked relieved, her shoulders relaxing. “Please let me know if you need anything, okay?”
Sally smiled—a rare sight—and thanked her. The tournament experience had softened something between them.
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Nearby, Ashley and Millie were chatting animatedly, their voices carrying across the office.
“If we’d known Dr. O’Neill was playing in the tournament, we totally would’ve been there!” Millie sighed dramatically, twirling a strand of hair.
Alex, overhearing this, frowned.
“Wait, I had no idea—I was just dragged in by Miguel. I was basically tricked into it.” He shot Miguel a look of disbelief.
Miguel grinned, leaning back in his chair. “We won, didn’t we? All thanks to the girls’ spirit. I’m proud.” He crossed his arms smugly.
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Just then, Millie caught a glimpse of the wallpaper on Alex’s laptop—a striking image of a glamorous pop star in a sparkling costume.
“Wait—is that her? Are you a fan, Dr. O’Neill? I love her!” she gasped, eyes wide.
Miguel jumped in before Alex could answer, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“Nope. He doesn’t know a single one of her songs. He just likes how she looks.”
Alex, surprisingly, didn’t deny it.
“Yeah, that’s true. Not into her music—but her figure? Perfect. I’d go for a one-night stand with her in a heartbeat.” He shrugged, casual but unfiltered.
Miguel gave a short laugh, shaking his head. “See? A total jerk. The king of lookism.”
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Ashley leaned forward, half-curious, half-amused.
“What kind of girls do you actually like? Is appearance everything to you?”
Alex paused, then answered more sincerely than anyone expected—his voice softer, his words deliberate.
“No… My ideal woman is elegant—pretty, radiant, gentle… but also clever and thoughtful. When she smiles, it warms my heart. If she cried, I’d want to hold her and protect her from everything. Even her whispers would echo inside me. I’d want to see myself in her eyes—forever.”
As he spoke, Séraphine’s face came to mind—clear as ever, despite being just a dream.
Realizing he’d said too much, Alex cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing. Without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving stunned silence behind him.
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Miguel, Jill, and Sally exchanged surprised glances.
Miguel quietly wondered who Alex had just described. Naosa’s face flickered in his mind. But he shook his head and laughed under his breath.
“No way,” he muttered. “Can’t be.”
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Later, in the lab, Sally, Kevin, and Naosa stood near the workstation where Alex was focused on his research, seemingly oblivious to their conversation.
“I’m glad your leg’s better,” Naosa said kindly, her voice full of genuine concern.
“Yeah,” Sally nodded with pride. “I’ve got a strong body. Injuries don’t last long. I work out a lot.” She straightened, clearly pleased.
“Wow, cool! What kind of workouts?” Naosa asked, leaning against the bench, genuinely curious.
“I’m not just a sweet tooth,” Sally said, warming to the topic. “I’m a climber. I hike and train for snowy mountain climbs. Gotta store fat for that.” She patted her thigh with satisfaction.
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Naosa blinked, impressed. “Wow, I didn’t know you were such an adventurer. You’re so brave!”
Sally looked pleased. “Yeah. I had a hike planned this weekend, but my hiking partner caught a cold and canceled.”
“Can I come with you?” Naosa asked, impulsive and bright-eyed.
Sally hesitated, looking her over. “It’s a tough trail. I’m training, not sightseeing.”
Naosa clasped her hands, beaming. “Please? I’ll bring tea and sweets! Scones, muffins, cookies—it’ll be a lovely tea party in nature!”
Sally and Kevin exchanged wary glances.
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“Wait,” Sally said slowly. “Do you even know what hiking is?”
Naosa frowned in thought. “Not exactly… I’ve never done it. But I’ve seen it in movies, and I really want to try!”
Kevin asked, already bracing himself, “What kind of movies?”
Naosa gestured excitedly. “You know—the ones where they lay out blankets, have sandwiches and tea, and just relax under the sun!”
Kevin went pale. “Nao… what you’re describing is a picnic. Not a hike.”
“What?” Naosa gasped, completely shocked.
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At that exact moment, Alex, who had seemed entirely focused on his microscope, suddenly burst out laughing.
Everyone froze.
He tried to hold it in, lips pressed tight—but failed. Flustered by his own reaction, he fled to the break room, shoulders still shaking.
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In the break room, Miguel and Jill walked in to find Alex leaning against the counter, still laughing.
“What’s going on with you?” Jill asked, eyebrows raised.
Alex wiped at his eyes, still grinning.
“She’s smart, but she’s completely naïve—totally off-track. I swear, she’s the Queen of Naïveté.”
Jill and Miguel exchanged looks—equal parts amusement and alarm.
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Just then, Naosa walked past behind him, calm and quiet, and began making coffee.
Her movements were precise, composed, silent. She didn’t say a word. Her face was unreadable.
Once her coffee was ready, she took her mug and walked out—posture straight, expression perfectly blank.
Alex turned pale.
“…How long has she been there?”
Miguel shrugged, clearly enjoying himself. “Long enough. I’m pretty sure the Queen of Naïveté heard every word.”
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Alex groaned, running a hand down his face.
“Oh, great. Just perfect.”
He sank into a chair, wondering how he was going to fix this one.
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