When Naosa returned to the office, her colleagues were already gathering their belongings.
It was a longstanding tradition to have dinner together at an old diner near the laboratory whenever visiting teams concluded their stay.
She joined them, maintaining her smile as though nothing weighed on her heart.
Alex and Brightmore’s manager remained behind, finalizing a few last-minute details about the collaboration.
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At the diner, the group settled into their usual booths.
Naosa sat between Jill and Kevin, joining their conversation with practiced cheer.
She truly loved them all—Jill’s quiet wisdom, Kevin’s loyalty, Sally’s honesty, Miguel’s gentle humor, even the sometimes overbearing Ashley and Millie.
The realization made her chest tighten painfully. She blinked rapidly, fighting back tears.
“What’s the bet tonight?” someone called out, breaking her thoughts.
It was tradition for the teams to wager on lighthearted challenges at the diner, with the losing team responsible for the entire bill.
A Brightmore member suggested, “Last time we guessed what our manager would order first. This time, let’s predict what Dr. O’Neill prefers!”
Kim jumped in immediately. “Let’s have him choose between regular fries and sweet-potato fries.”
Confident in her knowledge of Alex’s dislike of sweet foods, she declared smugly, “French fries, obviously.”
“That’s unfair!” the Saint Clarion team protested. “You already know what he likes!”
Kim laughed. “You never really know until you test it.”
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Shortly afterward, Alex arrived with the Brightmore manager.
Without hesitation, he asked Kevin to switch seats—sliding into the one right beside Naosa.
Naosa’s lips curved into a small smile. Something about the golden fries on the table stirred a memory.
When the manager asked, “So what’s today’s bet?” the server set down two plates before Alex—classic fries and sweet-potato fries.
Naosa picked up a sweet-potato fry and offered it to him, holding it directly to his lips.
Alex accepted it without hesitation.
Then Kevin passed him a regular fry, which Alex ate thoughtfully.
“Well?” someone asked. “Which do you prefer?”
Alex looked at Naosa for a moment… then announced,
“I think… today I’m choosing sweet-potato fries.”
The Saint Clarion team erupted in cheers.
Kim slammed her palm down. “No way!”
Alex just shrugged. Under the table, his fingers brushed against Naosa’s.
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Later, as vintage music drifted from the jukebox, a few patrons moved to the small dance floor.
Kim sighed dramatically. “This feels like prom night. I bet Alex was prom king.”
Alex chuckled. “We didn’t really have ‘proms’ back home—but there was a formal. The girl who dumped me the week before still got crowned queen of the night, so our dance was… memorable.”
Kim turned to Naosa. “Were you prom queen?”
Naosa shook her head. “I went to an all-girls school. No prom.”
“That’s a shame,” Kim said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime memory.”
Alex looked at Naosa, his gaze soft.
“You would’ve been queen without question.”
Then he stood and offered her his hand.
“Shall we? It’s never too late for a first prom.”
Naosa hesitated. Kim’s words still echoed in her mind.
Alex leaned closer and whispered,
“Come on. I even quit smoking for you.”
Naosa laughed softly and finally placed her hand in his.
He pulled her close as they began to sway.
“Hey, Nao,” he whispered, “don’t listen to Kim. You’re the only one I love—now and always.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
She lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry… I’m not worthy of your love. Please forget me. There’s no waiting list.”
Alex froze. “Is that… your final answer?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Then look me in the eyes and say it.”
Naosa’s tears fell silently.
“…Yes.”
Alex stared at her. “Then why are you crying? I’m the one being rejected.”
Naosa couldn’t respond. Her heart ached with everything she couldn’t say.
“I should’ve come to Saint Clarion from the beginning,” she whispered. “I should’ve never gone to Wexley…”
Alex wrapped his arms around her tightly, kissing her hair.
“I wish I could’ve protected you from everything. But we met because of it all. From now on—whatever happens—I’m here.
So please… don’t disappear.”
He held her as if shielding her from the world.
Naosa clung to him, burying her face against his chest.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to believe—
even if just a little.
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