TAEHYUNG-

I was headed to the elevator, my mind preoccupied with work, when I saw Y/n standing there as the doors opened. She looked surprised to see me, then quickly composed herself, bowing politely and greeting me.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Kim," she said, her voice steady and professional.

"Good afternoon, Y/n," I replied with a nod as I stepped in. The doors closed, and we rode in silence, the only sound being the hum of the elevator. I noticed she seemed a bit tense, glancing at her reflection in the polished walls, lost in thought. Just as I was about to ask her about her work, the elevator gave a sudden jolt and came to a halt.

The lights flickered, and I heard her small gasp as she instinctively clutched the railing. I looked over, noticing how her hands trembled slightly. She was clearly anxious, her breathing quickening as she pressed herself against the wall.

"Y/n, are you okay?" I asked, genuinely concerned.

She nodded, but it was evident she was far from fine. I quickly reached for my phone, dialing my assistant. "The elevator has stopped between floors. Call maintenance immediately," I instructed, keeping my tone calm. But even after the call ended, I could still hear her breathing quick and shallow, her knuckles white as she gripped the railing.

Instinctively, I moved closer, reaching out. "Y/n," I said gently. "It's okay. They'll fix it soon." I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, trying to steady her, but she looked almost frozen with fear.

Without thinking further, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a hug. She seemed startled at first but then clung to me, her hands gripping my arms tightly. Her face pressed against my chest, and I could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breaths as she tried to calm herself.

"Are you claustrophobic?" I asked quietly, keeping my voice steady to reassure her.

She nodded, barely lifting her head, her face still hidden in my chest. I could feel her trying to steady herself, but her hands shook slightly as she held on, grounding herself. Her trust in that moment, the way she let herself lean into me, stirred something within me. I had never seen her this vulnerable, so unguarded. She'd always carried herself with a quiet confidence and professionalism, but right now, she seemed so delicate, like she needed someone to hold her together.

"It's alright. Just focus on breathing slowly," I whispered, rubbing her back in slow, calming circles. I could feel her gradually calming down, her breathing starting to steady as she relaxed into my hold.

The minutes felt like hours, and I silently willed the elevator to start moving again. I found myself unwilling to let go of her, the feeling of having her close to me was something I hadn't anticipated, but it felt strangely right.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the lights flickered back on, and the elevator jolted slightly as it began to move. I felt her tense up again, her grip tightening on my arms, but I kept my hold around her until the doors slid open. Taking a deep breath, she slowly pulled away, her face flushed as she murmured, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to—"

"There's nothing to apologize for," I interrupted softly. "You did well."

She looked up at me, her eyes a little red from the anxiety, but there was a warmth there, a quiet gratitude that I hadn't expected. I realized then how much I cared, how protective I felt in that moment. I wanted her to feel safe with me, and that realization lingered long after she stepped out of the elevator, her eyes meeting mine one last time before she disappeared down the hallway.

As I watched her go, I knew it wasn't just a passing moment. She had touched something deeper, something I hadn't felt in a long time.

Y/N-

My heart was pounding as I stepped into the elevator, feeling relieved to have finished my tasks for the day. I was lost in thought, mentally ticking off everything I'd accomplished, when the doors slid open, and I looked up to see Mr. Kim himself standing there. I quickly composed myself and greeted him with a polite bow, trying to keep my expression calm and professional.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Kim," I said, hoping my voice didn't sound as nervous as I felt.

"Good afternoon, Y/n," he replied with a nod, his expression as composed as ever.

I tried to focus on anything else to distract myself from the fact that I was standing next to him in such a confined space, feeling his presence right beside me. Just as I was counting the seconds until I could step out, the elevator jolted to a sudden stop, and my heart plummeted.

I gripped the railing tightly, fighting to keep my composure, but the walls of the elevator suddenly felt like they were closing in on me. My breathing grew shallow, and I couldn't stop the wave of panic washing over me. I knew I should calm down, but my body wasn't listening.

"Y/n, are you okay?" His voice cut through the panic, calm and concerned.

I tried to nod, but I could barely manage it. He made a call to get help, his voice steady and reassuring, but the tension in my chest was overwhelming. I shut my eyes, wishing I could will myself to calm down, but all I could feel was the terrifying stillness of the elevator, trapping me in.

Before I even realized what was happening, I felt warmth enveloping me, strong arms wrapping around me, holding me close. I opened my eyes, realizing that he was hugging me, his grip steady and comforting. My hands instinctively clutched onto his arms, and I felt my body relax, sinking into his embrace.

He murmured gently, "Are you claustrophobic?"

I managed a weak nod, my face still hidden in his chest, feeling too overwhelmed to speak. I could feel my pulse slowing as he held me, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back, his voice soothing as he encouraged me to breathe slowly. Somehow, being close to him was comforting; his presence seemed to shield me from the panic, grounding me as I focused on his words.

I wasn't sure how long we stayed like that, but his calm steadiness began to seep into me, and slowly, I felt the tension begin to ease. The warmth of his touch and his unhurried reassurance made me feel safe, a feeling I wasn't used to in moments like these.

After what felt like an eternity, the elevator lights flickered back on, and I felt the elevator move again. My pulse quickened, but he kept holding me until the doors finally opened, and we were free. I took a shaky step back, my cheeks burning with embarrassment as I realized what had just happened.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." I stammered, my voice barely a whisper as I looked anywhere but at him.

"There's nothing to apologize for," he said, his voice soft and sincere. "You did well."

His words made me look up at him, meeting his gaze. His eyes were warm, calm, and there was a gentleness there I hadn't noticed before. I mumbled a quiet "thank you" before stepping out of the elevator, feeling his gaze linger on me as I walked down the hallway.

When I turned the corner, I leaned against the wall, trying to collect myself. I'd been embarrassed before, but this felt different. I could still feel the warmth of his embrace, the steady strength in his arms, and how he'd held me as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

As I headed back to my desk, his face kept flashing through my mind.

----------------------------

I was lying on my bed, chatting with Jungkook on the phone, listening to him talk about his day and making me laugh with his usual playfulness. As always, being around him—even just hearing his voice—was like a balm, a comfort that made me forget about everything else.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door, and my mother entered the room. I quickly said goodbye to Jungkook and ended the call, sitting up to face her. She looked at me with a warm smile, carrying a cup of tea and that familiar, gentle expression she always had when she wanted to discuss something important.

"How's work going, dear?" she asked, handing me the tea.

I took it gratefully, nodding. "It's good, actually," I said. "I've been learning a lot."

My mother nodded, pleased, and sat down beside me, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. But I could tell there was something more she wanted to say; her expression grew thoughtful, and her gaze softened.

After a pause, she spoke, "You know, some families have been sending us marriage proposals for you."

Her words hit me like a surprise, freezing me in place. I stared at her, trying to hide my shock as I took in what she was saying. I wasn't ready for this conversation, not now, not when I felt like I still had so much to figure out.

But I managed to keep my composure, placing the cup down on the bedside table. "Oh," I said, trying to keep my tone casual. "I, um... I don't plan on marrying anytime soon, honestly."

My mother chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling. "Of course, sweetheart," she said, patting my hand. "Not yet. You're still young. But I just thought I'd tell you." She paused, watching me with that gentle, understanding gaze. "You know, if you ever like someone... if there's someone you're interested in, you can tell me. I'd love to know."

I managed a smile, nodding slowly. "I'll tell you," I said softly, though my heart felt like it was racing.

With that, she gave me a knowing smile, brushing her hand over my cheek, and left the room, leaving me with my thoughts spinning. I took a deep breath, processing her words, feeling a strange mixture of emotions I wasn't prepared for. It was nice to know that she would support me if I ever found someone, but I didn't know what to feel.

I knew she was just looking out for me, but suddenly my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about love, commitment, and choices. I couldn't help but think of Jungkook, my best friend who I'd been crushing on for so long yet never dared to tell.

A part of me ached, wondering if I would ever have the courage to tell him how I truly felt. Talking to him every day, laughing, sharing moments that felt like secrets only we knew... it all felt so special to me, but maybe that's all it was—a friendship. And now, hearing my mother talk about proposals, I felt that twinge of urgency, like maybe it was time to stop hiding how I felt and take a risk.

I picked up my phone again, staring at Jungkook's name in my contacts, hesitating. I wanted to talk to him, to maybe bring up something, anything, to see if he felt even a fraction of what I did.

But no, I thought, putting my phone back down. Not yet.

With a sigh, I leaned back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling, wondering when—or if—I'd ever be ready to tell him.

-----------------------