Friday came with the kind of exhaustion that made everyone in the office count the hours until the weekend.
HANEUL HOME had survived another demanding week.
The testing results were improving.
The client feedback was encouraging.
Kyrah felt like she could breathe.
She closed her laptop and leaned back in her chair.
"Finally."
Flora looked over from her desk.
"Finally what?"
"The week is over."
Flora laughed.
"You say that every Friday."
"Because every Friday deserves to be celebrated."
Xiumin walked into the office.
"Speaking of celebrating…"
Kyrah looked at him suspiciously.
"What?"
"We're going out."
"Where?"
"Dinner."
Kyrah's smile disappeared slightly.
"With the whole team?"
"Yes."
Liu Youning appeared behind him.
"Everyone."
Kyrah looked between them.
"I don't know."
Xiumin frowned.
"Why?"
"I have things to do."
Flora immediately spoke.
"No, you don't."
Kyrah looked at her.
"Excuse me?"
"You're coming."
"Flora."
"Kyrah."
Youning laughed.
"I think Flora has already decided."
Kyrah sighed.
"You people are very difficult."
Xiumin grinned.
"Seven thirty."
Kyrah looked at Flora.
"Do I have a choice?"
"No."
Kyrah laughed.
"Fine."
---
By seven thirty, the team was gathered at a restaurant not far from the office.
It wasn't overly formal.
Just a comfortable place with warm lighting, good food, and enough space for everyone to relax.
Kyrah arrived with Flora.
Xiumin and Leo were already there.
A few minutes later, Seojun walked in.
Kyrah looked up.
She hadn't expected him.
Her eyes met his.
He smiled.
"Good evening."
"Good evening."
Xiumin looked surprised.
"You're joining us?"
Seojun pulled out a chair.
"If that's okay."
"Of course."
Kyrah smiled.
She didn't know why seeing him there made her feel a little happier.
Maybe because she had gotten used to him being part of her daily life.
The thought surprised her.
She pushed it away.
---
Dinner started easily.
They talked about work.
Then they talked about anything except work.
Xiumin told a ridiculous story about a former project that had gone completely wrong.
Youning laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
Flora kept teasing them both.
Kyrah laughed until her stomach hurt.
Seojun watched her.
He liked seeing her like this.
Relaxed.
Unaware.
Happy.
She wasn't the serious project head everyone saw at the office.
Tonight she was simply Kyrah.
At one point, a waiter came around offering drinks.
"Wine?"
Kyrah immediately shook her head.
"No, thank you."
The waiter moved on.
Xiumin looked at her.
"You always say no."
Kyrah smiled.
"I don't really drink."
Flora nearly choked on her water.
Kyrah glanced at her.
Flora quickly looked away.
Xiumin laughed.
"That's what you said last time."
"Because it's true."
"You've never had a drink?"
"That's not what I said."
Leo smiled.
"So you have?"
"Maybe."
Xiumin leaned back.
"Interesting."
Kyrah pointed at him.
"Don't start."
He laughed.
"I'm just asking."
The waiter returned a few minutes later.
"Would you like a mocktail?"
"Yes, please."
Flora looked at Kyrah.
Then at the glass.
She smiled to herself.
Kyrah gave her a warning look.
Flora raised both hands.
"I didn't say anything."
---
As dinner continued, Seojun noticed Kyrah becoming quieter.
Not emotionally.
She simply seemed tired.
He leaned slightly toward her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"You look tired."
"It's been a long week."
He nodded.
"You should go home early tomorrow."
Kyrah smiled.
"It's Saturday."
"Exactly."
"I have no work tomorrow."
"Good."
She looked at him.
"Are you?"
"Am I what?"
"Working."
"No."
"Then you should enjoy your Saturday too."
"I intend to."
"How?"
He smiled.
"I haven't decided."
Kyrah laughed.
"That's unlike you."
"Maybe I'm learning."
"From who?"
He looked directly at her.
"You."
Kyrah's smile faltered for half a second.
She looked down at her drink.
Flora saw everything.
She said nothing.
---
Later, when dinner was almost over, Xiumin raised his glass.
"To HANEUL HOME."
Everyone lifted their glasses.
"To HANEUL HOME."
Kyrah smiled.
"To the team."
They clinked glasses.
Seojun's eyes met hers across the table.
"To the team."
Kyrah smiled.
For a moment, everything felt simple.
She had a good job.
People who respected her.
Friends who cared about her.
A baby growing inside her.
And a man sitting across from her who somehow made ordinary moments feel different.
She wasn't ready to ask herself why.
So she didn't.
---
When dinner ended, everyone began saying their goodbyes.
"I'll see you Monday," Xiumin said.
"Monday," Youning replied.
Flora hugged Kyrah.
"Call me when you get home."
"I will."
Seojun waited near the entrance.
"Do you have a ride?"
Kyrah nodded.
"I'll get a taxi."
"I'll take you."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
She smiled.
"You really like saying that."
He smiled back.
"Maybe."
They walked toward his car.
Kyrah looked up at him.
"Thank you for tonight."
"You're welcome."
She hesitated.
"You know, you're becoming part of my daily routine."
Seojun looked at her.
"Is that a bad thing?"
Kyrah smiled.
"No."
She looked ahead.
"I think it's a good thing."
Seojun said nothing.
But his smile deepened.
Neither of them knew how much that small confession meant.
For Kyrah, it was simply an observation.
For Seojun, it was hope.
And he was willing to be patient with hope.
Because he had already decided something.
He wasn't going to rush her.
He wasn't going to make her choose.
He wasn't going to make her feel guilty for the life she already carried.
He would simply remain beside her.
One day at a time.
One conversation at a time.
One small moment at a time.
Until perhaps, one day, Kyrah would look at him and realize that somewhere along the way…
he had become more than just part of her routine.