Unexpected Suprise

As Mira entered the café, she felt the curious gazes of the other coworker's following her every move. She walked with a mix of nervousness and excitement, her heart racing a bit as she scanned the room. Spotting a small table by the window, she made her way there and sat down, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.

Before long, a friendly lady with a warm smile approached the table and took a seat beside her, not bothering with formalities right away.

"Are you Mira Adams? I've heard so much about you being the new intern," the woman said, her tone casual yet welcoming.

Mira smiled, her nervousness subsiding slightly. "Yes, I'm Mira Adams," she replied politely.

As they exchanged pleasantries, Mira noticed that Zack, who had already been seated nearby, slid his chair closer and joined the conversation with a friendly nod in Mira's direction. His presence felt reassuring, though his sudden approach had caught her a bit off guard.

Without wasting any time, they all ordered their food, and once the waiter had left, the woman leaned in slightly, smiling kindly at Mira.

"You're so beautiful," the woman remarked with a sincere tone, her eyes twinkling with friendliness.

Mira blushed, caught off guard by the compliment. She shyly responded, "Thank you," her voice soft with humility, trying to hide her flustered state.

The conversation flowed more naturally as their food arrived. Zack, now comfortably seated beside Mira, contributed to the light banter with occasional jokes and comments, making the atmosphere feel even more relaxed. Mira found herself laughing a few times, surprised by how easy it was to talk to both Zack and this woman, whose name Mira had yet to learn.

After they finished their meals, the woman suddenly let out a small laugh, shaking her head as if remembering something important. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I completely forgot to introduce myself earlier. My name is Lily Freeman," she said with an apologetic smile, extending her hand toward Mira.

Mira shook her hand, feeling more at ease. "It's nice to meet you, Lily Freeman, it was really great talking to you."

Lily smiled warmly. "The pleasure is all mine, Mira. We're lucky to have someone like you join the company."

The three of them continued to chat for a little while longer before they eventually parted ways, each returning to their respective offices. Mira felt lighter as she walked back, her first encounter outside the office proving to be better than she had expected.

Later that afternoon, as the workday wound down, Mira began to pack up her things. New interns were allowed to leave an hour earlier than the regular staff, which was a nice company policy meant to help them adjust. Mira was grateful for this, especially after such a long day of new experiences.

Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw that it was her grandfather. A small smile tugged at her lips as she answered the call.

"Hello, Grandpa," Mira greeted, her voice warm as she stepped outside of the company.

"I'll be visiting you next week," her grandfather said in his usual calm, serious tone. "There's something important we need to discuss, so I want you to be prepared."

Mira's curiosity was piqued immediately. "Why is it so important that we can't discuss it over the phone?" she asked, wondering what could be so pressing.

Her grandfather's tone grew even more serious. "It's not something that can be discussed casually. Do you remember the condition I told you about before you came to Nik? This has something to do with that, and it's important that you understand why."

Mira's brow furrowed as she thought back to the condition her grandfather had mentioned. "Yes, I remember, Grandpa. I understand. I'll be ready."

"Good," her grandfather said before ending the call, leaving Mira with a lingering sense of anticipation and unease.

As she made her way home, Mira couldn't shake the conversation from her mind. What could her grandfather possibly want to discuss that needed to be done in person? She couldn't quite place her finger on it, but the urgency in his voice unsettled her.

On the bright side, she discovered that the company cafeteria provided free meals to staff, a small detail that lifted her spirits. She decided to stop by a fast-food place to grab something light for dinner, opting for something quick and easy since she wasn't in the mood to cook that night.

Once back at her apartment, Mira took the elevator to her floor, still processing her day. When the doors slid open, she was greeted by Zack standing in the hallway, a surprised smile spreading across his face.

"Mira! What a coincidence!" Zack exclaimed with a chuckle.

Mira smiled back, equally surprised. "Oh my goodness, Zack! I didn't expect us to be neighbors," she said, stepping out of the elevator.

"I didn't either, but it's a pleasant surprise, don't you think?" Zack replied, his eyes glinting with amusement.

They both laughed, and Zack extended his hand in a casual, friendly gesture. "I'm glad we're neighbors. If you ever need anything, feel free to knock on my door."

Mira shook his hand and smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Zack. That's really kind of you."

They walked together down the hallway toward their respective apartment doors. Before parting, Zack glanced over at her. "By the way, if you need a ride tomorrow, I can drop you off at work. I've got a car, so you won't need to book one."

Mira's face lit up at the offer. "That would be fantastic! Thank you, Zack."

"No problem. I'll see you tomorrow then," he said with a grin before heading into his apartment.

After a long day, Mira finally stepped into her own apartment, feeling both relieved and reflective. She headed straight for a bath, allowing the warm water to soothe her tired muscles. Once done, she opened her wardrobe to grab her pajamas, but something caught her eye—neatly folded on one of the shelves were the trousers, shirt, and underwear she had taken from Zamian years ago.

She froze for a moment, her heart racing. Why had she kept them all this time? The sight of them brought a flush of embarrassment to her cheeks. It had been years, yet the memories still lingered, tugging at her emotions in ways she couldn't fully explain.

With a sigh, she quickly shook off the awkwardness and changed into her pajamas. She knew she should let go of those memories, but part of her wasn't ready. Her mind wandered to Zamian, and she found herself wondering about that day when she had left after writing him that note. What had really happened?

Feeling restless, she decided to go for a walk to clear her head. As she opened her apartment door, she nearly bumped into Zack again, who was heading out as well.

"Hey, Mira," Zack greeted with a smile. "Going out for a walk?"

Mira nodded. "Yeah, I just need some fresh air."

"Mind if I join you?" Zack asked. "I was just heading out too."

They walked together, chatting about their day and life in general. They eventually stopped at a small café and grabbed a drink, enjoying the evening as they got to know each other better.

By the time they returned to their apartment building, Mira felt lighter. Zack offered again to drive her to work the next day, and she happily accepted.

As she closed the door to her apartment that night, she smiled to herself. Despite the uncertainties that lay ahead, today had turned out to be better than she had anticipated.