ra waited for him to finish eating before she picked up the insted lunch box, ready to head out. She was almost at the door when he spoke up.


    "You..."


    He was always quick and to the point with everyone else, just issuing orders. But with ra, it was like he had to pause, gather his thoughts, and even then, he never seemed to know what to say.


    She waited, counting out ten seconds in her head. Nothing. So she took a guess. "You have an event tonight, right? No need for me to bring dinner?"


    He hesitated, something flickering in his eyes. "Yeah." Then, as if realizing how cold that sounded, he added, "Can''t get out of it."


    ra gave him a small smile. "Okay. I''ll see you tomorrow morning, then-right on time."


    And with that, she opened the office door and slipped out.


    Dn stared at the keyboard in front of him. Lately, he felt like his emotions had been dialed down to zero-nothing really grabbed his attention; everything around him felt washed-out and gray. Work was the only thing that mattered.


    But every time ra walked in, it was like someone turned the world''s colors back on. The dullness faded, and life crept back in, just a little-like rain coaxing green from dry ground.


    He didn''t have to ask himself who she was. He''d just gotten used to waiting for her to appear.


    He worked straight through until six, when Aiden knocked on his door. "Rai''s here."


    Thest time, at Walter''s birthday, Dn hadn''t seen Rai-he''d already left. But now Rai was back in the city, and they''d finally set a time to meet.


    That night, the old house was as bustling as ever.


    As soon as Dn walked in, everyone''s eyes were on him. Some people looked relieved ra wasn''t by his side. Others looked like they were grinding their teeth.


    No one knew exactly what tricks the old man had pulled, but somehow, he''d managed to keep Dn and ra apart.


    Rai, with his ever-kind face, saw Dn and visibly rxed. "Dn, it''s been a while."


    Dn nodded, walking over slowly. Now that he was out of the wheelchair, he seemed even more imposing than before.


    Rai looked him over, satisfied, and pped him on the shoulder. "Your leg''s all better? You lookpletely fine now."


    Dn nced at his leg. He wasn''t really sure what had happened before, didn''t remember much, but there was no pain. "Yeah," he said.


    Walter beamed with relief. "So you''ve been fine for a while? Why''d you keep using the wheelchair and stressing everyone out?"


    Rai just smiled and slipped a si ring onto Dn''s thumb. "Dn, take this. Now that you''re back to normal, the position''s still yours. We argued with the elders about waiting for your recovery, but now there''s nothing in the way. When are you heading overseas?"


    Dn turned the ring over in his hand-a simple amber band, old and solid. He kept ncing at his other hand, half-expecting something to be there, but it was empty.


    When he''d first woken up, he''d asked his dad about it, but no one told him


    anything. Everyone acted like it was all just a dream.


    He didn''t answer, so Walter cleared


    his throat "Rai''s asking you something, Dn. You need to make ns. Ms. Loue''s still waiting, you know. This is the perfect time for you two to get to know each other."


    Raiughed, all warmth. "That Chester girl''s always liked Dn. With looks like


    his, no one ever forgets him."


    Dn just looked at the ring on his thumb and gave a quiet, “Alright."