Hana found herself in Chanyeol's office, sitting at her desk while he worked diligently. As always, Chanyeol would steal glances at her from time to time, making her heart flutter. Hana had spent the previous night contemplating how she could make Chanyeol express his feelings, but she hadn't figured out the perfect moment yet. She didn't want it to be too obvious, awkward, or embarrassing. She needed to find the right opportunity.

Lunchtime arrived, and Hana remained seated at her desk, purposefully avoiding joining Chanyeol. He couldn't help but notice her decision. With a playful smirk, he asked, "Are you not having lunch? Or maybe you'd like to join me?"

Hana smiled warmly and replied, "No, boss. I'll join my colleagues. By the way, is Baekhyun okay? He didn't come today, and I wanted to meet him."

Chanyeol's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of jealousy lacing his words. "He's fine. I gave him permission to take a leave for rest, but why do you need him?"

Hana couldn't help but enjoy the effect her words had on Chanyeol. She kept a finger on her lips, teasingly saying, "That's a secret."

She laughed lightly, taking Chanyeol's permission to go have lunch. Chanyeol was left intrigued and curious. Why did Hana need Baekhyun? What secret was she hiding from him? Chanyeol couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, questioning his closeness with Hana. Perhaps they were just colleagues, after all. He even found himself jealous of his best friend now.

Meanwhile, Hana made her way to join her colleagues for lunch, determined to make Chanyeol reveal his feelings indirectly. She needed to find a way to prompt him without putting him on the spot. 

Heechul, the playful and charming one of the group, couldn't resist complimenting his girlfriend, Momo. As they all gathered for lunch, he turned to her with a mischievous smile and said, "Momo, you're looking more radiant than ever today. How did I get so lucky to have you?"

Momo blushed and replied, "Oh, Heechul, you always know how to make me feel special. I'm the lucky one."

Nayeon and Rose, who were used to their sweet exchanges, playfully rolled their eyes. Nayeon chimed in, "Oh please, you two. We're getting diabetes from your constant sweetness."

Rose laughed and added, "Yeah, tone it down a bit. We're running out of tissues for all the swooning we have to do."

Heechul asked Sehun, noticing his behaviour, “What happened to you? You look like someone dumped you.” Everyone laughed, shifting their attention to Sehun.

Sehun, who seemed to be in his own dreamy world as usual, blinked and looked up, seemingly confused by their banter. He stammered, "No, guys. It's not like that. I'm just... lost in thought."

Hana, knowing the real reason behind Sehun's absentmindedness due to Irene, controlled her laughter and decided not to say anything. She didn't want to embarrass Sehun, especially since they all cherished their friendship.

Kyungsoo, always sporting a gentle smile, observed the group dynamics. He couldn't help but steal glances at Nayeon here and there, his feelings for her subtly revealed through his actions. He admired her from afar, silently hoping for a chance to express his affection.

As the lunchtime conversations continued, filled with laughter and inside jokes, Hana found comfort in the camaraderie of her colleagues. She cherished these moments of friendship, feeling grateful to have such a supportive group around her.

While everyone enjoyed their lunch and engaged in lighthearted banter, Hana's mind wandered back to her mission with Chanyeol. She knew she had to find the perfect opportunity to make him reveal his true feelings. It was a delicate balance, navigating their professional relationship while hoping for something more.

Hana felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as she contemplated the path ahead. She was determined to uncover Chanyeol's emotions and discover if there was a deeper connection between them. With each passing day, her resolve grew stronger, and she couldn't wait to see what the future held for their relationship.

The lunch break eventually came to an end, and the group dispersed to resume their work. Hana returned to her desk, her mind swirling with thoughts and plans. She knew that her journey with Chanyeol was just beginning, and she was ready to take the next step, even if it meant stepping into the unknown.

Hana took Seojun aside to have a private conversation, and Seojun sensed that it must be something personal since Hana wanted to speak away from everyone else. Seojun maintained a warm smile as they walked together. Hana, fidgeting with her fingers, finally mustered the courage to speak.

"Hi, Seojun. I'm sorry, I wasn't myself yesterday. I apologise if I hurt you," Hana confessed, her voice filled with sincerity.

Seojun's grin widened as he gently held Hana's hands and replied, "It's okay, Hana. I'm sorry too. It's alright if you don't have the same feelings for me. We can still be friends."

Hana's heart felt lighter as she returned Seojun's smile. "I'm glad we were able to handle it before our relationship could break," she expressed, grateful for their friendship.

Seojun patted Hana's back in a comforting gesture and pulled her into a warm hug. Hana, though not one to be too clingy, welcomed the embrace and hugged Seojun back. She couldn't explain why, but in that moment, it felt right to lean on a friend.

However, as Hana noticed Chanyeol standing nearby, she chose to ignore him as if she hadn't seen him. Her focus was on her conversation with Seojun. Little did she know, her actions stirred up a storm of anger within Chanyeol. With loud, angry steps, he stormed off, catching the attention of those nearby.

The startled colleagues who were greeting Chanyeol were taken aback by his unusual display of anger. Heechul and the others speculated that Chanyeol must have seen Hana hugging Seojun, which could explain his sudden outburst. The possibility that their boss thought Hana and Seojun were dating circulated among the group, sparking concern since dating within the company was not allowed.

Heechul voiced their worries, saying, "Did you see Boss walking away angrily? What could have made him so upset? He was so happy this morning."

Nayeon gasped and added, "He must have seen Hana and Seojun hugging. What if he thinks they're dating?"

Rose joined in, gasping, "What if he fires them both? Dating is strictly prohibited in our company."

Momo shared the concern, "What will happen now? Will he take drastic action?"

Nayeon, Kyungsoo, and Sehun also turned their attention to Heechul, curious about the possible consequences. While Sehun and Kyungsoo were less interested in Hana and Seojun's relationship itself, they were intrigued by the potential impact on their workplace dynamic.

Heechul remained silent for a moment, feeling the weight of everyone's expectant stares. He simply shrugged, unsure of what Chanyeol's reaction would entail.

Meanwhile, Hana and Seojun exchanged smiles, unfazed by the commotion among their colleagues. Seojun spoke up, addressing everyone, "But we're just friends."

Hana's smile widened even further as she shrugged playfully. Internally, she felt a sense of accomplishment for taking a step to provoke a reaction from Chanyeol, hoping that his impatience might lead him to reveal his true feelings.

~

Hana made her way to Chanyeol's office, encountering Jennie, Chanyeol's secretary, outside. Jennie stood up, clearly concerned, and spoke up, "Hana, Chanyeol is angry. Maybe you should just work at your desk. He might not be in the best mood and could be harsh towards you." Jennie's words carried a hint of fear, either because she had experienced Chanyeol's wrath or had witnessed his anger before.

Hana smiled reassuringly, reaching out to hold Jennie's hand. "I've seen him like this many times. I'll be fine. But thank you for your concern," Hana replied, her stubbornness evident. Jennie pouted, unable to convince Hana otherwise.

With permission from Chanyeol, Hana entered his office and took her seat, maintaining her smile. Her colleagues had advised her to avoid Chanyeol's desk and stay away from him, anticipating his anger. But Hana didn't care about their warnings. Seojun, who understood that Chanyeol was simply jealous, had convinced everyone that it was better for Hana to work in Chanyeol's presence. And so, Hana diligently focused on her work, despite feeling Chanyeol's gaze on her. She ignored him, determined not to give him the satisfaction of her attention.

Chanyeol, however, seemed determined to grab her attention, as he noisily placed his files on his desk with exaggerated thuds. Jennie could hear the commotion from outside the room. Sensing that Cha