Halo

The office kitchenette buzzed with a comfortable hum. There was the low whirl of the refrigerator, the faint clinking of mugs in the drying rack, and the soft hiss of the coffee machine filling cups with hot, bitter liquid. The scent of brewed coffee and faint traces of citrus-scented dish soap hung around in the air, punctuated only by the rhythmic glug-glug of the water dispenser.

Valeria stood in front of the water dispenser, her hand brushing the smooth, slightly cool surface as she watched the level of the water as it filled her cup. The hum of the building’s air conditioning drifted in the distance above, blending with the rhythmic tapping of someone’s keyboard from the cubicles nearby.

Aria stood beside her, holding a cup already brimming with water. Valeria had poured hers first, then offered to fill Aria’s. She did little gestures as such all the time, it was out of habit and a display of care to the ones close to her. Aria’s cup, once full, caught the fluorescent light and shimmered faintly, casting tiny ripples across the smooth laminate countertop.

Across the kitchenette, Finn crouched slightly over the coffee dispenser, the sleeve of his crisp white shirt riding up as he adjusted his balance. Steam curled from the cup, carrying with it the bitter, almost intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Valeria’s heart beat a little faster, though she tried to pretend she wasn’t watching. She felt the familiar warmth crawl across her chest whenever he was near, a heat that made her palms sweat slightly and her mind scramble for calm, rational thoughts.

Aria broke the silence, her voice soft, conspiratorial, almost like she was afraid someone might overhear them.

“Did you hear about Elle and Donnie?” she whispered, tilting her head toward Valeria while keeping one eye on Fin.

Valeria raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Elle? What happened?”

Aria leaned in a little closer, her lips barely moving as if speaking louder might summon the gossip into existence. “They were at the football game last Saturday. Everyone saw them, laughing, kissing, and he had his hand so far up her jacket I thought he was looking for his car keys.”

Aria let out a soft, breathy laugh, a mix of amusement and incredulity playing across her face. “The operations manager, of all people! I mean… really? Desperate much?”

Valeria suppressed a small laugh, her lips curving into a quiet smile. “Elle always did have a flair for losers, but with him? That’s… wild.” She took a slow sip of her water, the cool liquid sliding down her throat, soothing her insides. She held the cup loosely, letting her fingers graze the rim absentmindedly.

Valeria’s gaze flicked to Finn, she felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle. She didn’t look at him directly, but she was acutely aware of the sound of his dress shoes on the linoleum, a solid, rhythmic thud that made the thin soles of her own flats feel flimsy. He moved with a grounded grace, the fabric of his button-down shirt rustling, a crisp, expensive sound that suggested starch and ironed precision.

He reached for a ceramic mug, his knuckles grazing the wood-grain finish of the counter. Valeria watched the way his tendons moved under the tan skin of his hand as he pressed the button for a dark roast. The machine groaned, a mechanical whirring that ended in the aggressive hiss of steam. The scent of burnt sugar and dark cocoa filled the space between them, thick enough to taste.

Valeria’s heart performed a slow, heavy roll in her chest. She felt a flush creep up her collarbone, a prickling warmth that made her silk blouse feel suddenly too restrictive. She turned back to Aria, her voice dropping to a tremor she hoped sounded like a secret.

“God, look at him,” she breathed, the words barely escaping her lips. “He has this way of just... existing. Like the rest of us are just background noise. I swear, Aria, I catch myself staring at the back of his neck for twenty minutes at a time. It’s pathetic. I want to say something, anything, but my tongue feels like a piece of lead the moment he turns around.”

Aria froze for just a heartbeat, the smile she had carefully placed faltering slightly before she masked it. She gave a small cough, trying to hide the tightness in her chest. “So tell him. You don’t have to wait for a formal invitation to flirt.”

“I can’t,” Valeria hissed, her fingers tightening around her cup until the water trembled. “I don’t want to force anything. I want him to like me naturally.” She believed a man should be the one to confess first. That’s… how she’d always felt.

Aria blinked, then recovered quickly with a smile. She hesitated, but then leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Well… if you ever change your mind… my mom could help, you know. She could... pray for you.”

Valeria’s eyes widened slightly. The memory came unbidden, the first and only time she had been to Aria’s house. She had gotten lost searching for the bathroom, wandering into a room that seemed to pulse with a strange, magnetic energy. Shelves upon shelves of ancient, leather-bound books lined the walls, their spines etched with symbols that made her stomach flutter with awe and fear. Candles flickered softly in the corners, throwing shadows that danced across the ceiling. Aria’s mother, Madame Gia, had been there too, she was tall, regal, with an air of absolute authority. She had watched her silently for a moment before turning back to her work, a soft murmuring under her breath as she traced her fingers over the pages of a massive book. The memory of the room’s incense, the faint metallic tang in the air, the hush that made even the ticking of a clock sound intrusive, it all came back.

Valeria’s lips pressed together in a thin line. “I… appreciate that,” she said carefully. “But really, I’d rather, well, I want him to like me because of me, not because someone… prayed for it.” She gave a faint smile, trying to steer the conversation away from anything supernatural.

Aria nodded slowly, a small, almost imperceptible flicker of something… perhaps frustration… crossing her features. “I understand. Of course. Just… thought I’d mention it.” She sipped her water, the plastic rim cool against her lips, and set the cup down gently, careful not to spill a drop.

For a moment, silence stretched between them, filled only by the low hiss of Finn's coffee machine, the subtle hum of the refrigerator, and the occasional soft tap of keyboards from beyond the kitchenette. Valeria’s mind drifted toward her diet, the reason she had limited herself to water during lunch, and she tilted her cup to take another careful sip. The liquid was cool and soothing, a small relief against the chatter of thoughts in her head.

Aria’s eyes followed her subtly, noting the slight flush creeping up Valeria’s neck, the way she lingered over the water, as if gathering courage. Finally, Aria cleared her throat, breaking the silence. “So… how are you surviving?” she asked lightly, as if testing the waters.

Valeria let out a small sigh, the faint tension of self-discipline softening into amusement. “Yeah…I can feel my body eating itself, but hey, at least our skin will be glowing while we starve, right?” She smiled, feeling a small sense of pride in the restraint she was practicing. “I can feel a difference, actually. It’s subtle, but… my energy, it’s sharper.”

Aria nodded, taking a small sip of her own water. “I get that. I’m trying to be more disciplined too, but it’s hard. Everything smells so good around here… and coffee doesn’t help.” She glanced at Fin, who was now straightening up, holding his cup, his tie slightly loosened, the faint sheen of sweat on his brow from the morning’s work under the fluorescent lights. “Speaking of which…” she murmured, smirking.

Valeria’s eyes followed her gaze, catching Fin as he waved briefly at them, a small, polite smile crossing his features. He turned and left the kitchenette, the soft click of his shoes fading into the carpeted corridor. Valeria’s pulse quickened, a subtle rush of warmth flowing through her chest, and she bit her lip gently, torn between embarrassment and delight.

Aria’s lips curved into a teasing grin. “Don’t tell me you’re heading back to your desk just to… keep an eye on him,” she said lightly, though her tone carried the faintest edge of mischief.

Valeria’s cheeks flushed, a soft pink spreading across her face. “I… I have work to do,” she replied, her voice careful but faltering slightly. Her desk wasn’t far from his… So, there was truth in Aria’s words, although she tried to regain composure.

Aria laughed softly, a musical sound that lingered in the kitchenette air, teasing but warm. “Sure, sure. Work, of course. I won’t pry, though it’s obvious why you’re in such a hurry.” She picked up her cup, the cool water sloshing gently, and tilted her head with a playful gleam in her eye. “But hey… don’t let me stop you.”

Valeria swallowed, smiling faintly but nervously, and turned to leave, her steps were quiet on the linoleum floor. She could feel her heartbeat in her ears, each thump echoing like a drumbeat as she walked past the coffee machine, past the humming refrigerator, past Aria’s lingering gaze. She felt the air shift slightly as she moved, as though the space itself held its breath, watching her retreat, observing the delicate tension that hung in the room like the faint scent of citrus and brewing coffee.

Aria stayed behind for a moment longer, watching her friend’s retreating figure. Her fingers brushed the rim of her cup, tracing the condensation in absentminded thought. A subtle, almost imperceptible tension curled in her chest, a small knot of emotion she refused to name. Her gaze flicked toward the doorway where Fin had exited, and then back to the empty space where Valeria had stood. A quiet sigh left her lips, soft enough that it might have been mistaken for nothing more than the air conditioning’s hum.