I suspect you

I stand in front of his office door, the box containing the watch clutched in my hand. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the mixture of excitement and nervousness swirling inside me. Then, softly, I knock on the door.

Inside, I hear a familiar voice, and a soft "Come in" is heard. I open the door and enter slowly. Koen is sitting at his desk, focused on a file, but as soon as he looks up and meets my gaze, his eyes light up in surprise.

-Huyn?, he says, visibly surprised to see me there. A smile quickly spreads on his lips, and he straightens up in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine.

I approach slowly, an enigmatic smile on my lips. "Hi," I whisper softly, savoring this moment of surprise. I move closer until I am close enough to whisper in his ear. "I have a surprise for you."

Koen arches an eyebrow, his expression changing subtly. His eyes, usually sharp and calculating, take on an almost... greedy glow. He leans slightly towards me, intrigued.

-A surprise, you say?" His tone is soft, but I sense impatience mixed with curiosity in his voice. "Tell me everything... I'm curious."

I give him a mischievous look, playing along, but inside, my thoughts are swirling. Is it really a good idea to give him this watch? For a brief moment, a wave of hesitation passes through me. I wonder if he will understand the true meaning of this gift, or if he will see something else in it. And above all, will it bring me closer to the truth, to what I seek to know?

But I quickly recover. I am here for a reason. I need answers, to know if he is honest with me. This gift isn't just a gesture, it's a test, and it's time to confront him.

I take a deep breath and pull the small box out of my pocket, holding it in front of him.

-I bought you something. I hope you like it.

Koen looks at the box with a look of surprise mixed with pleasure, his eyes fixed on it as if he's trying to guess what's inside.

Slowly, he reaches out to take it, but he stops just before touching it, looking up at me, a smirk on his face. "Really? And what did I do to deserve this?"

-You'll find out when you open it, I say softly a little nervous about his reaction.

He finally catches the box, his fingers brushing against the velvet. "You pique my curiosity, Huyn. I'm not the type to like surprises, but for you, I'll make an exception," he says, opening the box with calculated slowness, savoring every second. When he sees the watch, a satisfied smile lights up his face.

He takes it delicately between his fingers and examines it carefully. "It's beautiful," he murmurs, spinning it under the light. "It's exactly my style."

I feel an instant relief, but a part of me remains tense, waiting for his reaction. Does he understand what this watch means to me? Or is he simply happy to receive a beautiful gift?

"Thank you, really," he says, looking me straight in the eye. "It's a very personal gift. It means a lot to me."

I stare at him for a moment, trying to read something in his eyes, a sign, a response. But nothing. He remains calm, controlled, as always. My heart beats faster, hesitation resurfacing, but I can't back down now.

"I'm glad you like it," I finally say, my tone more serious than before. "Because I wanted to give you something that really matters. Something that makes sense."

Koen blinks, surprised by the change in tone. "What do you mean?" His voice becomes softer, almost cautious.

I take another deep breath, sensing that the crucial moment is here. "I just want to make sure that everything between us is… honest. That nothing is hidden, that you're not hiding anything from me."

He frowns slightly, and for the first time, I see a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He places the watch gently on his desk, crossing his arms, his gaze locked on mine. "Why do you say that, Huyn? Do you think I'm lying to you?"

I look at him, searching for the truth in his words. My heart pounds in my chest. The watch was supposed to break the ice, but now I wonder if I'm ready for the answer.