AWKWARD

-Haruka POV-

I am seated at my desk, staring at my computer screen, but actually my mind is somewhere else. I'm still thinking about what happened last night. My thoughts kept drifting back to Levi's words last night. 

Does he even realize what he's saying? Or maybe he does, and he's just that honest about what he feels. But me? I don't even know how to feel right now... Should I tell him? Should I say something? But what should I even say to him? I keep rubbing my forehead, thinking, but then the sound of the door opening snaps me back to reality. It's Levi, of course.

"It's not like you to zone out during work, Mr. Auclair." Levi said that while glancing at me.

I'm not zoning out. I'm just reviewing some emails. Do you need something, sir?" I tried to act normal.

"Here. This needs to be filed and cross-checked with the inventory reports from last week. Given the approaching end of the year, we're quite busy. You can handle it, right?" He placed the folders on my desk, leaning slightly towards me, which made me a bit startled.

"Of course. Who do you think I am, sir? I'm Haruka Charles Auclair." I said that confidently, but I know it actually sounds a bit awkward. I looked up to find Levi watching me, his usual stoic expression softening just a little.

"Haru-chan... about last night—"

"I believe you're not supposed to call me that at work. And about last night, it's fine! Really. You don't have to say anything. Let's just focus on work, okay?" I cut him off a bit too quickly without even realising it.

"Alright, I'm sorry. Well, don't work too hard, okay?" He said that with a smile and then headed back to his office.

Seriously, why did I stop him? Was I afraid of what he'd say? Or worse—afraid of what I'd say? Ugh, Haruka, get it together. You can't keep running from this forever.

What actually happened to me? I never felt this way before.

-Break Room-

Seriously, I couldn't focus at all today. I'm not the type of person to take a break in the break room, but right now, I really need it. Luckily, there's no one here right now. While I was making my hot chocolate, someone came in. Seriously, who is it now? I look at the door and I'm surprised to see it was Levi. Why, right now?

"Care to make me one, too?" Levi broke the silence.

"Sure. What would you like, sir?" I asked, not even looking at him. 

"I would like a hot chocolate too." He replied, which is a bit surprising. He doesn't really drink chocolate. I didn't reply, instead, I just made him one also.

"You're avoiding me, Mr. Auclair." His words nearly made me spill the hot chocolate.

"Avoiding you? Don't be ridiculous. Of course I'm not." I tried to keep myself composed, still looking down at the cup.

"Mr. Auclair, I meant what I said last night. But if it's making things awkward between us... I'll stop bringing it up." Levi said that to me gently. 

"Ha... It's not awkward. I'm just... trying to figure out what I feel. I don't want to say something I don't mean or... hurt you by not knowing." I said that to him quietly. I look up at him, and he just smiles.

"Take all the time you need, Mr. Auclair. I told you, I'll wait. Oh, thanks for the coffee." He said that and then left the room. Wait, did he really just leave like that?

Seriously, he's always so sure of himself, so unwavering. How does he do it? And why do I feel like I'm the one who's been left behind, trying to catch up to him? Maybe... maybe it's time to stop running and face whatever this is.

Get it together, Haruka. Just get back to work for now. 

//SKIP//

I've been standing in front of Levi's office for a few minutes already, gathering my courage to enter the room. Taking a deep breath, I bring my hand up to knock on the door.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Come in." I heard Levi's words from inside and then opened the door. I entered the room. Levi looks at me, and then he glances at the folders in my hand.

"Done already? Impressive, Mr. Auclair." He said that while leaning against his chair.

"Yeah. But that's not the reason why I'm here." I made my way towards his desk and then put the folders on it. Levi raised his eyebrows, waiting for me to continue.

"Listen, I've been thinking about what you said last night... about the kittens, about us." I stopped mid-sentence again. Levi put aside the folder he's been looking for a while and now focuses his gaze on me.

"I don't know if I'm ready to give you an answer, but I do know one thing—I meant it when I said I don't want you to feel lonely. I want to be there for you, Levi, the same way you've been there for me. Even if I'm unsure, I want to try. Look, I know this is not the right time for all of this, but I really need to let it out." I said that as fast as I could. Only God knows how nervous I am right now. Levi's gaze on me is unreadable. He stood up from his chair and then walked towards me until he's in front of me.

"Haruka, you don't have to figure it all out right now. You, being here... saying this... it's enough for me. So don't worry. I'll wait." He said that to me softly. I looked up at him, and before I could say anything, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in." Levi answered. A moment later, the door opened, and it's Sophia.

"I'm sorry for interrupting Mr. Ackerman. But the client meeting is about to start." Sophia said that politely. Right, I forgot he has to attend a meeting this evening.

"I'll be right there." Levi replied, and Sophia just nodded before leaving the room.

"I almost forgot I have a meeting to attend, haha. We'll talk more later, okay? I'll see you tomorrow, Haru-chan." He whispered in my ear, which made my face turn red. This jerk. After that, he just left without waiting for my reply.

Seriously, how can he act like that? He's always calm and steady. How does he do that? Meanwhile, I'm over here about to fall apart. But... I think I get it now. Maybe... maybe this is how it starts—learning to let someone in, step by step.

//SKIP//

-Auclair Main Residence-

Just like my father wants, all of us are here, having dinner together. Well, it's just my family, my grandfather and grandmother. My parents are living here because my father is the eldest son, and the rules of the Auclair Family are that the eldest son inherits the main residence later. Well, that aside, I don't really care about that because I'm not interested. What I care about right now is what my father just said to me.

"Are you saying I need to attend the end-of-the-year dinner party held by the country's president this year?" I asked my father in disbelief.

"Charles, I don't have a choice. You have to go. Your brother needs to go to Canada next week, so he couldn't attend." My father tried to explain.

"Are you sure it's not just an excuse so that I would be the one going?" I looked at my dad with an irritated face.

"It's not an excuse, Charles. I really do have an appointment next week." My brother spoke for my father.

"Ha, seriously. Do I really need to go? You could just go with Hana-chan. And why next week? Didn't the president always hold the party right before Christmas?" I asked my father again.

"That's exactly the reason why. If I had known this would happen, Chris wouldn't make an appointment for next week. The president said the party will be held together with his second son's birthday party. So that's the reason." My father explained everything. The president's second son? But he had never thrown a party for that before.

"He never did that before, so why now?" I still couldn't accept the fact that I have to go.

"I heard his son has been living in the US for five years and just came back recently." My brother answered instead. So, that's the reason why. No wonder I never heard about him before.

"Grandfather, can't you do anything about this? Or maybe grandma?" I looked at both of them with a sad face.

"Charles, it's not that I wouldn't want to help you, but we just simply can't. Your grandmother may be the princess, but it doesn't apply here. This is France, and the one who held the power is the president." My grandfather explained. Right. I should at least know that.

"Still, I don't want to go." I'm still trying to protest.

"Haru-chan, it's not that I didn't want to help you, but the president came to meet me and your father himself, sending the invitation. He said, this year please bring the second young master. I would like to introduce him to my second son." This time, my mother interrupted.

"He has been asking for you every year, and this is the fifth year. So please, just go and greet him, will you?" My father didn't give up.

"Ha. Okay. I'll just go and greet him, that's all. I'm going back after that no matter what." I said that while sighing.

"Thank you, my son. You saved me." My father said in relief. Seriously, if it weren't for the president, I'm not going. 

I shouldn't have shown my abilities to anyone if I had known this would be happening to me. I'm sure the president just wanted to see me because of what I achieved. Introducing me to his second son? Oh please, I'm not interested. I already have one person who's been giving me a pain in the ass nowadays. Hmm, I wonder if he's still playing with the cats right now.

"Good. You'll be coming with Charlotte next week." My father's words snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Sure." I replied shortly, and after that we just kept eating and talking.

//SKIP//

I've been walking through the garden for about 15 minutes now. It's getting colder because winter is approaching now. I couldn't fall asleep, and I don't know why.

"You could catch a cold wandering outside dressing like that." Someone spoke, and I looked behind. It's my brother. He put a sweater on me. 

"Thank you. What are you doing outside, nii-san?" I asked him.

"I should be the one asking you. What are you doing here? Couldn't I fall asleep?" He asked me without answering.

"Well, I guess you could say that." I replied while chuckling.

"Why? Are you thinking about your relationship with Levi Ackerman?" My brother's words surprised me. What is he talking about right now?

"What are you saying? This doesn't have anything to do with him. We're not even that close, remember?" I said, trying to convince him.

"But Charles, I noticed your mind was somewhere else since dinner." My brother said with a concerned face.

"That's because I'm thinking about the dinner party. You know I don't want to go." I countered him.

"Charles, I know your relationship with Levi Ackerman is not just an employer-secretary relationship."

TO BE CONTINUED!!!