I Think You Left Something

Jason POV

A subtle invitation, hidden in plain sight.

I didn’t expect her to drive,

especially not a bright orange Tesla,

wrapped with a grinning Magikarp splashing boldly across its doors.

It should’ve been ridiculous.

Yet somehow, it felt perfectly right—

sweetly quirky, playful, unique.

Exactly like her.

I got into the passenger seat.

The subtle scent of eucalyptus mixed with something faintly sweet,

not perfume, just her.

As she started the car—one hand casually on the wheel, the other adjusting controls effortlessly—

I smiled, quietly impressed.

She looked completely natural, like she’d done this a thousand times.

She’d changed, in ways I hadn’t imagined.

At the convenience store, we moved through aisles together, coworkers still lingering nearby,

making everything feel casually professional.

But beneath that polite normalcy, I felt it—

an undercurrent of tension, charged and careful.

She picked only sugar-free drinks, precise choices, no wasted moves.

I noticed those small things about her,

the deliberate restraint in her selections.

Then she reached for something unusual—jujube and goji berry water.

Took a quick sip, glanced over at me.

“You wanna try?” she asked lightly, aware others were still around.

My hands were full. “Feed me.”

She hesitated just a beat, eyes flickering with surprise,

then stepped closer and gently tipped the bottle to my lips.

“Not like that,” I said softly—unintentionally deeper, huskier than I meant.

She heard it. I saw the brief shift in her eyes, recognition flickering,

before her expression smoothly reset, perfectly neutral again.

Back at the poker table, surrounded by coworkers,

she sat directly opposite, leaning back casually,

fingers lightly tapping, a slight smile playing at her lips.

“All in,” she declared easily.

I matched her bet, watching her carefully.

Cards flipped. I won.

But victory felt strangely empty,

as if she’d quietly let me have it,

as if winning wasn’t really the point.

By 11pm, colleagues gradually dispersed.

I lingered, chatted aimlessly,

waiting, quietly desperate for any plausible excuse

to leave with her—yet not daring to show how much I wanted it.

Nothing came to mind.

Then she looked directly at me, in front of everyone,

voice calm, perfectly casual yet softly inviting:

“I think you left something in my car.”

My heart slammed against my chest.

A rush of adrenaline surged through me,

pulse racing—half thrilled, half terrified,

because I wanted nothing more than to say yes, immediately,

to follow her right now.

Yet around me, my coworkers chatted casually, oblivious.

I forced myself to breathe, to look relaxed,

as though it was the most normal thing to hear.

But beneath that calm exterior,

I was desperately trying to control my reaction,

heart pounding, skin buzzing,

my mind flooded with excitement, panic, desire—

all wrapped in one dizzying moment.

I met her gaze, holding back everything I felt,

and simply smiled, nodding softly.